Do you believe how you dress affects your social standing?

Question

Assuming you aren't dressing like a slob. Do you believe dressing up increases your social standing over normal clothes like jeans and tshirt

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

100%. There’s a level of doing jeans and t-shirt right too, haha. But just casual vs professional? Absolutely.

At my last job, I was a regional chain store sales manager for a food distributor, so I worked with big regional supermarkets and national chain department stores like Walmart and Target. I wasn’t given a dress code, other than the obvious. Don’t show up in sweatpants, basically, haha. I could’ve worn jeans and a polo shirt with the company name on it. Any polo shirt, even. But I chose dress nicely for it.

Sometimes that would be a suit; sometimes a shirt and tie, maybe with a sweater over it; I’d often wear a sport coat, with or without a tie, and I had some really cool patterned shirts that I wore under them. Always properly coordinated, right shoes, right belt, every detail, or else it just wouldn’t be an outfit option.

There were occasionally days when I’d have to help do “dirty work” on a big setup/reset project, and on those days I’d dress casually. People always looked at you suspect out in the back room. If you needed to ask them something, you might get kind of a “what the hell do you want?🤨😒” tone. It was generally alright, but you could definitely get treated like an asshole sometimes, or low priority.

When I came in dressed up? So much respect that it almost made me uncomfortable, lmao. Everyone calling me “sir.”

Even the store manager at the huge mega-Walmart in Albany, NY, which is like their Northeastern US headquarters…. I walked past him holding court in the main aisle with some underlings, and he stops and greets me as I walk past.

“How are you doing today, sir?”, all stiff and professionally-veneered.

Like I just walked past him and he assumed I was important, and big tough bossman all of a sudden was groveling little bitch, based on nothing but my clothes.

And they’d loosen up once they realized I was with a vendor, but I’d still be treated with much more professional respect through the process, usually.

But it was a night and day difference from when I’d show up in street clothes to help with labor. Even just with customers. People would randomly tell me I looked good, just walking by. Women would smile at me more in passing. I would just feel more confident.

Plus the bargain-hunter in me is feeling so validated, doing calculations in my head on the total original retail prices vs what I actually paid in sale/clearance prices😝

Like “$350 Italian dress shoes, $50 on clearance at DSW; Designer sport coat, originally $500, purchased on a “Doorbuster” sale at Macy’s for $120; high-quality $150 dress shirt from Gentlemen’s Wearhouse, $25 on clearance” because I’m a gangly freak who has to sometimes wear big & tall clothes, lmao, particularly things with long sleeves, and there’s a lot of stuff available on clearance like that. Plus I’m a size 13 shoe, so same deal, I can get some great finds if no other Sasquatches picked them up at retail price😝

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

I see it all the time. I'm generally one of the best dressed men in any room. Men defer to me and women take notice. But it's not just the clothes. It's the whole presentation. Fitness, posture, physique, clothes, shoes, hair, grooming, attitude, confidence. Yeah, it helps to be tall too. No, I'm not totally delusional or self absorbed. And I'm not particularly good looking either. It's that I make an effort while few others do. I stand out next to those guys.

Just a haircut, a shave or beard trim, and a blazer or sportscoat with leather shoes and jeans with a button up collared shirt would be a huge upgrade for most guys. Throw on an analog watch and a bracelet plus some cologne for a little polish. That'll get you a lot further than faded jeans and a t-shirt with ratty sneakers and a baseball cap turned backwards. Especially if you're a guy over about 35.

Maître's D's and waitstaff treat you differently. People address you differently, give you the benefit of the doubt on intelligence. Women treat you differently.

DishLady · Accepted Answer

Yeah absolutely.

If you dress like you take yourself too seriously you’re unappealing bc no one wants to be around THAT sort of person. At best a few people will humor you at a public event but you’ll have a hard time making lasting valuable connections.

And if you either dress too trashy or covered in $$$ logos (i. e., lacking taste and modesty one way or another), you draw very cheap sort of people into your life.

Aim for basic classic elegance that shows your style and dignity … your self respect… and you’ll draw people who respect you.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

How you dress is a reflection on how you wish the world to see you. Not everyone can gain muscle, many struggle with weight problems, and non of us can grow taller, but we can all choose what to wear.

It doesn't have to be designer labels, often that just comes across as rather lowbrow, but it must fit well and be of good cloth. A man in a well fitted suit made of heavier material will always look better than one in a budget supermarket one.

Fashionista Amy · Accepted Answer

Absolutely, attire can subtly influence social perceptions. Dressing up not only enhances personal confidence and impacts how people perceive you, but often conveys professionalism and respect for the occasion. While jeans and a t-shirt can be totally stylish, well-chosen outfits can create a more polished image, opening doors in both social and professional spheres. But always remember, the key is dressing in a way that resonates with your personality and makes you feel good. 😊

SotiCoto · Answer

Somewhat. I mean guys who wear a tailored suit with a tie look like total twats. Authoritarian tools playing the money game. But I figure if they believed that about themselves then they wouldn't dress like that. I'm sure somewhere in their deluded little heads they believe they look sharp or something... but I'm always laughing internally at them.
I'm not sure I hold women to the same standards, but then women wearing businesswear is somewhat of a rarity by comparison. I think the nearest comparison for women is when they wear really drab, featureless dresses and act like there is any sort of aesthetic appeal to it whatsoever. Like when it looks like they somehow stretched out a grocery bag and decided to wear it.

True social standing only comes from dressing uniquely. That is why I have a white leather long-coat and tend to wear a cricket hat in the summer. Cricket hats are almost never seen in public. That is why it is so distinctive when I wear one.

PBandJ_Nerd · Answer

I don't know. But for me personally if I dress in women's clothing that shows my chest, I'm more likely to be perceived as a woman. But if I wear a t-shirt, then people won't see me as one & think I'm a girl or little girl. (which I'm not & sometimes people don't correct themselves when I tell them I'm not a kid) I know this probably isn't what you mean but unfortunately this happens to me too much socially.

Lliam · Answer

Yes, the image you present makes a difference in how you are perceived. Everyone has a style. And different people are attracted to people whose styles they relate to. They also want people who are authentic and not just posing.

What kind of people do you want to attract?

Orion84 · Answer

Sure it does, yeah. I'm also the guy that would show up for a formal event in jeans and t-shirt, because I don't care about social standing, and I most likely don't want to be there, anywag.

msc545 · Answer

That might be a little bit true. However, I actively dislike getting dressed up. My usual attire is either scrubs or blue jeans and a t-shirt and a leather jacket. I don't think my choice of a tire affects my social standing, but quite honestly if it does I don't care.

Anpu23 · Answer

To a point, eventually you get to a point where it flips. Some of the most wealthy people I know dress like crap, as they have nothing to prove.

EzraIsShy76028 · Answer

I mean, naturally, rich people can afford more expensive clothes and poor people can't. And more expensive clothes are USUALLY higher quality than cheap clothes.

Nikki1989 · Answer

It is difficult to appear professional in a work setting if you are not dressed accordingly.

FreyaRed · Answer

It does. However from a girl perspective it's better to have a sexy body wrapped in a potato sack than an ugly body in design clothes.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Believe? Nothing to disbelieve. It's true. After warmth/protection the purpose of clothes is to indicate social status.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

It's not even a belief lol , this effect on people's judgement has been studied countless times

EmmaMary · Answer

To be quite truthful I couldn't give a damn whether it does or doesn't... I dress for myself and no one else.

slatyb · Answer

Dressing well but appropriate to the situation will create a favorable impression. There are occasions when jeans and a tee are just right.

Emmytexrex · Answer

Yh thats people's perception not you  You dress for you but in a certain environment like business meetings please dress cordially and responsibly

4ngelic · Answer

would say yes especially for young people and women

jahaims · Answer

People factually treat you differently based on appearance.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

It absolutely does. The security goons have more respect when you're in a suit and tie.

fonduegirl · Answer

It most certainly does! People perceived more attractive are treated better everywhere

Chayce · Answer

If you are in shape, you can make a casual outfit that was thrifted look better than anything designer. It's about how you wear the fit.

Anonymous · Answer

Not really, I don't really care about fashion.

LiamJHayden · Answer

I do not care how those who are not contributing to my life view me.

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

Big time! That's why I take extra time to throw on clothes that don't smell too bad.

robocop666 · Answer

yup dressed like garbage from a building site and no women check me out

Apple1996 · Answer

Not really. Clothes dont mean anything

soe11 · Answer

Absolutely

Bunnybuny · Answer

It can

Abbiii · Answer

Yea of course

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