* before I go on and on, let me just say that this is not directed at anyone in particular and I hope I do not offend anyone...
We went to church yesterday. Now, let me remind you that I am Jewish; maybe not in the full blown religious way, but definitely in culture and heritage. But since hubby is Catholic, I go to church with him from time to time to be supportive. Well, that and, frankly, the sermons (homilies) are sometimes very insightful and give me lots to think about. But I digress from the purpose behind this post. A purpose which is to say, is it so freaking hard to dress in accordance to ones activities? Is it so difficult to honor the places we go with the respect of dressing appropriately for these places?
I know... we live in Vegas and everything is more casual here. But can we get realistic for a minute... Shorts and an "I Love New York" t-shirt to church? Jeans and a backless shirt with last night's make-up sitting in the front row? A Credence Clearwater Revisited concert t-shirt? A dress that is obviously not intended for daytime wearing, accompanied by shoes that are of the same ilk. I mean I know I am coming off as very judgemental here, but I really find that I am offended by the casual nature of our society as a whole.
While church was an obvious example, there have been plenty of other times that I can point out. There was the lady at PF Chang's one night who looked like she had just come in from cleaning out her garage -- seriously -- in mismatched clothes that were ill-fitting and completely inappropriate for a restaurant like PF Chang's; McDonald's maybe, but not PF CHang's. At first I thought she was just there to pick up a to-go order. In her purple t-shirt material shorts that were obviously a size or two too small, old t-shirt with stains all over it and hair that had barely been pulled into a ponytail she was actually there to have dinner. At 6:30 on a Saturday night no less.
Again, I know this sounds judgemental of me, and well, it is. But I am OK with that. There is something to be said for respecting yourself and the people you are around enough to be appropriate. No one is saying put on heels and a prom dress, but come on, at least something that resembles something.
A show on The Strip, tickets $100 or more, deserves something more than a beach cover-up or cutoffs. If you can plunk the cash for the show, then put on some clothes!
Now, going back to church -- back in "the day" people got dressed up for church, you know "Sunday Best" and all that. I am not suggesting that we have to go back to that; but seriously, if you can put effort in to dress appropriately or nicely for work, doesn't God deserve at least that? (OK, that sounded too preachy, even for me!)But you get my point?
5 comments:
You do not come off like a snob or judgmental. This is very definintely an issue these days. I remember when we would go to church, even on Saturdays, my Mom would make us change out of our "play" clothes and put on something nice for church. Maybe not as nice as what we would wear for Mass on a Sunday morning, but nicer than what we were just outside playing in.
The restaurant thing bugs me too. You should dress appropriately for the locale.
Just my thought...
I have pondered this same subject! Of course I haven't actually been to church in... well, nevermind... but I went to a Catholic baptism a couple of years ago and found that someone attending another family's baptism was wearing a concert T-Shirt (one of the Godparents!). I was absolutely shocked.
I think when you go to church you dress in a manner to show respect to God. So when we go to church we dress in our "Sunday Best" I find that when I am dresses in my nice clothes it puts me in a more spirtual frame of mind.
On the other hand I love to be casual, but when I go out to a nicer restaurant it is nice to at least be clean and casual nice.
George Clooney wanted to do a casino where people would dress up like in the 50's, too bad his funding went away. Would have been nice to put some class back. I feel bad when I go to Home Depot in jeans, yes, maybe people should look pretty once in a while.
You know, I have the same issue. I haven't read your blog in a month or two because of holy-crap-where-did-my-time-go, but I had to say I completely agree with you on this.
I went to court to testify several times, and each time I was AMAZED at the AUDACITY of people; court is NOT a place to wear your baseball cap, your t-shirts, your short-shorts, your play-sneakers, your ripped jeans, or listen to your ipod / play with your cell phone.
Seriously.
That would've gotten a whuppin' way back when.
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