 | A fundamental shift in thoughts & perspectives as told by Oliver's Home Again wardrobe. |
We’ve already discussed some personal and professional elements of Oliver’s transformation in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again separately. Though I framed them as two distinct aspects for the purpose of analysis, the truth is they are actually intimately intertwined. At their core, Oliver’s evolved approach to his work and his relationship with Shane were powered by fundamental shifts in Oliver’s perspectives. Not surprisingly, the ideological components to which these shifts pointed ultimately converged in the color and content of his wardrobe.
Day 1: Clothed In Contradiction
A significant portion of the transformation Oliver underwent in Home Again can be credited to the outcome of Higher Ground. Coming out of the film, Oliver not only entered a new season in his relationship with Shane, but a new chapter of life entirely, further emphasized by the relocation of the DLO. It was through these changes, and Oliver’s attempts to adapt to them, that the nature and scope of his challenge manifested itself.
| Statements of Intent If you’ll remember from To Blue and Back, by the time we encountered Oliver at the end of Higher Ground, his pining for Shane was so pervasive that it literally saturated every element of his clothing---from the indigo shade of his suit that expressed the true depth of his pain and loneliness, to the plaid and pinstripes that further highlighted his emotional despair. Oliver’s wardrobe was the external reflection of his internal pain. |  |
When we joined Oliver in Home Again, his sorrow had turned to tangible joy and hope where his relationship with Shane was concerned. The dark indigo and mismatched blue patterns were replaced by a light, solid lavender dress shirt, purple tie, lavender pocket square and bright yellow rose pinned on his lapel. The color purple was drawn from the amethyst in Shane’s signature necklace, and the yellow rose has been a recurring motif that also represented their blooming romance. Both, clearly, were explicitly tied to Shane, on whom his whole heart and mind were focused at the outset of the movie. His dress shirt and accessories were a bold, unmistakable outward reflection of his affection for her.
These definitive outwards statements, however, weren’t the key to ensuring long-term success in his relationship with Shane, a reality echoed by the contradictory plaid suit sandwiched between his deliberately chosen accessories.
These definitive outwards statements, however, weren’t the key to ensuring long-term success in his relationship with Shane, a reality echoed by the contradictory plaid suit sandwiched between his deliberately chosen accessories.
 | Unsuitable Where half of Oliver’s threads expressed a tangible hope and optimism for the present and future, half of his wardrobe sent a contradictory message tied to his past. Oliver’s light gray suit, which constituted a significant portion of his overall appearance that first day, also had its own message to send about the state of his heart and mind. While completely opposite from his pain-saturated indigo suit in Higher Ground, the lingering gray plaid hinted at some vestiges from the past, that, while fading, still lingered for Oliver. It wasn’t long before we started to get a clearer picture of the exact nature of those vestiges, which had the potential to stunt his personal development. |
In The State of Balance, we discussed how Oliver’s interaction with Dale revealed some unfinished business between them which found resolution in Home Again. Similarly, we discussed the “mess mentality” Oliver subconsciously harbored where Shane was concerned, which needed eradicated in order to mature and grow his relationship with her for the long haul. This wasn’t, however, the only area of his life where limiting mindsets had the potential to threaten his personal development.
In The State of Mission, we discussed how Oliver’s reaction to his new professional environment was a symptom of some limiting mindsets and tendencies from the previous season which attempted to follow him into the new one. Confronted with the reality that “[he’s] not going back,” Oliver ultimately had to accept embrace the irreversible and irrevocable changes in himself, and the world around him, and adapt accordingly. It was a journey that ultimately called Oliver to claim and exercise the full capacity of his leadership abilities.
Appropriately, these narrative “threads” were embedded in his accessories and even his suit.
In The State of Mission, we discussed how Oliver’s reaction to his new professional environment was a symptom of some limiting mindsets and tendencies from the previous season which attempted to follow him into the new one. Confronted with the reality that “[he’s] not going back,” Oliver ultimately had to accept embrace the irreversible and irrevocable changes in himself, and the world around him, and adapt accordingly. It was a journey that ultimately called Oliver to claim and exercise the full capacity of his leadership abilities.
Appropriately, these narrative “threads” were embedded in his accessories and even his suit.
 | Oliver’s plaid suit was, in and of itself, a relic of his past, representing his pre-Home Again self, even as he attempted to embrace the evolving version of himself and move forward. The gray represented the “gray area” in which Oliver operated as he attempted to navigate and define his new work environment, expanding capacity as a leader and postal detective, and his blooming romance with Shane. The plaid stripes themselves referenced Oliver’s underlying discomfort with the prevailing ambiguity in so many areas of his life, which he incrementally sought to resolve. |
Subtle Side Note
Another tangible, but subtle, representation of Oliver’s internal tension revealed through his suit is the fact that, while he expressed distress and apprehension over the change of professional venue verbally, Oliver nonetheless felt comfortable enough in it to go without his suit jacket from the start. One thing we know about Oliver is that his suit jacket is a layer of “armor” frequently used to shield his vulnerability--- even in the office. The fact Oliver went without his suit jacket suggested a subconscious level of comfort and safety, even in the new environment, and despite actions---like micromanaging Shane’s attempt to hang her empty frame---that suggested otherwise. This was, perhaps, the most concise illustration of the disconnect Oliver exhibited between word and deed at the outset of Home Again.
Another tangible, but subtle, representation of Oliver’s internal tension revealed through his suit is the fact that, while he expressed distress and apprehension over the change of professional venue verbally, Oliver nonetheless felt comfortable enough in it to go without his suit jacket from the start. One thing we know about Oliver is that his suit jacket is a layer of “armor” frequently used to shield his vulnerability--- even in the office. The fact Oliver went without his suit jacket suggested a subconscious level of comfort and safety, even in the new environment, and despite actions---like micromanaging Shane’s attempt to hang her empty frame---that suggested otherwise. This was, perhaps, the most concise illustration of the disconnect Oliver exhibited between word and deed at the outset of Home Again.
 | While Oliver’s bright colors and accessories projected Oliver’s confidence in his feelings towards Shane, his plaid suit---or lack of jacket---revealed a disconnect between his external declarations, and the subconscious internal conflicts incrementally exposed through Oliver’s words and actions overall. Oliver was challenged to confront various disconnects and “gray areas” in his life in an effort to bring them, and by extension, himself, into alignment in both word and deed. It was a dynamic task, where Oliver’s progress was revealed through repeat revision of the colors and combinations in his wardrobe. |
Day 2: Pulling Threads
As early as Day 2, Oliver’s wardrobe began to transform to reflect personal change. He donned a pale blue dress shirt, distinct floral pocket square, neutral suspenders and purple tie. Notably, Oliver also wore the exact same gray plaid suit as the day before. While his suit remained the same, the shift in other aspects of his wardrobe corresponded with shifts in perspective, which ultimately provided Oliver the opportunity to identify and embrace new personal priorities.
 | Plaid & Simple Before we get into anything else, we have to address Oliver wearing the same gray suit two days in a row. The reason is pretty simple: he hadn’t figured much out yet by the time Day 2 began. But while it’s true ambiguity still surrounded many areas of his life and work entering Day 2, Oliver also exhibited a significant amount of evidence that he had begun to work towards resolution in those areas. |
Consolidated Affection?
Since Oliver’s wardrobe sort of started with Shane, it made sense his transformation started in some way with his relationship with her. Notice that on the second day, Oliver’s outward reflection of Shane narrowed from a slew of accessories to a single purple tie. This was a sign that Oliver had begun to embrace Dale’s advice, and approach his relationship with Shane in a meaningful and productive manner, paving the way for him to align other aspects of his life.
Oliver is the master of the grand gesture, the opening sequence of Home Again one in a long list of outward projections of his affection for Shane throughout the course of the series. Grand gestures, however, are not necessarily the way Shane recognizes and receives love and affection. Without getting into too much detail (trust me, we’ll cover this in more detail elsewhere), Shane thrives on words of affirmation. On the second day, Oliver got started early with comments like “I can’t imagine you ruining anything,” embracing her plan to help Norman, and eventually asking her to “go steady.” This manner of relating to Shane was evidence of a matured understanding of their relationship and his role in it, an understanding gained after his encounter with Dale the previous day.
Since Oliver’s wardrobe sort of started with Shane, it made sense his transformation started in some way with his relationship with her. Notice that on the second day, Oliver’s outward reflection of Shane narrowed from a slew of accessories to a single purple tie. This was a sign that Oliver had begun to embrace Dale’s advice, and approach his relationship with Shane in a meaningful and productive manner, paving the way for him to align other aspects of his life.
Oliver is the master of the grand gesture, the opening sequence of Home Again one in a long list of outward projections of his affection for Shane throughout the course of the series. Grand gestures, however, are not necessarily the way Shane recognizes and receives love and affection. Without getting into too much detail (trust me, we’ll cover this in more detail elsewhere), Shane thrives on words of affirmation. On the second day, Oliver got started early with comments like “I can’t imagine you ruining anything,” embracing her plan to help Norman, and eventually asking her to “go steady.” This manner of relating to Shane was evidence of a matured understanding of their relationship and his role in it, an understanding gained after his encounter with Dale the previous day.
 | The truth was, while the purple accessories and yellow rose pinned to his lapel projected hope and enthusiasm, they were also a display not truly reflective of the breadth and depth of relationship that existed between Shane and Oliver. When Oliver embraced a single solid purple tie on the second day, he traded the dress shirt, pocket square and yellow rose that superficially projected his connection to Shane, with a method of engaging her that demonstrated his true understanding of, and investment in, their relationship. Not only did Oliver embrace his feelings for Shane on a deeper level, he expressed them in the manner required for Shane to precisely and effectively receive that affection. |
By embracing the wisdom Dale imparted upon him, Oliver constructed a manner and method of relating to Shane where his internal feelings were applied in the right context externally. In doing so, Oliver defined an ambiguous area of his life, represented in his wardrobe by the purple tie nestled close to his heart.
Section Dad
With significant, focused strides made in his relationship with Shane, Oliver became better able to embrace other important areas of his life, notably where Norman and Rita were concerned.
We discussed in A Need To Cleave: Part II that Oliver, Shane and Papa O’Toole comprised a family unit, of sorts, for Norman in light of the arrival of Rita’s parents. After the rather disastrous events at Bistro Ramon, Oliver’s parental instincts kicked in immediately through his wardrobe.
Section Dad
With significant, focused strides made in his relationship with Shane, Oliver became better able to embrace other important areas of his life, notably where Norman and Rita were concerned.
We discussed in A Need To Cleave: Part II that Oliver, Shane and Papa O’Toole comprised a family unit, of sorts, for Norman in light of the arrival of Rita’s parents. After the rather disastrous events at Bistro Ramon, Oliver’s parental instincts kicked in immediately through his wardrobe.
 | Compare Oliver’s full attire on Day 2 with that of Norman and Rita, and it’s clear Oliver’s wardrobe presented him as the unifying figure in their little family. His pale blue dress shirt, tan suspenders and daisy pocket square picked up on the essence of Rita’s flower child-inspired dress, while still hanging onto the base blues in Norman’s plaid shirt. Norman even had on a gray sweater that seemed to call on Oliver’s gray plaid suit to some degree. When taken together, Oliver “bridged the gap” (disconnect) between Norman and Rita, and unified their postal family in a subtle, but important, way. Or, as I like to interpret it, it revealed Oliver’s affection for his “kids.” |
At the same time, Oliver’s accessories could be considered an outward reflection of the deeply held responsibility Oliver shouldered towards not only his postal family, but also his work. As the Section Lead, it was his responsibility to keep the team cohesive even if personal tension, however minor, existed. Through his wardrobe, Oliver traversed almost imperceptibly into a “gray area” between the personal and professional.
Oliver couldn’t have known it at the time, but his ability to “bridge the gap” and not only navigate, but embrace, the “gray area” where Norman and Rita were concerned, foreshadowed the fine line between the personal and professional with which Oliver would have to contend in the context of the Kellser case in a much more direct way.
Oliver may not have had everything figured out by the time Day 2 began, but his shifting perspectives resulted in an evolving wardrobe. His purple tie embodied a matured understanding of his relationship with Shane, which ultimately provided him the opportunity to outwardly express other important priorities in his life. His incorporation of Norman and Rita through his dress shirt, suspenders and pocket square proactively drew lines of connection between himself and his “kids” making him a unifying figure in both a personal and professional sense.
With this simple act of connecting a personal and professional prerogative through wardrobe, Oliver found himself traversing---and, more surprisingly, embracing---a new kind of “gray area.” Though he waded into the space in aid of Norman and Rita, Oliver opened himself up in a manner that eventually enabled him to directly challenge his own established lines between personal and professional in the context of the Kellser case, which, once again, transformed his wardrobe in response.
Tomorrow, we'll continue to follow Oliver's journey of transformation throughout the remainder of Home Again. See you then!
Evolving,
~C
The United States of Oliver: Balance | Mission | District of Integration, Part I & Part II | Articles Confederated
Oliver couldn’t have known it at the time, but his ability to “bridge the gap” and not only navigate, but embrace, the “gray area” where Norman and Rita were concerned, foreshadowed the fine line between the personal and professional with which Oliver would have to contend in the context of the Kellser case in a much more direct way.
Oliver may not have had everything figured out by the time Day 2 began, but his shifting perspectives resulted in an evolving wardrobe. His purple tie embodied a matured understanding of his relationship with Shane, which ultimately provided him the opportunity to outwardly express other important priorities in his life. His incorporation of Norman and Rita through his dress shirt, suspenders and pocket square proactively drew lines of connection between himself and his “kids” making him a unifying figure in both a personal and professional sense.
With this simple act of connecting a personal and professional prerogative through wardrobe, Oliver found himself traversing---and, more surprisingly, embracing---a new kind of “gray area.” Though he waded into the space in aid of Norman and Rita, Oliver opened himself up in a manner that eventually enabled him to directly challenge his own established lines between personal and professional in the context of the Kellser case, which, once again, transformed his wardrobe in response.
Tomorrow, we'll continue to follow Oliver's journey of transformation throughout the remainder of Home Again. See you then!
Evolving,
~C
The United States of Oliver: Balance | Mission | District of Integration, Part I & Part II | Articles Confederated
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