the birth of a corporate sellout...

so i bought my first "suit" today. actually it was a blazer and trousers... i guess what i am trying to say is that i bought my first pair of "work clothes." I was kind of hoping last December that since I hadn't had to buy any "work clothes" by thirty, i would never have to... but alas, it wasn't in the cards. so i headed out to the local mall in search of my first outfit that i would feel confident in when interview for jobs.

i went to j.c. penney's first, because i don't have a ton of money and there aren't many options for shopping in our "quiet mountain town." but i quickly learned that the selection was bad and the service was even worse. the gentlemen working in the men's department didn't even ask if he could help me and i had tried on several jackets. since i have never bought "nice clothes" before i really needed some help and opinions, and looking at the way the gentleman dressed, i decided there is no way i am trusting his opinion.

so i headed to kaufman's (which is one of the May Department Store Companies: the same as foley's or famous barr), where a nicely dressed young man (named michael) helped me. he was very helpful and sympathetic to the fact that 1) i need something for an interview the next day, 2) that it was my first "suit type thing" and consequently new nothing about men's fashion, and 3) that i wanted a nice outfit but was on a tight budget: i didn't want to be that guy in a "cheap suit" but at the same time i really couldn't afford a designer one.

so after trying on some different coats by ralph lauren and nautica that were generally between 149 and 179, i got really lucky and he brought out this coat by ralph lauren that had been marked down a couple of times and they only had one left and it was in my size. the retail price on it was $300, but luckily i got it for only $89. I suspect it is from a previous season, but since it is a blue blazer with a little bit of color in it, i don't think it will go out of style. what luck! so i grabbed some nice slacks, a belt, a dress shirt and a tie, and for slightly more than two large bills the transformation was complete: i am now aging_hipster-sellout to the man! damn it all to hell...

i did learn a couple of things though 1) that i am willing to pay $30 for a tie (when you can get them for half that much at tj maxx) if the proceeds go to a charity. or in this case simly mention in support of one (MADD) 2) that your socks should go with your pants and not you blazers, because what if you take your jacket off... (i didn't think to ask well what if you are in the habit of taking your pants off). 3) that you don't button the bottom button and you unbutton your coat when you sit down (didn't learn that one until after the interview)... oh well!