Suit and Tie? You must be joking!
This week I had to travel to Norway for a major trade show in my industry. This show is one of around eight in the marine industry that we are essentially required to exhibit at or attend. Typically, they are held four per year on alternating years. Now, these shows are very much international in character, each attracting around 60,000 visitors from over 180 countries. Major companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their exhibits at these shows and walking around the expo, you will hear conversations in dozens of different languages. One other thing becomes quickly apparent: Nearly everyone is wearing a suit and tie (except the “booth babes”… models hired to show a little leg and attract people to the stands). This week was a bit of a fashion disaster for me. I was up around 4:00AM for my flight to Oslo, grabbed a Diet Coke from the mini bar to guzzle on my drive to Berlin Airport, and promptly spilled it all over my suit while screwing around with locking the door. (I was staying at an old castle, Baron von Someone or Other’s hunting lodge. Kind of neat, but the room had one of those old iron locks with a big metal key.) Uh oh… only one suit with me. So, I go back into the room to change into a shirt and slacks, leaving my cell phone behind in the hotel room. I realized this at the airport waiting to check in. No time to return. So, improperly dressed and no phone. Gonna be one of those weeks!
Now, the marine industry is generally casual. My normal attire is a company shirt, dockers, and dress shoes, no tie necessary. In fact, outside of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, and banks in London or New York, I very rarely have to wear a suit at all, which is a good thing, because I TRULY HATE THE DAMN THINGS, especially ties. There is a special place in Hell reserved for the inventor of the tie. Now, before any women readers chime in and say that a suit and tie make us look handsome, I pose the following question: How many women enjoy wearing pantyhose? If there are, I’ve never met them. I think Rebecca owns a pair or two, but I’m really not sure since I’ve never seen her wearing them. Historically, the tie served no actual purpose other than to designate the rank of troops during the Thirty Years War.
OK… So I’m not fighting in an army, and I rank the same as everyone else, so why are they necessary? Purely decorative and useless. At least pantyhose keep a woman’s legs warm (I guess… though that is not much of an issue in the Philippines. They can be decorative. And Guys, if you ever want to tick off a woman, just ask her, “Is that a run in your stocking or is that just your leg?” If you survive the beating, you are truly a brave soul.)
So, I get to the show, too casually dressed, but no big deal. This show is mostly about appointments with existing customers, most of whom I’ve known for quite a while. They also usually know how much I travel and I get a little leeway. I also get what is known as the “American Pass”. Most Europeans know that Americans tend to generally be more casual, so they are not as picky in certain situations (like at the show.) So, quick explanation to my colleagues about the Diet Coke, and everything is rosy, understanding laughter all around.
So, what does all of this nonsensical ranting have to do with the Philippines? Well, for those, like me, who hate ties, you will probably never have to wear one in the Philippines. People are casual. It’s too hot for a suit, anyway. In fact, for 90% of my business meetings here, I can safely show up in jeans and a company shirt, and that will be acceptable. Now, I’m not suggesting walking around like a slob, and in certain situations, like in Government Offices, you will not be admitted wearing a wife beater, shorts, and flip flops, but you can show up dressed as “business casual” nearly everywhere except the most formal situations. Also, in formal situations, you pick up a ton of cultural points with Filipinos if you wear a traditional Barong Tagalog instead of a suit. This attire is native to the Philippines, and more suited to the climate anyway. In fact, throughout Southeast Asia, suits and ties are normally not required except in banking, finance, or legal industries. Even in places like Singapore. In fact, I didn’t even have to wear a tie at my wedding!
One final note about the show. On day two, while wearing my cleaned and pressed suit and tie, I was having lunch with a group of customers. These guys were very high government officials from Vietnam (Think 3 levels below Prime minister). We go into the restaurant and my customer says, “John, this is too formal. No need for the jacket and tie today!” and I’m back to business casual after all of that.
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The more I dress up the more magnatized i become to dirt, soda & food !! A tie is nothing more than a colorful noose in my book!! Bought 3 tailored suits in BKK years ago…think I’ve worn them twice…but boy they sssuuurrreeee look good hanging in my closet!!
Told my wife if she buries me in anything more than jeans and a polo shirt i will haunt her everynite for the rest of her life!!!! I want to sizzle and pop like a good sirloin !!
PS> the offer still stands to be your luggage boy John…I’d love to travel for a few months like you get the opportunity to do !!!
Hi John – I know the feeling of wearing a tie oh so well. being CEO of a German company’s UK operation for 18 years until I retired last September. Like you we had mandatory international shows to attend and yes whilst on the stand we had to wear a suit and tie but the irony was the majority of our visitors were casually dressed for comfort.I’m glad thos days are over but during this week I will have to revert to wearing a suit and tie again at our daughters graduation on Thursday and the official opening of the new college that I served on the Board of Governors until I retired on Friday.But I suppose its all in a good cause and I’m glad I never gave all my sits away to charity when we left the UK to live in the Philippines.Anyhow Marilou says she will have to buy a new dress as she has nothing to wear,typical woman for you.
Kind regards.
Jim.
Hi John, I am giggling as I read your article. I can identify with your feelings. Prior to my retirement in 2002, I wear ties every day to the office. FDA( Food and Drug Administration) required all team leaders (first line supervisors)to wear ties to the office every day, except on Friday. Thus, on Fridays, we call it “Casual Day”, no meetings are scheduled for our clients. So, I had been wearing ties for 15 years every work day. There was a time when I started collecting ties. Today, I have a collection of about two hundred ties of various sizes, design, colors, and subjects ( I even have a tie with a nude painting- my favorite). I will be glad to lend you one. Just kidding!!
Hello John,
That is a great story, I hate to wear ties as well, and love the fact that they don’t wear ties too often there.
Although I have already promised Rose to wear a nice suit and tie for our wedding in Philippines, instead of the traditional barong. Which Rose doesn’t really care for too much, she likes the American suits, or “Americana’s” as she calls them. I am sure the church will be very hot that day..the sacrifices we make for love..
Take care,
Danny
Hi John,
I remember my first day working as an engineer for Boeing. I wanted to make a good impression and wore a tie. Just before I went home on the first day the boss leaned over the cubicle and said “LOOSE THE TIE!” And remember friday is hawaiian shirt day!
Hi John – I’m with you on jacket & tie, or anything near or around my neck! Too many years of such stuff (dress uniforms in the military to include “choker” whites; suit & tie as a CPA working with bank clients, etc.) have put me right off of going anywhere or doing anything that requires such self-strangulation. I can’t help but remember old pictures of garroting in the Philippines (old capital punishment).
John my husband is a nuclear reactor engineer and he works in fuels and make negotiations with GE and Westinghouse…and hates coats and ties…he only wore once during our wedding-when he had his 6 pack abs… after 16 years of marital bliss, and according to him “my Filipino wife’s cooking”, he gained a lot of weight and does not fit to his 16 year old coat and tie…but he will not buy a new one. he prefers his denim pants and long sleeve cotton shirts (on winter time) and short sleeves (summertime). What can I do? I love my shoes (he calls me Imdelda Marcos) and purses but I could not buy him new coat and tie.
Terry: I’m with him… Wear them only when there is no other choice. You sound a little like Rebecca… She says “You have no problem with me buying clothes for myself, but I can’t get you to buy new clothes!” I told her that she knows my sizes, and it is usually easier for her to just buy them than to get me to go. Suits need to be fitted, though, so I guess that’s a problem.
LMAO…HUDSON WHERE DO I APPLY??????
I don’t recall just now where I read it, but one guys theory about ties is that they’re a holdover from slave collars… a loop around your neck with a tail that can be tied to the collar of the slave in front of you whenever they need to march a column of slaves to some place. Kind of adds a new dimension to the expression “Corporate Slave”.
I love my suit and tie right were it’s at in a bag in the closet rooled up in a ball…I have a Barong ,shirt and pants, I ware these when we go to a important doings ..I’m a respectable citizen here …Phil n Jess
Brian: The time is coming for me to go suit shopping again in SIN or HKG…I have to keep at least one that looks decent on hand. I’ve been going to Japan quite a bit and unfortunately, it is an absolute necessity there.
Jim: My condolences on the suit this week… As to nothing to wear? Argh! Revert to my post about Cerveza Negra and just pay no heed…
David: My grandfather was the same when he worked for NASA (civilian)… Plus they had to wear a crew cut!
Danny: Just remove the jacket and tie as soon as the pictures and ceremony are done… I guess an hour in the tie won’t be so bad. Perhaps suggest a compromise in a San Miguel tie or a Scooby Doo tie?
Hudson: Hmmm…. I would have thought that Boeing would be much more strict on that.
Paul: Garrotting is not that far from it… add in 35 degrees and 95% humidity, and at least garrotting appears more welcoming, since at least it is quick.
Brian: Are you a commercial pilot? I would guess that if so, you are stuck. Test pilot for Boeing?
Garryck: Doesn’t seem so far-fetched of an idea to me!
Phil: Good place for it!