When I started secondary school in 1994, we were supplied with a copy of the rules for our uniform, haircuts and footwear. These ran to more than a page of closely typed A4 – and they were strictly enforced, too. ‘Tuck that shirt in, boy!’ was a regular refrain in the corridors.

Generally, committing time to being well-dressed and well put-together signals that someone is taking your time seriously

Generally, committing time to being well-dressed and well put-together signals that someone is taking your time seriously

At the time, we regarded these regulations as a source of annoyance and ridicule. I dare say even some of the parents might have thought them rather excessive. Nowadays they might run afoul of equalities law. But looking back, it is not difficult to see their merit. They taught us, perhaps unwillingly, to take pride in our appearance; to think about the messages conveyed by the way we dress, not just about ourselves but about the institutions and communities we represent. As many teachers reminded us, making sure we were neatly attired was a form of respect for the school itself, and the staff. It also connected us to those who had come before, and to those who would come after, a timeless brotherhood of mild discomfort.

Naturally, not everyone thinks this way. Britain is becoming more careless in its sartorial habits, even in professional contexts, and the advocates for not........

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