What Does Casual Mean
It's always amused me that the apparently preferred casual dress of so many "middle class" British males is exactly the same as the preferred dress of the American working man - namely blue jeans and a blue pocketed working style shirt - almost exactly the same in fact as the working dress of the Royal and US Navies.
When I served with the RAN, I also discovered that the Australians who had served in the UK were equally amused by the fact that so many British males could not differentiate between casual and sloppy.
Jack
When I served with the RAN, I also discovered that the Australians who had served in the UK were equally amused by the fact that so many British males could not differentiate between casual and sloppy.
Jack
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"When I served with the RAN, I also discovered that the Australians who had served in the UK were equally amused by the fact that so many British males could not differentiate between casual and sloppy."
Probably because Australians have this idea that England is all stuffy
and people know how to dress, unlike here in Australia.
Probably because Australians have this idea that England is all stuffy
and people know how to dress, unlike here in Australia.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,634
Received 513 Likes
on
273 Posts
When I served with the RAN, I also discovered that the Australians who had served in the UK were equally amused by the fact that so many British males could not differentiate between casual and sloppy.
Is that Smart Sloppy or Sloppy Sloppy? There is a difference, you know.
There is also "Casual Sloppy", "Sloppy Formal" and "A bit Sloppy, depending on the time of day Sloppy". It is, aparently, important to make these things clear.
There is also "Casual Sloppy", "Sloppy Formal" and "A bit Sloppy, depending on the time of day Sloppy". It is, aparently, important to make these things clear.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
A few years ago I came back to Blighty for a company "leadership" session in some anonymous (but expensive) hotel near Bristol. The course joining instruction said Business Casual. Working in the US Business Casual usually means smart chinos (no rivets or external metalwork), a polo shirt (no logos other than a discrete left breast motif). and "grown-up" shoes. When I arrived I was aghast at the UK management's interpretation of Business Casual. From about 50 people;
1. Most males thought it meant don't tuck your shirt in.
2. A good selection of both sexes thought it meant wear a t-shirt, the more offensive the motto, the better.
3. The senior managers knew it meant wear a suit and shirt, but leave the tie off.
4. There were a disturbing number of females unfamiliar with the "no bare midriff" rule, plus one very scary male exception,
5. About half the people there wore jeans, and a good percentage of those were the ripped and torn variety.
6. There were so many training shoes (OK, sneakers) being worn, I was convinced the hotel was fencing them for the Foot Locker looters.
Having been beaten into shape over the years by Betty Windsor's definition of dress codes, I'm obviously not as objective about casual wear as the average person, but this lot absolutely shattered my faith in civilians being trusted to dress themselves. I've seen smarter displaced Albanians and I 'm sure Mother Teresa would have thrown half of them out of a Calcutta Mission for being scruffy. So back to the OP, it's good to see that standards are still being applied somewhere, however archaic it might seems to Dwayne and Chardonnay.
1. Most males thought it meant don't tuck your shirt in.
2. A good selection of both sexes thought it meant wear a t-shirt, the more offensive the motto, the better.
3. The senior managers knew it meant wear a suit and shirt, but leave the tie off.
4. There were a disturbing number of females unfamiliar with the "no bare midriff" rule, plus one very scary male exception,
5. About half the people there wore jeans, and a good percentage of those were the ripped and torn variety.
6. There were so many training shoes (OK, sneakers) being worn, I was convinced the hotel was fencing them for the Foot Locker looters.
Having been beaten into shape over the years by Betty Windsor's definition of dress codes, I'm obviously not as objective about casual wear as the average person, but this lot absolutely shattered my faith in civilians being trusted to dress themselves. I've seen smarter displaced Albanians and I 'm sure Mother Teresa would have thrown half of them out of a Calcutta Mission for being scruffy. So back to the OP, it's good to see that standards are still being applied somewhere, however archaic it might seems to Dwayne and Chardonnay.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A couple of families here in Australia decided to go to the NZ vz Australia Rugby match. The two father's both went to Oundle together in the 50's / 60's.
Instead of the usual turn up and meet outside the ground, it was decided to make
a good night of it with drinks and dinner at one of the members only clubs in Melbourne so suits etc worn.
That was all good but the look some of us received walking down the
centre of Melbourne and at the game made one think that some had not
seen any sort of dressing up for a night out or even a smart suit in years.
Instead of the usual turn up and meet outside the ground, it was decided to make
a good night of it with drinks and dinner at one of the members only clubs in Melbourne so suits etc worn.
That was all good but the look some of us received walking down the
centre of Melbourne and at the game made one think that some had not
seen any sort of dressing up for a night out or even a smart suit in years.
Hmmm, what does casual mean? We were invited to some drinks on Saturday evening with at a US colleague's residence (a Colonel). Smart casual was the instruction so for me it was brown boots, chinos and a blue long-seve shirt (double cuffs, of course) and my wife something obtained from Boden (and great looking, too). The Colonel and his wife wore likewise.
Other attendees were similarly casually dressed - but two US majors - one Army, one USAF - turned up in what I could only describe as beach leisure wear. The USAF Major (a J1 type) wore casual shorts, pulled up and held up with a leather belt with a tee shirt tucked in, long white socks and trainers; the Army bloke in basketball shorts and a sleeveless vest, as described earlier by another Ppruner (fortunately he had the muscles to carry it off!).
I've now just penned a short email to the USAF Major - not to upbraid him about his attire on Saturday - but to gently advise him on what 'casual' means in the UK Service sense - as I have just sponsored him to stay at the RAF Club in a couple of weeks. I stressed that the club was quite casual now, but that means in public rooms (similarly explained) proper 'pants', collared shirts, and proper shoes (not trainers) should be worn.
I hope I have avoided a major flap at the Club...and letters of indignation!
Other attendees were similarly casually dressed - but two US majors - one Army, one USAF - turned up in what I could only describe as beach leisure wear. The USAF Major (a J1 type) wore casual shorts, pulled up and held up with a leather belt with a tee shirt tucked in, long white socks and trainers; the Army bloke in basketball shorts and a sleeveless vest, as described earlier by another Ppruner (fortunately he had the muscles to carry it off!).
I've now just penned a short email to the USAF Major - not to upbraid him about his attire on Saturday - but to gently advise him on what 'casual' means in the UK Service sense - as I have just sponsored him to stay at the RAF Club in a couple of weeks. I stressed that the club was quite casual now, but that means in public rooms (similarly explained) proper 'pants', collared shirts, and proper shoes (not trainers) should be worn.
I hope I have avoided a major flap at the Club...and letters of indignation!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The USAF Major (a J1 type) wore casual shorts, pulled up and held up with a leather belt with a tee shirt tucked in, long white socks and trainers
I remember being lifted up from behind by the elbows by a diminutive Australian Air Commodore who whispered in my ear after the witching hour - "You and I Sir are incorrectly dressed. I suggest we rectify the matter."
I didn't hang around to see if he went and did that to everyone
When I served with the RAN, I also discovered that the Australians who had served in the UK were equally amused by the fact that so many British males could not differentiate between casual and sloppy. - UJ
Dress sense, or sex? - ST
Is that Smart Sloppy or Sloppy Sloppy? There is a difference, you know. There is also "Casual Sloppy", "Sloppy Formal" and "A bit Sloppy, depending on the time of day Sloppy". It is, aparently, important to make these things clear. - Courtney
Good answers so OK - I'll play..... Dress sense, or sex?
Jack
Dress sense, or sex? - ST
Is that Smart Sloppy or Sloppy Sloppy? There is a difference, you know. There is also "Casual Sloppy", "Sloppy Formal" and "A bit Sloppy, depending on the time of day Sloppy". It is, aparently, important to make these things clear. - Courtney
Good answers so OK - I'll play..... Dress sense, or sex?
Jack
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East sussex
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From reading the past posts, I take it there are working class people posting as to their interpretation as to 'casual' I shudder!!! Cutting the long story short, forgetting Ascot, Boat Race and other events where HRH is in attendance.
I would recommend a navy blue blazer, white shirt with cravat (paisley design) beige trousers with matching (if poss) a boating style of shoe.
For those of limited finances I have done a Google and found a number of home shopping catalogues who could supply the above items, although not the same quality as London bespoke tailoring, would pass in a darkened venue. Happy to help.
Daz
I would recommend a navy blue blazer, white shirt with cravat (paisley design) beige trousers with matching (if poss) a boating style of shoe.
For those of limited finances I have done a Google and found a number of home shopping catalogues who could supply the above items, although not the same quality as London bespoke tailoring, would pass in a darkened venue. Happy to help.
Daz
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Somehow, that does not suprise me.... Did you have a matching frilly shirt?