Yesterday I took my boyfriend out for a nice dinner for our one year anniversary. I tried really hard to find a nice romantic place, and to my astonishment I succeeded admirably. We went to this place called M, it was posh and elegant and just trendy enough, I loved it. Just being in there made me fully aware of how non-fine dining my restaurant has become, it’s going to feel like going to work in Denny’s after last night.
But anyway, half of the reason for me wanting to find such a nice place is because a few weeks back I gave in to my base fashion instict and bought two dresses that are gorgeous, classy, and apparently entirely too nice to wear in almost any normal social situation. Therefore I had to create my own abnormal social situation in order to trot one out.
My question to society is this- When did it become abnormal to dress up and look nice? I mean, you walk down the street in a nice dress and people wonder what’s wrong with you. This used to be an elegant culture, with the fancy hats, gloves, sophisticated styles of Jackie O. or Audrey Hepburn. What happened to that? When did people decide that looking nice and pulled together was not only no longer expected, but also a little bizarre?
For years I have gotten snide remarks from people (primarily in the hick town where I went to high school) whenever I would put even the mildest amount of effort into my appearance. The standard “why are you so dressed up?” comment was heard over and over again, to which I just wanted to respond “Oh, I’m sorry, was me showering and brushing my hair too much for you? Or was it somewhere in my decision against wearing sweatpants, ‘wife-beaters’ and crocs out in public. I’m sorry that my not being a disgusting slob offends you so.”
I’m officially sick of people not even trying anymore. It’s not about trying to falsely impress people, or trying to land a man, it’s about self respect. And when did we become a society of people who no longer respect themselves enough to not look like such complete shit in public day after day? Stop wearing gym clothes or pajama’s as real clothes. If your hair gets greasy then fucking wash it! If you go someplace even mildly nice than try to make your appearance match your surroundings, don’t make the place lower-class by your presence there. And even though it is going to be hot this summer you don’t need to eat lunch wearing shirts so low cut that the world can see the areoles on your badly augmented breasts (I’m talking to you, women on the Brio terrace!)
Why should the general public have to resign themselves to the thought that any sort of formal dressing ends at the High School prom? Enough of these sloppy shenanigans, let’s get fancy again.
Some people don’t have the money to wear fancy clothes. Think about it. I am poor, as are all of the other people we are friends with together.
Plus, I would be a total bitch if I wore fancy clothes, they are so uncomfortable that I would probably end up in prison for first degree murder, and where would that put me in the fashion world? I know how you love blaze orange.
I would also like to wear fancy clothes. when I do for work, I always get the same questions, or the stares that say “you think you’re better than us, don’t you?”
I need a job where it is not only accepted, but maybe required to dress nicely.
and to agree with Jen, nice clothes cost money. not all of us have boyfriends who buy us things with his ridiculously awesome discount.
Ok, my nice clothes were bought me ME, not John. And I must note that looking nice and spending a lot of money don’t have to go hand in hand. You can definitely look pulled together without blowing major dough, there are lots of discount stores where you can get brand name stuff way cheaper. It’s all in how you put it together, the trick is to LOOK expensive without spending tons of money. And when you do spend money, buy really classic basics that can wear forever, simple stuff really. And Christin, you probably are better than your co-workers, and it’s about time they figure it out.
true. and true.
you should blog how to get nice, looking clothes at cheap prices.
The one positive thing about my job is that it is required to look nice.
And it’s important to note that you don’t have to spend 100’s of dollars on a sweater to be ‘fancy.’ There is just a difference between pulling oneself together and looking decent, rather than a complete slop. You don’t have to be rich to take a shower and wear clean clothes. Have some pride people!
To be clear, I was not condoning nipple showing or even sweatpants wearing. But fancy? NICE! Nice, yes. No holes, or stains or anything circa 1986. But, If everyone dressed fancy, wouldn’t it not be fancy anymore? It would be the norm. Then nothing would be special. Except for me and my incoherent comments on your blog.
Ok, the term “fancy” was used partially to be intentionally ridiculous. I’m just saying that it would be a nicer world to look at if everyone looked pulled together again (forget world peace, a cure for AIDS, or an end to hunger, I want to look at pretty people). But you don’t need to look like you’re going to a ball, just wear a cute dress, it is summer after all. I just think that we shouldn’t have to feel bad or strange for dressing nicer than those around you because those around you are disgusting. Maybe I need to move to New York, this would be far less of an issue there…
Or here. You could move here and make me a glad panda!