Yet, styles are always cultivated. They require “ease” (Bourdieu 1984:68ff.) that can be achieved only by means of investment, for example in terms of money. As Ferguson puts it, “You buy [either] clothes for your parents or for your girlfriends, [you] cannot afford both” (1999:100). Related, it is necessary to invest energy and dedication, as in the example of Ferguson’s research assistant, who, to Ferguson’s surprise, “spent his spare time drinking not with age mates but with a group of shabby-looking old men” (ibid:100). Andrew used to do the same: Andrew: What I did, Jakob, was to force myself to spend time with the elderly people within [the company]. People were surprised of why Mr. [Andrew] was spending his time with elderly people. Jakob: Why were you doing that? Andrew: Why was I doing that? Because of nothing else but to seek some guidance, nothing else but to seek some help, some advice, nothing else but to seek some... To try to get some ideas about how to get by in my situation, you see. Because I thought that this life that I had engaged in was a very big challenge. That is why I split from the bachelors. Andrew summarizes some of the central points with regard to the term “cultural style.” First, he mentions that it is not impossible to cultivate a new style, but that it is very demanding. You need to practice. Secondly, he states that style is not just about self-making, but also about simply making it, how to “get by.”
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