Self-Presentation in the Time of Covid-19. . .

The proverbial overflowing hamper of dirty laundry, which seems to be the look many men of various ages strive for actively in 2020. I maintain they just don't know any better.

Whether you are lucky enough to be able to work from home via online applications like Zoom, Teams, Monday.com, etc., or you are back in the office wearing a mask and social distancing, do everything in your power to avoid looking like an overstuffed lawn & leaf bag with legs. How you present yourself to the world counts, guys.

Business casual does not mean turning up for work in anything resembling pajamas, t-shirts with ironic sayings, sweatpants, cargo shorts, or anything with wrinkles, rips, tears, food, or grease stains. Unless you intend to resemble a terminally 30-year old cafe barista with a five-day growth forever working your way part-time through some kind of indeterminate masters degree program that people still don't understand even after hearing you explain it five times in as many days.

As I've said before, suits may no longer be entirely necessary in much of the working world here in the ol' U.S. of A., but for the love of God, pull yourself up out of the gutter and get some decent looking clothes to wear Monday through Friday. Things that won't make you stick out like a sore thumb in a professional setting, cause supervisors and co-workers assume a homeless person has wandered in off the street, or invite them to question your skills and abilities because you insist on turning up attired like you don't give a damn.

There are loads of websites and recent videos on Youtube that explain clearly and concisely what Business Casual is and isn't. I'd suggest starting right here at Classic Style though by revisiting a post I wrote on The Problem of Business Casual Attire back in April 2018.

Appearing at the office, or turning up for Zoom or Teams meetings looking like you rolled out of bed five minutes ago doesn't cut it anymore, boys. it's long past the time when we should up our game where personal grooming and presentation are concerned. The late 60s and early 70s were a long time ago. It's high time to tune in again, plug in once more, and rejoin the rest of adult society. And how about shaving during the week, huh? Your undergraduate years and that part-time job at Hollywood Video are behind you. You need to do more now than simply show up before you can win 'Employee of the Month.'

--Heinz-Ulrich

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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

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