Has Covid stopped young people from knowing how to dress for an occasion?

[BananaCaramel]

I see it all the time - so many young people don’t make the effort to look nice anymore. Not for weddings, birthdays, other celebratory occasions, it seems to be a “thing” to look like you have made no effort at all.

Is it a Covid thing? They missed a formative period of going out and now they don’t know how to dress for an occasion? That’s all I can think of.

It’s not even about fashions changing eg., people don’t really wear heels anymore, it’s that they literally turn up to events in clothes I would clean my bathroom in.

I think it’s a real shame to be honest!

Heels had gone out of fashion before covid. I haven't been clubbing since covid and the younger people were wearing trainers to go clubbing for a couple of years before that. Fashion has just changed, an older person may think young people don't look 'nice' but their peers do. I think it's great actually that people don't have to fall about in high heels anymore to keep with fashion trends or freeze in little dresses in the winter.

Think it may differ in different areas, girls up north do make an effort when on a night out.

I have noticed this in work.

While workplaces have become more casual generally (which I really welcome) I have had younger staff turn up (late🫣) to quite formal meetings in jogging bottoms and hoodies.

They clearly feel uncomfortable in the moment - but don’t seem to learn from the mis-step. They don’t need to be suited and booted, but sometimes they look like they have just rolled out of bed. it does impact how they are perceived. Particularly the less confident ones who dress like Bart Simpson and then don’t speak! The only impression they give is their appearance, and it’s poor.

Once again - heels are a red herring here. I don’t wear heels either because they are not in fashion. I mentioned in my OP it wasn’t about that, it’s about the general scruffiness

Is it not just a change in culture? I imagine there was a point in Roman times where the old folks were moaning about young people in creased togas!
and I think if people feel they are judged on appearances not actions then that is a negative for society. I teach DD not to judge on appearances but on how people behave towards one another.

This is so true. All the good shops have closed in most high streets so the choices are Primark and Sports Direct.
My friend ordered a few items online and they look awful. Just the wrong cut for her shape and she looks frumpy and messy in them. If we’d been able to go and try things on, it could’ve saved a lot of time and trouble.

What a stretch 🤣 blaming Covid now? Get over it, it’s happened and long over.

I think people often have different views on what's required. I quite like dressing up for nice events, but personally I'd never dress my DC in a suit for a wedding. And yet I know lots of people who do dress little ones in suits and they look lovely and cute, so clearly some people feel differently to me. But in my mind, a shirt and smart shorts and shoes is fine for u-10s. I'm sure there are some people who disagree. And I think people do value being comfortable much more nowadays and I definitely can't regret that heels are no longer so popular.

Good grief. Is there anything that someone won't try attributing to covid??

Seriously, they closed pubs and restaurants for a few months. That doesn't mean people forgot how to dress themselves!

(And, yes, I know covid was more than that but not in the context of wearing clothes and being present at 'occasions')

I’ve just been to Holland on holiday & spent a lot of money on clothes. It was so nice to find nice stuff in a variety of fits and various prices after endlessly traipsing round dreary UK high streets.

I don't see a general scruffiness, the young people I see are very well groomed. When I was younger people were wearing smudged eye liner or glittery eye shadow, nails chewed to the quick, orange hair from at home bleaching kits and orange skin from cheap fake tan. Male grooming was wet look hair gel. Young men are now getting manicures and blow drying their hair. Young women are looking like they've just been done up for a professional photo shoot with perfect make up, hair and nails. They just seem to have a more casual style of clothing.

Imagine a world we hear people could wear what they like without being judged. It’s literally just clothes. Who cares. I personally love to do both depending on my mood but couldn’t give a toss what anyone else where’s

Mine look fine. DD often dons a pretty dress but with flats. Her bf is a chino and polo chap. Her brother is a bit more edgy - his wife is similar. None of their friends wear heels.

No brows, nails or fake tans here.

It’s not just young people - I think as a society in general we are just scruffier and don’t care as much any more about looking respectable and ‘keeping up appearances’. It’s very rare now that I will pass someone on the street, even in ‘smart’ central London, and think they look elegant and well put together. And one of the local schools we pass on the school run is something else - wall to wall grubby grey tracksuits and quite often pyjamas and dressing gowns at morning drop off.

I think one segment of society has just completely given up on the clothing front, but I also very much agree with the previous post about no longer being able to browse in person or try stuff on; even many people who do still look like they’ve made a bit of an effort are wearing ill-fitting clothes and I think this is probably why. I always order multiple sizes, look closely at what clothes are made of and take time choosing items that I think will suit my style and shape (I’m mid-40s so have plenty of pre-online shopping years to work it all out) but it’s still incredibly hit and miss, especially with High Street clothing that seems to worsen in quality every season.

Every generation has disapproved of how "young people these days" dress

Yes I see young people dress up for nights out, events, weddings etc. You only have to go to a city centre on a Friday and most women of all ages are wearing heels.
It’s the opposite, most people have stopped dressing up for every day life and jobs. But that’s a good thing to me

But they obviously do make an effort with hair and makeup and fillers etc. They must spend HOURS doing their face!

I think a lot of people have chosen comfort since Covid. But it’s a few things I think. The cost of living means people aren’t buying so much these days. Also my kids are very conscious of the environmental impact in producing clothing. It’s quite freeing to just wear whatever you want

I don’t think it is Covid related and I still think people dress up to go out, however I think there has been a general slide into less formality. I do think younger people are less into formal clothing and were before Covid too. I notice that people rarely wear suits to job interviews for example, which I consider unthinkable!

It always baffles me when others are so hung up on what others wear- a collective lowering of dress standards would do what damage exactly?
If Covid taught us one thing, it’s that image and looks are nothing in comparison to genuine relationships and true connection.
Unless someone is stinking and making your experience unpleasant, what they wear is non of your business.
Also I’m in my 40s so it’s not just young people who are dressing for themselves and not some weird prescribed standard

Just been to DDs graduation and the range of clothes under the gowns was astonishing. From a polo shirt and jeans to full on ballgowns. However the vast majority were in slip dresses or suits which suggests to me that they do know how to dress (even in 30 degree heat). Accompanying boy/girl friends and siblings were pretty well 100% dressed for the occasion in similar dresses and suits or chinos and a smart shirt. The scene stealers were the parents in stunning national dress from kimonos to some amazing kente cloth outfits.

Have been to Glyndebourne and Garsington as well this year and all the young people had really made an effort and put some of the oldies to shame. All guys in black tie and all the younger ladies in long evening dresses. It was the 40+ crowd in cotton tunics and leggings.

You are baffled that people have opinions about others behaviour? Think that through….

DH works in a job then entails going into banks in the City and abroad - no one wears a suit - its chinos and a smart shirt.

This.

I’m a university lecturer (mid 30s) and I think my students dress way better than my friends and I did when we were students! We had one coursemate who really ‘dressed up’ for classes and she stuck out so much. But my students are closer to her in how they dress, than how my friends and I were. So I don’t think it’s universal that younger generations are way more casual. Having said that, I do think that for occasions we’d consider formal, like funerals or similar events, younger people do tends towards the overly casual. It’s like they don’t see how different occasions might demand different dressing; they prioritise comfort and style over consideration of the social context.