Now I am no fashion guru, as people who know me will confirm, but I do believe in generally being tidy when in public view and keeping up appearances. I do own a couple of pairs of tracksuit bottoms, but these are mostly reserved for running, painting and the occasional hangover day at home. I have occasionally popped to the 24-hour shop in my slob gear but I always feel a twinge of guilt when I do.
Basically I am old-fashioned and think that in public we should all be on our best behaviour at all times. That means being tidy, polite and well-behaved. That doesn’t mean wearing a pin-stripe to the pub, but I do object to the slobbishness that I see all around me. Casual swearing and bad language, speaking in faux-patois, poor dress, lack of personal hygiene and all the other things are just uncivilised. Do what you like in your own home, but the public space should be respected. If you want people to respect you, respect them by being well turned out. What kind of example does being poorly turned out send to the younger generation or to visitors to our once-proud cities?
And it’s not about poverty or snobbery. It’s perfectly possible to look tidy without your clothes costing a bomb. What’s worse is that some of the slob clothing is pretty expensive. No, being a slob is all about attitude. Keeping one’s hair tidy, washing regularly and wearing clean tidy clothes is beyond nobody in this materially rich nation. As a society we have let standards slip. The social pressure seems to have gone. Many people just don’t care if they stink on the tube or are wearing grubby tracksuit bottoms. Slobbishness isn’t even restricted to the slums.
So three cheers to Tesco for telling its customers that they aren’t welcome in their pyjamas.
A small start but a start at least, thanks to Tesco.
Whilst every one was screaming last week, that the UKIP wish to ban an “item of clothing” was SOOO authoritarian?
Make your minds up.
“Casual swearing and bad language, speaking in faux-patois, poor dress, lack of personal hygiene and all the other things are just uncivilised. “
And spitting. Which seems, alas, to be spreading.
Yes, forgot to mention spitting even though it is definitely one of my biggest behavioural bugbears. Blame the fact that I was laughing at Mock The Week while writing this…
“Whilst every one was screaming last week, that the UKIP wish to ban an “item of clothing” was SOOO authoritarian?”
Nothing wrong with a private enterprise saying ‘Wear a burkha/pajamas and you can’t come in’. Their shop/office, their rules.
Banning an article of clothing in public is quite different.
With you here Blues, slobs have been able to take their own directions far too early in life. Trouble is that thick slobs just walk round in circles…
My sister once reminded me that Scrobs senior wouldn’t allow us to wear jeans on a Sunday!
And I only had one pair!
We weren’t allowed jeans at all! Or trainers! Eventually I persuaded my mum that I should have a pair of white trainers but if I wanted a fashion brand I had to top up her budget with my pocket money. There was a pair of Nike Airs with a bubble on the high street which I coveted for ages.
Same here. My first pair of jeans I bough myself with my first pay packet at the age of 17.
Was still not allowed out with the perents if I was wearing them though.
Furor, my second pair were black with green stitching!
They were not as good…
Funny you mention not being allowed out with parents wearing jeans…I seem to recall ditto! Must ask Sister!
One thing I DO know about Jeans, is that the expensive “labeled” ones last about a third of the time that “Littelwoods own” last.
XX Julia said…
Nothing wrong with a private enterprise saying ‘Wear a burkha/pajamas and you can’t come in’. Their shop/office, their rules.XX
But that is the point. It is NOT their rules. If Tesco did the same with the burk and hair, they would be getting dragged through every court in the land.
There are two issues here. One is that there is some discussion as to whether it is the state’s responsibility to decide whether it is acceptable to wear full facial covering in public. The other is whether the state has the right to tell private businesses whether they can set their own rules or not.
FT is right, if Tesco had a rule banning religious clothing (for example) they would be in the race court before you could say “jihad”. There are lots of state restrictions on who businesses can exclude from their premises: disabled people, minority races, homosexuals, etc.. But funnily enough I suspect that banning chavs is perfectly legal.
“FT is right, if Tesco had a rule banning religious clothing (for example) they would be in the race court before you could say “jihad”.”
Oh, agreed. But if we get rid of ridiculous laws like that one, and leave it up to private firms to set their own rules, the burkha will soon disappear without the need for state coercion.
But i have seen those ads where sexy girls are shopping in their undies all the time. that looked great…
Quite right of Tesco (with additional material from your goodself, Blue). In his own inimitable way, Obnoxio recently vented disgust at ubiquitous spitting. It would have been fairer to attribute the habit to a certain age group and class.
I believe you share my sympathy for the lot of Wayne and Kylie where circumstances are not entirely of their own making. However I was never in more agreement with you on the subject of personal hygiene, language and appropriate attire. For want of another word, sloth makes an uphill struggle for any support of the permanent chav, innit.
The first time I encountered something like this was in 2003, Wanthaggi, Victoria, Australia. We were staying with my cousin at his weekend retreat at Inverloch and had a dinner reservation in a Wonthaggi restaurant. As we walked up the street to our destination, I noticed a sign on the supermarket door, “No Night Attire”. Bemused, I asked my Cuz and it seems that some of the local young mums have this habit of slobbing about in their nighties, along with their offspring, at all hours of the day or night and include pushing a supermarket trolly around the store so dressed!
Remember that in Oz a nightie is probably classed as “dressing up”.
Can I add to the list one of my pet hates?
It’s people who drop chewing gum on the pavement. It costs councils thousands of pounds to clean it up each year.
Tuh! Looks like I’ll be shopping at Asda then.
Nowt wrong with Asda, if you do not mind three hour queues for a pot noodle and half a loaf.
As ever, the Daily Mash does this with style
Julia I completely agree but anyone who stands up say it will be accused of being on the side of the racists and homophobes or even one themselves. And a lot of people will refuse to take back the responsibility that has been handed over to the state.
It is better to stand up and be acused than to sit back, think it, but say nothing, and become a victim.
I was not allowed to wear jeans or chew gum as a youngster. Still don’t now!
When going into town or eating out I always dress correctly in smart clothes.
Recently a young woman parked her Porche Cayenne on double yellow lines,
jumped out, dressed only in her PJ’s and
flounced into the local Newsagents, grabbed a Daily mirror, ordered a ‘box
of ciggies, (her words not mine), and a packet of chewie.
She pushed to the front of the queue and without a ‘please or ‘thank you’,
flounced out again.
Nobody in the queue said a word.
It seems that we have come to accept such behaviour!
Good for Tesco’s !
Di.x
This morning Mrs. Talwin and I will be stepping out in Southport. She will be smartly attired and I shall be wearing trousers (natch), brown leather shoes, polo-neck sweater (a bit dated, I know, but it means I can get away without wearing a tie), and sports jacket (remember the old maxim, suits during the week and separates at weekend). The whole shebang will be topped off with a cashmere coat (bought cheaply in a sale!) and a trilby hat.
Whether you like the sound of the ensemble or not, the fact remains that I imagine many today, beginning on the park-and-ride, will think I look like a smart-arsed plonker and, as far as fitting in with the rest of Southport’s trainer, jeans and anorak-garbed majority of Saturday shoppers, I guess I might as well be prancing about naked.
I don’t care much about my minority status; I feel I’m doing my bit for ‘standards’ (mine, I know!); and I’m just waiting and hoping that things go full circle. However, I’m not holding my breath.
Trubes, Talwin, tracksuits are the national dress in your part of the world!
I agree with you about standards of dress. I applaud that branch of Tesco for making a stand but let’s be tolerant. There are many reasons for the way people dress and it reveals much about their self esteem, their means and character. I like to see style and if some choose pyjamas, well so be it. Thank goodness no national edit on the appropriateness of pyjamas was forthcoming.
Talwin and your missus, I bet you make a fine couple stepping out.
I agree, which is why the state should have no involvement in this situation. Don’t forget that “society” and “the state” are not the same thing.
Self-esteem is an interesting one, which is why I asked what kind of example does zero effort send out?