Dressing "up" to run errands? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing "up" to run errands?

cciele

Veteran

So I was curious:

Let's say you're spending the day at home, puttering around in your yoga/loungewear/sweats/etc. outfit. Comfy, but presentable should someone drop by. You find that you need to run to the drugstore to pick up a few things. Do you change out of your lounging clothes for short errands?

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Kimbacat

Maya

Veteran

The farthest I go in loungewear is to the mailbox. For quick and unexpected errands, I just pull on a graphic t or knit top (I think I'm young enough to get away with a graphic t by itself), jeans, and some form of shoes that slip on easily. My bag and Angie watch are usually enough accessorizing for this purpose, but if I feel like it, I'll toss on a headband.

When I lived in NY, I would do this just because it felt crappy looking so sloppy among so many stylish people, even for such a mundane task. In the suburbs, I do it because the likelihood of running into someone I know is pretty high. Plus, the feeling of sloppiness just accumulates over time, and can potentially snowball into other areas. First it's a quick drugstore run, then I am wondering what the point of dressing "up" to go to the movies is when we're all in the dark. I'd rather just keep it simple and keep myself disciplined. I spend too much time in loungewear these days anyway, so any opportunity I have to "dress up" is taken advantage of fully.

Vani

Veteran

Maya has summed it up so eloquently. That is pretty much what I do - slip on a knit top or a graphic tee+vest on a pair of jeans or clams and slip into my Me Too Nadias. Just coz

marianne

I do, but I live in a densely populated neighborhood, and I walk to most places, including drugstore. I could see not changing if you just drive there and back, and no one sees you except for the cashier.
I do pop up into a grocery store in my workout gear if I need something on the way home.

fathenry

Veteran

Yes, I do change, however I try not to wear loungewear too often. I feel too sloppy and it is just as easy to slip on a skirt or jeans and ballet flats if already getting dressed. Until this summer, my weekend option would be bootcut dark wash jeans. Now that I've been introduced to leggings, they are my absolute go-to. With leggings, they already feel like loungewear yet look like you tried!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I also try to keep my lounge wear to a minimum, I have been caught out too many times with people just popping by and feeling utterly unpresentable.

I try to dress in the mornings so that I am comfortable but pulled together. I wear a T-shirt dress with ballet flats, or jeans a fitted T-shirt and oxfords. I feel these looks are practical enough for housework yet I can nip out to the bank and save my blushes. With two very small children in tow I also want to convey to world that I'm in control.

After 8pm is a different story, the kids are in bed and this is my time so it's pj's all the way.

Christie

Yes, I change, even if its just changing out of my comfortable (but old and relegated to housewear) Danskos into a cuter ballet flat or boot.

rute

Veteran

I always change! Absolutely! You never know who you will find! I choose a comfy dress and flats, style my hair and put some mascara and a gloss!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I always change out of "loungewear" (or what I more accurately call my "pajamas") whenever I go out of my house, least of which because I never wear a bra when I am in that outfit. If I am dressed down at home, I am comfortable in every way!

crwilson

Veteran

I usually wear knit dresses as loungewear, in which case I don't change. If I'm feeling crummy, I have been known to pop into the drugstore in my yoga pants, but it's rare. I will, however, stop by the grocery store to pick something up in my gym clothes if I'm on my way to the gym or coming directly home from the gym.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Like RoseandJoan, I keep the "loungewear" to bedtime and early morning. Sometimes I don't get dressed until a little later, but I dress every day unless I am just not feeling well. Even though I am a stay at home mom, I know that every day of the week save occasional Sundays I *will* be leaving the house to be in public. We have some kind of activity every day, but even if we didn't I would get dressed.

shiny

Veteran

I used to run errands in sweats. Since YLF, I try not to.

Funny story: I have two neighbors who are retired and seem to be always out in their gardens or front porches. Sweet ladies - I have the nicest neighbors. Ever since YLF, whenever I leave the house, the two of them look up and check out what I'm wearing. They shower me with compliments "oh you look so nice!" "you always look so nice!" "oh, so pretty... where are you going today?" "oh, I'm guessing you're going to work/dinner/a party" "sigh, you and DH make such a handsome couple!" (they are both in love with my DH, since he helps them shovel and bring in their groceries). So I have an audience. LOL. Just knowing they are going to be checking out my attire is great motivation to dress up for them.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Although I'm a newbie to the forums, I've been reading for awhile. Usually, I go to the gym every weekday morning, and one morning I was considering stopping off at the store for some eggs on my way home. I couldn't do it - it was the YLF influence. Went home first, changed and then went out to the store. lol! That said, I don't think I've ever popped into the store or run errands in lounge-wear.

Interestingly - I noticed something yesterday. I've been sick with a flu/cold or whatever for awhile now, and yesterday finally decided to head on out to the doctor's. Got dressed - nice charcoal grey pants, patent ballet flats, pretty top and a soft cardigan. I was surprised that even though I'm sick at home, how much better I felt being 'dressed'. I got back from the doctors, antibiotic prescription in hand and so on. Too sick to really do much, but I'm telling you - I actually felt a wee bit better - I think it was the clothes!

So, somehow, hanging around in my yoga pants and such seems to influence my level of perceived discomfort in terms of getting over this cold/flu thing I've got.

If I were at home in lounge-wear, yes I would change to run errands. But, even further - with my experience yesterday, I'm going to get out of my yoga pants and t-shirt today, even though I'm sick at home. Because I did notice a subtle 'feel good' influence from being dressed yesterday.

medusa

Veteran

Usually I change, but if I'm already out and about in exercise clothes (like VC just mentioned) and I need to go shopping I'll go ahead and do the errands.

Melody

I always change out of ratty loungewear to go anywhere. That being said, I have some nice winter clothes that would probably qualify for loungewear, but it's so warm and cozy and the look is sleek, so I will wear that out when it's particularly chilly. And you would certainly never catch me out with the word "Juicy" (or any other word) plastered across my bottom, and I'm amazed at the grown women who wear these things ... and the teenagers who's mums allow it also.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

My loungewear at home is a cami and my drawers. TMI, sorry! But to save a few bucks and energy, we keep our A/C at 82 degrees, and even then it's on constantly. So when I clean the house or make dinner, I get pretty warm very quickly. So indeed I do change before I leave the house! I can stick on a pair of burmuda shorts, graphic tee or sleeveless top, sandals, mascara, lipgloss and go. I've also found that my specs give me a more polished appearance.
I work out at home, so never have a need to run errands in my fitness apparel.

kimlee

Veteran

I generally leave the loungewear for bedtime and Saturday morning marathon cleaning sessions. I have been known to wear my exercise clothing to the grocery store - but that is only because it is a 15 mile drive from my house to the grocery store and I can't justify using the extra gas. However, since YLF I have upgraded my gear to much nicer pieces.

When I do leave the house on the weekends to run errands, I usually wear a pair of bermuda shorts, patterened top, and cute flats.

Dawn

(website)

As my loungewear are my PJs, I change out of them if I need to run a few errands. However if I'm having a not-so-awesome day, I do have a few outfits that are easy to wear and comfortable... like skinnies, a graphic tshirt and a cardigan. It looks pulled together enough that I don't look like I'm having a bad day but it's still quite comfortable.

malcontent

I don't generally wear yoga pants etc. around the house unless I am sick, it's late at night, or I'm actually doing yoga. I have to get out of the house early every morning to bring my son to school so I get dressed then.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

very happpy face.

TazzyWazzy

I always change out of my loungewear (nice name for my terrible houseclothes:) to go anywhere. I also live in the suburbs and always run into someone.
The worst feeling is when you run into someone and wish you would have worn all those amazing clothes that are in the closet:)

Chris

Change! I ran into old boyfriend once and was so happy I looked smart casual that day (he wasn't - lol). Lesson learned!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Yeah I mentioned earlier that I always change but my loungewear is rubbish, if it looked like this I would never want to leave the house http://www.asos.com/search/pge.....38;sort=-1

Danja

(website)

I do not wear lounge wear when I run errands. If I have to run out really quickly, I have my faithful denim pencil skirt, ballet flats and either a fitted t-shirt or a light button-down shirt (tucked in of course).
My yoga pants are only worn when I work out. Around the house I have an old denim skirt, a fitted t-shirts and thongs. That seems to work the best. In the winter I wear either old jeans or pants with cotton long sleeve shirts which I bought specifically to be worn around the house with my indoor ballet flats, also bought specifically for that purpose. It is so easy to look sloppy around the house, that I purposely threw out any clothing which could tempt sloppiness.

anne

Veteran

I have to admit going out recently in one of my nicer "home" outfits - old jeans (not PPL) and a 3 year old sweater (nice raspberry colour, though).

But I hardly ever go out in my home clothes which I would not wear if I thought anyone was going to come over! I change to take my daughter to school and then often change again when going home, particularly if doing something messy.
I leave the clothes on my bed so I can put them on again when I go out later in the day.

Louise

Veteran

I've just splashed out on some new loungewear- thicker than pj's but lighter than sportswear and would feel ok popping to the shop for say milk if i was going in the car but would change if going out for longer x

Laura

I can't bring myself to go out in anything less than jeans and a knit top.

I do stop at grocery stores after I work out though. And I don't feel bad about it because I feel super healthy from exercising!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Confession time. If I'm just running to the store and back for a few things, I don't change. (I can see Angie frowning right now). If I'm going out for several errands or I will be out for a longer time (such as a big grocery store trip), I change.

MTBGirl

Veteran

Just for the record - this thread is six years old- revisited by spam.

Kimbacat

When I was a young girl and was going out for some errands with my mother, I didn't want to bother changing into nicer clothes since we were "just going downtown" rather than to the city or someplace special. Mom gave me advice that I remember to this day. She reminded me that "just going downtown" we would probably see people that we see regularly, while going to the city we would be among strangers. Doesn't it make as much sense to want to look presentable for these everyday people as for city strangers? So, yes, I freshen up for a run to the drugstore.