Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform • Hacker News Board

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#71

Post by ForrestN » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 1:27 AM UTC

I've read a number of times references to the sweaters coming from St. Croix, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Croix_(clothing) http://www.stcroixshop.com/stcroix/default.asp?s_id=0&

An interesting mystery! A lifetime's supply of Issey Miyake would surely obviate the need to by them from this random shop, right? Am I missing something?

For what it's worth, I hope they come from Miyake, who's a genius in his own right.

Bonus: another person who is staggeringly good at her job, wearing a black turtleneck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XY3AvVgDns

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#72

Post by thenewgreen » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 1:30 AM UTC

What is a brand? It's a symbol that identifies a good or service. The best brands are instantly recognizable, and apple with a bite missing... or a guy in black turtleneck. Both were brilliant moves.

He branded himself as "the" innovator of our times. Was the turtleneck intentional marketing?

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#73

Post by sodiumphosphate » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 1:37 AM UTC

Homunculiheaded wrote: post #13

nostromo wrote: post #5

Many articles have been written lately about how an outsider drop-out like Jobs would have never been given an opportunity to succeed in East Asia. So it's interesting that here we have a story about how Steve Jobs tried to introduce a company uniform at Apple that emulated Sony. Especially odd given the "think different" slogan of the era. In any case, I love the idea of a personal brand that doesn't change -- and a…

I actually tried this my freshman year of college: wardrobe of nearly identical shirts, pants and sweaters. I was actually inspired by the idea that whenever cartoon characters opened their closets you'd see it full of just their signature outfit. I didn't use the term 'personal brand' but I had the idea, and also loved the convenience. Turns out that if you're not Steve Jobs this doesn't work so well. After I had en…

The only clothes I own are black t-shirts and sweaters, blue jeans, a black jacket, and a pair of black neoprene Vibram Five Fingers (sparing you my underwear selection).

The jeans and shirts I rotate in my closet to manage fade level. I push freshly laundered garments into the center, shirts to the left, and jeans to the right. I pop them from the ends. When they start looking too faded, I replace them.

I live in a small town, and get a lot of weird looks. My personal brand is weirdo, apparently.

Also, I cut the bottom seams off all my jeans - not for fashion, but because stepping on them barefoot hurts my heels. They are cracked from practicing Tae Kwon Do on concrete.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#74

Post by bluedanieru » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 1:54 AM UTC

pyre wrote: post #32

[deleted] wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

The idea of imposing a standard uniform or wearing the same thing everyday can be viewed as a form of imposing conformity over individuality (mostly the uniform thing, and less the personal style thing). That said, for a US company (especially at that time), such thinking was definitely 'outside the box,' so it could also be viewed as being consistent with the 'Think Different' slogan.

'Think different' and individuality are not really synonymous. A group of people can 'think different' by imposing conformity within their team and working as a unit.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#75

Post by eugenejen » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 1:54 AM UTC

mathattack wrote: post #29

I find it very strange that non-conformist Jobs who hated 1984ish IBM would be pro-uniform. It's a good story in the overload of Jobsian mythology. It shows a different side of him - that he worried about culture in addition to product, that he wasn't always consistent, and that even He could make design mistakes. Much more human a story than the usual fluff.

why not? all meaning depends on context.

In "non-uniform dress code" united states, wearing uniform dress is quite non-conformist.

In "uniform dress" japan, wearing dressing like american is non-conformist.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#76

Post by pyre » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 2:06 AM UTC

moheeb wrote: post #56

pyre wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea of imposing a standard uniform or wearing the same thing everyday can be viewed as a form of imposing conformity over individuality (mostly the uniform thing, and less the personal style thing). That said, for a US company (especially at that time), such thinking was definitely 'outside the box,' so it could also be viewed as being consistent with the 'Think Different' slogan.

The idea of wearing the same thing everyday is hardly 'outside the box'. Baseball players, judges, police officers, firemen, hospital staff, waitresses, painters, plumbers, construction workers...I'll stop now. Oh wait....bums.

It's 'outside the box' for office workers.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#77

Post by burke » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 2:07 AM UTC

DrewHintz wrote: post #41

Does anyone have a photo of the Sony employee uniform?

I just spent 10 minutes googling for it and came up empty-handed. Odd that it's so hard to find.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#78

Post by jarek » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 2:20 AM UTC

stretchwithme wrote: post #68

mathattack wrote: post #29

I find it very strange that non-conformist Jobs who hated 1984ish IBM would be pro-uniform. It's a good story in the overload of Jobsian mythology. It shows a different side of him - that he worried about culture in addition to product, that he wasn't always consistent, and that even He could make design mistakes. Much more human a story than the usual fluff.

Just when you think a maverick is following the maverick game plan, he deviates.

By this definition, there is no maverick game plan.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#79

Post by jarek » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 2:22 AM UTC

alabut wrote: post #40

It's the same rationale as the fashion designer Michael Kors and why he's been wearing the same black shirt, black blazer and dark jeans for years - to become "post-fashion" and have his own signature style that he doesn't have to think about and coordinate every day. And much like Jobs, he used to dress like a hippie flower child early in his career and he realized sometime later how dated that looked, so he needed…

There's no such thing as a timeless look. The only look I can think of going back to as late as the 60s - only 50 years - that could reasonably be claimed to be "timeless" is the business suit - and even that is becoming to look... unsuitable in an increasing number of settings.

Re: Steve Jobs Book Excerpt: Why he wore the black mock turtleneck uniform

#80

Post by deepGem » Wed, Oct 12, 2011, 2:29 AM UTC

Aloisius wrote: post #51

boop wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point of the article is not the turtlenecks or who Steve Jobs knew. The point is that Steve Jobs was unique and followed his own path. Which other CEO or person do you know which would wear the same clothes every day?? Most people wouldn't and would fear they would get laughed at for doing so. But Steve was unique. Wearing the same clothes every day made sense for Steve and that is why Steve did that, period. He…

Which other CEO or person do you know which would wear the same clothes every day?? All the ones who wear suits?

Scott McNealy did wear Jeans and a white button down shirt almost all the time.