Most of my department works with a variety of people, from elected officials to cops, firefighters, and EMS teams. It’s not uncommon to see a county judge from a local jurisdiction to show up to a meeting wearing pressed Levis with a button down and a cowboy hat; the same goes for the county sheriffs and most of the local cops. In my position, I usually meet with the techs — those geeky guys wearing untucked polo shirts with the jurisdiction logo and jeans. In the end, it’s only the guys from “the big city” that wear the top dollar suits around here.

So you’d think that, to maintain a little “street cred” with the guys we work with on a daily basis, we’d at least be able to dress according to our audience. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Our fearless leader — let’s call her Daisy — has a pathological hatred of denim. We are the only department outside the exec director’s office that doesn’t get to wear jeans on casual Friday.

It also means that, when I go on a site visit, I’m expected to dress professionally. Last week, I went to a meeting at a local county radio shop. This location was basically a garage where they maintain equipment and install mobile comm units in county vehicles, that happens to have offices attached for the radio system staff. Needless to say, even the county emergency management rep was wearing a polo shirt and khakis; the county sheriff’s rep was in BDUs. Me? I saunter in wearing a suit and heels. I felt like an idiot. And, because of our department policy, I *looked* like one, too.

We already have a serious handicap in dealing with our first responders due to Daisy’s previous actions. Simply put — like George Will — she’s out of touch with her constituency. Her dress code policy is case in point, and only makes the situation that much harder.

Someone who is buying his/her jeans at KMart or Sears admittedly is probably not thinking all that much about dressing to impress; rather, the thoughts are about practicality, durability, and comfort. News flash to George Will, these are all important and, as much today as in 1850, necessary things. I can think of a ton of masons, electricians, plumbers, etc., not to mention moms, dads, cat owners (claws!), etc. who would take exception to his elitism. For any homeowner, the thought of doing yardwork in Dockers is the matter of jokes.

Furthermore, the important details of practicality, durability, and comfort appear all to be sacrificed by curious George in that photo. Yellow doesn’t match with much as a bottom for men… strike practicality. The pants are thin enough that the outlines of his front pockets are visible… strike durability. He’s clearly got a “muffin top…” strike comfort. Three strikes, he’s out.

For the record, these comments come from one who just turned 31 and didn’t wear jeans until he was 24.

the smoking hot bartender there has apparently developed cancer and is undergoing chemo.

All the best to her. I think we can all agree cancer needs to be throttled.

Chapoutier is temporarily without internet at home (or my temporary home). He spent Friday night not ironing his underwear, but rather at a whiskey bar drinking sazerac and wheat beer and lamenting how the smoking hot bartender there has apparently developed cancer and is undergoing chemo.

I wear jeans, tshirt, and sneakers to CHURCH and no one bats an eye. In the summer, shorts and sandals. I dare you to challenge my theology or my conservatism.

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

How does the presence or absence of a silk rope around my neck affect my understanding of, say, the Tenth Amendment?

Does the presence of a suit and tie mitigate the leftist nature of Obama, Biden, Kennedy, Kerry, Reid… ?

But I think we have the definitive answer to the relative propriety of denim.

Mr. Will may argue if he wishes.

– MuscleDaddy

Fortunately the industry that I work in (and my customers run the gamut of the Fortune 100 [#1 on down the line]) sometime even direct me to wear jeans while I am onsite, because otherwise I would stand out in their workplace.

On occasion, I will dress up when I fly First Class, because it does attract a higher class of gold-diggers and flight attendants.

On April 18th, 2009 at 8:17 am, karl9000 said:

Since we’re discussing fashion here, aside from catching anything that will permanently stain, what purpose does a tie serve?

Just curious…

Teabag locator.