People no longer have pride In how they drsss.

[Welliesandtweed]

I've increasingly noticed that people are getting scruffier and scruffier in how they dress.

Some of the secretaries where I work come in, In trainers, band t shirts, coloured hair, loose fitting, cheap tops. I wouldn't do the garden in some of the outfits I see. They aren't typically patient facing but on occasion are. I think it really lacks professionalism to turn up scruffy to work.

Same for people out for an evening meal in jogging bottoms.

On Saturday we had sports day at school and every woman was in a nice dress and men in chinos / short chinos and shirts. Children all in proper PE uniform. It was so refreshing to see.

I’d think that everyone female turning up in a ‘nice dress’ to an event that is overwhelmingly likely to feature mums’ races, parental sack races etc suggested a weird lack of foreknowledge of what a school sports day is likely to involve, and/or a raging social insecurity about their own social status vis à vis the other parents.

I couldn't care less what people wore to my DM's funeral, I was just glad they were there. I couldn't actually tell you what people were wearing.

I had to go to work today and after doing 7am-2.30pm before rushing to school, I was a sweaty disgusting mess. I 100% look my worst at work and then afterwards in the school run. My uniform is NOT flattering and I manage to get a brush through my hair before getting to work, that’s about it. But actually, I recently won an award for outstanding service. I do sometimes think the other parents might wonder if I’m the same person when I come in on my day off and look more human 😂 but then again I couldn’t tell you if any of them were scruffy or not.. I’m just trying to avoid having to small talk!

I love band t-shirts! But I don't wear them anymore as I feel too old

I’m wondering if you’re just really uncool and have no edge at all tbh. Literally everyone I know wear band teachers and they include professors, vets and teachers.

To be fair there was no mention of parental sack races. There was however afternoon tea. I imagine it’s like an end of year occasion at the school, that’s what the parents dressed for.

I WFH in a professional role. Thank God you can't see me on a daily basis. I'm either in gym clothes or comfies. It has zero baring on my job though.

I spent years in suits and heels in previous roles, fuck that, it's the biggest con going. If I were to be meeting clients, I would dress smartly but I don't need to meet our customers or suppliers.

Reminds me of the Round the world reunion. The winner was the only one in a naice dress and heels, the one who insisted she was a SAHM but I heard is actually a horse rider in competitions, an Eventer.
All the others attended dressed casually.

Absolutely this. I’m hybrid and on some of my WFH days I wear my dressing gown shower in my lunch break.

I realise according to MN this means I’m either a filthy unhygienic slattern or I’m suffering from depression but actually after decades of having to work in the office suited and booted, I love having the option to be a part time slob.

Btw I’m an HR manager and my ability to recruit good candidates hasn’t changed because I’m no longer dressing in a power suit and stripper heels.

I actually disagree with you OP. It’s nice things are a bit more casual now. From what you described, it doesn’t sound scruffy to me. Just comfortable and casual.
is this just women you’re talking about?

I agree OP. As each decade goes by, standards decline further.

Casual dress is no excuse to look like you have fallen out of bed and never seen an iron, hairbrush, shaver, mirror in your lifetime.

Unkept scruffiness is down to laziness. As a whole we have lost all pride in our experience. If I hear the phrase, it is the personality that counts or it is how you perform in your job. Being well groomed does not negate either of these points.

Omg, I have pink roots, purple mid & blue to the end of my bum length hair, have mutiple tattoos & piercings & leave the house looking like an emo reject 98% of the time, if I don't have to go out, I'm in my pj's, I'm almost 45 & disabled. I must be a terrible let down!!!

Being well groomed to me is dressed in clean clothes, showered and hair bushed. Maybe a bit of mascara.

Being well groomed to my friend at work is extensions in, hair curled, full face, blazer etc.

The horror! Next she’ll say they had tattoos too!!

Everyone has a different definition. I took OPs post to mean generally unkempt and make an effort.

The groomed extensions option can be over done which IMO is not well dressed but still a big improvement on a slovenly mess!

I teach secondary school topless and in my large Bridget Jones pants. I get excellent results.

I don't agree with everything you're saying, understand your point.

Yes its nice to dress up but fashion has changed. Many young women go for a night in trainers, not heels. I prefer to dress up for dinner/nights out, but equally after a long day out with the kids sometimes we've gone for a spontaneous dinner. Yes I have worn leggings/joggers to restaurants in those situations, but I don't think places like pizza express, etc, is somewhere that you have to dress up for.

Since Saturday was one of the hottest days of the year, I dont think you can say that people were wearing dresses just to dress up for sports day.

Also, in another one of your posts where you describe the 'down to earth' parents, it sounds like you live in a middle class village, whilst the jobs you describe people having don't necessarily have super high salaries, its likely that they earn a decent amount over the average salary, which isn't a true representation of the average population.

Some companies have a relaxed approach to work wear and other insist on more formal wear. I certainly would not want to be overdressed and feel totally out of place. I have a jacket that I can put over my dress or trousers combo if required.

I've been out for an evening meal looking less than perfect, especially three weeks ago when I climbed Ben Sgritheall from Arnisdale which is a 974m mountain that rises straight from loch Hourn in around a mile. Having finished the hike at 7pm I drove to a nearby hotel for an evening meal, rather than spend an hour and a half driving back to my accommodation, only to have to start cooking a meal. The hotel's staff were not bothered at all.

We have a thing in this country about form over function, hence inappropriately dressed people who complain they are too cold or too hot. I think it is a good idea to widen the variation in what is permitted in a working environment, as long as it meets some minimal subjective definition of smart.

Sounds to me like the people you mention very much do have pride in their dress, style and individuality - it’s just not the style you personally perceive as acceptable. Director level position in higher education here - proudly wearing my leopard print adidas samba to work daily, mortified I’ve failed to notice the resulting crack in the time/space continuum.

Exactly this. And apparently you're an 'exception to the rule'.

Oh yes, people I work with turn up in gym leggings, sweat shirts and crocs for a public facing, professional service job. The manager just lets them. Personally I think it just shows lack of respect. Can't wait to leave 😁

It's mildly amusing, given the OP was slated for typos and poor grammar, to see the number of typos and poor grammar in the posts criticising her.

There's poster who thinks what she wears has "zero baring" on her job.

We don’t wear uniforms where I work

That was my typo, many thanks for noticing it 😘