Women & Men in Society
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Dignifying the Man – IV
Dressing with Dignity & Its Consequences
When the normal man of our days – who lacks a proper formation – wants to dress with dignity, often times he can become overwhelmed about where to start. He is uncertain about the appropriate styles to choose for the different occasions. This uncertainty and indecision, if not faced directly with some practical solutions, may end with the good resolultion lost and the return to old customs.
He should also be prepared to be judged by others for his decision to dress well and enter the battle against the bad human respect that seeks to please others rather than God. He will be judged by his casual and sloppy friends and family members for going against the relaxed styles and attitudes of our days, as well as by more serious and “on-the-fence” men who lack courage to do what he is doing.
A well-dressed man who is unprepared for scoffs may well indeed set aside his good clothing completely, especially if he has never had to bear such taunts before.
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A starting point
I believe that the best way for a young man to begin dressing well is to do so gradually. Rather than show up at school or work one day in a three-piece suit, he should start with the three basic articles of clothing: a button-up shirt, slacks/chinos and dress shoes.
The shirt should be modest and simple with no flashy designs, and should be white or blue. Button-down collar shirts are a more casual option than non-button-down shirts and should always be worn tucked into the pants.
The pants can be light khaki or navy blue since these colors go well with many styles. For many men, chino pants are an easier transition away from jeans than slacks. One can shift to slacks after comfortably wearing chinos for a period of time. The belt is not optional, it is necessary to keep from sliding into the easy path of the sloppy.
A good shoe style for the aspiring gentleman can be more relaxed, such as loafers or chukka boots. One can transition to more formal dress shoes over time as one’s feet get used to wearing nicer shoes on a daily basis. It is best to avoid the new style of “dress shoes” that mix a dress style with a white rubber sneaker-bottom.
Completing the look
Once he is comfortably wearing these articles of clothing and has accustomed his friends to his daily new look, he should start to wear a tie and a jacket on a regular basis. This transition can be difficult depending on his work and lifestyle.
The tie completes the look for which the collared-shirt was designed, and makes a strong statement that a man is not following the fads and not afraid to be distinguished. To dress well, as mentioned above, demands courage and a strong will. Like the shirt, the tie should be simple and complement the ensemble of the shirt, jacket and pants.
For most occasions it is preferable to wear suit separates, that is, a jacket that does not match the color of the pants rather than a full suit. A navy blazer with light-khaki pants is a staple of American Ivy League fashion. If it is too formal for the occasion, dark brown and grey jackets work well and are less showy.
Exceptions for work vs leisure
A man working in a casual environment, where even his boss dresses in t-shirts and jeans, can consider foregoing some aspects of good dress in order not to clash too strongly with the company culture and place his career at risk. If wearing a tie and a jacket would cause such a disruption, then he can decide to dress down to the previously mentioned basic articles for work.
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School is a different matter. Since a well-dressed student usually would not cause his teacher to mark down his grade, he should not be afraid to wear his tie and jacket. He accustoms himself not only to wearing dignified clothing but also to fearlessly face public opinion. It is a type of Catholic formation that he gives himself.
In the case of students the tie should still be worn regularly unless it causes a disruption with certain relaxed teachers and assistants, as it could with a employer or manager.
The jacket is an article that can be substituted depending on the situation. A man can choose any variety of dignified cardigans in place of the jacket. Jackets themselves come in a variety of styles, some more casual, that are also completely acceptable. They can be chosen to accommodate the event, season or physical demand.
A man working in the trades, doing manual labor, or who has a job with a specified uniform will have to make far different choices than a student or a man working in an office or from his home. Still, when possible, the tradesman or worker should do what he can to add dignity to his outfit, such as the use of a simple neckerchief in the trades or leather shoes rather than sneakers.
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Outside of work, when he is away from the pressures of the work place and school, he also should choose to dress with dignity. If wearing a tie is too formal for his job, he should take the time to put one on at home. Before sitting down for dinner, he should not neglect to put on a nice jacket at the table. When going out with friends or family, he should appear in a jacket, tie and dress shoes.
It is good to remember these good customs were the norm in the past, when there still remained some remnant of a Catholic Civilization. American Catholic Etiquette (Neumann Press, 1962) laid out as a requirement the simple norm that the father should appear at the dinner table in his jacket and tie. As for children: "Boys age 10 and over should be encouraged to wear a jacket to the table. It is a fine habit to acquire."
To return to a life of Catholic discipline, a man should remind himself that he is dressing to show the respect he has for himself and for others, and most of all to give glory to God. Let him keep in mind the more profound motives that oblige him to dress well, as pointed out in this excellent article by Dr. Plinio:
First, it is proper for things that are good to reflect their internal goodness in their appearances. Thus, clothing, which is a complement to the body, should reflect the seriousness, dignity and distinction of the soul. Therefore, it should be serious, dignified and distinguished.
Second, it is proper for the appearance of a thing to correspond to its reality. Therefore, the apparel of a man, which should always be dignified, should also show what he is.
Courage in the face of ridicule
A man who rejects today’s vulgar societal norms to glorify God in his clothing will be a light in the darkness for those around him and a point of pride for his spouse and family. However, if he is surrounded by those who detest good customs, his presence can cause irritation and he can become a nuisance that no one wants to be around.
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As I have already noted, choosing this path today is not easy and this difficulty should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, just as we are called to reject spiritual errors and choose to follow eternal truths, so too are we called to reject bad customs even if we become an irritation to others.
If t-shirts and jeans are a man’s current standard outfit, it will certainly be a struggle for the counter-revolutionary to wear good clothing on a regular basis in the beginning. He must be prepared to seek the grace of God and ask Our Lady for her help so that he does not give in to pressure and ridicule, leave the path of dignity and return to the road of vulgarity. Prayer for a transformation like this is key. He should also ask for courage in this hard battle.
To be continued
He should also be prepared to be judged by others for his decision to dress well and enter the battle against the bad human respect that seeks to please others rather than God. He will be judged by his casual and sloppy friends and family members for going against the relaxed styles and attitudes of our days, as well as by more serious and “on-the-fence” men who lack courage to do what he is doing.
A well-dressed man who is unprepared for scoffs may well indeed set aside his good clothing completely, especially if he has never had to bear such taunts before.
Getting started
I believe that the best way for a young man to begin dressing well is to do so gradually. Rather than show up at school or work one day in a three-piece suit, he should start with the three basic articles of clothing: a button-up shirt, slacks/chinos and dress shoes.
The shirt should be modest and simple with no flashy designs, and should be white or blue. Button-down collar shirts are a more casual option than non-button-down shirts and should always be worn tucked into the pants.
The pants can be light khaki or navy blue since these colors go well with many styles. For many men, chino pants are an easier transition away from jeans than slacks. One can shift to slacks after comfortably wearing chinos for a period of time. The belt is not optional, it is necessary to keep from sliding into the easy path of the sloppy.
A good shoe style for the aspiring gentleman can be more relaxed, such as loafers or chukka boots. One can transition to more formal dress shoes over time as one’s feet get used to wearing nicer shoes on a daily basis. It is best to avoid the new style of “dress shoes” that mix a dress style with a white rubber sneaker-bottom.
Completing the look
Once he is comfortably wearing these articles of clothing and has accustomed his friends to his daily new look, he should start to wear a tie and a jacket on a regular basis. This transition can be difficult depending on his work and lifestyle.
The tie completes the look for which the collared-shirt was designed, and makes a strong statement that a man is not following the fads and not afraid to be distinguished. To dress well, as mentioned above, demands courage and a strong will. Like the shirt, the tie should be simple and complement the ensemble of the shirt, jacket and pants.
For most occasions it is preferable to wear suit separates, that is, a jacket that does not match the color of the pants rather than a full suit. A navy blazer with light-khaki pants is a staple of American Ivy League fashion. If it is too formal for the occasion, dark brown and grey jackets work well and are less showy.
Exceptions for work vs leisure
A man working in a casual environment, where even his boss dresses in t-shirts and jeans, can consider foregoing some aspects of good dress in order not to clash too strongly with the company culture and place his career at risk. If wearing a tie and a jacket would cause such a disruption, then he can decide to dress down to the previously mentioned basic articles for work.
Clothing affects even the thinking of men,
as noted in the last article
In the case of students the tie should still be worn regularly unless it causes a disruption with certain relaxed teachers and assistants, as it could with a employer or manager.
The jacket is an article that can be substituted depending on the situation. A man can choose any variety of dignified cardigans in place of the jacket. Jackets themselves come in a variety of styles, some more casual, that are also completely acceptable. They can be chosen to accommodate the event, season or physical demand.
A man working in the trades, doing manual labor, or who has a job with a specified uniform will have to make far different choices than a student or a man working in an office or from his home. Still, when possible, the tradesman or worker should do what he can to add dignity to his outfit, such as the use of a simple neckerchief in the trades or leather shoes rather than sneakers.
The worker can also have a very dignified dress, here accented by a red scarf & waist sash
It is good to remember these good customs were the norm in the past, when there still remained some remnant of a Catholic Civilization. American Catholic Etiquette (Neumann Press, 1962) laid out as a requirement the simple norm that the father should appear at the dinner table in his jacket and tie. As for children: "Boys age 10 and over should be encouraged to wear a jacket to the table. It is a fine habit to acquire."
To return to a life of Catholic discipline, a man should remind himself that he is dressing to show the respect he has for himself and for others, and most of all to give glory to God. Let him keep in mind the more profound motives that oblige him to dress well, as pointed out in this excellent article by Dr. Plinio:
First, it is proper for things that are good to reflect their internal goodness in their appearances. Thus, clothing, which is a complement to the body, should reflect the seriousness, dignity and distinction of the soul. Therefore, it should be serious, dignified and distinguished.
Second, it is proper for the appearance of a thing to correspond to its reality. Therefore, the apparel of a man, which should always be dignified, should also show what he is.
Courage in the face of ridicule
A man who rejects today’s vulgar societal norms to glorify God in his clothing will be a light in the darkness for those around him and a point of pride for his spouse and family. However, if he is surrounded by those who detest good customs, his presence can cause irritation and he can become a nuisance that no one wants to be around.
It takes courage for a well-dressed man
to face his sloppy peers in the workplace
If t-shirts and jeans are a man’s current standard outfit, it will certainly be a struggle for the counter-revolutionary to wear good clothing on a regular basis in the beginning. He must be prepared to seek the grace of God and ask Our Lady for her help so that he does not give in to pressure and ridicule, leave the path of dignity and return to the road of vulgarity. Prayer for a transformation like this is key. He should also ask for courage in this hard battle.
To be continued
Posted May --, 2026
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