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I was minus a photographer today....be quiet!
Today, I spoke to two other high schools in my area about starting a small business and succeeding in today's tough economic climate. The first school was a private school, and it is a stuffy one by worldly standards. The students have to wear sport coats or sweaters (vest or pull over), shirt and school tie. The event was enjoyable, and there were no comments made about my apparel. That being said, this is a good time to share my ensemble:
BB Camel Hair Sport Coat
BB OCBD
BB Wool Tartan Trousers
Polo Knit Tie
BB White Pocket Square
Alden Pennies
After leaving the private school, I arrived at my second destination, the public school. Immediately upon entering, I was greeted by awkward smiles and giggles. One kid ran up to me and said, "how did you know today was tacky day". I responded with, "tacky day"! "Yeah", he said, "We are having spirit week for homecoming". Even the staff looked at me with perplexed looks. The speech went well, but what is so strange is teachers that were wearing non matching shoes and black wigs looked at me as if I was dressed inappropriately because of tartan trousers. Wow, public schools, and their discriminating attitudes.......I shouldn't be surprised.....I did attend one.
Thus, what the fuss was all about today!
19 comments:
To work today, I wore khakis, blue stripe ocbd shirt, blue blazer (and a red crest tie in the inside pocket - in case I needed it).
The gathering at work dressed from the depths of their trailer park best, wrinkled jeans and ripped polo shirts.
Dude, YOU LOOK GREAT!
The pants are awsome!!! Are the socks embroidered?
Yes, they have dogs on them.
Thanks Deleware Blue Blazer for the compliment.
Also, thanks James! I published your comment, but I am not sure where it went.
I remember my mother complaining about my grammar school teachers wearing jeans to work and that was back during the Nixon Administration. It must be worse today. I don't think my parents allowed me to wear jeans to school until I was in high school and I certainly never wore shorts to school. The times have changed. In the '60's IBM employees were required to wear navy suits, white shirts, and ties and now every day is casual day.
On another note, I really love those pants. I wish I had a pair.
I like, I like, I like. You don't see to many black men wearing tartan trousers, but I would so rock this!.
As for the folks at the public school, no you shouldn't be surprised. Two totally different worlds. I get comments all the time about what I'm wearing. Some day's I'm even asked if I'm a "Tom". Some of you may know what that means. For those who don't, it's an uppity black man.
In the world today, dress just isn't important to folks.
Richard,
I had to smile at this post. I get smart aleck comments because I sometimes wear a bow tie and favor argyle socks and penny loafers. At first this bothered me, and some of my friends suggested that I was opening myself up for a physical assault because I was a "target". But I have gained confidence, and this blog has added to it-I am so glad I am not alone in trying to dress as well as I can. Please take a shot of the socks and shoes, they look great-the whole outfit looks great.
Hi, Luap -- IBM dress is part urban legend. Salesmen and others with direct customer contact were required to wear conservative suits (but not necessarily navy) and encouraged to wear white shirts in the 60's. Black wingtip gunboats were also big (pun!) too. However, other IBM people, for example engineers, scientists, programmers, and accountants were not subject to such strict and explicit rules. More like a ratty sports coat, wrinkled tie, and whatever kind of shirt sorta matched the soup on the tie. Think "nerd" rather than navy suit. Of course, this was a minimum, and many engineers etc did dress considerably better in those days.
Richard -- I always enjoy your posts -- thanks!
Sorry Richard,
I have to disagree with your trouser selection. I dig the tartan, but for a semi-business engagement (you were talking to students about starting a business)? No. For a Thanksgiving/Christmas season cocktail or dinner party - perfect. The private school students didn't say anything because they have been taught manners, the public school students, not surprisingly, failed to show as much restraint. A gentle suggestion; next time same outfit, with gray flannel trousers.
Though I own quite a few pairs of plaid pants I would still find them inappropriate to wear to give a lecture on how to startup a small business...
I work in a public school. Definitely too much with the pants if you are trying not to get ridiculed by the less stylish and unwashed masses......I've found that even wearing a plaid shirt with a tie can leave some of their brains confused
Richard,
It is amazing how many intentionally derogatory judgements you pass in a single post - usually in an attempt at building yourself up by tearing others down - and yet you still don't hold yourself to a very high standard or accept any constructive criticism intended to help you excel on your own merits rather than other's demerits.
What seperates you from the pack at this point is not the fact you attended a private school or that you spend a lot of money on clothes that someone else says will make you this or that. What seperates you from the pack is your attitude. You are far, far lower on the food chain than the least among us!
Personally, I don't agree with anonymous's statement that this ensemble was inappropriate. I have always viewed the education arena as an opportunity to wear plaid, tweed, corduroy, etc. Having a country professorial look is standard. Now, lets say I was presenting to a company.....then yes, I agree, a suit would have been appropriate.
So you just happened to be at both these schools on the same day, and it just happened to be Tacky Day at the pub. And you just happened to be wearning the GTH trousers.
Back to writing fiction I see.
Richard, I LOVE the tartan trousers. Great choice, Can you share with us, the maker...? The camel hair blazer looks a bit too puffy at the shoulders. BTW, the Brethren are offering a camel hair blazer with a 3/2 roll.
LBT - The camel hair blazer and trousers are both from Brooks Brothers. I agree, the shoulders are a little off but they are supposed to be natural shoulders.
Mr. Utah - I spoke at the private school in the morning, and the public after lunch. I don't perceive tartan trousers as tacky, but the public school was having tacky day for spirit week. My point was that I was getting strange looks from teachers and students wearing mismatched clothing. No fiction.
I teach at a high school in Texas. The pants would have killed the kids. They don't have the first clue concerning style or being a prep.
I am concerned "overdressed" because I wear a OCBD shirt and tie every day to school.
This is Texas, so I generally wear a pair of Tony Lama boots, but I am not above wearing a pair of Weejuns a couple of times a week.
This maybe ugly, but next time you go to a high school to speak on business, dress like a businessman of old. Navy suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes.
yes, having a country professorial look is standard, especially in those favorite movies of yours.
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