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Aug 28, 2007 
When we attended our friend’s wedding on Saturday, I became more aware than usual that I was the most untidy person there. Wendy said I looked fine, and yet I didn’t feel fine at all.
In England there seems to be an unwritten “uniform” that men must wear to occasions such as weddings - usually defined as a suit of some description, with a shirt and tie. Casting my eye around the assembled throng, I was the only person who arrived in an open-neck patterned shirt. I also had perhaps the most untidy hair, and was definitely the only man wearing sandals in the entire place.
Wendy asked if I would rather have worn a suit, and I was reminded of my work in London - of the uniform “dictated” by working in the city that I only loosely conform to. I of course wear smart trousers and shirt, and black shoes, and a tie, but that’s as far as it goes - within that remit the trousers are invariably khaki, and the shirt is usually coloured. If you cast a small survey within a typical train carriage full of London commuters, 8 out of 10 men will be wearing a dark suit with a white shirt.
A part of me rebels against conforming. I don’t consciously do it. It extends to any form of debate too - I invariably find myself taking the position of devils advocate - particularly if I see anybody taking any form of moral high ground.
Do you like to fit in, or do you strive to be different? Do you do it purposely?
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Tags: Difference, Uniform, Fitting In
