Jacket and tie on OB's plus wet weather gear - used to be ventile jackets but then plastic took over. Later on in life, suit and tie. I miss the opportunity to 'dress up' TBH.
The one thing I've noticed is the difference in attitude by counter staff in merchants, woodyards etc. Roll up in a decent pair of cords and casual jacket you tend to be a bit dismissed. Roll up in a scruffy, paint covered, adhesive covered pair of jeans and see the difference ! Roll up at the timber yard with bags of chips for the lads and you'll
definitely see a difference!
Of course it also works the other way for the fairer sex. Not sure if I've mentioned this story before or not. The Ring cycle was on at the Royal Opera House. Missed getting tickets online for Das Rheingold but knew you could queue up early to get one as they always held some back. Living in Central London, getting into the queue at 6am was a no-brainer and I was next to a lovely young lady. She was, like me casually, nay, scruffily dressed. Well, you would be if you're going to lounge around on the pavement for several hours. And, as is my wont, got chatting to her. She turned out to be an upcoming Brazilian opera singer and we spent a very companionable couple of hours waiting for the Box Office to open. We got our tickets and I, being a bit of a smooth git then, invited her for a couple of glasses of Perrier Jouet, as you do, in the champagne bar before the performance.
I arrived all suited up and waiting in the foyer I was subtly aware of a change in the dynamic of those present. Looking around to see what was the cause, my jaw nearly fell to the floor as it was my 'champagne date', dressed up to the 9's and redefining 'drop-dead gorgeous'. Gone had the scruffy, hair down queue companion. Her clothes were stunning, her hair dressed up... ooh err, missus. I think I'm in love. I swear that, as we entered the bar, the conversation stopped.
bscene-drinkingcheers:
