Formal (or tuxed) SLY!

[JohnMont]

Just wanted to add, or reiterate, is that in general, tradition, ritual, formality; whatever you want to call it is disappearing from our society.   It really is "all about me"  (or you , or whoever is talking at the moment).   There are no societal expectations.   I'm not saying anyone is bad for having a casual wedding, etc. ...   and if I was invited to TimeToShine's or High Sly's  weddings (and such invitations would be a great honour) I certainly wouldn't wear a suit; since the occasions were determined to be casua, informal ( my own wedding was a "hippie wedding; buy the way;  outdoors, under a tree; wore an Indian tunic ... and had about 6 inches of hair!) ...  But what I find, and what a lot of the comments here reveal; is that formality, tradition, etc.  is seen to be irrelevant and meaningless, and gets in the way of free expression.   I'm saying this disappearance of tradition and formallity is something that diminishes us;  makes us self-centered and separates us from society as Community.   Something that showed this to me very strongly was a couple of funerals that I attended.   Varioius people; like the BROTHER of the deceased, who gave part of tlhe eulogy; and other men in attendance; wore jeans; t shirts; polo shirts ......      I'm not saying they were "bad" to do so; but it just showed that something was missing; that even an occasion like this didn't require any special "vestmetnts"  I mean ; the guys probably didn't even own a suit and tie;   and weren't about to go out and buy one just because their brother died ...

[SlyHigh]

For the record, y'all can come to my funeral in short and flip flops if you want. 

I agree it's important to match the expectations of the event.  I think for our wedding we even put on the invitations that casual dress is ok.

We are definitely seeing a shift away from traditions and formality.  I don't really see this as a bad thing, because I know there will always be a balance.

[Brkeatr]

Everything changes over time including dress. We have a county fair here in my hometown and if you look at the pictures of 100 years ago, all the men wore suits and tie to the fair ! Can you imagine going to the county or state fair in a suit and tie? Another example is my Grandmothers, I never seen either of them in anything but a dress and stockings. They are both long gone now but I never seen them in a pair of pants.
We had a dress code in school in the 60's ...girls had to wear dresses and boys had to wear slacks....no jeans, t shirts, sneakers, shorts, etc . Look what the kids wear to school now.

Time stands still for no man and neither does customs, traditions or whatever you want to call them.....JMO

[GASlick]

I dress according to the event.  Again, if the invitation indicates casual dress, then so be it.  I enjoyed being formal for my wedding, but it was what we wanted.  The invitation indicated this as well.  There are restaurants in Atlanta and I'm sure in other cities, that REQUIRE coat & tie.  And that is fun to do as well every once in a while.

I just live a casual life I guess.  I could live in shorts and flip flops, but when I'm making sales calls I wear khakis and a nice shirt. 

[Rob]

Its really funny how all the SBG's who don't own a tux have replied to this post, but those with tux's havent!

I like casual and dressed up, and anything goes, really, but have worn evening suit etc for a couple of Christmas dinner dances and of course, as I'm an amateur musical performer I often wear one on stage if the part calls for it.

Anyone else?

[time2shine]

I guess after having to wear a three-piece suit everyday at my last job, and at the same time being on my hands and knees, taping down XLR cables, I have not been a huge fan of wearing suits.  Blue collar work in white collar clothes = thumbs down. [I was an AV tech for banquets and events at the Grand Hyatt]

Anyway, I admit it is fun to dress up on occasion.  And post up those tux shots, boys 

[JohnMont]

wish i had a tux ...  actually; have never worn one, even rented.  The closest I have is a black suit.  Maybe I'll get dressed up soon and send in a pic

[Brkeatr]

I could be way off base and wrong but I don't think there are many guys who own their own tuxedo's.....at least the guys I know anyway.....

[GASlick]

I don't own a tux because I don't need one.  LOL

I've worn a tux twice Senior Prom and my wedding.  My guess is that most guys don't own one.

[Rob]

I used to own one, until it got too small

The one in the photo is actually a black suit

[JohnMont]

I used to own one, until it got too small

The one in the photo is actually a black suit

It looks authentic, Rob;  I guess because of the tux bow tie ??

[IRONHORSE]

I have never worn a tux in my life- That being said, I wouldn't mind it - I think Tuxes are super cool! I am, 99.999% of the time, a jeans and a t-shirt kind of guy. BUT!

Every now and then, I'll be watching an old movie with wifey, and notice how dapper all the guys (and ladies!) looked - all the time, with their suits and ties, and how they wouldn't leave the house without their hats. There is definitely something elegant about that time, and the more formal look everyone had then.

[Rob]

on the other hand, I don't wear my tux or bowtie every day...

[JohnMont]

I have never worn a tux in my life- That being said, I wouldn't mind it - I think Tuxes are super cool! I am, 99.999% of the time, a jeans and a t-shirt kind of guy. BUT!

Every now and then, I'll be watching an old movie with wifey, and notice how dapper all the guys (and ladies!) looked - all the time, with their suits and ties, and how they wouldn't leave the house without their hats. There is definitely something elegant about that time, and the more formal look everyone had then.

Yeah; that's what i was trying to get at in my previous posts;  its a sense of elegance that has been lost in our everyday lives.   I'm a jeans and t-shirt guy most of the time too.  I can't imagine getting into a suit of everyday occasions (my Mom mentioned some time ago that her father used to put on a suit to go to the movies -- and he was 'blue collar' --an electrician.  Died in 1994 at 90; just to give the time line).  It's that 1930s to 40s  (maybe even 50s and 60s); where it was only proper to dress up if you were going out in public outside of work .   So; we have lost something ...

[marty22]

Don't like tuxes here; much more casual than I used to be.