To the Editor:
How many SAE's does it take to write an article? Two, of course: one to stumble over the words and the other to mix up the martinis. So here I am, along with fellow SAE Zachary Pfeiffer, trying to remember the first time I felt it was alright to leave my collar up. Initially, it seemed like an overt tribute to just how preppy I could be. Good for short excursions or laid-back off-nights in the basement, but not for popular consumption. But it grew on me, and soon I was sporting popped collars in places as public as the Zete dumpster.
Many would write off the popped collar as an obnoxious gesture, but to do so is to ignore the look's utter practicality. The sloop's deck or a polo field is no place for an unprotected neck. Burning can occur even if you've properly tanned at the beginning of the season. A reddened neck is as uncouth as drinking Dom Perignon '53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
After all, fashion is a fierce and fickle mistress, a delicate blend of form and function. It would be laughable to say that status isn't a part of that. But while my "oblivious prep-school smile" took years and thousands of dollars to cultivate, the fact that anyone can achieve a piece of that for the reasonable price of $69.50 is downright democratic.
Speaking strictly in terms of fashion, there is something to be said for vintage prep. Who can watch Risky Business without admiring the subtle aesthetics of Paul Brickman's wardrobe selections? And while I'm not about to make my own denim shorts, popping my collar is a simple way to pay homage.
Finally, I must contest one nasty allegation: lobster at SAE? Not at that time of year in this climate. And besides, Mr. Balserak would not have even sampled it. He was probably off discovering easier ways to avoid "following the herd."
So why not pop your collar? How else will everyone know that the polo I'm layering with is the exact shade of the horse on the outside? The heart of the matter is this: fashions come and fashions go. It's hard to tell which ones will remain in our closets for years, and which ones will be out faster than Elton John. Style is personal, and to force judgments upon other individuals based on their sense of fashion is above all unfair. And if you ever take the time to talk with that man with his collar up, you might just find that the pretentious can be pretty damn charming too.
