Why It's OK to Wear a Rumpled Shirt

[Larry124]

From Esquire Magazine (author not named) via MSN March 27, 2009:

Why It's OK to Wear a Rumpled Shirt
In praise of slightly wrinkled clothing, an emotional investment unto itself.

A wrinkle-free shirt is like a football uniform without grass stains: It makes you look third string. Hesitant. Pretty. It makes you look correct, yes, but life isn't correct; it's wrinkled. Anyway, wrinkles are a badge. They're evidence that we've hailed a cab or reached for our wallets or leaned back in our chairs or fought something. They're proof that we've moved.

A wrinkle-free shirt is for someone who wants to cover his tracks. It's a safe choice, and in style, safety is not a virtue. Texture is. We should look flawless only when we're standing in front of the mirror in the morning and congratulating ourselves on how wonderful we are.

Then, starting immediately, our clothes should start gathering a history. Attempting to convince everyone around us that we look this sparkly, this utterly without stain or spoil, is pretending we're someone we're not.

As a "slightly wrinkled" kind of gent myself, I appreciate that.

[Bugbear]

I don't know anything about that.

However, I love the feel of a well aged and rumpled corduroy jacket.

[pdcorlis]

What a wonderful little snippet - wrinkles, texture, and history!

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

Sorry, but it reeks of lazyness to me. Sounds like someone who wants to introduce a new FAD or just can't be bothered and his inability to iron/press a shirt. My Da always said it's easier to lower your standards than raise them. No offense, but I like the look of an ironed shirt.

[pdcorlis]

Perhaps you're missing the point here... the author says

We should look flawless only when we're standing in front of the mirror in the morning and congratulating ourselves on how wonderful we are.

Hardly an invitation to give the old iron the heave ho...

[Highland Logan]

Sorry, but it reeks of lazyness to me. Sounds like someone who wants to introduce a new FAD or just can't be bothered and his inability to iron/press a shirt. My Da always said it's easier to lower your standards than raise them. No offense, but I like the look of an ironed shirt.

Yes iron your shirt... don't buy the "wrinkle free" shirts.

Frank

[wyldathart]

More often than not I'll throw a shirt on right out of the closet. I use hangers on all my shirts so no wrinkles. I'll look in the mirror and if nothing seems amiss I'm off to the races. As long as I'm happy with the way I look, I could care less what anyone else thinks.

[sathor]

I think it more is referring to clothes getting character as they are worn, which reminds me of my Royal Stewart from SWK, where I had to resew a few pleats down... Gives it a bit more character.

[george7]

In the Military, having a creased shirt is important in maintaining a proper uniform. There are those who have "perfected" the art of having a creased shirt by following the instructions of the thread poster... they have a crease here, and a crease there... and some creases there...

[klingon warrior]

I would put an iron to my kilt, as I would a pair of pants. It's a necessary evil. But a shirt? If I find that a shirt that I own comes out of the dryer in need of ironing before it goes on the hanger........I throw it away.