In the book The River Why by David James Duncan there is a line that I’ve quoted in several different wedding celebrations: “People often don’t know what they’re talking about but when they talk about love, they really don’t know what they’re talking about.” I would then go on to talk about love and specifically about the love of the couple marrying that day. I suspect, however, that Duncan is right and that I don’t really know what I’m talking about. However, I did build a career in part by talking about love. It is what preachers do.

Love isn’t the only thing that I’ve been known to talk about when I don’t really know what I’m talking about. I’ve written in my journal on many occasions about topics where I lack much expertise. Today, I venture with a bit of caution and perhaps a caveat for readers. I am no expert on the topic of fashion. I don’t think other people should choose what to wear based on my comments or my opinions. I do, however, take responsibility for my own fashion choices good or bad.

I got to thinking about fashion recently while reading an article about the change in the dress code of the United States Senate. For many years, the Senate has strictly enforced its informal dress code for members, with men required to wear suits, ties and business attire on the Senate floor. Under the new rules, more relaxed gear will be allowed. Relaxed gear includes hoodies, sneakers and gym clothes. The article pointed out that some senators have pointed to John Fetterman of Pennsylvania as one who often pushes the limits on the dress code, wearing hoodies, shorts and baggy shirts. I’ve never been much for dress codes, and I can’t afford to dress up to Senate standards, so I don’t really have much of an opinion on the change in rules. I guess I don’t care.

What caught my attention, however, was a comment by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who told reporters “I can’t imagine that we’re going to be wearing jeans on the Senate floor anytime soon.” Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada, referring to criticism of Senator Fetterman said, “Let’s look at all the men who wear cowboy boots and gym shoes on the floor, so let’s not blame one person for this. There’s a lot of offenders.” Both of those remarks caught my attention. I’ve lived my life in the west where it is not uncommon to see men wearing blue jeans and boots with a tie and jacket. Although I didn’t wear jeans in the early years of my career, there were times later in my work life when I would wear a sport coat with a pair of clean jeans. I didn’t intend any disrespect. Furthermore, for most of my career I wore cowboy boots when I was dressed up, including Sundays when I was leading worship wearing a clerical robe. I’m not a tall guy and I’m a bit shorter than my wife. I wore cowboy boots in part to make myself appear a bit taller. And when I traveled East for meetings I didn’t want people to think that I was from the East. A good pair of boots can be polished and look pretty sharp with formal attire. I once officiated at a very formal wedding where the groom and his attendants were all wearing rented tuxedoes. They were also all wearing shiny black cowboy boots. And I have officiated at many funerals for cowboys where western clothing including cowboy boots and hats were the norm. I own a white Stetson that I’ve worn to the funerals of ranchers and farmers. There is no disrespect intended in wearing western wear.

Also, I have to point out that Senator Rosen needs to work on her grammar. “a lot of offenders” is plural. The correct way to express what she meant to say is “There are a lot of offenders,” not “There’s a lot of offenders.” I’m just saying that if you want to enforce your sense of fashion, be prepared for me to try to enforce my sense of good grammar. Furthermore, and I realize this is being petty and that I am no fashion expert, I don’t see a “Barbie power pink suit” as being particularly respectful of decorum. It is, in my opinion, a poor choice of dress for a formal meeting.

I’m pretty sure that Rosen was also intending to include Senator Jon Tester of Montana in her comments. Tester is a farmer who wears cowboy boots most of the time, whether working on his farm or walking the halls of the Senate. He doesn’t wear the same pair of boots for both jobs, however. Like I did when I was dressing to lead worship, he has a nice pair of boots that are kept polished for more formal occasions.

Here in my newly adopted home in northwestern Washington I notice a lot of people who dress casually. When I wear a tie to church, I am almost always the only one wearing a tie. I have never seen one of the pastors of the church wearing a tie and that pastor frequently wears jeans when leading worship. There is no dress code at our church, but it seems that casual dress is preferred.

Then again I wouldn’t wear a track suit to go grocery shopping. I often see people wearing very casual clothes at the grocery store and frequently am struck that folks go out in public wearing clothes that I would never wear in public. I probably wouldn’t wear many of those clothes in private, either.

For my part, I don’t see a need for any set of hard rules about fashion. Fashion is, after all, specific to culture. A suit and tie is a poor choice if one wants to blend in at a ceremony on the Cheyenne River reservation or in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, or a Tibetan village. There are a lot of places in the world where people dress formally without looking like they are going to a gathering of the United States Senate. As our nation becomes more multi-cultural it makes sense to widen our sense of acceptable fashion.

On the other hands, I can’t help myself from snickering at some of the choices people make about what to wear to the grocery store.