Time for a 'Peacock Revolution'

Hanging in my closet are 56 neckties – I know, I just counted them – along with a dozen or more dress shirts, three suits, a half dozen sport coats, a tux, dress slacks and a few button-down oxford cloth semi-dress shirts. But, I did not provide the list to impress you with my sartorial ensembles (others surely have more impressive lists), but to note the masses of duds I have accumulated over the years, for which I have not ‘needed’ to have any use. I didn’t have any use because for too many years we have been living in the age of the slob.

I can go into places of business – even such stodgy enclaves as banks, or government offices – and see people (male and female), serving the public, attired in garb suitable for mowing the lawn. It has always offended me because, to me, it shows disrespect. It also shows a singular lack of self-esteem.

When I began teaching high school (far more years ago than I am comfortable with remembering) teachers still dressed like teachers. Males wore jacket and tie, and females wore either dresses or blouse and skirt. There was a distinct dichotomy between the dress of teachers and students. They were to respect ‘us’ – symbolically, at least, if not actually – and our garb was an element of that respect. That continued for a few years, and then it began to go to hell – all in the name of some ill-considered ‘democratization’ of the educational process so that the students might perceive some sort of non-existent kinship between themselves and the pedagogues. So, teachers started dressing down. Out went the ties, and eventually the dress-slacks and in came all manner of ensembles of increasing decrepitude.

I was long away from teaching by the time the rot really took hold, but quite frankly I was aghast at some of the sights I saw when I went into a school either as a reporter, or as a step-dad of a teenager, including a cutesy-poo little female secondary teacher of my daughter, who was replete with bare-midriff and cleavage revealing top. We wouldn’t have let our daughter go out of the house dressed like that.

As an aside, this same Miss Hotsy-Totsy was fired a couple of years later for having a torrid affair with a male student. She was really confused about demarcation points, obviously.

Anyway, this neglect of appearance has gone on for many, many years. Too many years. Don’t misinterpret what I write here. Right now I am dressed in shorts and madras shirt. I am sitting in my home office and I am comfortable. But, were I to go out for an interview concerning a story, I would upgrade my garb accordingly, depending on the subject I was to be talking to. And, if I were going to the theatre, I would wear a jacket and tie. Likewise if we went to dinner at a venue a considerable cut above Burger King.

Now, I grew up at a time in which men and women knew how to dress, so maybe that gives me an advantage. Yet, it confuses me that some of the worst offenders are men and women of my age. In fact (and blessedly) some younger people could put the old farts to shame.

But, and it pleases me, it seems that change is afoot. Younger women set the pace in this regard, and now I see lots of them looking good in charming summer frocks, stylish shoes and, if you can believe, in some quarters even women’s hats are making a comeback. Cool. And sexy, if you must know.

And finally, I was just perusing the latest issue of Esquire, which contains their ‘best-dressed’ list for the years. Thanks to dashing dudes like George Clooney and others, dash seems to be making a significant comeback. Fine looking suits, classic-cut shirts, dazzling ties, and all the trappings gear-wise that at one time were used to indicate that a man was also a ‘gentleman’ -- if not in fact, then at least he dressed like one.

Dress is costume, and being nicely handsomely/beautifully decked out improves the mood and outlook on life immeasurably.

And, if the trend to sartorial splendor really takes off, I’ll be able to put some of those ties to good use once again.