Fuck casual. It feels good to say it. I wish I could stomp it to death, and i think I will, starting now.
Living and working in Silicon Valley, home of the stinking rich, I have been stuck in a culture of casually dressed millionaires. People who made fortunes in ways that were once considered unorthodox. Not in the traditional, old money sense. Not like the crooks on Wall Street. These were ordinary people, educated, but not the most socially developed and they spend their time devoted to technology and development. They became kings in this new age of the internet. And with their wealth came freedom, and the freedom to show up to work in casual clothes because it was a statement: "The clothes do not make the man" and everyone in a suit and tie was just trying to look like money, whereas they had money and no one to impress.
It permeated the culture and everyone followed, happily. No more starched shirts and buttoned up with a tie. I even work with men who wear flip flops to work on a daily. Muthafuckin' flip flops, yo. Can you believe that? I'm in the advertising industry. And flip flops. On men. Men not at the beach, but in meetings. In flip flops and t-shirts. Ok i get it, you're comfortable. Good. Well ya know what? I'm not.
I'm not comfortable because i look like shit. I don't look or dress like the gentleman i am. Why? Because when i do wear a starched shirt with a tie i get a million comments and dirty looks from other men, like i'm trying to be "better than them". I wonder where in the subconscious that is coming from???
Well fuck that. And fuck casual. I ain't trying to bring sexy back. Thats lame if you think it ever went anywhere. I'm bringing back the gentleman and i'm doing it for me. I have reached my breaking point. And it is all because of one of my favorite shows, Mad Men.
As you might already know, its a highly acclaimed show about 1960's Madison Avenue and the players behind the biggest advertising agencies. These men dressed flawlessly to work, and dropped it down a notch at home. Women dressed like ladies, and Men dressed like gentlemen. Period point blank. I watch that show and i get infuriated at the way i have been dressing to work. I have compromised who I am at my core to fit into some fucked up subculture of poor fashion taste. But no more. I work too hard to show up and look like shit. The result is i feel like shit. And when i dress like i want to dress, i feel good. I feel right.
Maybe I am stuck in the wrong generation but the pull to do what i want to do is too strong to ignore anymore. I have too many suits that are going un-used. But no more. Its on with the 3 piece suit, the cuff-links, the tie clip, the shined shoes, and engraved cigarette holder. I know i'm gonna be crucified for it by my peers but they can eat shit. What am i really doing wrong anyways? I'm just being myself, true to myself from now on.
music: sharp dressed man // zz top ///
