The Worst! Possible! Thing!

[the_gneech]

So as I was putting on my shoes this morning, one of the laces– which had been threatening disaster for some time– gave up and snapped right in two. Fortunately, in the closet I have a basket of extra shoelaces and other footwear necessities for just such an emergency. But it was also a good thing that happened, because it prompted me to take a good look at the shoe, and discover a massive, ugly acid burn that I hadn't noticed. Last week sometime, while pumping gas, some of the nasty stuff dripped onto the shoe, and though I thought I had cleaned it up in time, it seems not. For a minute I thought the shoe was ruined.



Now keep in mind, I love these shoes. Dressy enough to look sharp, but with a gum sole and as comfortable as any sneaker, these shoes are a major weapon in my dapperness arsenal. There was only one thing to be done! Break out the shoe polish and hope for a miracle!

I'm happy to say, the shoes were saved. :) But while I was sitting there furiously polishing, I started to wonder how many other guys there are out there who would a) be wearing a shoe like this in the first place, and b) would leap to the rescue if they found one damaged like that. I'm a writer/illustrator now, working from home on my own hours and as my own boss– I could spend the rest of my life in PJs if I wanted to, only pulling on pants for the occasional visit to Starbucks. According to the current mode of our culture, that's what I should want to do.

But I don't. Unless I'm in really dire straits, I make a point of "dressing for work" every day (even if I don't actually do it until lunchtime) and while it may be "biz cas," it's still a well-dressed "biz cas." For men especially, the bar of grooming and comportment has been set so damn low that just by doing what I consider the bare minimum, I'm still "dressed up" compared to almost everyone I meet.

My dad was of the opinion that a pocket tee was the only kind of shirt anyone should ever wear– with certain exceptions I won't wear a shirt that doesn't have at least three buttons on it. I asked for and was well pleased to receive a cordless iron from my in-laws for Christmas (and I use it regularly). Heck, I have a "shoe care emergency kit." Is all that stuff really as weird as I think it is? Or have I just been traveling in the wrong circles?

-The Gneech

Comments

[exatron.livejournal.com]

People may laugh about your shoe care emergency kit now, but they'll be thankful if you're ever nearby during a shoe care emergency.

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

You have been traveling in the wrong circles, because you hang out with me. ;=3

[rowyn]

Psych studies suggest that the clothing people wear has a measurable impact on how they behave (eg, wearing a "doctor's lab coat" will make people do better on a test), so your inclination to dress up is probably more constructive than one might think. :)

[kylet.livejournal.com]

I believe I've also read that if you work at home, you will be more productive if you try to "dress up" for it.

That being said...
Is all that stuff really as weird as I think it is?
YES. I can assure you the majority of men align closer to your father's taste. But we all love you anyway ^.^

[kensterfox.livejournal.com]

I think how you dress is determined by, and reinforces, your self-image and priorities. I recently went through a change in my self-image, crossing 30 years old and becoming a father, where it became important to me to dress, at least outside of the house, "like an adult". I stopped wearing ball caps in favor of a fedora (in the winter, anyway), traded out my T-shirts for polos, and sweatpants for jeans and slacks (still working on getting a good supply of appropriate shorts).

Is it normal to dress as if you're going to work when you're at home? No. But it is normal to dress in accordance with your self-image, and I'm fairly certain your self-image is (rightly) of a dapper gentleman in all circumstances.

(Side note: dire straits, not straights. Because I know you care.)

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Well there go MY chances of getting money for nothing. :P Thanks for the heads-up. :) It's not a phrase I use that much so I never really thought about it, but straits makes much more sense.

-TG

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

Equestria ... a grim and dark future, in which Rarity Belle has become Tyrant-Queen and her Fashion Police enforce a reign of (extremely fabulous) terror ...