Mourning decorum's death (author laments casual dress at Reagan's repose)

LA Times ^ | 6.9.04

[ambrose]

June 9, 2004

THE REAGAN LEGACY Mourning decorum's death

To say that California casual was the dress code among those paying last respects to Ronald Reagan is to put it charitably.

By Booth Moore, Times Staff Writer

A president was lying in repose, but the occasion could just as well have been a Saturday afternoon at Universal CityWalk, judging from the polo shirts, shorts, Harley-Davidson T-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops and dirty white sneakers with pulled-up tube socks.

For some people these days, there is nothing they will dress up for ? not a concert at Disney Hall, a graduation, not even to pay their respects to a former head of state.

When Americans went to see John F. Kennedy's flag-draped coffin at the U.S. Capitol in 1963, women wore dresses and high heels and men donned suits.

But during Monday's procession through the Reagan library in Simi Valley, many men did not even remove their baseball caps as they paid tribute to a man who was never in the Oval Office without a coat and tie.

[ambrose]

As someone who wore jeans and a Reagan t-shirt and collared shirt to the repose, I think this lamenting is silly. This was a California event, for the President's California supporters. With the Simi hilltop setting, I felt it was more like visiting the President's ranch than going to the White House. For the official national funeral events, it is an entirely different story.

That said, SOME people did take the casual dress thing to a new level.. there were some people wearing bicycle spandex outfits to the viewing...

[dr_who_2]

Actually, I don't. Would you attend someone else's funeral dressed like that?

[ambrose]

a- it wasn't a funeral

b- that depends

[Lysander]

...many men did not even remove their baseball caps....

Just walk in to any restaurant and you will see idiots sitting at the table eating with a hat on. My Momma would have knocked the hat off of my head with a frying pan if I ever tried that one. Today most men are little boys when it comes to dress.

[sinkspur]

As someone who wore jeans and a Reagan t-shirt and collared shirt to the repose, I think this lamenting is silly.

I agree, especially coming from the LA Times, which likely hated Reagan's guts.

People simply don't dress up any more, like it or not, unless they or a family member are being married or buried.

[freebilly]

Hey, I'm in Northern California. It's 95 degrees today here. Who's going to stand around in Simi Valley in an 8 hour line in a jacket and tie.

(and I do agree that Californians sometimes take casual to absurd levels....)

[E Rocc]

This is a different era than 1963, when the President never appeared in public without a tie. Indeed, Reagan helped make it so as he often appeared in public in casual attire. So did Carter, but with him it seemed an affectation.

Also, consider the large amount of time people were waiting outdoors...in a California June.

-Eric

[dawn53]

I say anybody that has to wait in line for hours to pay their respect should be given some slack.

It wasn't a funeral, and having to wait outside in the heat should allow for a relaxation of the dress code, IMHO.

[Trust but Verify]

If mourners are standing for many hours in the heat waiting for their chance to pay respects, they should be forgiven for wearing something more comfortable than 'normal' funeral attire. Athletic wear is taking it too far in the other direction.

[gopwhit]

I'm old-fashioned and around a casket with a flag draped over it I like to err on the side of conservative. I wore black pantsuit and pearls. I did see some people in really sketchy 'rolled out of bed' attire and wondered if they couldn't have gone to a tiny bit more effort. But then I caught myself and thought "you know, Reagan would have loved every damn person here and I need to get over it." I don't think there's a dress code posted at 'dem pearly gates....

[dougherty]

These are my thoughts as well . Even some people that were dressed nice had their kids in a t-shirt and shorts.

[snooker]

No I wouldn't go to a repose of a President dressed like that. But I wouldn't berate those that do. Paying respect doesn't include how you dress.

[Vigilanteman]

The LA Slimes is looking for something, anything to criticize about the greatest president in at least the last century. For wont of anything better, "his admirers come dressed too casually," will do. In some tropical islands, an Aloha shirt is considered formal.

[princess leah]

Perhaps this country needs a new image redu complete with etiquette books...of course, our schools are too busy teaching homosexuality to our 5 and 6 year olds!

[dennisw]

Anyone have a 1950's photo of the crowd at a ballpark, with the men dressed in suits and ties and with hats on?

[clintonh8r]

Sorry, but I agree with the writer. Americans have no sense of decorum. I wouldn't work in my yard dressed the way I see people in malls, on airplanes, even in church. I live in south Florida where the island mentality has firmly taken hold. I watched enough of the TV coverage of the Reagan memorial that I saw probably a couple of hundred people go through. I realize that it must have been a long and uncomfortable wait, but I was surprised at how many of them were dressed, but then I'm an old guy who was raised differently than most. And I salute you for going. I wish I could have.

[dr_who_2]

I'll remember you said that the next time I go interview for a job.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If it's hot and humid, you wouldn't catch me in a suit jacket, dress trousers, and tie. Spandex is taking it too far, but one shouldn't go out of their way to being as tacky as they want to be at someone else's expense.

One can be dressed up and still be tacky. Just take a look at the shreds of human debris floating down the red carpet at any award ceremony, where you have rich folks, dressed in what I wouldn't consider clothes.

[Rebelbase]

"Hey, I'm in Northern California. It's 95 degrees today here. Who's going to stand around in Simi Valley in an 8 hour line in a jacket and tie. "

BUMP!

[Old Professer]

I'll bet most of them would have been better left on the bicycles.