Dressing for the Dentist. . .

This morning's shoe and sock combination. Loafers are Allen Edmonds, and the socks are cotton trefoil numbers from the wonderful Dapper Classics, which recently celebrated its second year in business.

I returned home an hour or so ago from a 90-minute session with the dentist, which resulted only in his telling me that the crown ordered a month ago and scheduled for installation today did not quite fit properly.   The new crown will not be back from the lab that manufactures these for another four weeks.

Sigh. It's times like these when dressing nicely for oneself, even for something as mundane as an early morning dental appointment, helps one come to terms with wasting time and waking up far too early. So, what did ol' Heinz-Ulrich have on this morning?

Things were pretty casual really. Besides the shoes and socks pictured above, I wore a pair of very light Dove Gray dress chinos from Land's End that I've had for a long time, a summer weight navy wool blazer, and a pink and white striped OCBD shirt in a fairly light weight by Ralph Lauren, which joined the wardrobe last fall. No pocket square though, something that was purely an oversight, but maybe it's better not to get too dandy for a visit to the dentist or doctor. Right?

One thing about looking pulled together for these kinds of appointments. And I've mentioned it before here at The Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style. Looking nice (re: NOT sweatpants and an untucked golf shirt with baseball cap and over-sized white "dad sneakers") seems to cure receptionists, hygienists, dentists, nurses, and doctors of that patronizing -- and intensely annoying -- tone that seems to be rampant in the healthcare industry here in the United States at least.

You know what I mean. When healthcare professionals automatically call you by your first name and speak to you with an overly loud voice as though you are an idiot five-year old who does not understand the most basic English. GOOD MORNING BOBBY! HOW ARE YOU TODAY? NOW, THIS BIG POPSICLE STICK IS REALLY CALLED A TONGUE DEPRESSOR, AND I NEED YOU TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH REALLY WIDE. OK? THAT'S A GOOD BOY. It's almost enough to provoke physical violence when someone in pajamas -- oh, excuse me -- surgical scrubs with cute little bunnies and shooting stars all over them speaks to you like that. Know what I mean?

Anyway, it's far better to show up the to the office or clinic looking like you deserve a little respect and consideration, which means that you ought to go looking pulled together. . . instead of like you are taking a sweaty beer break from mowing and raking grass clippings in the backyard on a hot day. Besides, you deserve to be spoken to as Mr./Ms./Mrs. by people who do not know you. At least until you until you invite them to call you by your first name. Over-familiarity and false bonhomie are two of the many things wrong with public life in 2014. But I digress.

So, soften those godawful early morning appointments, and give yourself a small reward for rising before the sun, by dressing a bit better than might be required. You'll feel a tiny better about yourself and the world as you start your day. And isn't that worth the extra few minutes it might take to match your shoes and belt and tuck in your shirt properly?

--Heinz-Ulrich

J. Press Goodness. . .

F resh out of the UPS box, three examples of J. Press goodness on a Friday morning. These shirts are replacements for three recently worn-through, more than 20-year old OCBDs from Land's End (two) and L.L. Bean (one). They were purchased shortly after I took my first teaching position at a now defunct local college outside of Minneapolis, immediately following graduate school, as the fall semester kicked off in September 2003. While some professional gear hung in my closet already, a few additional items were needed at that point to round out the weekly rotation. Said shirts all finally fell prey to small rips showing up in the now very thin, but incredibly comfortable, fabric within six weeks of each other this winter and early spring. So, time for a few replacements. The old friends will find new life as summertime lawncare shirts. Of the three new items above, my favorite shirt is on the right, but one cannot go wrong with a light blue OCBD either, so we're in good

Time for the Ol' Switcheroo?

W ell, here we are approaching mid-April. And it might just be about time to swap the cool and cold weather attire for warmer weather gear this coming weekend. Mid-70s Fahrenheit yesterday, and low 70s today. Cooler after that later in the week, but I can probably stow the heavier wool items and cords in the cedar closet and safely bring out the warm weather suits, odd jackets, and pants until the fall. Still time of one last hurrah today however. Cooler enough this morning for a tan pair of cords paired with that recently arrived J. Press jacket. The latter is light enough, although it is wool, that I might just keep it handy since we can certainly have chilly days in May and June. While classes end on the April 19th this year, I'll still be on campus occasionally into June, so it's not exactly time for khaki shorts, Madras, seersucker and short-sleeved polo shirts just yet. There's also conference coming up in New Orleans at the start of June, so still some oppor

Job Talk #3. . .

C andidate #3 is, for my money, the person for the job. Considerable experience, broad perspective, well-connected throughout the college and university due to an array of collaborative pursuits of one kind or another, coherent and detailed vision laid out for the next three years and beyond. Yes. I am not on the committee that makes the recommendation to the dean, who will make the final decision and send the letter, but, were it up to yours truly, this is the guy. And he wore an actual suit (mid-gray), dress shoes, white shirt, and necktie as an added plus. 20 years or so my junior, but someone gets it. -- Heinz-Ulrich

AnonymousJuly 14, 2014 at 7:57 PM
Heinz,

You are absolutely right (again). We should never prejudge anyone, but it is hard to have the utmost respect for someone when it appears they don't respect themselves.

It is very refreshing to see a well dressed and groomed patient. I can tell you my treatment of patients is the same ("do no harm") but a well dressed person is usually a more interesting person and usually a joy to see.

Just a thought,
DrCSP
guyJuly 18, 2014 at 3:21 AM
A client has just been to see me wearing a sleeveless t-shirt exposing his arm pits and hairy back, saggy shorts and flip flops. Quality. I realise its Friday but there is a limit to dress down.

Back to dentists. My Dentist is from South Africa. A no nonsense, plain speaking, ex-military character. No patronising rubbish. Both he and his wife (the receptionist) calls me Mr... or sir. He's more than happy to talk geopolitics, economics and military stuff such as the Zulu wars. In fact we are being over run with SA expats at the moment. My chiropractor is a young SA girl but I have to be nice to her or she has the potential to seriously hurt me.

I have no problem with all these SA who are law abiding and work hard. I draw the line though at one man who I met recently. He still called himself a Rhodesian from which you can deduce his attitude on many issues. For the first time ever I started to feel some sympathy for President Mugabe.

regards,
Guy
BloggeratorJuly 21, 2014 at 11:05 PM
I myself had always thought a raincoat appropriate for a visit to the dentist.

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