Hot Under the Collar About Shirt Sizes
Dear Fashion Police: What is this new habit I see that has men loosening their shirt collar but still wearing a tie? It’s so sloppy. If the collar is too tight, men should get a shirt a size larger. I’ve seen my doctor, my lawyer and men on TV wearing this new style.
--DON’T GET IT
Dear Don’t: We’re not so sure this “look” is exactly new, since men have been unbuttoning their collars and loosening their ties since ... well, since there have been ties. We don’t blame them for doing it--if we had to wear a shirt buttoned up to our neck with a tie knotted at our throat we’d want to give ourselves some breathing room, too. Then again, we have to put up with pantyhose, and there’s no undoing those while at work.
Despite the fact that a great portion of our working population has gone the way of business casual, there’s still a substantial number of people required to dress up for work, and for men that means a tie. We can’t help but think that many of those guys would rather wear polo shirts like their brethren, and perhaps the loosening up is a silent protest.
OK, maybe not. It definitely has a look about it that says, “Man, I am trashed !” and at the end of a tough day, we can’t fault a guy for undoing a button--if it indeed is at the end of a tough day. It is not appropriate for a business lunch, a meeting, or while seeing clients. Those are times when looking professional is important, and anything less than a buttoned shirt and straightened tie is a bad idea.
Men often do buy the wrong size shirt, believing that they are the same size as they were in college 20 years ago. If you are one of these men, we’d just like to tell you that denial ain’t a river in Egypt. Any questions about correct shirt sizes (determined by neck circumference and arm length) should be directed to a knowledgeable salesperson. In general, you should be able to slip your finger in between your neck and shirt collar. It shouldn’t be so tight that your flesh bulges above the collar, nor should there be a sizable gap. It may be a humbling thing to have to go up a size or two, but just think how great it’ll be to take a nice, deep breath.
Dear Fashion Police: I’m a woman who works at a company where management has required all employees to wear identification badges. The badges are 2 inches by 31/2 inches and are in a plastic sleeve. They can be hung around the neck with a black string or clipped onto a collar or lapel. Neither of these choices is very attractive. My co-workers and I don’t object to wearing badges, but we’d like to appear less nerdy. Any suggestions?
--HAVE TO WEAR STINKIN’ BADGES
Dear Have: It’s a fact of corporate life these days that ID badges are part of the workday wardrobe, unattractive as they may be. And in the wake of recent terrorist attacks we’re sure more companies are going to require security badges, and in becoming so ubiquitous they just might lose their nerdy tinge. But don’t forget, in movies and TV shows all the cool CIA and FBI agents wear them, and they don’t look nerdy at all.
If your badge doesn’t have to be displayed all the time, you can always tuck it away in a pocket. Just don’t forget it’s there and toss your pants or skirt into the washing machine. If the badge has to be out, then consider hanging it from something other than a black string. A decorative chain, rope of small faux pearls, leather cord or length of ribbon are some alternatives. If you use ribbon make sure it’s strong (grosgrain works well) and replace it if it begins to fray or get dirty.
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Write to Fashion Police, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to jeannine.stein@latimes.com.
