In Praise of Slovenliness
I know what you're thinking: "Why on earth is he beginning an essay on the joys of casual dress with a shot of himself in a tuxedo?" I could be wrong about what you're thinking; it might, in fact, be "My, what a handsome fellow." Or perhaps it's a combination of the two. Maybe you don't find me even remotely attractive. Maybe my shorty-cropped beard and earring are, in your mind, clashing with the tux. Maybe I should just give up trying to read your mind. In fact, the picture proves a point I shall be making throughout this essay: there is a time and place for formal dress. In fact, there are times and places for every degree of sartorial sophistication, from to-the-nines to birthday suit. But I get ahead of myself. This post was occasioned by a piece on Slate by film critic Dana Stevens, later expanded upon in the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast. Ms. Stevens, who goes to great extremes in her day job to present as fair and balanced an approa...