A problem I have faced with my style my entire life, is being asked this question:
Why are you so dressed up?
I’ve been asked this while in college, out with friends and the most unbelievable one of all, on a date BY MY DATE!
I had worn a simple red jersey knit dress with ballet flats, and the first thing he says to me is: Whoa, you’re really dressed up.
All I could think was: This does not bode well for our future if you consider this dressy because this is what I wear every day.
As far back as I can remember, I have never been someone who has been comfortable with wearing sweatpants outside of the house unless it was to a gym.
I just feel.. strange.
Clothes that are very shapeless, soft and comfortable, are things that I associate with wearing at home to lounge and relax in, least of all in school where you are under pressure to study and do well.
My friends actually know this is a “weird” quirk of mine, and the ONE TIME my good friend saw me in casual jersey pants with a hoodie, she fell over in mock horror and pretended to have a heart attack.
I told her I was trying it out for a day to see how people did it, and felt psychologically uncomfortable, despite being physically comfortable.
In contrast, being outside of the home is not where I want to lounge and laze around, and how can you really relax with strangers around you anyway?
For me, there is no real superhuman effort between putting on a t-shirt, hoodie and sweatpants, versus a t-shirt, jeans and a jacket or a blazer. It takes the same amount of time, and it reminds me that I am not at home, I am in public and presentable to anyone who may cross my path (you never know who you’re going to meet).
Even if I don’t wear makeup, and throw my hair into a ponytail, I am physically uncomfortable not wearing proper attire outside of the house.
Perhaps I get this from my mother.
She too, does not own a single pair of sweatpants or sweat-anything, and before she leaves the house, she dresses up; when she comes back home, she undresses and changes into house clothes.
I have comfortable clothes for the house that I could never imagine wearing outside. It’s not that it’s dirty, stained, or full of holes (I own absolutely nothing that fits these categories in any way shape or form), it is more than they are too casual to be ‘outside clothes’.
For special events, I get even more dressed up — makeup is carefully applied (not just some slapped on concealer and lip balm), my hair is combed and I put on heels which is the #1 indicator of being “dressed up”.
I can’t imagine doing anything else and to me, women who wear heels every day, even to the grocery store, are “dressed up”.
🙂
My idea of “casual wear” when going out, is a cotton dress and ballet flats, or a t-shirt and jeans. It is the MINIMUM I can stand.
Over to you.
Are you of the same sensibility as I am?
