The Old Money Book

Every year at this time, I offer up my best advice for a back-to-school wardrobe that is lean, economical, durable, versatile, and timeless.

There are rarely any surprises: polo shirts, oxford cloth button downs, khakis, chinos, or corduroys, deck shoes and LL Bean boots, wool crew neck sweaters, and the inevitable blue blazer.

Nothing with big logos. Everything that can be mixed and matched with everything else.

I’ll rely on readers to offer up their latest opinions on brands–who’s holding the line, who’s dropped a little in the quality to price ratio, and any newcomers to the Old Money wardrobe world–that we should know about.

(I have lived in Paris for too long. My purchases lean now toward the artisanal rather than the mass-produced. So I am not a reliable source for up-to-date details and reviews on US based clothing companies.)

And even though we have discussed wardrobe extensively on this blog, I would like to add these comments for high school and university readers and their parents. I feel they are worth remembering.

(In doing so, I realize I fight against a rising tide of the casual-bordering-on-sloppy, where T-shirts, cargo pants, and flip-flops dominate daily life.  While there is little I can do to alter income inequality, there is something everyone can do to alter social inequality: put some thought into what you wear. You don’t have to dress up, but it would benefit you to get dressed.)

Now, to summarize, please accept the following as the Gospel According to Uncle Byron:

The clothes you wear communicate certain ideas to other people, and they judge you accordingly, for better or worse, in this unfair and shallow world.

Your clothes infer the kind of life you lead.

They suggest the education and exposure you’ve had to the larger world.

They hint at your aspirations.

They articulate your values.

They announce the kind of attention you seek.

They establish the amount of respect you require.

Of course, dressing well is not the only signal of a quality life, but it walks ahead of you when you enter a room, silently introducing you to people who may want to share your life and to people who can certainly decide your future.  It speaks for you in a classroom, an orientation, an interview, or a social event.  It shapes opinion and alters perception. It is the original, eternal influencer.

This is reality. It has been like this in society for thousands of years. Those who ignore this reality do so at their peril. Those who embrace it and dress accordingly increase the chances of their success.

Given these facts, I encourage everyone to dress in whatever manner you think best.

And by all means, enjoy the results.

• BGT