I like to wear suits and odd jackets and I tend to carry my things in briefcases. Trouble is I am only 15 years old and I think people may get the impression that I am obsessed about my looks.
Have you ever had suck concerns, would you make premature assumptions about people because of their clothes or do you think there is a way of preventing people from doing so without having to let go of personal tastes in clothing and replace your wardrope?
obsession with looks
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Guest
Don't worry about what others think so much; as long as you are confident you will be fine. I would say if you are in America you will stick out and people will think you are an elite wanna-be, republican-in-training, business minded, or obsessed with looks. At your age I dressed in business casual maybe every once in a while. People accused me of a similar obsession with looks but those that knew me understood it. If I had the money then I would have dressed as you do. The briefcase, at your age, is a little eccentric but if it matches your personality then you'll only be fooling yourself if you don't carry it. If you get alot of flak just 
and take with 
. Besides, the chicks dig smartly dressed men.
and take with . Besides, the chicks dig smartly dressed men.-
Guest
When I was your age I dressed up and carried a briefcase as well. (Still do)
My friends knew that I like these type of things ever since I was born, so it worked out ok.
However the people who didn't know me would ask things like,
Are you in the Mafia?
Is this part of your religion?
Are you doing this to pick up girls?
Why do you like to dress up?
Most of the time I wore tweed sport jackets and dress pants, would save suits for presentations or formal events.
Yes even with the tweed jackets I wore cuff links and a tie.
You will get praise and boos, but just remember to be a gentleman by being humble and treating others with respect.
Its good to know that there are people younger than me that are interested in haberdashery. There is hope the future.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
My friends knew that I like these type of things ever since I was born, so it worked out ok.
However the people who didn't know me would ask things like,
Are you in the Mafia?
Is this part of your religion?
Are you doing this to pick up girls?
Why do you like to dress up?
Most of the time I wore tweed sport jackets and dress pants, would save suits for presentations or formal events.
Yes even with the tweed jackets I wore cuff links and a tie.
You will get praise and boos, but just remember to be a gentleman by being humble and treating others with respect.
Its good to know that there are people younger than me that are interested in haberdashery. There is hope the future.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
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Guest
There should be no limitation of your personal style, just because of the oppinion other's might have considering only your outward appeareance.
I'm younger than 20 myself and know about your concerns; when I started wearing pocket squares I realized that this little detail on a 14 or 15 year old might easily create confusion among some poeple...
I think the general decline of dress level in most areas of life is no reason to dress down for conformity's sake.
The most important thing is to give the people you comminucate with the feeling that your wardrobe is as naturally for you as their's is for them.
For the part with the briefcase: I use a portfolio for my things I and also used one in school - if there would have been more to carry around I also woul have thought about getting a "real" briefcase.
Kind Regards,
Cravate Noire
I'm younger than 20 myself and know about your concerns; when I started wearing pocket squares I realized that this little detail on a 14 or 15 year old might easily create confusion among some poeple...
I think the general decline of dress level in most areas of life is no reason to dress down for conformity's sake.
The most important thing is to give the people you comminucate with the feeling that your wardrobe is as naturally for you as their's is for them.
For the part with the briefcase: I use a portfolio for my things I and also used one in school - if there would have been more to carry around I also woul have thought about getting a "real" briefcase.
Kind Regards,
Cravate Noire
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Guest
I'm about ten years older than Cravate Noire, and I expect younger than Cufflink. So I have some experience in this matter. I agree that the most important thing is to make your clothes your own. But it is worth considering carefully what you can and cannot
"pull off" to good effect.
For example, it looks a bit costumey when very young men wear heavy bankers' or lawyers' suits: pinstripes, DB, etc. The same goes for dandyisms like canes, most kinds of hats (but not a good tweed cap), and colored silk handkerchiefs (again, folded white cotton is okay). There is a fine line between elegance and fancy-dress. The decline of dress and manners is indeed lamentable. But real elegance does in my opinion demand certain concessions. Your dress shouldn't make the more customarily attired uncomfortable, although as Cufflink points out, being polite goes a long way toward putting the curious at ease
On the other hand, there are lots of things that can be worn with advantage only or primarily by the young: striped ties, white ducks, slim-cut blazers, etc. In general, items that give the impression of being light and athletic help ward off questions about wanting to be a CEO or hitman.
Above all, it's a matter of trial and error. Have fun, and don't worry too much about what other people think.
S. Goldman
"pull off" to good effect.
For example, it looks a bit costumey when very young men wear heavy bankers' or lawyers' suits: pinstripes, DB, etc. The same goes for dandyisms like canes, most kinds of hats (but not a good tweed cap), and colored silk handkerchiefs (again, folded white cotton is okay). There is a fine line between elegance and fancy-dress. The decline of dress and manners is indeed lamentable. But real elegance does in my opinion demand certain concessions. Your dress shouldn't make the more customarily attired uncomfortable, although as Cufflink points out, being polite goes a long way toward putting the curious at ease
On the other hand, there are lots of things that can be worn with advantage only or primarily by the young: striped ties, white ducks, slim-cut blazers, etc. In general, items that give the impression of being light and athletic help ward off questions about wanting to be a CEO or hitman.
Above all, it's a matter of trial and error. Have fun, and don't worry too much about what other people think.
S. Goldman
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Guest
Thankyou for the responses
I do not dress as I do because of trying to be a high-flying young capitalist. Leaning towards the left wing and interested in the sciences than in trading, I am actually rather the opposite. Also, you can rest assured that I do not dress to flashily.
Goldman mentioned 'white ducks' in the last post. Could someone explain what is meant by that? I am aware that there is a fabric known as duck but it seems that the reference was not to the material.
N . . . .
I do not dress as I do because of trying to be a high-flying young capitalist. Leaning towards the left wing and interested in the sciences than in trading, I am actually rather the opposite. Also, you can rest assured that I do not dress to flashily.
Goldman mentioned 'white ducks' in the last post. Could someone explain what is meant by that? I am aware that there is a fabric known as duck but it seems that the reference was not to the material.
N . . . .
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Guest
Hello N!
As far as my knowllagde reaches, white ducks are plain qhite bluchers (derbies). Maybe there are more specifications how a shoes has to be in order to become a "duck", but there I can't give you further info.
S.Goldman, thanks for sharing your oppinion, but I'd like to mention that I'm of the oppinion that for example coloured or patterned silk squares are not necessarily costumey, I see quite a lot of people wearing them without creating a dandyistic look in the negative meaning.
Personally I like them a lot and if one isn't obliged to look rather conservative they can add a certain youthfulness to an outfit.
As for pinstripes or DB suits it depends on the case and overall look IMHO.
As far as my knowllagde reaches, white ducks are plain qhite bluchers (derbies). Maybe there are more specifications how a shoes has to be in order to become a "duck", but there I can't give you further info.
S.Goldman, thanks for sharing your oppinion, but I'd like to mention that I'm of the oppinion that for example coloured or patterned silk squares are not necessarily costumey, I see quite a lot of people wearing them without creating a dandyistic look in the negative meaning.
Personally I like them a lot and if one isn't obliged to look rather conservative they can add a certain youthfulness to an outfit.
As for pinstripes or DB suits it depends on the case and overall look IMHO.
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Guest
I'd like to add, that it was me (Cravate Noire) who wrote that comment, in case of an directed answer or similar.Hello N!(....)look IMHO.
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Guest
"would you make premature assumptions about people because of their clothes...?"
I would hope not. But I think I do, and I think we all do, sadly.
Premature assumptions are one thing. Reasoned judgments are another.
Clothes, except in cases of emergency or poverty, indicate a person's deliberate choices or habits. Both demonstrate a person's character--to a degree. In other words, clothes express something about the wearer.
What do suits and briefcases express about a 15 yr old who chooses them? Given our culture, they expresse some degree of non-conformity. Just as suits and briefcases worn by certain adults display conformity.
This assumes that suits and briefcases are valued by convention/preference rather than intrinsic practicality. Is there something more functional about a briefcase than a backpack or messenger bag? Are suits more practical than more causal kinds of clothes? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe both. Perhaps one more than another.
A choice could be made from a combination of personal preference, social convention and practicality. In any case, the grounds could be examined, and to be judged justly, the grounds of each particular case should be examined.
Thus, I would ask, why do you, in particular choose to wear suits/odd jackets and carry a briefcase?
Mark T M
I would hope not. But I think I do, and I think we all do, sadly.
Premature assumptions are one thing. Reasoned judgments are another.
Clothes, except in cases of emergency or poverty, indicate a person's deliberate choices or habits. Both demonstrate a person's character--to a degree. In other words, clothes express something about the wearer.
What do suits and briefcases express about a 15 yr old who chooses them? Given our culture, they expresse some degree of non-conformity. Just as suits and briefcases worn by certain adults display conformity.
This assumes that suits and briefcases are valued by convention/preference rather than intrinsic practicality. Is there something more functional about a briefcase than a backpack or messenger bag? Are suits more practical than more causal kinds of clothes? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe both. Perhaps one more than another.
A choice could be made from a combination of personal preference, social convention and practicality. In any case, the grounds could be examined, and to be judged justly, the grounds of each particular case should be examined.
Thus, I would ask, why do you, in particular choose to wear suits/odd jackets and carry a briefcase?
Mark T M
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Guest
I think Mr Goldman was suggesting that coloured silk squares would look 'costumey' when worn by one aged 15 - not that they looked costumey in all circumstances. He has a point. Although I think plain white silk is probably perfectly fine.
Algernon.
Algernon.
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Guest
Cravate Noire,
The shoes you refer to are white bucks, with a B (originally for 'buckskin') and have a dull, nearly sueded finish. White ducks (with a D) are trousers made of susbstantial plainweave cotton (duck), almost a canvas. Both are sometimes worn with blazers in the warm season, and are associated with young men, typically in a somewhat disheveled preppy look--think '80s J. Crew or Ralph Lauren (though they were just exploiting a much older tradition).
I'm less rigid about age-appropriateness for these items, not to mention striped ties. If a guy's still agile and trim, rather than ponderous, they look no worse on a 50-something than Nantucket reds, boat shoes, or a weathered Henri Lloyid blouson. It's a question of proper occasions. Casual garden party or on the boat, sure. In the office, probably not.
And to the original poster, my compliments. Moving in academic and artsy circles, I too enjoy confounding expectations by my dress. I rather prefer it when people can't read my politics or my poetics by a uniform. I look forward to the day when one of my more extreme left-wing colleagues will chide me for wearing a tailor-made garment. I relish the prospect of explaining that rather than feeding a multinational corporation that exploits its workers, I'm supporting a worker who controls his own means of production and shares in the profits of the firm; one who sets his own hours, earns a dignified living, and is not alienated from the fruits of his labor (if this doesn't ring a bell yet, it will when you study Marx).
- couch
The shoes you refer to are white bucks, with a B (originally for 'buckskin') and have a dull, nearly sueded finish. White ducks (with a D) are trousers made of susbstantial plainweave cotton (duck), almost a canvas. Both are sometimes worn with blazers in the warm season, and are associated with young men, typically in a somewhat disheveled preppy look--think '80s J. Crew or Ralph Lauren (though they were just exploiting a much older tradition).
I'm less rigid about age-appropriateness for these items, not to mention striped ties. If a guy's still agile and trim, rather than ponderous, they look no worse on a 50-something than Nantucket reds, boat shoes, or a weathered Henri Lloyid blouson. It's a question of proper occasions. Casual garden party or on the boat, sure. In the office, probably not.
And to the original poster, my compliments. Moving in academic and artsy circles, I too enjoy confounding expectations by my dress. I rather prefer it when people can't read my politics or my poetics by a uniform. I look forward to the day when one of my more extreme left-wing colleagues will chide me for wearing a tailor-made garment. I relish the prospect of explaining that rather than feeding a multinational corporation that exploits its workers, I'm supporting a worker who controls his own means of production and shares in the profits of the firm; one who sets his own hours, earns a dignified living, and is not alienated from the fruits of his labor (if this doesn't ring a bell yet, it will when you study Marx).
- couch
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Guest
Thanks to Couch for preempting my explanation of the difference between ducks and bucks. And to Algernon for clarifying my point re coloured silks.
As for Marx (and rather off-topic), it's worth recalling that the first International was composed largely of artisans that members of this forum would approve. Many tailors, cobblers, watchmakers, and cigar rollers. Perhaps it's time to revive the old slogan: nothing is too good for the working class.
As for Marx (and rather off-topic), it's worth recalling that the first International was composed largely of artisans that members of this forum would approve. Many tailors, cobblers, watchmakers, and cigar rollers. Perhaps it's time to revive the old slogan: nothing is too good for the working class.
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Guest
+1 But they always assume I'm Hard rightwing republican. Which is tough to figure out where they get it from if your a 21 year old East African University Student.Anonymous wrote: I rather prefer it when people can't read my politics or my poetics by a uniform.
Well said. I would take great pleasure in that as well.I relish the prospect of explaining that rather than feeding a multinational corporation that exploits its workers, I'm supporting a worker who controls his own means of production and shares in the profits of the firm; one who sets his own hours, earns a dignified living, and is not alienated from the fruits of his labor (if this doesn't ring a bell yet, it will when you study Marx).
- couch
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