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Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

robkhenderson.substack.com

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Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#531

Post by nobodyandproud »

astrange wrote: post #517
nobodyandproud wrote: post #491

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I like t-shirts and jeans and never want to go back to suits and ties but.. When I went to Japan a decade ago, I realized just how informal and slovenly American working attire had become.

Japanese suits/uniforms are often pretty cheap (and look that way) - thus the low end “recruit suit”. They are tailored, but the level of body-fitting they are would be actively unacceptable in the US. By which I mean, everyone would think you’re gay. On the other hand, Japan is the home of expensive high end recreations of American casual clothes - look up Take Ivy, BEAMS, nice selvedge jeans, etc.

> On the other hand, Japan is the home of expensive high end recreations of American casual clothes - look up Take Ivy, BEAMS, nice selvedge jeans, etc.

I remember some acquaintances running a decent side business buying and then selling vintage American clothes back in Japan (shipping or flying back).

This was back in the 1990s so I believe it.

(it also brought back some fond memories)

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#532

Post by astrange »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #283
mike_hearn wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holmes yes, so obviously so that people remarked on it. Zuckerberg? The archetype of Steve Jobs' dress code is the black turtleneck and jeans. Zuck is famous for his consistent grey t-shirt and jeans, or sometimes hoodies.

> his consistent grey t-shirt and jeans I’m pretty sure they were talking about that consistency. The story that I have heard, is that Jobs wore the same thing, every day, so his mind wouldn’t be “bogged down,” with minutia, like what to wear. I think some folks also have superstitions about dress.

Steve wore the same thing every day because that’s what Japanese workers at Sony did at the time.

It was common for Japanese engineers to wear uniforms just like factory workers do. You can look up pictures from Nintendo where they’re wearing jumpsuits designing Mario.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#533

Post by astrange »

brankoB wrote: post #458
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #145

> In contrast, children will copy every single action, including the unnecessary ones. The example that immediately springs to mind, in the tech industry, is the "Steve Jobs Asshole" archetype. Steve Jobs was a notorious manager, in that he made heavy-duty demands, did not suffer fools, and was blunt to the point of abusive. But he was also able to filter for talent, cultivate it, and encourage excellence. He wasn't…

He was smart in the sense he knew how to best exploit his engineers and take credit for their work.

When did he do that? I think the enthusiast tech press did that if anyone, but don’t really remember it either.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#534

Post by shostack »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #165
steveBK123 wrote: post #47

"An example from Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland: If you’re a top executive, turning up to work on a bicycle is a high-status activity because it was a choice and not a necessity. But if you work at Pizza Hut, turning up on a bike means you can’t afford a car." This tidbit reminds me of a similar anecdote (that my experience aligns with) re: the modern upper class that wearing a $2k Rolex or driving a $70k BMW i…

>inclusive of "needing" $10k viking stove/range, and $10k subzero fridge/freezer in your kitchen because you are a "foodie" Haha, don't forget the classic combo of the $10k Caesarstone countertop plus half a dozen blunt knives.

Is Caesarstone nice?

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#535

Post by rowanG077 »

maigret wrote: post #356
bri3d wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The search term you want is just "Replica." RWI, RWG, RepTime on Reddit, and other private forums will analyze the quality and details of these clones in ridiculous detail. They also have reviews of each reseller and each factory. I don't even own any fake watches at this point and I've found these forums highly addictive/interesting - honestly, the average skill/knowledge level is quite high compared to most "watch…

Thanks for the hints. About the replicas: Yes but usually you’ll find a few challenges with those. First, pure replicas are illegal, so what you can find legally are called hommages with another logo. That doesn’t make them worst by itself, but here are the drawbacks: First the maintenance. What is the probability those watches will still be serviceable in 50 years? I own a watch that’s more than 50 years and wear it…

> They rarely outskill the examples they copy still.

Sure, that's why you have to find the ones that do. The forums linked make this a trivial task.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#536

Post by rayiner »

astrange wrote: post #517
nobodyandproud wrote: post #491

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I like t-shirts and jeans and never want to go back to suits and ties but.. When I went to Japan a decade ago, I realized just how informal and slovenly American working attire had become.

Japanese suits/uniforms are often pretty cheap (and look that way) - thus the low end “recruit suit”. They are tailored, but the level of body-fitting they are would be actively unacceptable in the US. By which I mean, everyone would think you’re gay. On the other hand, Japan is the home of expensive high end recreations of American casual clothes - look up Take Ivy, BEAMS, nice selvedge jeans, etc.

But the point is everyone looks like they’re trying to conform to the dress code. Much better than America, where just when you think it’s hit bottom, people plumb the depths further. (Most recently, by way of hair, tattoos, earrings on men, etc.)

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#537

Post by mLuby »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #507
steveBK123 wrote: post #504

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Don Draper "I don't think about you at all" elevator meme in real life.

Originally a Coco Chanel quote: "I don't care what you think about me. I don't think about you at all."

Doreen dropping the knowledge. I just learned another fun Coco Chanel quote: "Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger."

Little known fact: before he was Pied Piper's cool attorney in Silicon Valley, but after his first job at a Superstore, Ron LaFlamme lived in NYC where he was told that he "wasn't thought about at all" by Don Draper. https://youtu.be/LlOSdRMSG_k

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#538

Post by Obscurity4340 »

brewdad wrote: post #396
Obscurity4340 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Top shelf power play. This guy Zooms

The real power play would be if the boss's t-shirt is the 3 for $10 variety from Target rather than a $200 bespoke one.

Not gonna lie, I'm nowhere near that "prestigious" and your comment already hits dangerously close to home, lol

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#539

Post by Obscurity4340 »

brewdad wrote: post #396
Obscurity4340 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Top shelf power play. This guy Zooms

The real power play would be if the boss's t-shirt is the 3 for $10 variety from Target rather than a $200 bespoke one.

Also, how could you ever know that for the purpose of the discussion? I feel like it would have to be pretty damn specifically made for a "generic" t-shirt fitting that specific example with "bespoke" brand indicia or something... Prolly overthinking this

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#540

Post by BirdieNZ »

steveBK123 wrote: post #347
ejb999 wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

when I had my last kitchen remodel done (a modest one,but very nice), the builder that did it said with all his clients there is an inverse relationship between how much people spend on their kitchen and appliances, and how much cooking they do - i.e. the people who spend the most, actually do the least cooking, and vice-versa. In my own limited experience, I tend to agree. I'll take an awesome cook (my spouse in thi…

Yes, many of the more expensive finishes are extremely cosmetic and have negative utility. Stone backsplashes require frequent maintenance and special chemicals. If you don't stay on top of it, they are basically impossible to keep looking clean. A lot of newer kitchens have wooden floors, which is insane. I've seen kitchens with thin coated bright shiny copper/brass handles on everything which immediately tarnish an…

> A lot of newer kitchens have wooden floors, which is insane.

What's insane about this? I grew up in a pretty basic old house with a wooden floor in the kitchen, I don't recall it being an issue in any practical sense.

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