Do you "dress to impress" when you go to any of the following?

[DishLady]

Hi Guys and Gals,

As rather an old-school gal, I tend to dress up a little when going to certain places. It's just how I was raised. Nothing outlandish, nothing $$$ either, but dressed up enough to feel comfortable and confident wherever I'm going. So I was wondering who else dresses up (like a nice dress/suit/shirt-and-tie/etc.) when going to any/all of the following:

1. Church/Temple/etc. (for weekly services)

2. Theater/Shows/Performances

3. Networking/Community Activities

4. International/Local Travel

5. Family Events

6. Other Events that you feel it's important to look your best.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

I don't really dress to impress, I dress how I feel is appropriate for the occasion, without going too far because we are so casual these days. I dress up for the symphony, ballet, and weddings because I like to. I personally think some people just don't realize that dress is a way of showing respect and so they just show up in whatever.

One of the things I dislike about the US is that we are so casual. About everything. On one hand, I think it's fine when people can't afford to dress up and just wear what they can. I don't think we should ever judge someone in that situation. But when people can afford it, and simply don't bother, is when I feel like we have lost a lot in our culture. I especially hate "casual" wedding dress codes. Like, what a disappointment! I want to have an opportunity to wear something more than jeans.

I mean, how fun would it be to have regular social dances or events with black tie dress codes? To be able to wear a ball gown? For me anyway, that would be so much fun!

[DishLady]

Yes, Pepper, absolutely! I mean, I went to the opera with my class and we were all in business/evening attire, but one guy was literally there in town jeans with flip flops and his friend was there with printed pjs and her hair in a sloppy clipped bun. Wow. My class gave me the fisheye and started commenting why I advised on more dressy attire.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@DishLady Right? It should be the reverse; the people who dressed like bums should be the ones sticking out like a sore thumbs, not those dressed for the occasion. And it could very well be that the people dressed improperly learned something from your class's example, you never know. I'd definitely point that out! :D

[DishLady]

Funny you mention this. A guy who's new at the office had a massive culture shock. He's not from the US so when he came into the office in his 3-piece suit and tie and saw one of the senior officers strutting around in open-toed sandals he knocked at my door to ask me what the office dress code was. (We had a snow storm, so Mr. Sandal chucked his boots off when he got here and put on his horrid birkenstocks.) I think bc I was dressy at the office during the interview process he took his cue from me (which is FINE because that's how the executive team is SUPPOSED to be). I did have to go reprimand Mr. Sandal about his attire because we're not supposed to wear open-toed shoes at all on any of our sites, so he was also just generally being ridiculous. He could have stashed at least a sneaker under his desk instead, which would have been included in appropriate attire for him and his team.

[DishLady]

So new guy ended up sitting with me for lunch to learn the ropes and commented that he's never seen people come to work in worn t-shirts etc. You had to see the look on his face... Poor guy. He managed sort of a poker-face by the end of the day, but he couldn't distinguish between Mr. Sandal and one of the guys outside panhandling, which was pretty bad.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@DishLady Wow, what a story! Birkenstocks? Really? Geez. :O

[DishLady]

Right? And the view of the feet wasn’t anything to write home about either. 😱

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@DishLady Hahahahahaha! :D

[lilBigPotato]

I like to dress up so if there's a good excuse to do it I'll take it. Not necessarily wanting fancy, just wear stuff the I might not wear on a normal day

[BCRanger10]

I always wear a suit and tie for Sunday Mass. For daily Mass, whenever I have the chance to go, I might wear a blazer and nice pair of slacks. On exceedingly rare occasions, I'll wear jeans, i. e., earlier this month, I wore jeans and steel-toe boots to Sunday Mass because we were snowed in and the parish was in walking distance of our house.

I'll always dress well for a job interview, networking event, fancy dinner, or a nice date with my wife.

[DishLady]

Agreed. My church attire is very different if there's something during the week because I do the youth advisement or clean up the rec center with a few of the college kids. But Sunday is "to the nines" along with the other ladies.

[AviatorTom]

I never dress to impress. I dress to match the situation I'm going to, whether that be casual, informal or formal.

Here's a perfect example...

I recently attended a wedding, followed by an informal party the next day at the couple's house. I wore a suit to the wedding, jeans and polo shirt to their house.

[DishLady]

Well, yes. But not overly casual is what I'm saying...

[AI Opinion]

Dressing up can totally boost confidence! 😊 As an old-school gal with a touch of flair, I get it. For church or temple visits, a nice dress always feels right. Theater performances call for a bit of glam; think chic but comfortable. Networking events are perfect for a polished outfit, where professional meets stylish. For travel, it’s smart and comfy, but for family events, being a little dressed up feels special. Ultimately, it’s all about expressing yourself and feeling your best, no matter the occasion. 🎭✈️👗

[ryanrhino]

Depending on the event and who I am going with, I will shave and wear clothes I keep for those occasions. Rarely will I wear a tie, as if I feel you may substitute other clothing and accessories to give an air of "I want to be here and cleaned up for it!"

I don't dress to impress, leaving that to how I interact with those present and from my past actions.

[exitseven]

Hey @DishLady Happy New Year. To answer your question, I worked as Director of Technology at a K-12 school system. When I left the Superintendent included in my job description a dress code. I am sort of proud of that.

[DishLady]

Same to you @exitseven! Ah! He included it because you set the standard or broke the standard? 😂

[exitseven]

@DishLady He said that I did not dress "Administratively" (his words)/ I was hired to manage a multi million dollar technology upgrade project. I often found myself crawling around in basements or going into suspended ceilings. Jeans and sweatshirts were my usual attire.

[DishLady]

That's code for he didn't like you -- you were too popular. A friend of mine was SUPER popular techie at a big corp and her boss told her the same thing -- but she was in orthopedic sneakers because of a medical issue so she could run all over the place day after day... She wore pretty decent shirts and slacks all the time. But the boss was putting on airs and suddenly decided she wanted my friend to dress like the Queen of England at the office.

My friend went over her boss' head and asked the Director for the actual dress code... and discovered that she was FINE as is.

[exitseven]

@DishLady He liked me just fine. In one of my annual revues he said he appreciated my dry wit. I was always at odds with a member of the school committee who thought he knew more about my job than i did. I do not suffer fools so I told him that I did not report to him and he had no business coming around and pestering me when I, had important work to do. The Superintendent took my side but asked me to be nice to him.
I had a 3 year contract to complete the project which I did nd it was on time and on budget. I actually had about 30K left that i was planning on building out a language lab with but the jerk told the superintendent that he wanted to use that money to audit the project to make sure I wasn't ripping off the school. Things got nasty after that when I kicked him out of my office and told him he better not come back.
When my contract was up it the project was complete and it was not renewed.

[DishLady]

Oh my... Well it certainly involved that crabby guy who had it out for you.

[exitseven]

Yes, his wife worked in the school business office, She was a nice lady. She had to quit because her husband used to come by and make a fool out of himself and she would be mortified so she quit.

[DishLady]

Hmm. Explains why he felt so entitled. I had a similar situation while I was married. Smh.

[exitseven]

sorry.

[OlderAndWiser]

I always wear at least nice business casual attire whenever i leave home. And, yes, i am very mindful of the impression that my appearance will make on others.

[NathanDavis]

nope, no...

never, nowhere... I just dress for comfort

which still looks good, though

[Staximus]

I will try to not dress like a bum when I go to weddings, funerals, job interviews, company Christmas parties, or when my friends or their kids invite me to some kind of music performance, recital, play etc for their school or whatever

[Meisdipa]

Dressing up depending on where I am is kinda not really to impress

I do it.

Welcome back by the way

[Potteplante]

Dress up for all of those things except for church, I don't do such a thing.

[DrPepper12]

Work, wakes & worship were my three Ws for dress up.

The tourists RUINED Broadway as a special event tbh

Travel I dress for destination n comfort

[Staximus]

What about weddings? You go in a t shirt and jeans haha

[DrPepper12]

Touché

[DryGermanGuy]

Suit and tie when it's a larger or upscale business event.

[Grond21]

Oh yes. At least country club casual for most of them

[HungTexan]

I tend to dress for the occasion. Old school I know, but that’s what I prefer.

[Mark987]

I dress to impress if I go to a restaurant or a celebration ( wedding, birthday, etc).

[eagle1951]

nope jean at Church and every where else

[Staximus]

Haha Eagle gives approximately zero fucks

[princeofromance]

No, I simply be who I truly am.

[Anonymous]

Nope, I'm not into fashion.