Okay, I know in the chaos of our world these days, that this may seem a pretty trivial soapbox to climb upon. I was looking at online news sites today and it could make a person shake in their shoes at the instability of the Middle East, the resulting spike in oil (and thereby gas) prices, and the aligning of military forces. Several countries are on the verge of implosion and governments toppling. While it is a half-world away, it will have dramatic impacts on us in midwest America.
So why, in the midst of this, do I make a stand against the slobbification of America? Why is this my personal crusade? Because I believe we are losing something very vital in this generation. In a world where nothing is important anymore, nothing is sacred, there is nothing worth living or dying for.
In just the past few years there has been a dramatic change in the way people from all walks of life attire themselves. A decade ago, when one had to take an airplane flight, one would dress up for it, wearing at least nice slacks and a shirt. Women would often wear skirts or dresses. Businessmen would wear suits and ties. Nowadays, take a walk through the airport and observe the travelers and you will see predominantly jeans.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against jeans. I just protest against them as being the totality of a wardrobe. I know most people under the age of thirty don’t even own anything to wear except jeans and tops that can be worn with jeans. When it comes time for a job interview, if you decide to ‘dress up’, it likely will require a trip to the department store to buy something that will later be shoved to the back of the closet.
At a lot of places of employment, jeans are the usual daily attire. Some places require khakis but even these are often of a denim-type cut and fabric. Employers that used to require business wear now settle for business casual. It’s rare to see any man wearing a tie today except for a funeral or wedding. And you know what? They’re always noticed.
If you go to the local Wal-Mart, you see shoppers in sloppy sweat pants, pajama or lounge pants and slippers. My college-age young people tell me their peers show up to class in their pajamas on a regular basis. If clothes aren’t sloppy, they’re inappropriately tight or revealing. Strappy tank-tops, skin-tight tops showing every extra bump or roll, pants that reveal way more than anyone wants to see. America needs a make-over!
Even church, which used to be the bastion of wearing your “Sunday best” is today a sea of denim and t-shirts. Even the pastors and leaders wear jeans, perhaps with a casual sport coat thrown on over a t-shirt. In the summertime it’s common to see shorts, capris and flip-flops.
I have nothing against any of these people who choose to dress comfortably in their favorite clothes. What I protest against is the attitude that there is nothing worth putting out effort for. If I can throw on any old pair of jeans and any old t-shirt for any event, what makes one day different than another? And is this attitude indicative of our society as a whole that it’s all just good enough? Do the bare minimum. Don’t expect anything beyond the basics. Don’t ask me to step out of my comfort zone.
Why does a couple planning their wedding take such care and go to such expense to get just the right attire for their special day? Because it’s a very important aspect of setting that day apart as something very memorable. Wearing a beautiful wedding gown makes every young woman feel like a princess. Seeing her Prince Charming in an amazing tuxedo is a moment no bride would want to miss.
There used to be an adage about first impressions, remember? Nowadays, instead of trying to make a good first impression by wearing sharp-looking clothes, people seem to be afraid to overdress. A few years ago when we were invited to a graduation reception, we would dress up in our Sunday clothes to attend. Now, if you wear something like that, you’ll be the only one.
*Sigh*. Once again I seem to be stalwartly going against the grain of society around me. I have made a conscious effort to dress professionally when I teach. When I go to a meeting, I don’t wear jeans. In fact, I usually wear a skirt. Why? Because I do think we live up to what is expected of us. When people see you dressed in good-looking, sharp attire, they expect you to be smart, articulate and professional. You feel confident that you look your best. And, like wearing a beautiful dress on your wedding day, wearing nice clothes makes you feel capable, special and competent.
Two generations ago, a man wouldn’t leave the house to go to ‘town’ unless he was dressed in a tie and coat. A woman wouldn’t leave without wearing a good dress and shoes and likely a hat. Even today you can sometimes see one of these older gents in their suits and ties sitting at a coffee shop, reading the paper. They are quaint and “old-fashioned’ but don’t you also think of them as endearing, charming, and someone with whom you’d like to sit and hear their life story?
I know; we stand out. (What’s new?) The young women in our home wear dresses or dressy pants to church and among their peers they totally stand out. It’s taken time for them to get used to being a flower in the sea of denim. For adolescents, that’s not an easy feeling. But they’ve learned to humor their mother and, I hope, seen the benefits of wearing clothes that make them as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside.
I know this is a futile crusade. No one cares that I think this is important. But maybe, if one person pauses before grabbing the familiar pair of jeans, I’ve made a small impact.
