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I have an extensive walk-in floordrobe, but I keep my suit on a hanger. It waits there on the back of my bedroom door like a superhero’s costume, ready for action.
Everybody has a set of battle armor, clothes you wear when you feel vulnerable or out of context, for me it’s the suit.
And whilst I may not be saving the city from a monster menace (not this time) or stopping the plans of an evil tyrant, it does the trick for weddings, job interviews, christenings (yes, I still go to those. I find it is important to represent the other side in church. Often repeating the words ‘or not’ after the vicar’s lines rather than ‘Amen’) and funerals.
Recently the suit has been customised for better results… I’ve replaced the belt with a set of braces – now I have the flexibility of waist-line to accommodate the largest of meals comfortably whist still maintaining a secure length of trouser.
The tie has become my utility belt – not only can I change the colour depending upon my role and mood, but if the worst happens I have a handy ligature and a very short lasso.
I spent my teenage years determined not to wear a suit. I saw it as conformity, something I didn’t want to, and didn’t know how to, do. But now I see why they are so popular with city workers, athletes, doctors and teachers – they make you invincible.
Amen, brother Adam. I’ve had lots of suits, all of them op-shop zinger deals, none of them costing more than ten dollars. The best one was the pure wool navy pin-stripe which I was lucky enough to buy on the Sunshine Op Shop’s dollar day.
“That’s a dollar for the jacket,” explained the old lady. “But because this is TWO pieces, that’s also a dollar for the pants.” A favourite story to tell other guys who’ve spent hundred hiring or buying their own boring black jobs. Any time I want to feel like the whole world thinks I’m cool, I just put on a suit.
All hail the suit!
At $2 there’s no excuse.
I’ve always fancied a trip though, to Saville Row to for a fully bespoke suit. It’s not likely to happen any time soon…
I wear my black army coat (seen here: http://www.drunkduck.com/Satans_Evil_Square/index.php?p=329329 rendered in comic form). It doesn’t work in most of those situations you use the suit for but it gives me some extra mental fortitude to deal with the kinds of situations I have problems with (anything involving people). Unfortunately it’s so ungodly hot in Florida most of the year I really can only wear my coat outside of my house a few weeks in the winter.
I’m a big fan of coats too – if there’s one good thing about the terrible summer we’ve been having here it’s that I have been able to wear my coat far longer than usual.
Are you not tempted to go custom? A few heatsinks, a fan-driven cooling system and perhaps a persp collector a la Dune.
…also, added your comic to my ‘thanks to’ links… should have done it sooner…
Gotta love a good suit.
I own two, both slightly too large for me.
When I want to feel invincible, I don’t wear the suits, I prefer to go mafia/mob style.
Nice black slacks, clean, sharp, long sleeve shirt and hand made italian leather shoes.
Of course, after the screening of the UnderBelly tv series, every one was wearing this kinda stuff, so it didn’t work so well.
You know one thing that people often leave out when wearing a suit is the hat. In my opinion the hat really seals the deal, and not a baseball hat but a real hat, one that fits the suit. It’s a step above the everyday body armor of a suit.
Touche, hats… I can’t carry one off, odd ear height and a strangely shaped head… but I wish I could.
In contrast, there is nothing more disappointing than seeing a fella in a nice suit wearing a baseball cap.
I’m also a no-hatter. I have a HUGE head, and finding a hat that fits is a rarity. Plus, anywhere you are expected to wear a suit, you’re also generally expected to take off your hat.
My wife has what I call, the “housedrobe.”
Suits are great.
On cheap awesome clothes: I got a tan corduroy sport jacket for $5 at Old Navy… it has patches on the elbows! Yeah!
housedrobe – nice, all she needs is a pipe and slippers too.
Both Em and I have ‘indoor coats’, I suspect they are similar.
Cultural question… what is ‘Old Navy’?
Old Navy is a clothing store with obnoxious commercials.
And it’s neither maritime nor particularly un-new.
Right now my wife is staying at the post-natal care center for a few weeks. After that, she and the baby will be going to Ulsan to stay with her parents for a few more weeks. I’m scared that this might be enough time to revert me to my bachelor lifestyle… which is to say, floordrobe in the bedroom and enormous stack of pizza boxes on the deck.
congrats, and good luck
i’d like to have a suit, the dress clothes i keep getting involve rather more pastel colors then i’d like. it’s hard to feel invincible in a purple skirt
As a lawyer/attorney/barrister and solicitor, I wear a suit probably 3 days out of the week without fail (whenever I’m in court), so it’s lost most of its specialness for me. I do, however, get to break out the special shirt, sleeved court vest, and the heavy robes for special occasions (viva voce evidence before a superior court justice), and that still continues to give a thrill.
I actually get more of a “suit of armour” feeling from shorts (short pants? international terminology on that particular article eludes me; not my underpants) and a t-shirt (preferably from the floordrobe), because it’s like camouflage for me: nobody expects a lawyer to go around hidden in ratty shorts and a shirt with a picture of the Joker on it.
Late to this thread, but to offer an alternative, non-professional clothing item of invincibility:
I have a pair of over the knee pleather boots that are hot pink with a black racing stripe up the sides and a five inch stiletto heel. They get results. And respect.
wow,
i’d kill myself and anyone in a six meter radius
That would be impressive, but I think the colour would do the most damage to onlookers.
I finally got my knee high work boots this week.
3/4-1″ thick soles, black leather, reflective laces.
Any one would think I was a goth.
I tend to only wear them at night (not really a day type shoe) so they look more of a dark pink. I’m surprised I haven’t injured myself in them. The heels are very high and I’ve gotten very drunk both times I’ve worn them out to bars. The first time I wore them I got offered $500 to appear in a porno being filmed on a yacht nearby (I declined the offer).
You need to wear your boots out with a black trench coat, Ben. You can walk up to strangers and ask if they would like to hear a poem about misery.
Thanks!!! cool…
I really think that such arangements
Good days , I wish.
Suits really do! I think with the right kind of suit, you can do anything. why? because, if you look good, you feel good. and when you feel good, good things happen
I have quite the floordrobe myself. The suit is always hanging though. I do like breaking it out especially on days I might end up at a happy hour after work.