Dressing Up

What's the big deal about dressing up?

For many years, while at my job in Education I wore a tie to work. Here's a quote by Lin Yutang, "I have a hankering to go back to the Orient and discard my necktie. Neckties strangle clear thinking." I always wanted to wear one of those Tuxedo T-Shirts to a formal affair just to see what kind of reaction I'd get. How come when the rules say "Black Tie Optional" all men look virtually the same and women won't be caught dead in gowns that look alike! And it ain't really OPTIONAL guys, is it? Big deal, some guys wear different colored bow ties and cummerbunds...how exciting! Some of my friends know I don't relish dressing up even though I appreciate others dressing up because it makes them feel good. My wife looks terrific dressed up.

Who makes the rules anyhow? Would it really bother anyone if Brian Williams wore an open-collared sport-shirt with no tie on the NBC Evening news? He probably wouldn't since I guess he needs someplace to spend the 12-million- dollar salary he makes for reading a 30-minute newscast (minus commercial time)... by the way, how come all the commercials on his newscasts involve medicines for older people? And how come when he goes on his phony trips abroad to "report from the front" he wears his correspondent's Khaki shirts with buttons on the pockets? Why doesn't he wear one of his many Brooks Brothers suits on the front lines? Mark Twain said, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.". Maybe if you're partially dressed someone might pay attention to you. Must be why someone told me a long time ago if you feel nervous about public speaking make believe everyone in the audience is naked.

I keep seeing these science fiction flicks of the future where people are all wearing one-piece jump suits. I hope I live that long. If that happens in my lifetime I will no longer have to order my clothes from Haband online!