"Un-style" in the Social Elite

In 2010, the Prime Rib Restaurant, an icon of the Baltimore social elite changed their dress code from "formal" to "business casual". Why does this seemingly meaningless policy change matter? It represents the loss of high culture's force hold on the influence of a formal style in a power institution. It shows that in order to retain a increasingly youthful clientele, they need to act in accordance to the wishes of this culture. In the twenty-first century, youth culture has penetrated high society and dictated a movement away from formalized style and instead subscribes to a belief that casual is better

Today, America is far more relaxed in style and dress "codes" are slowly falling by the way side. No longer do students have to wear dress shirts or dresses to class as they did in the 1960's. This reflects how our culture is changing and how individuals are able to assume a number of different roles. You don't need to dress like you're ready to learn in order to take a class at UMBC just as you don't need to dress like a member of an elite institution in order to attend an elite institution. The lack of a formalized style today is like the changing definition of the American experience. A woman in the 1950's had three career routes. She could be a nurse, a teacher, or a doctor; and her dress reflected that because her options were much more feminine. Today, you can be whatever you want to be and your dress reflects you dressing any way you want to dress. In the classroom setting the way women dress varies from person to person and there are few consistent principles (outside of decency standards). Style barriers have broken down as societal roles have expanded, allowing the casual fashion of youth to infiltrate the rest of society.

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"Un-style" in the social elite

Recently, a cultural transcendence took place in Baltimore and very few people know about it. It was an event that speaks to how our society is changing in accordance to fashion, style, and culture. What happened? The Prime Rib restaurant, an icon of societal elite and high class, changed its dress code from formal to business casual.  Although it may seem small and meaningless, this change speaks to how our society is adapting to a more casual style to stay afloat and remain pertinent. When a place of business says that the dress code is "formal" it makes a statement. It says that there are standards and you need to abide by them in order to receive our services. But society is changing and standards are being lowered, as evidenced by the switch. The style of our culture, and by effect youth culture, no longer reflects a unified standard but now is dispersed into a lack of a unified style or an "un-style"

On the outside, the comparisons between the style of college students today and the college students of 1968 are sparse. The students of 1968 seemed to dress accordance to a code and whether that code was written or un-written notwithstanding, if you did not follow that code you would be not be in the norm since you're not following those trends. Today, America is far more relaxed in style and dress "codes" are slowly falling by the way side. No longer do students have to wear dress shirts or dresses to class as they did in the 1960's. This reflects how our culture is changing and how individuals are able to assume a number of different roles. You don't need to dress like you're ready to learn in order to take a class at UMBC just as you don't need to dress like a member of an elite institution in order to attend an elite institution. The lack of fashion today is like the changing definition of the American experience. A woman in the 1950's had three career routes. She could be a nurse, a teacher, or a doctor; and her dress reflected that. Today, you can be whatever you want to be and your dress reflects you dressing anyway you want to dress.

In my Mother's footsteps

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Introduction

Nearing graduation, I take this American studies course with a unique perspective.When I signed up for the class, I was looking for something that rounded out my schedule and gave me a credit boost, in addition to fulfilling my general education requirements. As for me, I'm a 21 year old senior who chose to major in "Management of Aging Services" during my time at UMBC – I’m not really sure why I did that. While I don't regret this choice, I'm a little apprehensive as to what it will be like in the "real world" with such a unique major. To me, culture is hard to define. I think its relative to the people defining it and can rapidly change. I don't like to box myself into holes, so I don't really assign myself a culture. However, in terms of place and culture I will say that I was raised all around Baltimore and feel that the culture here has truly allowed myself significant exploration into determining who I am.

Here's a photo of me next to a sign that I saw in Washington DC. This picture sort of reflects my culture I'd say. If you want to know more info about me or would like to see a better representation of the culture I surround my life with check out my tumblog at http://bearclawsrock.tumblr.com/