[Winhes2]

In a world where a popular summer choice is cargo shorts and t-shirts and a popular winter choice is jeans and hoodies:

a. why do you bother considering more complicated ensembles and whether they look well coordinated; and

b. for those who take the next step and often wear nice ensembles in public, why do you wear them in public when few others do?

 

[fishertw]

I guess for me, that is a standard I set for myself many years ago. While I do not look down on folks who do not seem to care, I continue to value looking well turned out for it's own sake,.

 

[drpeter]

Although I do not dress in a more formal way very often, especially in the summer, I do so when I can, for special occasions, for some meals with friends, or for trips out of town. On those occasions, I often wear a nice sports jacket and a tie. A suit is less commonly worn. I do wear T shirts or polo shirts and shorts in the hot weather. I find that perfectly normal and those clothes can also be well-made and sized to fit me properly. Anyway, here are my answers to the OP's questions:

a. Clothes are for wearing and I have a large collection of clothes. I wear more complicated ensembles because I enjoy wearing well-put-together outfits and also like each item in such an ensemble -- after all, I spent time and money selecting and buying them, so why not wear them?

b. I usually dress in a more formal fashion when I go out, so wearing these clothes in public is probably an obvious consequence. What my clothes are driven by is not the public/private distinction but the nature of the occasion. I try to consider the situation I am dressing for more than the clothes of the people who might be there. So, for example, I will wear a dark jacket and subdued tie to a funeral, although I know about 80% of the people there will not be wearing anything other than casual clothes. Likewise, I wore suits for commencement and convocation at the university where I taught. I trust you get the idea.

 

[Flanderian]

Easiest question in the world! I dress to please myself. Those that get it, get it. Those that don't, don't.

Why be dull?

 

[vonSuess]

Indeed, it's a matter of pleasing myself, as well. But it also seems to get us special treatment almost everywhere we go, I suppose because the bar is otherwise set so low here in rural Indiana. It doesn't hurt that I'm a particularly generous tipper, either. I think people around here seem to be as stingy with their tips as they are with their clothing budgets...

 

[Mike Petrik]

Indeed, it's a matter of pleasing myself, as well. But it also seems to get us special treatment almost everywhere we go, I suppose because the bar is otherwise set so low here in rural Indiana. It doesn't hurt that I'm a particularly generous tipper, either. I think people around here seem to be as stingy with their tips as they are with their clothing budgets...

Agreed on all counts.
To me, dressing well is a matter of showing respect for others. I think most people feel complimented, even if subconsciously, when people they encounter take the trouble (which is hardly much) to dress nicely in their presence. It is one reason for the better treatment you mention, which I also experience. Not only do I get better seats at restaurants, I know I get better treatment by airlines. And of course being a generous soul never hurts.

 

[Andy]

Winhes2:
Good and timely question.
The answers could be a selfish motivation since how you look makes a huge difference in how people treat you!
And it's also respect - for others, institutions, and yourself.

Clothes DO Make the Man

Is there a cause/effect in how we are treated by the world? Does it make a difference in getting someone to help you in a Department store, or being seated at a good table in a restaurant? Can't people look through all the superficial and see the real us? "I don't get no respect" - Rodney...

www.askandyaboutclothes.com

 

[Troones]

In my last job, I had a dress code of minimum jacket and slacks with a suit being mandatory three days a week for meetings. I was working in the insurance industry in an office management role and needed to match the level of dress of the advisors.

Now I’m 100% work from home for the time being and back in banking where I belong.🙂. I still wear a jacket and button down collar shirt for Zoom meetings. It just feels like the right thing to do.

I also had a former role in Learning and Development where I was taught to dress one step up from my students. So to me, being dressed more formally than those around me doesn’t feel unnatural. I like looking respectable. I think that’s the bottom line. Not that you can’t look respectable in casual clothing, though I do
feel a lot of casual wear made for today is not age appropriate for me.

 

[Charles Dana]

a. why do you bother considering more complicated ensembles and whether they look well coordinated; and

b. for those who take the next step and often wear nice ensembles in public, why do you wear them in public when few others do?

Why do I “bother considering” wearing what I wear?

It’s no “bother” for me. I don’t put much “consideration” into what I wear. I don’t need to. Ever since I was about 8 years old, I’ve been interested in dressing completely outside of the home. To me, that has always meant, at minimum, a shirt with a collar and long trousers. I haven’t worn T-shirts and shorts in public since I was a kid.

Why do I wear “more complicated ensembles?”

The ensembles aren’t “complicated” to me. Putting on white tie and tails would tax my mental abilities….but I seldom run errands or stroll around the park in white tie and tails. Business suits are not complicated; in fact, they are the opposite of complicated. Grabbing a tweed sport coat is easy, too—when you’re in the habit of doing so. (Even dressing IN a habit isn’t difficult if you’re into that sort of thing. Just guessing.)

And what about casual “ensembles”? There’s nothing complex about tucking an OCBD or chambray shirt into a pair of khakis. (Yes—My default look is to have my shirt tucked in whenever I’m in public. The exception: I’ll untuck my linen shirt or other type of casual shirt if I’m taking a long walk in a woodsy area on a sweltering day.)

In public, why don’t I dress as casually as most other people?

Again, since boyhood, I’ve had a visceral desire to dress “completely” in public. Not necessarily formally or overdone, but completely. At least complete by casual standards.

 

[Peak and Pine]

...since boyhood, I’ve had a visceral desire to dress “completely” in public.

I believe that's in the penal code, so you're probabably doing it after dark?

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

It is easy enough to select good clothing to wear, and all of my clothing fits comfortably. I dress nicely to please myself and those who notice and care but also out of respect and affection for the American (USA) clothing industry.

 

[drpeter]

Even dressing IN a habit isn’t difficult if you’re into that sort of thing

Now you're talking. Where did I put that wimple?

 

[Peak and Pine]

I dress nicely to please myself and those who notice and care but also out of respect and affection for the American (USA) clothing industry.

I didn't know there was one.

I, on the other hand, dress completely Chinese, and without guilt, knowing that with each purchase I have helped put rice and noodles on a hard working Commie's plate.

 

[Howard]

I like dressing up with a shirt and tie cause for me it's professional when being a cart attendant at work, If it doesn't bother anyone, then it's good. Wearing a shirt and tie also means that you take pride in your work most of the times.

 

[Corcovado]

Carpe diem.

 

[Charles Dana]

I believe that's in the penal code, so you're probabably doing it after dark?

Since when do the laws of the United States apply to San Francisco?

 

[Corcovado]

Since when do the laws of the United States apply to San Francisco?

They have a different penal code there, one supposes.

 

[Peak and Pine]

Wearing a shirt and tie also means that you take pride in your work ..

...as opposed to wearing just the tie and no shirt. Like the cart guys in my town, who also take pride, though it's in ramming carts into cars. Yet oddly, and somewhat admirably, only if they spot a Prius.

 

[Howard]

...as opposed to wearing just the tie and no shirt. Like the cart guys in my town, who also take pride, though it's in ramming carts into cars. Yet oddly, and somewhat admirably, only if they spot a Prius.

Peak, I try to be as careful as possible out there in the parking lot, it can get quite dangerous, There were times in the past when cars had rammed into the carts by accident but they apologized afterwards.

 

[Dhaller]

I'm going to guess that the OP is fairly youthful (no offense) in comparison with the many "just do you" repliers (no offense.)

I'm currently in the latter category. At 55 (granted, that's a mere tyke to some folks) I'm at a point where I just dress how I want, within bounds of appropriateness-to-occasion and respectfulness (like I'm not going to wear a Hawaiian shirt to a funeral). But I really don't have anything to "prove": I'm married 20+ years, established career, etc.

When I was in my teens/20s, I very much saw myself through a lens of public perception... wanted the ladies to swoon, the bosses to nod approvingly, and so on. As it should be.

I didn't try to blend, but rather to kind of excel in terms of dress. I thought of it as an opportunity to score points. A nicer suit than most, better shoes, but not too much. On a limb, not a leaf.

So to the OP: you coordinate ensembles, etc, because you want to distinguish yourself, but not to the point where you alienate yourself. The guys are in cargo shorts and tees? Wear tasteful shorts and a nice Guayabera. They're in flip-flops? Wear casual loafers or espadrilles. Your friends wear suits to the Opera? Wear a tux. Dress one step ahead.

DH