The Importance of Dress

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, we were taught to dress appropriately depending upon the occasion. Although my generation was more laid back than my dad’s (Dad would actually put on a sports coat and tie to go to a hockey game back then), we were far more careful in how we dressed than today’s young people. When I arrived home from school my mother would insist upon my changing into my “play clothes” before going out (in other words, school clothing was a cut above play clothing). In high school we wanted to make a good impression on the opposite sex and so our shoes were polished, our shirts tucked in, we wore the latest chinos (in the late 60’s as I was beginning university, jeans were taking over much to my surprise at the time) and sweaters and then it was off to the malt shop after school to feed the juke box, dance and try to make that impression I spoke of earlier.

I well remember being called into the dean’s office when I was in teachers’ college and reminded that my shirt needed to be tucked in “if” I expected to graduate from that prestigious college. LOL Naturally he said this with tongue in cheek but it was a gentle reminder to dress the part. The only time teachers, bank workers and other public employees would dress down was on a dress-down Friday. Now it seems that every day is dress down and I’ve noticed an accompanying casual approach to business.

Recently I had a chat with a friend who claimed that dress was completely irrelevant in this day and age. Really? I asked: “When your daughter gets married, do you think she wants to go down the aisle in blue jeans or a beautiful white wedding dress? And you? How will you be dressed for that day? And when a loved member of your family passes, will you show up at the funeral in any old clothes or will you put on the best you have? And should you be chosen to greet an important dignitary for whatever reason, would you not consider the clothes you would want to wear for that occasion?” He admitted that these were probably occasions in which dress would matter.

Does dress have an impact on our behavior? I think it does in a subtle way. The more we dress down (or wear casual clothing), the easier it is to be a bit casual in our approach to our work or relationships. I recently attended a Protestant service with a friend. Honestly, I could not tell who the minister was until he walked up to the front. He wore blue jeans, a sweater and Nikes and the atmosphere seemed more like a pep-rally or a Friday evening entertainment meeting. People came into that service (it was a Sunday morning service) with lattes and coffee cups and talked aloud to one another while others were singing. It seemed total bedlam to me but they appeared happy. I mentioned how our priest wears vestments and censes the church before our liturgy. My friend wasn’t impressed and countered that dress was unimportant. So I asked, “If the President or Queen were to be at your next Sunday service, would you honestly dress in blue jeans and that sweater?” He admitted he probably would consider something a bit more stylish. “So, I asked… you tell me that God is at your church and yet you would only consider dressing in better clothes for the President. Very strange that the President has more clout than God.”

I understand that we can approach this matter of how to dress for church in varying ways and I don’t mean to be critical of those who want to dress casually; the truth is, I’m starting to dress casually myself, albeit with the best shoes and sweaters I have. But overall… I maintain that how we dress is important.

Reminder to me: time for a new pair of shoes!