The Sense of Occasion

The sense of occasion is the feeling something special or important is happening, often associated with an event of some kind. I have reflected deeply on this topic the last few years. I wanted to share my thoughts on the subject, not as criticism, but rather as food for thought.

We all have our share of important events for which we are expected to dress up : weddings, galas and funerals. Whether happy or sad, those events have a certain ritual to them ; putting on formal clothes is actually part of the event itself. With it comes a certain preparation, a process that involves being ready for the occasion. A wedding is an excellent example : You want to honour the newlyweds by making an effort without stealing the show. Making it to the wedding isn’t enough, you feel you need to be dressed appropriately for it. The sense of occasion dictates that you should respect the opportunity without doing too much. It is not about the dress code itself but rather the effort, the active decision to choose what you will wear to the event that makes it significant.

Clothes are part of the occasion

Sartorial Club gala in NYC with Anderson Garo - 2022

With our ever more casual world, I witness much less effort to make those active decisions for most events. Interviews, plays, and galas are often attended in everyday clothing. I am by no means a purist who would state the interviews can only be carried on with a suit and tie. That is not only wrong, but It can seriously hurt your chances as a candidate for some positions. What I am stating, however, is that the clothes your wear send a signal, signify a mood, an intention.

I always wear a suit or sport coat to conduct interviews to signify the importance of that event to me. I believe it is is a matter of respect and the consideration for the candidate. Should I see that the candidate feels uneasy about my clothes, I will address it clearly, stating that this meeting is important to me.

By not actively choosing how to dress, a key element of the event is missed : the anticipation. The preparation is part of what makes some events memorable. Think about your high school graduation : for girls, choosing the right dress was as important as wearing it on the big day. The same can be said about the groom’s suit for his wedding. I remember how much though I put into choosing my wedding suit. I even commissioned a first suit as a tryout, to be sure my wedding suit would be perfect. In this spirit, I also splurged on a wedding tie I would most likely never wear again ; it was that important. Of course the suit did not make the day, but all the preparation leading to it made me appreciate it even more. Putting on that suit stills brings me happy memories.

Pitti Uomo 105

The ever more casual world - The lost sense of occasion

The fact that formal dressing and suits are no longer required is not a problem in itself. It actually has many benefits if you consider the reason suits and formal clothes were worn in the first place. Dressing the way you want does make the world a fairer place and removes some social barriers. My grievance lies with losing the sense of occasion. Going to the theatre on Broadway is an important event to me. Moreover, I wish to signify the importance of that occasion out of respect for the performers and artists that rehearsed and worked hard for the event. 

Dressing more formally (or making an effort to choose one's clothes) also makes the evening special for you, regardless of where you are going. Wearing a suit for a fine diner does elevate the experience, just because of the way you feel wearing the suit, regardless of the food or company. My dates with my wife are a fine example : I try to impress her while matching her dress for the diner. That ritual is actually part of my fun, my anticipation of it.

I can think of several more examples : a board of directors, an office party, an important presentation, a meeting with a new client. All these can benefit from preparing and reflecting on the image you wish to project. In my opinion, making the active decision on how to present yourself to an event is part of the process.

Pitti Uomo 105 - Liverano & Liverano Cocktail with Johan (The Sartorial Finn)

The post pandemic world

I read all the blogs and thoughts I could find on how staying at home for months had made going out special. It made me hope most people would dress up again. All that talk about the roaring twenties coming back really had my hopes up. Suiting up for a diner at a restaurant or meeting friends again really was of the essence. After all, we couldn't attend such events for months.

I remember fondly a poker night I hosted several years ago. I imposed a suit and tie dress code to make the event more memorable. Not only did my friends partake, they outdone themselves for that evening. Bow ties, 3 piece suits, Winchester shirts and even cigars found their way that night. Even though we were all abysmal poker players, we had a blast. That simple game night became a memorable one simply by dressing up. The clothes did very little, but the mood that was set wearing them changed everything.

Sadly, nowadays, casual clothing has become the norm for most events. In that regard, staying at home so long changed noting. Even if your first diner out or reunion in months was to be celebrated, the occasion didn't seem grand enough for formal clothing. No matter, I remember my first post pandemic diner and what I wore very clearly. That felt like a major event (and it was)!The power of dressing up

The power of dressing up

Dressing with intention does impact how you conduct yourself and in the non-verbal language you use. It it not a trick, just standard psychology ; the mind works on the body, but so does the body on the mind. Wearing certain clothes with a purpose is very different that just putting on whatever. By questioning yourself on what should be worn to an event, you are also most likely thinking about other aspects of the event : should I know something, should I read up beforehand, is there a dress code, etc.

Then, comes the occasion itself. Wearing the clothes you chose earlier provides a certain satisfaction, elevates the event. For an interview, you feel more confident and competent. For a gala or the theatre, you feel like a VIP. I am pretty sure that your date will feel like an important event if you spend all week wondering what to wear to please your partner (or maybe I'm focusing on it too much).

I still believe that wearing certain garments (suits and ties for me) has the power to make any event memorable. Even if you wear a suit everyday, it is the preparation and anticipation of the occasion that set the tone, not the clothes themselves. You can certainly count on me to keep dressing up for those. After all, I am looking for the sense of occasion.