George Will's article can be found here. He quotes Daniel Akst who denounced denim as a
manifestation of “the modern trend toward undifferentiated dressing, in
which we all strive to look equally shabby.” Will contends, "Denim is the carefully calculated costume of people eager to communicate indifference to appearances." He says a lot more too.
For which he received multiple denunciations. Take Ed Morrissey's for example:
People don’t wear denim as an affectation to seem indifferent to sartorial splendor. They wear jeans
because they’re (a) mostly inexpensive in comparison to other
sportswear choices, (b) remarkably durable, and (c)
resistant to the
whims of fashion. They match almost every kind of shirt or blouse, and
they work in almost every kind of weather.
Or Michelle Malkin:
Er. Don’t know about you, but in my case, denim is the “costume” of
normal people who like wearing something comfortable and inexpensive in
the home office, to the supermarket, on the road, and at the kids’
soccer matches and horse-riding lessons. (And yes, even when they are
doing Fox News segments!) Busy, budget-conscious wives are grateful to
busy, budget-conscious husbands who wear jeans that don’t have to be
ironed. This is not an “indifference to appearances.” This is attention
to frugality, practicality, and time constraints.
James Lileks:
We all may wear jeans now, but judging from my recent trip to
Disneyworld, we all wear different shirts with an astonishing array of
logos, corporate identities, slogans, pictures and other examples of
personal expression. No one strives to look equally shabby. Shabbiness
may be the end result, but people are keenly interested in carving out
a particular niche identity on the front of their shirts.
Me: Of the responses noted above, no one discussed the appropriateness of wearing jeans to funerals, weddings, or church. I've seen jeans worn at all such occasions (not to mention shorts). It's become extremely common at church. And I confess, I wince a little.
Should there be a dress code for certain occasions? I think so, especially funerals and weddings. But there's also an aesthetic consideration. Should those who look at our appearance have to endure it, rather than appreciate and enjoy it? Is there a reason why we enjoy walking in a flower garden?