one notch higher in my consciousness than all the others - it sounded like fancy underwear - who worked for a local talent agency and wanted me to try out as a male model for the ads of a popular local upscale clothier , j. rugby buffingtons , outfitter of prairie prep-school wannabes and washouts , ladies and gentlemen of quality , and whoever else needed to throw together something that said `` forced expensive effortless sophisticated casualness '' when they had to be seen at some summer party or art exhibit they did n't understand or a charitable event for people they liked to pretend they pitied but hoped would never move into their neighborhood .