Fancy Shoes Make The Difference

19 May 2014 Monday
Hit Below The Bar

Day 1

So here it is, a chance for me to clean up my act and look like a presentable member of society. This morning I went to the barber with a long face. I have been going to the same barber (TopHat on Gordon Road) since I was in grade 4. Either my parents or my school demanded almost every haircut that I went for.

I asked him to give me the same haircut he gives to my brother and father, a short back and sides. After having my dignity removed I returned home to put on the monkey suit. I was lucky enough that my dad bought me a suit in my final year at D.H.S. At first I was surprised that it actually still fit, then I remembered it was bought much to big for me so I could wear it in the future.

So, let check the list.

ü   Get a haircut (CHECK)

ü Get a suit  (CHECK)

ü Become more serious  (CHECK)

ü BE UNCOMFORTABLE  (CHECK)

How are you meant to walk in these things?

Walking down the stairs my domestic worker, Yvonne, almost had a heart attack seeing me. The time was now 10:30am and I thought it was time for me to start my busy day at VEGA. I gave one final look in the mirror at a sight I wasn’t used to. I was clean, presentable and certainly uncomfortable.

The funny thing was that I didn’t have any lectures for the day. Upon arriving at VEGA I had the sudden fear that I would be the only one dressed for this intervention. But seeing a man dressed in nothing but his underwear gave me some reassurance.

Although I didn’t have any lectures, I still wanted to see the reactions of others to my new appearance. Many people gave me strange looks as if I was lost or confused. Friends and lecturers were shocked to see me in a formal fashion.  The rest of the day I spent in the library and wondering the halls of VEGA taking notes of the reactions of others. 

My feet are killing me.

I clean up good

Before / After

Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest

Throughout the past week I have been documenting and analysing what makes me feel comfortable and looking at my own identity. For the VEGA Body (Un) comfortable intervention, I will be changing my appearance and attitude to something that makes me feel uncomfortable. As a person I believe myself to be very relaxed and have a go-with-the-flow attitude. My outward appearance is something that I don’t pay much attention to and couldn’t care less about exercising or keeping healthy. For the next 10 days I will be dressing in a suit and tie and taking on the persona of a hard working stiff. This is something that I feel is completely different to my regular appearance.

During school I was the kid who was walking around with his shirt un-tucked and hair far to long. I didn’t feel comfortable in the formal setting. I would be clawing the desk in anticipation for the final bell to ring, the signal of the end of the day and a chance for me to loosen my constricting tie. Although I haven’t always known what career I wanted to pursue, I have known that it had to be one where I wouldn’t have to wear a suit and tie to work everyday.

Law can be an exiting and rewarding field, but one that requires a lot of dedication and commitment. My father, Ian Topping, has been an advocate for 22 years. In many ways my father and myself are very alike. We both enjoy the same music and share similar interests but I cannot say that I have a strong desire to follow in his footsteps and become an advocate. For years I’ve seen my father leave in the mornings dressed in a suit and tie, wielding a briefcase the size of a house and go out to work his long day. Each day he keeps up the appearance of a hard working dedicated man. This is the inspiration and the image I will be basing my intervention around. For the next 10 days I will be committed to looking smart at all times, taking on a slightly more serious attitude towards people and to certainly feel uncomfortable during the process.