Great article. I haven't worn a tie since last century. I rarely dress up. I wear jeans and sneakers every single day. I live out of my car, so I keep my possessions to a minimum. Ah, the joys of a rent-free life!
Oddly as I reached 45, I discovered that I really preferred wool slacks to jeans for comfort. In the PNW, the male who wears the tie is usually a high level manager (not sure re female equivalent), so I've been safe
I used to wear 'nice' clothes, then went to jeans, and this fall did not find any I liked and bought some sweat pants. Man I love these things! Also did not find a jacket at a decent price in the women's clothing, went into the men's and now wear a lovely cream colored fleece men's jacket. Neither the dog nor the cats or birds noticed. Even the humans did not. And it was way cheaper too! Now I know where to shop - in the men's department.
Haha Mickey, I remember the type of collars from when I first got married LOL. You just look good in everything. In the long coat you could easily pass for an italian mafioso ! And your presence was probably more important than the clothes you were wearing. As it should be!
You're too kind, Ingrid, but thank you! 😇 Also, since I have worked in gyms for big chunks of my life, I also came to appreciate the comfort and price of sweatpants!
I can understand the desire to not submit to proscribed dress codes and to want to instead dress, and dress up, to express your personal taste.
As a European transplant to the US I have, however, always been mystified by the widespread American desire to dress down, avoid dressing up/nicely, avoiding (what I would consider) proper table manners, avoiding anything but the most casual expressions of every facet of life. To me, a certain dimension of life is lost that way. And I know this post was about ties :-), not sitting on sofas with paper plates to eat your dinner, but seen through my eyes it’s all of a piece.
I can't see the US through your eyes, of course, and can only speak for myself. But I will agree that anyone (American or otherwise) who chooses to be casual about the daily miracles of life is (to my eyes) missing out.
I love the expression “the daily miracles of life”. What a great intention to carry through the day, to notice and take in the daily miracles of life! Thank you!
I used to work in Corporate America and dressed up every day. When I left that world in 2009, I left all the clothes, especially the heeled shoes, in the closet. I’ve since donated a majority of them to our local charity. I kept a couple of dresses to wear when I visit my parents and attend a church service. Now I wear jeans and t shirts and go barefoot for work (I work for myself as a massage therapist and energy worker). I love my work!
Happy New Year Mickey! Much love and prosperity to you throughout the new year!
Thank you, Mary, for blazing that path and sharing about it with us. Every single one of us needs steady reminders that even in a formulaic culture like ours, we can march to our own beat and be grateful for it.
And yes, Happy New Year to you and yours, my dear friend! ❤️
Fun story! This got me to thinking about "dressing up" way back when I worked in an office. To move up in the realm of management, the unofficial dress code for women was the so-called 'power suit' (replete with shoulder pads), and of course high heels, make up, hair professionally styled, etc. So not me! Left the stifling office environment and city behind, moved to a small town and opened my dream cafe where I could express myself through creativity. The bonus was meeting my husband, the mail carrier for my route who, like me, preferred purchasing functional outdoor wear (run, bike, hike)over dress clothes. Thus he liked having a uniform, no daily decision on what to wear and he never had to learn to knot a tie (or wear a suit!). One other thought (kinda off topic, but my mind tends to meander)...when purchasing clothing, I can't help but wonder about the people who made the items I hold in my hands; the seamstresses on the floors of the manufacturing warehouses, the laborers who work in the textile plants, and so many others who are involved to produce clothing. I appreciate their hard work and try to honor their labor by ensuring that I get good usage from the apparel we purchase. Thanks again for another excellent article!
Thank you, Claire! I'm loving the variety of stories here about folks finding happy paths out of the mainstream. And how romantic that your husband was/is your mailman!!!!
I get it with him and a uniform. Going to Catholic School required a uniform and thus, no fashion decisions. Working is gyms in my life involved at least a company t-shirt if not a full uniform. I appreciated being able to aim my thoughts, creativity, and money in other directions.
And yes, the number of exploited and abused laborers it takes to create the corporations that we all know and the billionaires who own them...horrifyingly inexcusable. Like you, I keep my clothes until they are unwearable!
My favorite color is a camo, but I have a suit and two ties. I usually end up buying a new suit when someone close dies, then have to buy another the next time because I’m a different size by then. I had my class A’s (fire department suit, hat and tie) and wore those to two funerals when guys died on the job, and on the first anniversary of 911 when my brother and I (also on the job) went to New York for the memorial at the World Trade Center. Hung those up for good when I retired two weeks ago. I also had a full Scottish pipe band kit when I played in the fire dept pipe band, which included a tunic for formal funerals and a Princess Charlie jacket for other occasions. I’ve never really liked wearing a suit, but they have been a requirement here and there. I have my grandfathers tux with tails, he was a Knight of Columbus and it’s been used for Halloween and a Prom by two of my kids. Mostly I like work clothes, comfortable, durable stuff that hold up.
Thanks & the photos are fun to see
Thank you, Rosalind! 😇
I've my Granddad's kilt, dress jacket, all the other bells and whistles. Just typical suit for ANZAC day with my gongs on it.
Wow...that sounds like it would be fun to wear!
Great article. I haven't worn a tie since last century. I rarely dress up. I wear jeans and sneakers every single day. I live out of my car, so I keep my possessions to a minimum. Ah, the joys of a rent-free life!
Thanks, Tom...good to hear from you. And kudos to you for avoiding rent!
Oddly as I reached 45, I discovered that I really preferred wool slacks to jeans for comfort. In the PNW, the male who wears the tie is usually a high level manager (not sure re female equivalent), so I've been safe
Thanks, Bill, and yes...I think jeans are overrated for comfort. I prefer cargos!
Cargos are great!
I used to wear 'nice' clothes, then went to jeans, and this fall did not find any I liked and bought some sweat pants. Man I love these things! Also did not find a jacket at a decent price in the women's clothing, went into the men's and now wear a lovely cream colored fleece men's jacket. Neither the dog nor the cats or birds noticed. Even the humans did not. And it was way cheaper too! Now I know where to shop - in the men's department.
Haha Mickey, I remember the type of collars from when I first got married LOL. You just look good in everything. In the long coat you could easily pass for an italian mafioso ! And your presence was probably more important than the clothes you were wearing. As it should be!
You're too kind, Ingrid, but thank you! 😇 Also, since I have worked in gyms for big chunks of my life, I also came to appreciate the comfort and price of sweatpants!
I can understand the desire to not submit to proscribed dress codes and to want to instead dress, and dress up, to express your personal taste.
As a European transplant to the US I have, however, always been mystified by the widespread American desire to dress down, avoid dressing up/nicely, avoiding (what I would consider) proper table manners, avoiding anything but the most casual expressions of every facet of life. To me, a certain dimension of life is lost that way. And I know this post was about ties :-), not sitting on sofas with paper plates to eat your dinner, but seen through my eyes it’s all of a piece.
I can't see the US through your eyes, of course, and can only speak for myself. But I will agree that anyone (American or otherwise) who chooses to be casual about the daily miracles of life is (to my eyes) missing out.
I love the expression “the daily miracles of life”. What a great intention to carry through the day, to notice and take in the daily miracles of life! Thank you!
Thank YOU for leading by example with mindfulness and intentionality! ❤️
I used to work in Corporate America and dressed up every day. When I left that world in 2009, I left all the clothes, especially the heeled shoes, in the closet. I’ve since donated a majority of them to our local charity. I kept a couple of dresses to wear when I visit my parents and attend a church service. Now I wear jeans and t shirts and go barefoot for work (I work for myself as a massage therapist and energy worker). I love my work!
Happy New Year Mickey! Much love and prosperity to you throughout the new year!
Thank you, Mary, for blazing that path and sharing about it with us. Every single one of us needs steady reminders that even in a formulaic culture like ours, we can march to our own beat and be grateful for it.
And yes, Happy New Year to you and yours, my dear friend! ❤️
Fun story! This got me to thinking about "dressing up" way back when I worked in an office. To move up in the realm of management, the unofficial dress code for women was the so-called 'power suit' (replete with shoulder pads), and of course high heels, make up, hair professionally styled, etc. So not me! Left the stifling office environment and city behind, moved to a small town and opened my dream cafe where I could express myself through creativity. The bonus was meeting my husband, the mail carrier for my route who, like me, preferred purchasing functional outdoor wear (run, bike, hike)over dress clothes. Thus he liked having a uniform, no daily decision on what to wear and he never had to learn to knot a tie (or wear a suit!). One other thought (kinda off topic, but my mind tends to meander)...when purchasing clothing, I can't help but wonder about the people who made the items I hold in my hands; the seamstresses on the floors of the manufacturing warehouses, the laborers who work in the textile plants, and so many others who are involved to produce clothing. I appreciate their hard work and try to honor their labor by ensuring that I get good usage from the apparel we purchase. Thanks again for another excellent article!
Thank you, Claire! I'm loving the variety of stories here about folks finding happy paths out of the mainstream. And how romantic that your husband was/is your mailman!!!!
I get it with him and a uniform. Going to Catholic School required a uniform and thus, no fashion decisions. Working is gyms in my life involved at least a company t-shirt if not a full uniform. I appreciated being able to aim my thoughts, creativity, and money in other directions.
And yes, the number of exploited and abused laborers it takes to create the corporations that we all know and the billionaires who own them...horrifyingly inexcusable. Like you, I keep my clothes until they are unwearable!
Thank you again, Claire! 🙂
As the saying goes, suit yourself.
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
My favorite color is a camo, but I have a suit and two ties. I usually end up buying a new suit when someone close dies, then have to buy another the next time because I’m a different size by then. I had my class A’s (fire department suit, hat and tie) and wore those to two funerals when guys died on the job, and on the first anniversary of 911 when my brother and I (also on the job) went to New York for the memorial at the World Trade Center. Hung those up for good when I retired two weeks ago. I also had a full Scottish pipe band kit when I played in the fire dept pipe band, which included a tunic for formal funerals and a Princess Charlie jacket for other occasions. I’ve never really liked wearing a suit, but they have been a requirement here and there. I have my grandfathers tux with tails, he was a Knight of Columbus and it’s been used for Halloween and a Prom by two of my kids. Mostly I like work clothes, comfortable, durable stuff that hold up.
Thanks, George...that's quite a fascinating combination of attire and I concur with the "comfortable, durable stuff" conclusion.
Congrats on the retirement! From what I know of you, that means you now have room to try a million other things.
When I was a Judge, I had to wear a black robe. So it didn't matter what I wore underneath it.
So I wore jeans and whatever shirt I picked up at Salvation Army.
I did have to wear a tie, so I would use a black clip-on that the cops gave me.
I compensated for that indignity by wearing my State Guard BDU boots from 2001.
Those boots are my Avatar.
I still wear them today.
🇺🇸
Whoa...what an expected confession (of sorts)! Do other judges wear such casual clothes under their robes?
Some may not wear anything!
Hmmm...
When I read your initial comment, I wondered if you were joking. Now I think this is a gullibility test that I partially failed!
I wasn't joking.
It wasn't a gullibility test.
You didn't fail.