Henrietta Hay's Column

Is it my imagination, or there a lot more suits in town these days? I often have morning coffee at my favorite java joint. As I sit reading the paper, I notice the way many of the women who stop by for a cappuccino-to-go are dressed. I can easily imagine myself in a coffee shop in New York or San Francisco. Some of these women would fit in perfectly walking down Wall Street with a designer brief case in one hand and the cappuccino in the other.

Then I went to the Chamber's Business and Technology Showcase last week and noticed that most of the men there were in suits and ties. I also discovered that I had never heard of most of the companies, which were exhibiting.

Apparently we have become a cosmopolitan city while I was looking the other way. Unlike Denver, we were never known as a cow town, but dressing up was not something we were notorious for.

I came to Happy Valley during the uranium boom, when we were famous for having the highest percentage of PhD's of any city in the U. S. Geologists with or without Ph.D.'s did not wear suits, although they certainly could afford them. Several booms and busts later we had the oil shale boom, and engineers do not spend too much time in suits. During the busts, of course, we were lucky to be wearing anything. Now we are in the information age and people spend more time in offices in front of computers than grubbing around in the field.

Where do all these people in suits work? I did a very informal analysis of the companies exhibiting at the Chamber Showcase. Aside from the professions we are all familiar with, data management and technical services companies had the most displays. They were closely followed by temporary services and various display businesses. None of these new professions require grungy jeans and boots.

The local dress code has changed along with the businesses. Not too many years ago only lawyers, bankers and salespersons wore suits or heels, depending on the gender. Now it seems that sartorial excellence has hit Happy Valley. This is a by-product of the information age that I had not expected, but that I do find interesting.

I am, of course, qualified to judge changing fashion trends, since I am simply an observer! My dress style is authentic Western Slope Casual or Lands' End West, That means unpressed khakis and my favorite "Someday a Woman will be President" T-shirt, along with the oldest, grungiest sneakers in town. Even the people where I work out have threatened to throw me out if I don't replace them. But properly broken in sneakers are to be treasured.

Even the informality of Western Slope Casual has its rules, however. When we do "dress up" we do it with class, and look as good as comfort, our income and our anatomy will permit.

I first heard the term "power suit" when son John was fresh out of law school. His was black and he looked very impressive in it. I believe he won that first case. Since then the phrase has become a part of the business language for both men and women.

Where you have all those suits, the male kind, you have to have neckties. I have never figured out why men wear ties, but I have my own theory as to why more men are wearing them today. Modern ties are quite spectacular. No color is too bright, no design too far out. I love 'em -- the brighter the better.

Women in suits are getting a break this year. Instead of the heels, which have always been required with dress clothes, clunky shoes have come back. I thought I had left them behind in the forties. Maybe western slope influence is at work here. Women insist on style, but have seen the light on excessive discomfort.

There really are a lot more suits in town this year. I like it -- so long as I can be an observer, drink my coffee and continue to wear Western Slope Casual.