Again (?) about your dressing habits and etiquette as Long-Term sailors

[TheThunderbird]

Dear CFs

I refer not to the Rolex Cups' or to any "Royal Club" events, nor to Panerai/Antigua classic Regatta show-offs (uh.... NO comment..)

Back to the normal life of a liveaboard/LT cruiser, what do you find Appropriate/Necessary/Superfluous/ about your (formal, if any, vs everyday's) attire?

Yes, please. Do you consider, e.g.
Pressing a must/necessity?
A clean yet lightly stained cloth a wearable one? Under which circumstances?
Working-Sailing-Ashore clothes are: 3 categories apart, with blurred limits, or mixed up?
Have you a pair of brand new shoes, " white pants" and a blazer jacket on board (brass buttons ofc...)
Any ( Hermes) ties? And when?
Happen to wear mixed socks? Sandals anytime, or toe- pierced old soles?
Do you believe that dressing is still a matter of personal style, and outspoken communication towards others, giver our current circumstances?
Is your partner/spouse an incentive to keep yourself up to That (what if, otherwise,....) ?
How many can afford long coats and formal jackets in a PROPER cupboard on a sailing yacht?
Have you kept interest in dressing up?
As a man, do you keep busy grooming yourself daily, randomly, weekly, or.... (shaving, hair cut, brand new attire)

I don't refer to a CAST AWAY look (great ToM HANKS!)... but, really, how much energy do you put in looking better, for Others, and to Yourself?? You see comfort and practicality subdued to the When-ashore rules? Or not?

Thank you :-) unrestrained comments welcomed :-)

[Kenomac]

I hang around wearing only boxer shorts 90% of the time, then put on some actual short pants and a collared t-shirt for guests and going ashore. It's hot and I don't run the a/c.

[MarkJ]

Our first year was tough on the budget and at the end I was wearing tattered shorts and ripped T-shirts. But I was clean and shaved.
As soon as the budget balanced I bought better clothes.
Now I don't go out at night in less than a button up shirt and good shorts.

Many cruisers retiring from good jobs where they've worn good clothes for life decide to go feral.
Long greasy unwashed hair in a dirty smelly pirate bandana, unkempt Grey beard, rags top and bottom, some first tattoo on slacking skin and dirty body where grime is in every line, face, inside of elbows, ankles... And a pervading odour to 5 feet.

One friend tossed out of a bank for bare feet; several chucked out of Customs and Immigration till they dress respectfully...

Going cruising doesn't mean stop washing. It doesn't mean up-thrusting fingers to the world's norms.

If the budget is tight you can still wash you and your clothes.

BTW I have never seen a bearded man look younger for having the beard. Why try to look older? We're getting that naturally. Shave and look young, feel young.

Mark

[TheThunderbird]

Tidy and respectful, yes! I regret having waved the Cast Away movie, no hint :-)

Yes, distinguishing between boxers/short pants, and T-shirts vs polo (collared T-shirt, or a shirt) is a good rule :-)

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

Have you a pair of brand new shoes, " white pants" and a blazer jacket on board (brass buttons ofc...)
Any ( Hermes) ties? And when?

Yes, I have 2 pairs leather shoes, 1 blazer - brass buttoned - 1 pair flannel trousers, tie.

They get used about once every 2 years. But they're there if need be.

As cruisers we do sometimes get an unmissable invitation from new friends in the country were vusiting; maybe the local town has their Ball, garden party, whatever, and we score an invite. It's those occasions it's important to honor the hosts.

Earlier this year I grabbed a bunch of us to go eat in an expensive restaurant - a bit of a treat - for some unknown reason I told all the group we had to dress up for the night. Well, blow me down, didn't the ladies pull their cocktail dresses out! And made their men dress too. We all looked and felt a million dollars! Terrific night.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes, I have 2 pairs leather shoes, 1 blazer - brass buttoned - 1 pair flannel trousers, tie.

They get used about once every 2 years. But they're there if need be.

As cruisers we do sometimes get an unmissable invitation from new friends in the country were vusiting; maybe the local town has their Ball, garden party, whatever, and we score an invite. It's those occasions it's important to honor the hosts.

Earlier this year I grabbed a bunch of us to go eat in an expensive restaurant - a bit of a treat - for some unknown reason I told all the group we had to dress up for the night. Well, blow me down, didn't the ladies pull their cocktail dresses out! And made their men dress too. We all looked and felt a million dollars! Terrific night.

We're the same way Mark. It's boxer shorts or less while on the boat alone, but we dress quite nice when out on the town for dinner. And we try our best to be presentable when guests come over for a visit in the anchorage.

[SecondBase]

I believe it was none less than Mr Herreshoff himself who pressed pants by laying them flat under the v-berth mattress overnight.

[rwidman]

I have a nice pair of shorts and a collared short sleeved shirt, boat shoes and socks. My wife has shorts and a tunic and sandals or an informal dress.


If a place requires more formal dress than this, we probably wouldn't want to go there anyway.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by SecondBase

I believe it was none less than Mr Herreshoff himself who pressed pants by laying them flat under the v-berth mattress overnight.

Old army truck been used since Napoleon was a boy.

For shirts hang on a coat hanger in the saloon and give it a light puffy spray bottle squirt. Just like a fine mist.

[a64pilot]

I could care less, although I will be clean. I hate shaving though.
My wife on the other hand brought an iron on board, and the board to use it.
So you can imagine she dresses me, I cannot go feral although except for the not washing part I can see the draw.
Being clean and staying that way is the driver for a watermaker for me. If I had to hump all the water, I can see how that may lead to fewer showers.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by rwidman

If a place requires more formal dress than this, we probably wouldn't want to go there anyway.

Yes you will.

That's the problem, many think their life will be XXXX but you never, ever know when or where you might be the recipient of an invitation "that you can't refuse".

☺️

[zboss]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes you will.



That's the problem, many think their life will be XXXX but you never, ever know when or where you might be the recipient of an invitation "that you can't refuse".



[emoji5]

I refuse to go anywhere that requires a jacket. I'd rather do without the experience.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by zboss

I refuse to go anywhere that requires a jacket. I'd rather do without the experience.

I'm in that boat too, never wore a tie, rarely anyway as the Military requires it from time to time, but never learned to tie one.

However you do need decent clothes, to check in and possibly for other things, for me that means Kaki pants a collared shirt and shoes, that is as far as I'm willing to go.
We have left Funeral clothes at her relatives, she thought of that, I never would have.

[medevicerep]

Sarong.

[Sojurnr]

Originally Posted by zboss

I refuse to go anywhere that requires a jacket. I'd rather do without the experience.

One thing none of us likes to think about or go to, but which is a necessity of common decency, is a funeral.

For what it's worth coming from a landlubbin' wannabe.