Pet Peeve Number Three
I had a doctor’s appointment at the VA hospital in Portland
Oregon yesterday. Fortunately I was able to drive the 40 some miles to the
Vancouver (WA) Medical Center and take the VA Shuttle bus to the Portland
facility. I was glad to leave the driving and the parking to them.
On a 40 some mile drive I spend some time in prayer, thought,
and listen to OPBR (Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio.) I turned on my car radio
during an interview between a broadcaster and the clothing designer from the
television show “Mad Men.” I have never heard of the show before, have you? The
interview sounded interesting and since I left my collection of George Jones at
home I decided to halfway listen.
Apparently Mad Men is an American dramatic television series
created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series airs on Sunday evenings on
the American cable network AMC and is produced by Lionsgate Television. It
premiered on July 19, 2007, and is currently broadcasting its fifth season.
Mad Men is set in the 1960s, initially at the fictional Sterling
Cooper advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City, and later at the
newly created firm Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
The focal point of the series is Don Draper (Jon Hamm), creative
director at Sterling Cooper and a founding partner at Sterling Cooper Draper
Pryce, and the people in his life, both in and out of the office. As such, it
regularly depicts the changing moods and social mores of 1960s America.
Apparently the “interviewee” was the “wardrobe goddess” for the
show. She was responsible to clothe the characters in the period and in
accordance with their positions and status in society at the time. I mention
this for two (2) reasons. The first is apparently she is a “gabardine genius,”
a “clothing consoeur,” a “wardrobe wizard.” She has won awards for her “vestment
victories.”
The second reason I mention it at all is she “legitimized” my
pet peeve, number 3. She was asked by the host, who was somewhat surprised by
her answer, since she used such “formal” clothing on the set what did she think
of the modern day trend of “casual?”
Her answer could have been mine. She thought we have gone way to
far today in what we actually leave the house wearing. She thought that society
as a whole no longer chooses appropriate clothing for appropriate settings. She
thought casual clothing in certain arenas:
- Demeaned the wearer
- Demeaned the event or setting
- Removed credibility from “offices” and positions
- Showed either a hidden or blatant disrespect
Let me say those are my words in which I paraphrased her
answers. However, I believe my paraphrased remembrance from the broadcast of
yesterday is accurate. I think I am being honest.
What’s my point? My point is this; why can’t we as depraved,
sinful, unworthy, wicked, light-hating, darkness loving, mercifully redeemed
sinners who allegedly gather to give worship, honor, and glory to a most holy
and majestic God get what this secular, unbelieving wardrobe wizard gets? Why
are auditoriums filled with shorts, tank tops, holey jeans, and T-Shirts on
people who are there to exalt the sovereign, edify the saint, and evangelize
the sinner?
6 comments:
i come from the old school--you wear your best, when you go to church---a lot of people at my small church will wear very casual clothes--but i guess it was just how i was brought up---my 17 year old loves to dress up for church--
I have been thinking about church attire myself recently. My wife and I moved to Raleigh a few months ago, and we immediately started to find a new church. At first, we attended a number of PCA churches, but we have also attended a few conservative Anglican churches recently. One thing that became immediately clear to us is that Presbyterians and Anglicans dress differently here, at least when it comes to the conservative denominations. The Presbyterians certainly don't wear ripped jeans or T-shirts, but they dress fairly casually. The Anglicans dress quite formally and expensively. At first, I liked that Anglicans dress up. My wife and I have little money, and I can't afford to dress up like the Anglicans, but I do like to dress up as much as a I can for the Lord. However, my wife has suggested that too much formality in church might be a bad thing, as it might discourage poorer individuals from attending. I think that there is some wisdom to that. So, maybe the Presbyterians here are on to something good - casual formal? I dunno.
I've heard of Mad Men but you told me more about it than I ever knew before. I still won't be watching it though.
I like to dress casual, but my definition of casual is probably a whole lot different than what most might consider casual. I tend to always dress in decent comfortable slacks and a button up shirt whenever I go out in public. I very rarely wear a suit or even a dress shirt and tie--I hate wearing ties.
When I go to church I dress in clean, neat, conservative casual clothes and I feel I look very appropriate. In fact, compared to many of the other attenders I probably look dressed up. I'm shocked by the way some of the people go to church. You would never see me in sandals, t-shirts, and shorts. I don't care if this is California or it's a hot summer day. This is a peeve of mine as well.
But as far as I'm concerned I wish suits and ties would go out of fashion. Hate wearing them and they are too expensive.
I recall that the last car I bought from a dealer (in 1988), I bought partly because the salesman wasn't wearing a suit and tie and I felt more comfortable with him. Later I found out that normally they all did dress up and I just happened to go on a special casual dress day. I'm just like that. Suits and ties rather annoy me.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
Told my adult kids on Saturday that these are the guidelines for my funeral:
1) Everyone wears casual! No morbid black or uncomfortable clothes.
2) Celebrate some place that is neither a funeral or religious building.
3) Share personal stories but stay away from sanctimonious stuff. People who know me have been witnessed to already. :)
Might be unconventional but it is the way I would like to be remembered.
WOW Gregg this was some write. Being in the UK I have never heard of "Mad Men" however as a child I always wore my Sunday best , but over the years times have changed I wear my best clothes if going somewhere special but mostly I wear causal.I suppose to each their own.
Loved the post.
Yvonne.
1. I've seen Mad Men, adore the clothes, but don't watch the show because a. It comes on past my bedtime. and b. I think it's a trashy show. (Most popular shows are though, aren't they?)
2. While I whole-heartedly agree with your statements, and truly wish society would get-it-together and start dressing properly again; I honestly think God doesn't care what you wear when You meet with Him. I'd rather someone come to Christ and the cross in their Bermudas and flip-flops than not know Him at all. ...But if I had my druthers, I'd rather see everyone in 'church' clothes. :)
PS...This casual wear phenomenon is why I started sewing again. The clothes at the mall are atrocious! Really, we should just be ashamed of ourselves for buying those rags. Happy Thursday, Gregg! LOVED this post. :)
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