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.

[bd476]

Glad to read this Ambrose. The crowd was great, very well behaved, the day was hot and long, hundreds of Seniors attended this, many were on walkers, crutches or in wheel chairs and the dress code for all to stand in line, climb a 25 degree hill, climb stairs and stand on black top all for up to 10 hours should be irrelevant.

I dressed up but wore running shoes because of a bad back. Goofy yeah, but best I could do. I forgot my sun screen too.

More on day's events later. Sleep deficit is immense.

[bd476]

Stars N Stripes said: "I always wear a suit and tie when I'm on FR...."

Funny, I always suspected that of you. /wisecrack ;-)

[bd476]

When did Secret Service men switch from wearing dark navy blue or black suits to brown suits? Shocking change, I tell you.

Also what became of the standard issue black earpiece with miniscule black wire trailing down and neatly tucked under the back collar of their suits?

The new earpiece has a clear spiralled like telephone cord plastic wire leading to the rather obvious large ear piece.

The standard issue dark navy blue or black suit was de rigeur long ago.

Secret Service officers back then never smiled either. Yesterday, a couple of plain clothes Secret Service officers smiled at me and my young child.

Maybe it was because I thanked them for making the whole event a safe place to be, brown suits with new earpieces, notwithstanding.

Harumph!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Blue Jays, I have not been posting in support of lowering standards. I have frustratingly suggested that many here who are so upset about the dress of others are silly. Get over it. If you don't like dressing that way, don't. If you are for a more classy dress, wear it.

But be grateful and awed that so many sought to appear at President Reagan's repose despite waiting hours in most cases to board a bus.

[bd476]

I can tell you one thing, Bluntpoint. I know what he was wearing at the beginning. ;-)

[Dante3]

I am surprised at the support for dressing like a street person or a jogger for funerals (in its broad definition). Clothes can be attractive, comfortable, and not expensive.

I've passed a black church in DC not in an upscale neighborhood. On the Sunday the people are well dressed. Their clothes might not be Armanis, but they do look nice.

[MacArthur]

Excellent point! Well put. Regards,

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Excellent illustration and a most convincing reply. Thank you!