I was embarrassingly underdressed

[Peridotty]

We had a Christmas photo shoot for our class (I am a graduate student). We had photos done in front of a nice building. I turned up in an old jumper, black jeans and converse shoes whereas everyone else was dressed in corporate gear (suits, ties, nice dresses and heels or brogues). I stuck out like a sore thumb and I am so embarrassed! I saw the photos and because I am wearing white and everyone else was wearing grey, navy, black I was also very eye catching. I keep cringing inside. The memo was to dress nice but I thought wearing a suit would be overkill for the Christmas photo so I wore a jumper and jeans instead.
Do you think you would be cringing ?

You got a memo, no excuse to look underdressed. Jeans, jumper and converse is not dressing nice.

How is wearing and old jumper and jeans dressing nice???

Old jumper and converse is hardly dressing nice.

The memo said to dress nicely. Jeans and converse isn’t nicely. I can see why you were embarrassed but you won’t make the mistake again!

Did anyone die as a result of your outfit? No. Move on.

One day you'll back and laugh op

Did you not want to be in the photo?

Just one mistake. And one photo, in a lifetime of photos. Forgive yourself. Let it go.

@MrsRobinsonsHandprints

Old jumper and converse is hardly dressing nice.

Eek, this. I’d be embarrassed too, but it really isn’t a big thing in the grand scheme.

What on earth did you choose that old lot when it said to dress nicely?! Madness!

I think jeans could be nice but not with an old jumper. Nothing you can do about it now. Learn the lesson and move on.

This is why I always have the 'what's everyone wearing?' conversation when there is a dress code.

@CorrBlimeyGG yes I wanted to be in the photo but I actually ducked out of more photos and left halfway.
I don’t have that many clothes in my wardrobe. I do have a suit and dress suit but thought it wasn’t ‘festive’. If they said come in office gear then I would have worn it.

Well nobody will struggle to find you on the pic lol

There is so much in the middle of suit/overkill and old jumper, jeans and converse.
It's not the end of the world, but it's your own fault your embarrassed for not dressing "nice" (smart) which was instructed in the memo.

@chely we had a group photo with all the year groups where I could hide myself at the back but then they wanted class by class and so I was one of 5 and everyone was watching us take photos. I was imagining them looking at me and thinking why was I not dressed nice!

The memo was to dress nice

Is this really how the memo was worded? Seems an unusual turn of phrase for an invitation to a photo shoot.

But regardless, jeans, old jumper and trainers cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered 'nice' dress.

But you've learnt this now and will know in future. You'll live

@Chickychoccyegg the problem is that I really don’t own much in between jeans and suit. I don’t go out to nice places, I live in scrubs every day. I only own 1 dress, 2 jumpers and 3 pairs of jeans.

I don't understand why you interpreted 'nice' as something so casual? I wouldn't have worn a suit, or a dull colour so I may have stood out too but I would have been in a smart dress.

@Eightandahalfyears

How is wearing and old jumper and jeans dressing nice???

We are talking about graduate students here.

When I was doing a PhD some of my fellow students' ideas of dressing nice were to have a shower and not wear the T-shirt that said "Fuck you I have enough friends already" on it.

Hang on - so you got a memo saying 'dress nicely' and it's a corporate photo for your work place?

You wore old, very casual clothes and did not participate in all the photos. I would not be impressed by your behaviour if were your boss.

Did you not think to ask any of your colleagues what 'dress nicely' might mean? Why did you think your work place would want a photo of you representing them in an old jumper, jeans and converse???

Old jumper, jeans and converse aren’t festive either though are they?
If the brief was ‘dress nicely’ and you have the choice between an old jumper and jeans or a suit/workwear, go with the workwear.

What did you interpret "dress nice" (is that really how they phrased it?!) as? You must have known nobody would be wearing old jumpers 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was imagining them looking at me and thinking why was I not dressed nice!

Well, to be honest I'm wondering the same! You had a memo about it, which sounded quite clear. I can't imagine turning up for a photo in jeans and an old jumper if I'd been told it was 'dress nice'.

Who cares. You are the casual Christmas angel promoting kindness to feet and comfort in the workplace. You are a message that it's not about what you dress in but how you do your job. You are a lesson in everyone being different, inside and out. Own it baby!