What Does It Mean to Dress Conservatively?

A slightly different version of the following article was originally published on Rightly Wired.  Although I would never recommend dressing in a manner dictated primarily by a political philosophy, here is an example of what that approach might inspire.
_________


Conservatism is an idea, but it is not only that.  Concerned with a specific vision of the desirable civilized institutions and culture to be preserved, it demands of its followers a form of actionable evangelism for the sake of certain ideals.  Beyond the realm of state, law, and liberty, the philosophy of conservatism is intimately engaged in a battle for the influence of civilized culture.

We are witnesses of this dynamic in everyday life:  sports, entertainment, literature, and other arts are the bread of a vital culture, and the ideas behind them are its leaven.  No less significant are the trends of fashion and clothing which gird the human form.  They are, after all, a very clear form of intelligent expression.

So then if men and women can think conservatively and act conservatively, what does it mean to dress conservatively?  To be clear, I’m not interested in those who throw on a suit and tie or a muted color dress merely to avoid breaking the mold of professional norms.  Rather, if a person maintains an active conservative habit of mind, how does that individual approach fashion?

For the sake of simplicity, I will not attempt to define conservatism; it means many things to many men.  Instead, I will rely on two broad and generally accepted principles of conservative thought and trace their practical implications.

First, to borrow Russell Kirk’s abstraction, “the essence of social conservatism is preservation of the ancient moral traditions of humanity.”  This is the moral dimension.  And second, in a more humanistic tradition, conservatism asserts that we have collectively inherited a number of human goods that we ought to strive to keep.

If these are central to the intellectual framework of a conservative mind, how are they manifested externally?

A CONSERVATIVELY DRESSES WELL IN PUBLIC OUT OF RESPECT FOR OTHERS

Business casual may now dominate the offices of companies and governing bodies worldwide, but men and women of right-leaning persuasion will meet the standards of expectation or exceed them in good taste.  Even if professional codes have been relaxed there is a noble ideal rooted in the practice of wearing one’s finest to a professional engagement out of respect for one’s clients and colleagues or the dignity of their office and profession.

This is accomplished by employing the finer finishing details of enduring legacy.  A gentleman will tend to wear a tie or jacket (or both) more often than not.  His attire will routinely feature proper dress pants (as opposed to khakis), polished shoes, and ironed shirt.  For more accomplished professionals, a full suit may be the outfit du jour.

Conservative women in the workplace will mirror their counterparts.  She will favor the dress, or the slacks with the finished jacket, and some good soles.  In truth, a lady has more freedom to craft her appearance; for men it’s the five-part test:  shoes, pants, shirt, tie, jacket.  Men and women have both inherited a lasting sense of sartorial civility, and the conservative-minded will be inclined to preserve it as a cultural identity.

A CONSERVATIVE DRESSES TO KEEP UP STANDARDS

It is good to maintain standards.  This a conservative knows.  It is preferable to wear jacket and tie to the opera, and it is bad-mannered to wear a skin-tight track suit and tennis shoes to Sunday worship.  Standards in a society remind us of the elevated nature of those particular human incidents and affairs.  For this reason, presidents by default choose the business suit when conducting affairs of state.  In this sense, even a Democratic president can be said to be “conservative.”

A CONSERVATIVE DRESSES APPROPRIATELY FOR THE OCCASION

This includes both overdressing and underdressing.  Overdressing tends draws attention to oneself (rather than the real purpose of the gathering), and it may often embarrass the host or the decorum of the office.

Underdressing is also to be avoided.  Consider the example of a funeral and the time of mourning.  Black (or another very dark color) has long been traditionally associated with mourning, dating back at least as far as the Roman Empire, and this practice continues to feature prominently in Western civilization.  Conservative men and women will adhere closely to this established norm of ancient tradition.  They would not consider donning inappropriate color or spurning a sense of formality.

A CONSERVATIVE DRESSES IN ACCORD WITH THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

It would be at odds with a conservative moral ideal to wear something that profanes the dignity of the human person, or offends the sensibilities of a civilized society.  Even if certain conduct or expression may not be proscribed, a conservative will ask himself, “Still, should I wear this?”