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FRANK MANNERS

April 3, 2010

Frank Manners, Newsletter

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7. Put off not your clothes in the presence of others, nor go out your chamber half dressed.

While the importance of this is hopefully self-evident to most adults, it deals with one of the critical elements shaping our interaction with others: personal appearance. Your children may enjoy stripping off their clothes as a form of rebellion and liberation, but at some point even they master the urge to undress and recognize that clothing is not optional in our society. The primary objective regarding dress should always be appropriateness. No matter what you wear, the key to making yourself stand out in a good way is by conforming to the standards an occasion demands. Just as it would be inappropriate to show up for a job interview in flip-flops, it can be equally distracting to overdress, like an attorney wearing a tuxedo in the courtroom. Being appropriate allows for an excellent first impression that will make your company comfortable with your presence and attentive to what you have to say.

Beyond having the basic required elements of dress, there is also a need to pull them together in a cohesive and complementary manner. Sloppiness is an even greater crime than ignorance when it comes to appearance. It demonstrates that while you are aware of the social necessity of your dress, you simply do not care enough to make the effort. In today’s wired society, you never know where your picture might end up, so paramount to maintaining the good image you have worked to establish is always looking your best when stepping out of your chamber and into the public eye. So buckle up, button down, and (don’t) show them what you are made of.

Frank Manners articles address the 110 “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” by which George Washington lived and present them in an applicable fashion, both for you, and your children.

Frank Manners

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