Comments on: Criticized for being overdressed

By: Bonne Vie - Combatting Casual Wear

Bonne Vie - Combatting Casual Wear — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:38:09 +0000

[...] also noted another phenomenon: Women feel criticized for being overdressed! Okay, first off, why do you care if someone thinks you’re overdressed. At least [...]

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:17:52 +0000

My problem is that I am one of those IT developers that Dana mentioned two comments above. Not all IT people are unshaven men wearing t-shirts with holes. I try to dress “smart casual” as I define it, and fortunately people can see beyond stereotypes where I work, but at the same time I’m aware of that stereotypes exist, and of the need to be taken seriously as a technical person. I save my more stylish stuff for after work.

By: AP

AP — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:42:16 +0000

If you are going to get upset about people who complain about those that are overdressed, then you must practice what you preach and don’t complain or gossip about people who are underdressed. Even if they are presenting to you in jeans on casual Friday or wearing sweats at an airport. What if their profession is an athlete and they have to get off the plane and go straight to the gym? What if there was a death or emergency in the family and they rushed to get to the airport. Is there really “no excuse” for dressing poorly? I suggest that we don’t judge what others are wearing until we walk a mile in their shoes.

I really think that everyone needs to lighten up about fashion and “style” and just let people wear what they want to wear. As long as they aren’t indecently exposed and are following any mandatory dress codes (if provided) why does anyone care what anyone else is wearing? I think in this day and age people should learn a little tolerance.

And if you don’t want to listen to someone who is presenting because you don’t like their outfit, it may just be your loss. I know a lot of people who have very interesting things to say and they don’t even own a suit.

By: dana

dana — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:21:34 +0000

I actually went so far as to put a critique on a training session evaluation today – stating that the presenter should have worn a jacket. It’s casual friday, he wore those 70’s styled jeans with intentionally lightened thighs and flap back pockets, flat velcro strap converse type tennies, a brown t shirt just visible at the sides of the neckline of his very snug fitting, thin navyblue crewneck sweater… the whole ensemble was rather slim fitting and I felt the lack of a jacket made the tennies seem even more dressed-down. He’s a VP in HR and should really have treated the trainees as clients and worn a level above the “I am an IT developer who only sits in my cube all day” Friday attire….

I was in the front row in jeans, brown heels, brown wrap top, patterned brown jacket, bold jewelry and a casual updo. He’s 2 levels above me and I really didn’t want to listen to what he had to tell me about his new procedure we’re to follow – I wanted to give him a programming assignment.

By: Images: T

Images: T — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:13:34 +0000

To be honest, while most of the time I complain about guys not dressing well in the states (and seattle particularly) and wish there was more options for affordable guys style… secretly deep down I kinda like that when I dress nice I get noticed, complimented, or at least thought of as “stylish” (which I take with a grain of salt being as most people mean it realtively, like “I didn’t see that at the gap”) I would say I’ve been ragged on for dressing up but the surrounding “casual nation” does bring with it some silver linings.

By: Terri

Terri — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:54:19 +0000

This post has come at a time when I am also pondering the same problem.
I am due to attend 3 weddings this year and am figuring out which dresses in my wardrobe would be appropriate. Turns out 2 of my 3 dresses that i have in mind may be deemed too dressy. I am therefore in a dilemma as to whether I should invest in more casual dresses instead. After reading the comments here, i have regain my confidence in wearing the dresses I have decided on. They are nice, wonderful, dressy and stands out among my friends who tend to be more low key. They do not come cheap and I want to get the most wear out of it. I think they are darlings as outfits for ballroom wedding events. Let the others say what they want, because at the end of the day, i know i will feel good dressing up for the weddings.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:28:12 +0000

It’s so bad at work that if you dress just a notch above “smart casual” everyone assumes you are interviewing somewhere and says so to your face!

By: kellee

kellee — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:49:52 +0000

What a great topic.
I find my thoughts in so many of your words.

For me, it all comes down to being fine with what I choose to wear, while keeping an open mind to what I see around me. We are all unique and we all “work our skirts” in a different way.
When I am hemming and hawing about what to wear I look to these quotes that I have on the wall in my closet. I find each one of them grounding in their own way. Within their words my style exists.

Yves Saint Laurent
“Isn’t elegance forgetting what one is wearing?”

Coco Chanel
“Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.”

“I wear my sort of clothes to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear.”
Katharine Hepburn

“I base my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch.”
Gilda Radner

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:55:27 +0000

Interesting. For me personally, I think it is about expectations. The people around me are used to seeing me dress a certain way. If I change that, either by dressing up more or dressing down more–they will notice and comment. When I started to amp up my style quotient, there were comments from the peanut gallery. But most of those comments were complimentary or at least not insulting. But now that my friends and family are used to seeing me dress this way, they have come to expect it.

I don’t think I dress down to please anyone. I try to dress according to my activity. The same way we have gear for certain physical activities, I have certain kinds of clothes I wear for different events. Work, Date Night/Girls Night Out, Running Errands/Shopping, School Meetings, Family Gatherings, Outdoor Activities…just to name a few.

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:54:24 +0000

Wow. Impressive responses.

Ellen, you are astute and I love your comment. I hope the penny drops for the people who are the attackers and on the receiving end of the attack.

Rose, it’s so true. In other parts of the world, people commute with children on public transport in grotty weather WITH style. It’s easily achievable. There is simply no excuse.

Julia, I had the same reaction to you when I came to America 5 years ago. But I carried on dressing the way I always have. I actually stepped it up a little because I’m closer to 40 than 30. I have never been told that I’m overdressed to my face. In fact, I’m often showered with compliments which is one of the things I love about American society. People are generally extremely open and kind about paying you a compliment. This is less so in Europe where people are generally more reserved.

Shiny, I like your word “appropriate”. I wish there was a standard for the word though. What is appropriate for one is not for the other. I suppose it will always be like that.

Tanya, you are a perfect example of someone who dresses beautifully in a sub casual environment. To me you look appropriate and effortlessly stylish every day.

Joy, I LOVE how infectious your style was and is. You ROCK.

Laura Elizabeth, the style standards that you have set at work is music to my ears. Well done!

Telly, I was not aware of the new dress code at the Oval Office. I actually think that our new First Family is going to have a positive impact on how people dress in America.

Good for you Loulou, Sarah and dyna. That’s the spirit.

Well said Lara!