When I think of the fashion world, which I do very little, I probably envision a scene similar to most; impossibly upright models adorning designer clothes while practically floating on a catwalk like a swan does on water.
Completely agree. I know I sound like a old man (60+ years), but I believe there’s a connection between how we dress, how we speak, what architecture we value, and what music we listen to and the type of culture we value. It’s fair to say our culture is turning to crap.
Well, at least saggy pants are finally going out of fashion. I lived through the gym shorts era of the 70s, and I'd rather live through that again than to continue being visually assaulted with men's butt cracks.
And they're bringing flaired jeans back, thank the gods. I hate that skinny-legged shit.
I'm with you on the airports. Grown women with sweatpants and a message printed on the ass?! Comfort-schmomfort. There are warm, comfortable clothes which also look dignified. (Heh, hope no one is triggered.) Let's not forget that lack of grooming is a frequent indicator of depression. I blame the covid lockdowns for increased suicide and self-medicating, and this seemed the time that the Wear Anything But Don't Judge took off. Thank you for this; I'm sharing it, and hoping for discussion among people who won't call me names.
People use to dress for getting on a plane for the same reason they dressed for the opera, it was a
rarified group of the rich and want-to-be rich trying make statements about who they were. When the price dropped most of the people flying are not looking to make a statement to their peers. They don't even consider them peers. Much of the fashion is exactly that. As a rule the more of the working man that use a venue the less well the people will dress.
I was taught to dress for the job I wanted, not the job I have. I also believe we should dress for the occasion. When a parishioner, or a paster for that matter, shows up to church in pleated khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, are they truly prepared for solemnity of that event. With that said, can someone explain the purpose of John Fetterman's dress code to me? What does his dress say about how he preceives his position or the importance of his work?
Thanks for the commentary. I agree for the most part and see great value in respecting yourself and others around you. But especially thanks for inspiring the comments. Great entertainment!
I 100% disagree. I fully support dressing for comfort and practicality, letting your wardrobe be a form of your self-expression, and rejection of the imposition of 'fashion' on anyone.
I'm quite opposed to the coerced hypocrisy of enforced 'dressing up'. It celebrates a false pretense rather than the underlying substance. I draw the line at indecent exposure, by all means require that naughty bits be covered in public spaces shared with children, but beyond that it's no business of yours or mine what other people choose to wear for their own reasons. To paraphrase, I dream of a world in which people will be judged on the content of their character and not their shoes.
Obsessing over surface appearances instead of dealing with the heart of matters is exactly what we often criticize the woke for. If you have an issue with society becoming lazy and disrespectful because people don't properly value themselves and others, address those directly at their religious and philosophical roots, don't just try to slap a band-aid on it by putting everyone back in uniforms mandated by some authority.
"Mandated by authority" ? These words don't reflect at all the central spirit of the piece. My argument, of course, is that it is not just a band-aid. But to explain that would simply be a rereading of the piece...
You would be absolutely ok with a woman or man wearing just a thong to a grocery store? As long as it covered up the "naughty bits"? You wouldn't have anything to say, even in silent judgement?
I think you read to excessively into his observations, Steven. Unless I'm reading him wrong, he's not calling for mandated uniforms, or even "dressing up" in the extreme realm of our "Sunday best" at all times. I believe he's talking about the basic-level effort required to not look like a vagrant. It doesn't require high fashion or a salon.
The idea comports with concepts like "Broken Windows Policing", which has been supported by positive results time and again since it was first introduced in NYC in the 90s. Leaving stuff like graffiti alone on the basis of its relative lack of importance gives the population the impression that nobody gives a shit about anything, and leads the a breakdown of the Social Contract at large.
Deferring to other people's judgement over my own in attire is rather the opposite of SELF-respect. I respect myself enough to consider my own comfort and stylistic preferences as of no less importance than those of strangers to me. If you or the author wants to stand as fashion police in judgement of a jet-lagged traveler enduring a layover in shorts, sandals, a Snoopy T-shirt, and neck pillow... Well, frankly I'll consider you both to be acting like jerks. Putting your aesthetic preferences over other people's comfort is kinda lacking in empathy and has serious undertones of elitist snobbery and classism. If there's a lack of respect implicated here, it's yours disrespecting other people's tastes.
Sure, a lot of people walk around looking like what I consider hot garbage, but taste in clothing is like taste in food, I may like chocolate and hate coconut but I don't get to tell people that they're somehow objectively wrong for getting a coconut cone instead of chocolate like all the other sane people. This entire article reads like a food snob complaining that society is crumbling because too many people eat at fast food instead of patronizing fine dining establishments.
You're the one who wrote about "adults wearing cartoon-themed t-shirts" disapprovingly. You do realize that Snoopy is a cartoon character, right? I have at least two Snoopy T-shirts in my closet right now. Even my wife has one. I'm afraid I can't leave Snoopy out of this since you brought him in to it first.
I, with my 'skinny white boy chicken legs' I've long been self conscious about, switched to wearing shorts instead of jeans much of the time because 1) my wife says I look good in shorts, and 2) I moved to the South and wearing shorts is frankly something of a practical necessity in the heat and humidity of summer here.
Except that isn't actually what you wrote. You criticized shorts, cartoon character T-shirts, Crocs, neck pillows when traveling... The rather clear implication is that anything less than slacks and a polo shirt with dress shoes is a little too "you've really let yourself go" for you and you'd really prefer more suits and a tie, as if we're all going back to the male fashion sensibilities of 'Mad Men' or something like it.
I'm not down with that. Business casual is fine for Fridays at the the office, but it's serious overkill for the grocery store and running other errands. It's hardly 'pearl clutching' to reject your attempt to police other people's casual wear on the basis of your sense of aesthetics.
I've BEEN the guy in the terminal wearing sandals, cargo shorts, a cartoon T, and neck pillow. I have zero shame about that. You know where I was coming back from? Yet another tour of duty overseas. But hey, at least you don't need to worry about me combing my hair, I'm never on leave long enough for it to grow out. No offense intended, but I spend the majority of my time in a uniform as is, I have little tolerance for people trying to dis me over what I wear on my limited personal time.
Whatever. I found out a long time ago that people treat me better when I dress like a responsible adult man. Women of all ages and ethnic groups appreciate it and respond accordingly. Just look clean and non-threatening.
People treat you better when you dress richer and higher status, you mean? Shocking, I'm truly shocked. That's not at all the credit to you or them that you seem to think it is.
No they treat me better when I dress like a responsible adult man. My attire does not convey wealth or status, it demonstrates character and respect for others. It doesn't cost any more money to look good than it does to look like a slob. When traveling it has a huge impact in how airport/hospitality workers and other passengers interact with me. Same for retail, government offices, or my job.Try it yourself and see. Good color coordination is 90% of it.
Nonsense. Attire very much communicates relative wealth, status, group memberships, personality traits and interests, but it says nothing at all about character. Moreover, you are actively endorsing discrimination against people on the basis of their appearance, which is both morally dubious and professionally unethical. At best, you're arguing in favor of a form of 'pretty privilege' and in-group bias, at worst you're treating other human beings as unworthy of their human dignity merely because you dislike their aesthetic. "Respect for others" is the opposite of the behavior you are practicing. In fact, it rather reminds me of a passage from a certain famous text:
James 2: My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. 2 For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. 3 Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” 4 Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they curse the good name ⌞of Jesus⌟, the name that was used to bless you?
8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 9 If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient.
I’m lost, shorts are any garment which falls above the knee basically.
Is this a generic “people should groom better” post or is there actually a statement about shorts which makes sense? Grasp that all tee-shirts are undergarments and have been worn as outerwear since the 60’s.
A friend of mine had to do a look book in 1992 and had a horrible year because that was the year underwear became outerwear - think Madonna / Bustier. “How can I show Bergdoef Goodman or Bbanana Republican street underwear looks”. Thirty years ago. Fashion goes in cycles, a remarkable think indeed.
So:
People flying from Ft Lauderdale to Miami should not wear shorts because our eyes will burn out?
Basketball players should avoid the current atrocious demi-pants, and revert to trainers? What about gays - they all have to dress like they are going to a circuit party in 1993 in Adidas trainers and crop-tops?
My core question is when did shorts become longs? Men wearing tights under shorts? Basketball courts in 1975 vs 2025 are quite a shock.
Men have become more conservative dressing, more self-conscious and much more hesitating to expose skin.
That doesn’t obviate slobs, but I think unless you clarify “shorts”, this seems, well, gratuitous.
Do members of Congress still meet your public wardrobe standards? But what are they accomplishing and how’s that approval rating?
They all might as well be donning the Fetterman hoodie, sweat shorts and sandals (with socks) look.
Clothes may make the man but that’s not stopping them from being worthless POS’s.
And look at SCOTUS, so formal (black robes) and traditional. They might as well be tie-dyed, neon polyester or distressed denim for all the “good” they’re doing.
"The country needs to take a good long look in the mirror to find out where the country is, how it got there, and where it wants to go."
It's tragic how much energy and time are wasted rehashing cultural problem which were (and should have remained) solved. We need a new cultural consensus, and one might be on the way. NOT an oppressive regime or a smothering orthodoxy - a good cultural model makes room for dissent and outsiders. But we need to settle some weighty questions, about responsibility, identity, sex, and virtue.
While I def agree with the pyjamas comment - and it’s not just airports… WTF are their parents thinking…? And adults NEVER should leave the house in a T-shirt, period.
And while I know that, traditionally, men leave shorts behind after grade school, … living in phoenix, where the temperature can exceed 110F for weeks at a time, I’ll wear shorts if I’m just out & about. If I have an appt with someone - anyone: pants. But to go to retail establishment: shorts. Probably makes me a part-time slob, but oh, well..
I'm one who never gave a hoot about fashion, but I understand your observations. I was always a t-shirt and running shorts type and always outside, and when "dressed," it had to be clean and comfortable and not look sloppy. But I spent the last 5 years of my navy career in Japan, and the Japanese DRESS when out in public, much like pictures in the US from early last century, so I did take care in dressing so I wouldn't stick out. Looking good does make a difference in attitude.
Completely agree. I know I sound like a old man (60+ years), but I believe there’s a connection between how we dress, how we speak, what architecture we value, and what music we listen to and the type of culture we value. It’s fair to say our culture is turning to crap.
I am 39 and I see it!
Well, at least saggy pants are finally going out of fashion. I lived through the gym shorts era of the 70s, and I'd rather live through that again than to continue being visually assaulted with men's butt cracks.
And they're bringing flaired jeans back, thank the gods. I hate that skinny-legged shit.
I'm with you on the airports. Grown women with sweatpants and a message printed on the ass?! Comfort-schmomfort. There are warm, comfortable clothes which also look dignified. (Heh, hope no one is triggered.) Let's not forget that lack of grooming is a frequent indicator of depression. I blame the covid lockdowns for increased suicide and self-medicating, and this seemed the time that the Wear Anything But Don't Judge took off. Thank you for this; I'm sharing it, and hoping for discussion among people who won't call me names.
People use to dress for getting on a plane for the same reason they dressed for the opera, it was a
rarified group of the rich and want-to-be rich trying make statements about who they were. When the price dropped most of the people flying are not looking to make a statement to their peers. They don't even consider them peers. Much of the fashion is exactly that. As a rule the more of the working man that use a venue the less well the people will dress.
I gave up wearing shorts because I really think they are fit only for young boys.
Agree with your sentiment, but keeping my shorts for Arizona weather.
I get it. Glad that you didn’t take the piece too literally—it was meant as a kind “we can all do better” type of op-ed.
I was taught to dress for the job I wanted, not the job I have. I also believe we should dress for the occasion. When a parishioner, or a paster for that matter, shows up to church in pleated khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, are they truly prepared for solemnity of that event. With that said, can someone explain the purpose of John Fetterman's dress code to me? What does his dress say about how he preceives his position or the importance of his work?
Thanks for the commentary. I agree for the most part and see great value in respecting yourself and others around you. But especially thanks for inspiring the comments. Great entertainment!
I 100% disagree. I fully support dressing for comfort and practicality, letting your wardrobe be a form of your self-expression, and rejection of the imposition of 'fashion' on anyone.
I'm quite opposed to the coerced hypocrisy of enforced 'dressing up'. It celebrates a false pretense rather than the underlying substance. I draw the line at indecent exposure, by all means require that naughty bits be covered in public spaces shared with children, but beyond that it's no business of yours or mine what other people choose to wear for their own reasons. To paraphrase, I dream of a world in which people will be judged on the content of their character and not their shoes.
Obsessing over surface appearances instead of dealing with the heart of matters is exactly what we often criticize the woke for. If you have an issue with society becoming lazy and disrespectful because people don't properly value themselves and others, address those directly at their religious and philosophical roots, don't just try to slap a band-aid on it by putting everyone back in uniforms mandated by some authority.
"Coercion"
"enforced"
"back in uniforms" ?
"Mandated by authority" ? These words don't reflect at all the central spirit of the piece. My argument, of course, is that it is not just a band-aid. But to explain that would simply be a rereading of the piece...
You would be absolutely ok with a woman or man wearing just a thong to a grocery store? As long as it covered up the "naughty bits"? You wouldn't have anything to say, even in silent judgement?
I think you read to excessively into his observations, Steven. Unless I'm reading him wrong, he's not calling for mandated uniforms, or even "dressing up" in the extreme realm of our "Sunday best" at all times. I believe he's talking about the basic-level effort required to not look like a vagrant. It doesn't require high fashion or a salon.
The idea comports with concepts like "Broken Windows Policing", which has been supported by positive results time and again since it was first introduced in NYC in the 90s. Leaving stuff like graffiti alone on the basis of its relative lack of importance gives the population the impression that nobody gives a shit about anything, and leads the a breakdown of the Social Contract at large.
It's not Big Brother, it's self respect.
ZL
I was in mid-response to Steven, and then this showed up. Right- what you wrote here is more in line with the spirit of what I was getting at!
Deferring to other people's judgement over my own in attire is rather the opposite of SELF-respect. I respect myself enough to consider my own comfort and stylistic preferences as of no less importance than those of strangers to me. If you or the author wants to stand as fashion police in judgement of a jet-lagged traveler enduring a layover in shorts, sandals, a Snoopy T-shirt, and neck pillow... Well, frankly I'll consider you both to be acting like jerks. Putting your aesthetic preferences over other people's comfort is kinda lacking in empathy and has serious undertones of elitist snobbery and classism. If there's a lack of respect implicated here, it's yours disrespecting other people's tastes.
Sure, a lot of people walk around looking like what I consider hot garbage, but taste in clothing is like taste in food, I may like chocolate and hate coconut but I don't get to tell people that they're somehow objectively wrong for getting a coconut cone instead of chocolate like all the other sane people. This entire article reads like a food snob complaining that society is crumbling because too many people eat at fast food instead of patronizing fine dining establishments.
And you leave Snoopy out of this!
You're the one who wrote about "adults wearing cartoon-themed t-shirts" disapprovingly. You do realize that Snoopy is a cartoon character, right? I have at least two Snoopy T-shirts in my closet right now. Even my wife has one. I'm afraid I can't leave Snoopy out of this since you brought him in to it first.
I, with my 'skinny white boy chicken legs' I've long been self conscious about, switched to wearing shorts instead of jeans much of the time because 1) my wife says I look good in shorts, and 2) I moved to the South and wearing shorts is frankly something of a practical necessity in the heat and humidity of summer here.
If your wife says you look good—you damn better listen! Right on, Steven.
I was born and raised in Georgia—and you are right about the heat—I am in Brazil, which is getting cold, but the heat here can be a problem!
The aggressive nature of your determinism, a kind of pearl clutching on your part is a type of elitism/snobbery on its own, Steven.
You are acting as if I am arguing the Fourth Reich, when all I am suggesting is combing your hair, trying a little more, in the public sphere.
Except that isn't actually what you wrote. You criticized shorts, cartoon character T-shirts, Crocs, neck pillows when traveling... The rather clear implication is that anything less than slacks and a polo shirt with dress shoes is a little too "you've really let yourself go" for you and you'd really prefer more suits and a tie, as if we're all going back to the male fashion sensibilities of 'Mad Men' or something like it.
I'm not down with that. Business casual is fine for Fridays at the the office, but it's serious overkill for the grocery store and running other errands. It's hardly 'pearl clutching' to reject your attempt to police other people's casual wear on the basis of your sense of aesthetics.
I've BEEN the guy in the terminal wearing sandals, cargo shorts, a cartoon T, and neck pillow. I have zero shame about that. You know where I was coming back from? Yet another tour of duty overseas. But hey, at least you don't need to worry about me combing my hair, I'm never on leave long enough for it to grow out. No offense intended, but I spend the majority of my time in a uniform as is, I have little tolerance for people trying to dis me over what I wear on my limited personal time.
Whatever. I found out a long time ago that people treat me better when I dress like a responsible adult man. Women of all ages and ethnic groups appreciate it and respond accordingly. Just look clean and non-threatening.
People treat you better when you dress richer and higher status, you mean? Shocking, I'm truly shocked. That's not at all the credit to you or them that you seem to think it is.
No they treat me better when I dress like a responsible adult man. My attire does not convey wealth or status, it demonstrates character and respect for others. It doesn't cost any more money to look good than it does to look like a slob. When traveling it has a huge impact in how airport/hospitality workers and other passengers interact with me. Same for retail, government offices, or my job.Try it yourself and see. Good color coordination is 90% of it.
Nonsense. Attire very much communicates relative wealth, status, group memberships, personality traits and interests, but it says nothing at all about character. Moreover, you are actively endorsing discrimination against people on the basis of their appearance, which is both morally dubious and professionally unethical. At best, you're arguing in favor of a form of 'pretty privilege' and in-group bias, at worst you're treating other human beings as unworthy of their human dignity merely because you dislike their aesthetic. "Respect for others" is the opposite of the behavior you are practicing. In fact, it rather reminds me of a passage from a certain famous text:
James 2: My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. 2 For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. 3 Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” 4 Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they curse the good name ⌞of Jesus⌟, the name that was used to bless you?
8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 9 If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient.
I’m lost, shorts are any garment which falls above the knee basically.
Is this a generic “people should groom better” post or is there actually a statement about shorts which makes sense? Grasp that all tee-shirts are undergarments and have been worn as outerwear since the 60’s.
A friend of mine had to do a look book in 1992 and had a horrible year because that was the year underwear became outerwear - think Madonna / Bustier. “How can I show Bergdoef Goodman or Bbanana Republican street underwear looks”. Thirty years ago. Fashion goes in cycles, a remarkable think indeed.
So:
People flying from Ft Lauderdale to Miami should not wear shorts because our eyes will burn out?
Basketball players should avoid the current atrocious demi-pants, and revert to trainers? What about gays - they all have to dress like they are going to a circuit party in 1993 in Adidas trainers and crop-tops?
My core question is when did shorts become longs? Men wearing tights under shorts? Basketball courts in 1975 vs 2025 are quite a shock.
Men have become more conservative dressing, more self-conscious and much more hesitating to expose skin.
That doesn’t obviate slobs, but I think unless you clarify “shorts”, this seems, well, gratuitous.
A thoughtful reflection on Imago Dei would change the world.
Do members of Congress still meet your public wardrobe standards? But what are they accomplishing and how’s that approval rating?
They all might as well be donning the Fetterman hoodie, sweat shorts and sandals (with socks) look.
Clothes may make the man but that’s not stopping them from being worthless POS’s.
And look at SCOTUS, so formal (black robes) and traditional. They might as well be tie-dyed, neon polyester or distressed denim for all the “good” they’re doing.
I will wear what I want, when I want. If you have enough time to write about how men should wear shorts you need to get a life
"The country needs to take a good long look in the mirror to find out where the country is, how it got there, and where it wants to go."
It's tragic how much energy and time are wasted rehashing cultural problem which were (and should have remained) solved. We need a new cultural consensus, and one might be on the way. NOT an oppressive regime or a smothering orthodoxy - a good cultural model makes room for dissent and outsiders. But we need to settle some weighty questions, about responsibility, identity, sex, and virtue.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/the-new-right
While I def agree with the pyjamas comment - and it’s not just airports… WTF are their parents thinking…? And adults NEVER should leave the house in a T-shirt, period.
And while I know that, traditionally, men leave shorts behind after grade school, … living in phoenix, where the temperature can exceed 110F for weeks at a time, I’ll wear shorts if I’m just out & about. If I have an appt with someone - anyone: pants. But to go to retail establishment: shorts. Probably makes me a part-time slob, but oh, well..
I'm one who never gave a hoot about fashion, but I understand your observations. I was always a t-shirt and running shorts type and always outside, and when "dressed," it had to be clean and comfortable and not look sloppy. But I spent the last 5 years of my navy career in Japan, and the Japanese DRESS when out in public, much like pictures in the US from early last century, so I did take care in dressing so I wouldn't stick out. Looking good does make a difference in attitude.