Photo exposes what’s wrong with Aussie men

Standards across the country are slipping, and one particular photo from last week proves the “decay” is worse than any of us feared.

OPINION

Has every man in Australia lost his ties?

We’ve become too casual. They’re not even worn in the most serious business settings anymore.

I happened to be watching some of the joint select committee on social media and Australian society on Friday morning (don’t ask why because I’m not sure either).

News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller and Nine Entertainment chief executive Mike Sneesby were both fronting the committee.

Both men wore suits – but Mr Sneesby’s tie seemed to have gone missing. There he was with his shirt open.

Call me old fashioned but, if you’re speaking in parliament, the least you can do is put on a tie.

He looked like he’d knocked off for the day and was about to walk into the pub.

Mike Sneesby, Nine Entertainment chief executive officer, leaves the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society at Parliament House in Canberra sans tie. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Sneesby’s fellow media execs, Michael Miller, News Corp Australia Executive Chairman (centre), and Jeffrey Howard, Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (right) both wore ties for the occasion. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

It’s not just that he didn’t put a tie on that particular day.

If you put the bloke’s name into Google Images you’ll see that he never wears a tie.

His uniform appears to be a navy blue suit with a white shirt and no tie. He does occasionally stuff a pocket square in his suit jacket, for which I will give him some credit.

But this is clearly a deliberate look. He doesn’t wear a tie because it makes him appear more casual – perhaps less stuffy and more down with the staff.

He couldn’t get away with rocking around in a T-shirt like Mark Zuckerberg or a black turtleneck like Steve Jobs.

So he nearly goes full business with the suit – but leaves out the tie because he wants to look cool.

No matter how hard you try to hide it, you’re still the boss. And you ought to look like the boss.

Sneesby (second from left) is a serial no-tie offender. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A man in a suit and tie seems more authoritative. He looks like he means business.

What’s wrong with that?

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews never wore ties outside of parliament. He routinely gave press conferences with his top button undone or – God forbid – in that bloody North Face jacket.

You’re the premier, for heaven’s sake – not a used-car salesman.

As a leader, you should make an effort to look like one.

A tie signifies not just authority. It shows respect and attention to detail.

Any old bugger can chuck on a white shirt and a navy suit. When you introduce a tie or a pocket square you have to take some time to think about colours, patterns and matching your clothes.

Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews with his infamous North Face jacket on. Picture: Supplied

The author Caleb Bond is never seen without a tasteful tie and pocket square. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Accessories convey personality. And while the tieless suit may have started as a mark of nonconformity – you’re not like other bosses – it’s now so common that it is essentially the most pedestrian thing you could do.

Standards have slipped. You can do what you want – and yet everyone does the same thing, just in a different form.

Some argue that’s a good thing because it means we’ve become more egalitarian and interested in function over form.

I think it’s a sign of decay. A man who can’t wear a tie with his suit screams laziness – or perhaps that he’s on his way to court and he’s busted out the one suit he owns for all occasions.

Putting a tie round your neck is now almost like a form of rebellion because you’re not slumping to the same level of casual attire as every other man.

So let’s rebel and bring back standards.