Formal wear

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Alright, first things first:

FORMAL: white tie, with or without tailcoat.

SEMI-FORMAL: black tie, ditto on the tails.

BUSINESS: well, business suit.

As for me, I am up to here with “casual.” Someone came up to me on a Friday this summer and saisd, “Hmm, you obviously don’t believe in casual Fridays.” I informed them with great hautier that I was wearing the faux pearls.

Me, I’d opt for Formal Fridays–men in white tie and tails, women in evening gowns and furs. Everyone would look much better than they do in their jeans and T-shirts!

–The Lady McFlimsey

22

Where I work, A long sleeved button-down shirt tucked into your jeans in formal.

I need to get another suit though. It’s been awhile. I used to wear 'em all the time when I worked retail, so many years ago. I’d hate to dress business all the time, but I do feel nostalgic about it ocasionally…

You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.

23

Urg. I feel for you people. I decided long ago that no job was worth dressing up for. Luckily, being an engineer, very few places try to enforce a dress code anymore. I’m pretty dressed up today - new jeans, stretchy white T-shirty thing with little flowers embroidered on it, and a dark blue vest with daisies on it. Very formal, for me. Normal business attire is T-shirt, jeans and/or shorts, and ratty shoes.

I’m happy to report that at least in my area, dressing up for interviews isn’t even necessary. Most engineers I know will go to interviews in a pair of khakis and a nice sweater or shirt. I’ve often worn a casual blouse and skirt. People who show up for interviews in suits and ties often create the impression that they’re a little too stuffy for our business.

24

Athena: I hope all of your engineers don’t wear skirts.
I actually do work with women engineers. Most wear bluejeans.
Uke: Do you have those elbow patches on your jacket?
Radar Ralf has “several sports jackets, and a tux”. How do you sit in a car in a tux? Is it uncomfortable?

My most hated part about suits is wearing a trenchcoat over it. I feel stuffed…

25

I work for a bank, so on workdays it’s a gray or blue suit for me. Sometimes pinstripe. Conservative ties.

Yeah, I’m quite the slick Rock and Roll type of guy. Casual wear is rather conservative too, I’m afraid. But that doesn’t make me a conservative by heart, in case you wondered.

Coldfire

“You know how complex women are”

  • Neil Peart, Rush (1993)
26

sunbear: Just take off the jacket while you’re in the car and you’re good to go. It’s especially nice if you can get the driver to around the block one more time so you and your lady can finish the Mumm’s - JUST KIDDING!

27

I told Mr. Rilch, when we were in Vegas, that when he gets down to his target weight, I want him to get some playa clothes. He has his suit and his work clothes, and nothing in between.
I recently failed to make the cut during a probationary period of a job. One of the reasons for my dismissal was I wore ankle length skirts, despite the fact that I “might trip on them”. Meanwhile, my supervisor was wearing sprayed-on leggings and displaying sixteen cubic feet of cleavage.

Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green

28

Hmmmm. I’ve worked in offices where I not only had to wear a dress (I don’t own even one at the moment) but I also had to wear high heels! I still, for some weird womanly reason, still have all my high heels (I’m sure it’s a weird sexual thing but let’s not get into that here) . Anyway, as for office dress for me in the last ten years:

Jeans. T-shirts. Sweatshirts and sweaters. But always jeans and tennis shoes. I was an accountant and never saw the public. I was also the back up (i.e. all the fucking time) computer person. I was constantly crawling under desks so I could wear clothing appropriate to this.

What I want to know, which was brought up in another thread that was re-directed here, is what happened to hats? I LOVE hats! I have several. No, they are not women’s hats. Not those silly pill box things. But fedoras and homburgs and modified cowboy. I love my hats and always get a certain “look” when I wear them. Like I’m hiding some hair loss even though there is about three feet of hair falling down my back. Perhaps they think that is GLUED to the back of the hat?

I vote we get rid of high heels and ties and re-institute hats!

Best!
Byz

29

It seems that women can still wear hats in some situations. Not many do.

Rilchiam: what sort of a job was that?

30

I really like being dressed up. There is one item still missing from my wardrobe-anybody know where I can get one? I need an Edwardian smoking jacket-the kind of rig that the rich guys wore after dinner (for brandies and cigars) on the TITANIC. I’ve tried all the vintage clothing shops in my area-nobody has them!

31

Does anyone ever dress up anymore? My wife and I went to the Metropolitan Opera last Wednesday. We were dressed quite nicely, though luckily I convinced my wife not to make me where a tux until we found out if anyone else (becides the orchestra) did. Most every one, except for some of those in box seats, were in business suits, including the women. Either that or downright casual. Now in DC, Richmond, and Norfolk when I have been to the opera, people have considered that a special occasion, and furs and gowns were common. Are New Yorkers never evening-wear formal?

As a computer programmer, my bosses and coworkers seem to get offended that I wear a tie on my first day on the job (A tradition for me). I like dressing nicely. Pooey on them!

32

Real-life urban legend comin’ up: My former engineering supervisor had a new hire show up in a button-down oxford and tie for his first day. Bill came up to the poor guy, grabbed his tie, cut it off at four inches with scissors, then shook his hand and said “Welcome to Acme”.

I wear a tie around here any time I come in late (which is often). Makes 'em think you’ve been out interviewing.

“It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive”
Bruce Springsteen

33

DHR:

I LOVE a man in a nice (dark, well tailored) suit.
Of course I love a man out of one, too. :slight_smile:

My personal opinions follow-
(I’m the one that my college guy friends would take with them to buy their interview/business suit, so I guess they at least thought I knew a thing or two.)
Three piece suit – passé, too ‘80’s
Watch chain – poseur
Cuff links – nice touch, in the right environment/occasion/profession (e.g. banking) or for euros/latins
Tie pin – ick, too salesman in a polyester sportscoat
Tie bar – a bit past it, but not a horror, ditto for collar pins/bars
Suspenders – Those “statement” suspenders are over for the most part, thank god, but a nice pair of braces on a dark, English/traditional-cut suit can be niiice.
Bow tie – well only if you’re going for the whole English professor/eccentric/dweeb look. And it then becomes part of the man’s persona.
Suit jacket with only one button – fine.
Suit jacket with three buttons or more – 3=fine. >3 = fine on younger men and/or in the more “creative” professions, a bit too “fashion” for the older or more conservative ones.
A fedora – Give me a break, unless it’s Halloween or swing dancing. Or you’re Tom Wolfe.

Mostly I’ve worked (and dressed) in somewhat conservative large corporations. Now I have my own company and we’re business casual (no jeans, etc.) unless meeting with clients (suits).

Currently I wear a suit a couple times a month, for client meetings or presentations. When I was in big corporate America, I wore them a couple times a week, esp. for exec presentations. Rest of the time it’s women’s business casual: skirt or trousers and a shirt, blouse, sweater or sweater set. It tool a while to get the “hang” of this.

Thankfully the color and style range available (and acceptable) in women’s suits has expanded greatly in the last 8-10 years. And the office in general has definitely gotten more casual on average.

As a business woman, I’ve almost never worn dresses for business (day). They’ve always been viewed as too “secretarial” for the executive women. (Go easy on me, I’m not saying I agree with this, just that it’s the common perception in the more traditional environments where I’ve worked.)

For an interview, (as –er or –ee) I still like a suit. Shows you care, to my mind. Go ahead call me stuffy. I don’t care.

As for outside of work (what’s that?)-
It’s also more conservative/formal in the east vs. the west, especially in the evening. In Denver, a jacket was rarely required/expected in a restaurant. Here in NJ and other eastern metro areas, it’s more expected, esp. in DC – the MOST conservative-dressing town I know. Although there was that time when I was living in Baltimore and gave a cocktail party – sent out printed invitations and everything – and people came in everything from suits to gym shorts. Hey, if I’m going to this much trouble to throw a nice party, at least you can get dressed and look nice!

The most formal affair I ever attended was a Ball where the dress was “Decorations”. That means white tie, and if you’ve got medals, wear ‘em.

34

Maybe my life and my closets are a bit weird compared to most people, but for business reasons I got a bunch of formal attire . . . including 3 tuxedos.

And I got concert clothes like nobody’s business . . . how formal do you need, I got it.

But usually nobody cares what I’m wearing, so it’s shorts and shirts in summer, pants and shirts the rest of the time.

I love the occasional dress up deal; it’s the only time I get out the high heels, stockings, etc. (My weakness: lingerie. But that’s another thread for another day.)

BTW, I also have a ton of stuff I bought in vintage clothing stores, estate sales, etc. . . I love the look and accessories of days gone by. Hats with veils, gloves . . . when I was a smoker, I had the requisite cigarette case, lighter, etc. All my tuxes (some of them are vintage) have the proper accessories: cufflinks and etc. I feel so special sometimes getting dressed up like this. I wish I had more opportunity for the hats and stuff; women don’t wear hats anymore, men neither. I miss that; a man in a Borsalino is gorgeous.

And a tip to women: men’s tuxedo shirts are the nicest blouses you’ll ever wear. Gorgeous materials and strong . . .and women look very sexy in those shirts. Or so I’ve been told. :slight_smile:

your humble TubaDiva
I have nothing to wear!

35

Sunbear: It was an auto reposession company.

Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green

36

I own a suit. I bought it second hand, with a white shirt, and a black tie, for twenty-five dollars. It’s black. I wear it when someone dies.

I don’t own any other shirts with collars, or any other ties. Everyone seems to think I ought to dress nicer. I like my clothes. They are made of cotton, they are clean, and they are comfortable. All my socks are the same color, except the black ones, which go with the funeral suit. I don’t own an iron, and I can get dressed in the dark. I buy several pairs of lightweight shoes when they go on sale, so I don’t have to break in new ones too often. Clothes are of absolutely no importance to me; not mine, not yours.

My various bosses occasionally try to encourage me to dress differently and cut my beard and hair. (Both currently reach the middle of my torso.) They get frustrated. I get bored. They get over it. I am well aware that I cannot be a reasonable candidate for administrative positions in my current fashion state. I find that entirely acceptable. I am also well aware that my appearance could be used against me if someone wanted to cause me enough trouble to get rid of me. It ain’t likely. The case law is sufficiently vague, and my employer sufficiently inconsistent that I am willing to call the bluff, if someone decides it is worth a law suit to see the last of my Mickey Mouse tee shirts.

Casual: shorts, tee shirt, shoes and socks. Various colors, snappy comments on the tee shirts.

Semi-formal: shorts, tee shirt with no words on it, shoes and socks.

Formal: long pants, solid color tee shirt, shoes and socks. (wash the shoes.)

I am also very well aware that my attire is not appropriate in many settings. I don’t go there. I don’t miss it. If I like someone a whole lot, I will wear the dead guy outfit for them, if the place is really cool, and I want to go real bad. (Happened three times in the last three years.)

<p align=“center”>Tris</p>

37

But you’re all set for the ZZTop auditions, so that’s definitely a plus.

your humble TubaDiva
Are you a Sharp Dressed Man?

38

Triscadekamus: I notice you have a micro$oft homepage.Are those free?

I may be looking for a place to go for a home page. My previous place to dump some articles disappeared.