Remember Leave It To Beaver? If you are over the age of 30 or 35, then you probably do even if you only watched it in reruns as I did. How about Ozzie and Harriet? I Love Lucy? Or even the Abbott and Costello movies? What is the one thing they all had in common? Yeah, they're old. What else? How about the respect they showed for others as well as themselves. I'm speaking specifically of dress.
In that era, they weren't trying to play a role or start a trend. These shows were about life and as a part of that life dressed proper. After all, would a website such as peopleofwalmart.com exist for people to laugh at. Now, don't get me wrong, this still is America. One can wear whatever it is that pleases them, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about pride. Pride in yourself that exudes confidence. I believe it's this lack of respect for yourself and others that is the fall of America.
It seems there is a sacrifice of good fashion for comfort. Fashion, now there is a slippery slope. What is good fashion? I believe good fashion is a show of confidence not comfort. Knowing how to present. If you look at the Northwestern University Women's Lacrosse team in 2009, many wore dresses to to meet the President but also wore flip flops. It seems to me that wearing what was once regarded as beach attire shouldn't be appropriate to meet the most powerful individual in the world. Was it because wearing them was easier, more comfortable? I chalk it up to laziness, and lack of respect, that they couldn't, for the short amount of time they were in his company they couldn't take the effort to be presentable.
Presentable. That offers up yet another question. What is presentable. Referring to the shows I listed above, presentable takes on a different meaning now. Men wouldn't be caught dead without a coat and tie while being out in public. Some even wore a hat. That is how you presented yourself to the world; in your best light. To some extent, that is still the case. Although men don't dress in suits when it public as a rule, when watching newscasts, for example, it is apparent that tradition is held as suits and ties are expected. Women are quite the tougher nut to crack (after all, I am a guy). Yes, you see them in dresses, particularly in the summer. But, that's the exception, not the norm. Typically, it's again, flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt. Hell, for that matter, you see them wearing that in the winter. Picture this: flip flops, shorts, t-shirt....and a coat. Is it really that important to be comfortable or to hold on to thoughts of warm weather that you would endure that in the winter? In the same reference to the shows above, women wore conservative dresses, hosiery and heels when going out. The things they thought would present them in the best light. I believe they hold those same truths when it comes to the attire but have gotten lazy when putting themselves together. For example, when was the last time you saw a women with a dress wear hosiery? I would equate that to men wearing ties. They may be uncomfortable but a requirement when putting together your ensemble. I'm a self proclaimed leg man and I can tell you, ladies, your legs do not look that good without them. Look at newswomen today. You won't see them wearing any but I also don't like the look of veins, freckles, etc. That, also, would eliminate the flip flop issue.
I guess I'm just old fashioned at heart and may not have expressed my total thoughts here but hope you got the premise of what I'm talking about. I am definitely not saying men always wear suits or women must always wear dresses, but take some pride in your appearance and show it. Don't end up as a model of People of Walmart.
