A recent automotive commercial begins with the question, “Whatever happened to style?” The spot is extremely well done, and harkens back to the days of flair, fins, fine clothes and fun fantasies. Asserting that America has somewhat lost some of the glamour, cachet and confidence once proudly displayed, the company assures the viewer that it’s time to get it back.
The commercial obviously is focused on the cars, but also features fashionably dressed people from the 50s and 60s era. “Looking and feeling like a million bucks…it was practically our birthright,” was a phrase used to describe the mood at the time.
I started to wonder if we really did lose our sense of style, flair, panache. After a reasonable amount of deep thought, I arrived at a conclusion:
Yes.
The “cars thing” goes without saying. Past blogs have highlighted my disdain for boring sheet metal and colors, as well as an overall lack of tangible proof of thinking out of the box. (To be fair, the thoughts might be there, but the results are yet to be seen.) But the people aspect is a little different. Seeing the folks all dressed up in the commercial really struck a nerve.
There’s been a definite evolution over the last two to three decades as to how people dress for different functions and occasions. It wasn’t really that long ago companies first instituted “casual Fridays,” and that people regularly “dressed up” to attend shows, plays, church and, to a lesser extent, go shopping.
At a high percentage of companies today, casual Fridays are extended to Monday through Thursday as well, and standards for acceptable “casual dress” have become less defined by the day. I’ve seen people attend stage plays in jeans and t-shirts (not just in Detroit – NY and Chicago as well), go to church in shorts and flip-flops, and with shopping…anything goes. Hey, during nice weather, its great to go to a ballgame or lounge around the yard in really comfortable clothes, but everywhere and at any time!? What happened to the sense of respect we had for certain occasions, institutions and functions?
Obviously, the way people dress can affect their mindset and approach to things. Can you imagine what would happen if the U.S. Marine Corps decided that uniforms were no longer required? Just show up to work and bring your hiking boots, helmets and rifles. Think they’d still be the same formidable, precision, well-oiled machine?
I wonder how well the New York Yankees would perform if all the players dressed “mix ‘n match” like a beer league softball team.
“Well, those are uniforms,” you may be thinking. Look, basically we ALL have uniforms we wear at different times and occasions. The steel worker’s uniform is different than the accountant’s, but it’s still a uniform. If you work for Google or Apple, the uniform is different than that of a financial consulting firm, but — I don’t want to break your hearts here, young people – it’ s STILL a uniform. And within the criteria of each uniform, maybe – just maybe – we need to take an honest look and apply a bit more “spit and polish.”
My point is that, as a whole, our American style has somewhat diminished over the years, and with it some of the accompanying panache, confidence and unapologetic desire to excel. When we get to where we can’t tell if someone’s going to work or to a backyard barbeque, I start to think the commercial makes a great point…
It’s time to get it back.
D. E. Allen 02/17/2011
I really hate to agree with everything you said, but I do. The question is where, when and how to do it. I really think it has to start at the top and lead by example. If the boss sets a standard and faintly recognizes those who follow, the transformation just might happen. A little parental guidance might help with the younger set —- but what would all those child psychologists say if parents actually exercised their responsibility and “stunted” their offsprings’ creativity in wearing grung!
Mary 02/26/2011
I agree with this 100%!! I am an elementary teacher. I try to convey to my students that the uniform they are required to wear helps them to focus on their “job” as a student each day.
This article addressed the outer result of an inner disturbance…people that dress inappropriately oftentimes do not respect themselves enough to care what impression they make on others. We disrespect ourselves long before anyone repeats the offense! Our “dress” is the most blatant expression of how we feel about ourselves each day.