Osler's Razor

YES. I happen to think that for starters, more people should buy into what the rest of us think of as "style." I.e., it is not OK to wear shorts with "Juicy" stenciled on the butt to law school--you think you're hot, but that is not style.

Once we've mastered that concept, absolutely people should cultivate a personal style as an outgrowth of their personality and worldview. Or maybe they chose not to, and that's a comment on their personal style as well. Be comfortable in your own skin, and aware of what that means for your sartorial choices. Seems like the thing a thoughtful person would do. And don't look now Prof, but "accidental" can equal "style" before you know it.

Also, I wish men wore more hats of the non-cap, non-cowboy variety. I'd like to wear a classic hat more often and not look like I'm on the way to FDR's inauguration or a ska band audition.
 

Jesse--

When I was a prosecutor in Detroit, many of my colleagues wore hats, the homberg being a favorite. It was a great look (and a good idea in Michigan winters, especially). It never worked for me, though-- in a hat like that I look like the Quaker Oats guy.
 

Prof-
I was almost able to pull off a homburg when the missus and I lived in DC. Winter there got fairly cold, too. The main problem was that the only other guy in the office that wore one was way creepy, and I didn't want to be stuck eating at his table in the caf.

Just for the record, the Quaker Oats guy represents a strong, authoritative, and nutritious aspect of our American heritage. No so bad.
 

I think there is a lot of style lacking in today's society. Jesse - I finally agree wiht you on something - having anything stenciled on ones backside is not a good idea, unless you are perhaps participating in an athletic event and sporting a sponsor logo.

Now what is my style?
It usually involves a strand of pearls if I am dressed up. Something pink - not a holdover from my 'preppy' days, but because I do a lot of volunteer work for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Living ion the country in NC - my style now includes hogwashers and garden boots.
 

I wear a cowboy hat on colder days in DC. And I get lots of compliments, esp. from the homeless guys.

I think people should dress their best, but not go crazy about it.

I have to agree, the logo on the butt look just doesn't make sense to me. It's not sexy in and of itself and it usually is simply not true.
 

The world would be better if we didn't have to worry about cultivating a personal sense of style. Clean shirt? Check. Clean pants/shorts/even shorts with a word emblazoned across the seat? Check. Then you're good to go.

I also don't support people under retirement age wearing goofy hats. Cowboy hats aren't included in this because they aren't goofy. But anything else is purely meant for your old and crazy period. Along with wearing pajama pants with suspenders and black business socks with tennis shoes.
 

I think a lot of people believe they have a modicum of personal style--and personal style can encompass the word-across-the-shorts. Good taste is a different matter . . .

I'm kind of with RRL on this one. As long as you're able to wear clean clothes, and you dress in what's generally appropriate for your job, then that;s fine.

The good thing about being a professor is that ""appropriate for the job" is pretty broad. Working at schools is great: you have a lot more leeway in what you can wear than at a lot of other jobs. You can't wear purple bike shorts to teach in, but jeans and nice shirt and loafers are even okay. It depends on the place: I worked at a school in a rural area in India with no AC, and teachers wore shorts and t-shirts and sandals to teach in. It was kinda necessary. It was also on the hippie end of the spectrum. RRL would not have felt at home there. :)
 

I actually kind of agree with RRL on this one. I think personal style should be approached with caution, sort of like putting a bumper sticker on your car- think about the message you are sending to people who only have that to judge you by. I'm personally not that comfortable putting an extremely personalized front on for those i've never met. Others of course may differ. But on the other hand, I like that people choose to express themselves by choosing a personal fashion. You can learn a lot about a person simply by seeing what they've consciously chosen to wear.
 

I wear a t-shirt (usually bearing a college logo -- hey, I live in a town with two universities), jeans (shorts in summer), old beat-up tennis shoes, and a baseball cap if it's sunny.

I prefer the more generic style of clothing over having a personal style, mainly because I really look kind of doofy in anything.
 

I'm just going to throw out there a look... the Fonz.

That would be sweet.
 

Ayyyyyyy! [banging jukebox]
 

Fashion makes me make this noise: UGhhhhhhhh. There are hungry people in this world.

On the other hand, I'm addicted to Project Runway. So I suppose my personal style is "hypocrite."
 

RRL,
If you're telling me Justin Smith doesn't look sweet in that news boy hat - you're wrong.