It’s got nothing to do with trends, simply with wearing clothing appropriate for a particular situation rather than buying one’s complete personality off the rack at Urban Outfitters or Abercrombie & Fitch and then acting as though being asked to dress differently is a human rights violation.
I have to say I find it odd that there’s such a chorus about particular items of clothing being inconvenient or impractical and how rarely used they are, when vast amounts of other stuff is subject to exactly the same objection, and no-one bats an eyelid.
Scratching your balls or farting is also convenient and comfortable, but it’s generally regarded as being inappropriate for many contexts. Most people in the western world own plenty of items that are only brought out for special occasions - how come semi-formal clothing is so vastly different? It’s not as though practicality is that big an influence on what people wear every day.
ENugent - thanks. So it looks like ties have never had any purpose other than appearance, once they ceased being cravats.
Because it has to fit, and it has to be within a stone’s throw of being “in style.”
The good china can’t stop fitting around your hips. The Christmas lights don’t care if your arches are falling. Easter baskets can’t look like they’ve just stepped from the set of Flashdance.
And, more importantly, I don’t see you suggesting that I’m a selfish, lazy, immature person with no manners if I don’t have special tablecloths that I never use.