Clothes define the man, goes a German saying. When the Germans say it in their language, the word “man” is neutral, not masculine. It includes both genders, or all three, as the case may be. Usually, though, we think of fashion in terms of women’s clothes. Fashion is a fashionable word. It evokes the general idea of elegance and style, something diametrically opposed to what we tend to wear every day. It is all right to dream, though. That is why so many shopping centers and malls include the word in their names. I don’t know how many Fashion Plazas, there are, or Fashion squares, Fashion Islands, Fashion Marts, Fashion Emporia, Fashion Rows, or Worlds of Fashion, not to mention Fashion-Are-Us. What they sell, though, is stuff people wear. Which has nothing to do with fashion, paradoxically enough. If you want to experience fashion you must study the magazines from Bazaar to Women’s Wear Daily. That is where you will see flowing robes in exciting colors, cut to fit gorgeous models, with or without décolleté, slit from foot to hip on one side or both. Widely flared pants decorated with ribbons and bows and worn with more or less outrageous tops of semi diaphanous material. The bold patterns, the generous cuts, the exaggerated decorations and accessories — it is all so beautiful and exciting to see. But, well, you are not likely to find an invitation to a cocktail party in the mail box today. As a matter of fact, admit it: you are on your way to Costco.
Men have choices, too. Most are not nearly as gorgeous looking as the young muscular sun tanned Esquire models, shined shoes, striped shirts with golden cufflinks, tie, jacket and all. But it would be nice to look good. At least some men think so. But come morning, the majority put on their jeans, athletic shoes, and windbreakers. The concept of fashion or elegance has no real meaning for them.
There used to be occasions, however, when men and women did dress up, as it was called. One would not dream to attend, say, a concert or a theatre performance in one’s street clothes, let alone one’s dirty shorts and tennis shoes. The better restaurants had dress codes. Jackets were de rigueur. On cruises formal wear was expected. Those were the days when fashion actually mattered.
But the times have changed. There has been a definite rise in lifestyles. Going to concerts, theatres, restaurants, and taking cruises became popular and affordable. Fashion, however, remained were it was: in the magazines. Street clothes became the new formal wear. A dressed-up person now sticks out, a snob in a concert hall full of ordinary decent folks. A man wearing a suit and tie just does not “belong” any more, the only exception being a real estate agent about to close a deal, or maybe a stock broker meeting a client.
For a long time I did not want to believe that things were going that way. On the few occasions I had to attend a dinner in proper surroundings, the Ritz for example, I thoroughly enjoyed being in the company of elegant people, eating and drinking from Spode porcelain, being served by polite attendants wearing white gloves. No, I thought, this will never change. We are civilized. Even at home my Dad always put on a proper shirt at dinner. It is just unthinkable, I told myself, that somebody would show up at 4 o’clock tea, for example, wearing flip-flops, athletic shorts, and a baseball cap turned front to back. You think so too? Think again: I have seen it done.
My wife and I now drink our tea at home, in pajamas or gym clothes, out of mugs. Using tea bags, too. The world must be going to pieces.
©2017 by Herbert H. Hoffman
Picture credit: EVOKE.ie