Today I learned...

[Rath Darkblade]

But still, learning the rules of style is an ongoing process, and like we say in writing, gotta know the rules to know when to break them.

*shrug* I have a nice white shirt that I matched with a black silk tie. Trouble is, it's a button-down shirt. So ... should I not wear it with a tie? *shrug*

To be honest, I don't think anyone would care enough about this to raise a stink, unless you're at a dinner party given by one of the royals.

And this reminds me of a royal gaffe, which was committed by -- who else? -- Prince Phillip. During his visit to Chile in 1968, Phillip was introduced to Dr Allende, soon to become president of his country. It was an official function, and Allende was wearing a lounge suit instead of white tie and tails.

Prince Phillip asked him, 'Why are you dressed like that?'

Allende replied, 'because my party is poor and they advised me not to hire evening dress.'

'If they told you to wear a bathing costume,' snapped the Prince, 'I suppose you'd have come dressed in one.'

Ahem ...

 

[Homer Potvin]

*shrug* I have a nice white shirt that I matched with a black silk tie. Trouble is, it's a button-down shirt. So ... should I not wear it with a tie? *shrug*

The shirt buttons are fine, it's the buttons around the collar that are the faux pas, allegedly. Makes sense. I don't have any shirts with the collar buttons, so looks like I'm good to go!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

The shirt buttons are fine, it's the buttons around the collar that are the faux pas, allegedly. Makes sense. I don't have any shirts with the collar buttons, so looks like I'm good to go!

Hmm. Fair enough, but ... can I still wear the button-down shirt with the collar unbuttoned?

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Rules about shirt buttons are the reason God invented tee shirts.

 

[Louanne Learning]

I've made a little adjustment in my house clothes. I always wore yoga pants and t-shirt. But I picked myself up a couple of "house dresses" and find they are so comfortable.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

I've made a little adjustment in my house clothes. I always wore yoga pants and t-shirt. But I picked myself up a couple of "house dresses" and find they are so comfortable.

I'm getting visions of my grandmother's cotton seersucker candy-striped dresses covered in an apron...

 

[Louanne Learning]

I'm getting visions of my grandmother's cotton seersucker candy-striped dresses covered in an apron...

yes! back in the day, all my gramma wore were dresses!!

I can picture exactly what you are describing

 

[Iain Aschendale]

(Mark Twain's alleged comment on cold San Francisco summers applies equally well to Monterey Bay, particularly when a stiff wind is coming off the bay.)

I spent fifteen months listening to sea lions and other incomprehensibles at that school on the top of the hill. Monterey is indeed a chilly place to be.

 

[Iain Aschendale]

To be honest, I don't think anyone would care enough about this to raise a stink, unless you're at a dinner party given by one of the royals.

Yes, but really I think it is good to  know the rules, outdated though they might be, if,  if, dressing nicely is important to you. And I don't look down on those for whom it isn't. I spend a lot of money and time when all my job really requires is khakis and a polo shirt to meet student and management expectations, but it makes me happy to go that extra sartorial mile. Just as a nicely turned phrase will attract positive attention here where plain English will do, there's a subset of professors (and students) who notice and appreciate attention to appearance and style. There was a member of the old forum who was absolute hell on comma splices...

 

[CatrionaGrace]

I'm generally pretty happy if I manage to find a clean pair of jeans in my dresser drawer. No triangular barb wire tears is a plus.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Yes, but really I think it is good to  know the rules, outdated though they might be, if,  if, dressing nicely is important to you. And I don't look down on those for whom it isn't. I spend a lot of money and time when all my job really requires is khakis and a polo shirt to meet student and management expectations, but it makes me happy to go that extra sartorial mile. Just as a nicely turned phrase will attract positive attention here where plain English will do, there's a subset of professors (and students) who notice and appreciate attention to appearance and style. There was a member of the old forum who was absolute hell on comma splices...

Fair enough. I certainly don't mind - indeed, I welcome - dressing up when the occasion calls for it. I have two suits, two vests, innumerable shirts and ties, and two different winter coats. But I don't usually put on a full three-piece suit for anything less than a wedding, a funeral, or a very special birthday, because most of my family's men wouldn't, and I wouldn't want to upstage them.

I like and enjoy going that extra sartorial mile, but I find that having a button-down shirt helps me keep my bow-tie from getting crooked, so why not? A button-down shirt with a tie is a lesser faux pas than a mischievous bow-tie deciding to turn itself sideways.