When a man dresses like a boy on the outside, there’s a chance there’s some stunted development on the inside.
BRETT MCKAY
I do not dress like a boy. I used to dress like a boy until I married a woman who dressed like a woman. I said goodbye to the T-shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals. I am proud to say that I have never owned or worn a pair of Crocs.
I do have issues with those who agree with me that men shouldn't dress like boys but should dress with some sort of finery that doesn't fit with the man. The person that comes to mind is a lunatic woman blogger who claims Catholic conversion but dresses like a total Protestant with a loud hat and all the rest. She somehow didn't get the memo about Catholic modesty. The other people that come to mind are the men on YouTube who dress in three piece suits like some latter day English fops.
I am not terribly interested in how other people dress. Clothes are not my thing. I developed my blue collar fashion strategy years ago, and it is still working for me. But I do want to list the sartorial considerations that go into the decision making of what to wear.
1. Comfort
Comfort is the reason so many men dress like boys now. Athletic wear is the prime component of this trend. Senator Fetterneck is the poster boy for taking this too far. But if you saw the guy at Walmart on a Saturday dressed in shorts and a hoodie, do you even care? I know I don't even if I personally refuse to wear this stuff outside of the house. (I have an ancient Carhartt hoodie that I call the "house hoodie" because I never wear it outside except to the mailbox to check the mail hoping the neighbors don't see me.)
The argument is that this comfort wear is too casual for wearing in the general public. I admit that seeing some hood rat wearing socks and slides in the store is off-putting. But are a pair of camo Crocs on a redneck any better? Or, what about the hippie chick wearing her Birkenstocks?
2. Utility
Utility is the reason I dress like a blue collar worker. Workwear allows you to do physical work. Sad to say, many blue collar workers have taken to wearing comfort clothes for work instead of work clothes. That tells you all you need to know about the work ethic and mindset of that guy. I am a fan of the work uniform. It could be hospital scrubs or a chef's outfit. Just because you work for a living doesn't mean you should dress like a bum. You should dress like a worker.
3. Respect
Respect has to do with modesty and reverence. This is why women shouldn't wear Daisy Dukes to church or to the office. People in office occupations and professional jobs should dress the part. I don't expect the president to dress like a janitor.
4. Vanity
Vanity is where people end up dressing in a costume. They might cite other reasons like the ones already listed, but we know better. If you're wearing a leather jacket without a motorcycle, you are wearing a costume. The same goes if you dress up like Tom Wolfe or Roger Stone. And the lady I mentioned earlier is firmly in this category even if she is in denial over it.
I don't know where the line is between respect and vanity. Show up at a funeral in a baby blue tuxedo with the ruffles in front, and you will find that line exists. You should never wear a costume unless it is on the stage, or you are doing singing telegrams. The problem is that these people have no clue that they are wearing costumes.
The costume wearers love to express shock and disgust at the casual wear of virtually everyone else because they want attention and credit for wearing their costumes. This is not modesty. Modesty doesn't seek to be noticed.
For myself, I seek to dress in a way that does not call attention to myself. I tend to blend in with those around me. I don't want to stand out in any way but dress like an age appropriate normie who knows his place as a member of the working class.
***
Men Don’t Dress Like Boys
Blue Collar Fashion Guide
