Here at OC, we are struck by how often we end up in everyday conundrums. The ones that land you in the thick of semi (or full-blown) awkwardness, or maybe, the doghouse.
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons from a lifetime of people-watching.
Q: Amidst the debate over gender inequality, is there really anything that men can do better than women?
No. Obviously not. Next question.
Well, I suppose I should elaborate. When my eight-year-old daughter gets to school in the morning, the girls get together and compare the previous day’s social interactions and fashion choices. Is there a new shade of nail polish? Who saw the First Lady on television? Heady stuff. Meanwhile, the boys wrestle each other to the ground and grunt until they are fed or subdued. One point to the girls.
Which of us during our boyhood years was not given the absolute runaround by a lovely girl and yet continued to obey her every whim like a docile animal? We spent our money on tokens and gestures only to be cruelly denied in favor of an older, and equally outclassed, boy. Second point to Team Female.
I mean, come on. Smarter, quicker, lighter, more nimble, and able to identify and exploit our weaknesses at a hundred paces. And, here’s the kicker: we love them all the more for it.
So, dear readers, the answer is no. There’s nothing that men can do better than women. Well, nothing apart from the ability to actually be a man. So far, we’ve cornered the market on that one (until they invent an app for that).
Q: What’s the acceptable amount of time you can arrive late for a social meeting versus a business one?
There’s late and there’s late, and of course it depends on who’s doing the lating. (That's a new word, pronounced late-ing, the verb form of being late. Like it?)
If you’re going to a business meeting and you need everyone to know you’re in charge, then a few minutes lating will set the tone. Be sure to get straight to it on arrival so any other latecomers know their place.
If you’re not in charge and you’re trying to impress, then get there precisely three minutes early, so you’re not late but crucially you’re not too early (don’t want to be too keen).
If it’s an important meeting and you’re massively late, then offer a full, open, and honest apology. You might try: “Terribly sorry; you know how hard it is to park a Bentley. Had to have my man circle the block.”
How do we address the thorny issue of social lating? Say you've got a date with the girl of your dreams. Naturally, you arrive one hour early after having skipped all the way there clutching roses and smiling ear to ear. Two hours later, she sashays in with a swish and the briefest of vagaries about traffic or similar. What do you do? You thank your lucky stars that such a scorcher would deign to give you the time of day, and convince her it’s your fault for suggesting the wrong time in the first place. "You are so sorry," you tell her. She forgives you.
Of course, if you’re the
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons from a lifetime of people-watching.
Q: Amidst the debate over gender inequality, is there really anything that men can do better than women?
No. Obviously not. Next question.
Well, I suppose I should elaborate. When my eight-year-old daughter gets to school in the morning, the girls get together and compare the previous day’s social interactions and fashion choices. Is there a new shade of nail polish? Who saw the First Lady on television? Heady stuff. Meanwhile, the boys wrestle each other to the ground and grunt until they are fed or subdued. One point to the girls.
Which of us during our boyhood years was not given the absolute runaround by a lovely girl and yet continued to obey her every whim like a docile animal? We spent our money on tokens and gestures only to be cruelly denied in favor of an older, and equally outclassed, boy. Second point to Team Female.
I mean, come on. Smarter, quicker, lighter, more nimble, and able to identify and exploit our weaknesses at a hundred paces. And, here’s the kicker: we love them all the more for it.
So, dear readers, the answer is no. There’s nothing that men can do better than women. Well, nothing apart from the ability to actually be a man. So far, we’ve cornered the market on that one (until they invent an app for that).
Q: What’s the acceptable amount of time you can arrive late for a social meeting versus a business one?
There’s late and there’s late, and of course it depends on who’s doing the lating. (That's a new word, pronounced late-ing, the verb form of being late. Like it?)
If you’re going to a business meeting and you need everyone to know you’re in charge, then a few minutes lating will set the tone. Be sure to get straight to it on arrival so any other latecomers know their place.
If you’re not in charge and you’re trying to impress, then get there precisely three minutes early, so you’re not late but crucially you’re not too early (don’t want to be too keen).
If it’s an important meeting and you’re massively late, then offer a full, open, and honest apology. You might try: “Terribly sorry; you know how hard it is to park a Bentley. Had to have my man circle the block.”
How do we address the thorny issue of social lating? Say you've got a date with the girl of your dreams. Naturally, you arrive one hour early after having skipped all the way there clutching roses and smiling ear to ear. Two hours later, she sashays in with a swish and the briefest of vagaries about traffic or similar. What do you do? You thank your lucky stars that such a scorcher would deign to give you the time of day, and convince her it’s your fault for suggesting the wrong time in the first place. "You are so sorry," you tell her. She forgives you.
Of course, if you’re the