Why don't people dress smartly any more?

[MilkTrayLimeBarrel]

More and more recently, I have noticed that people in general just look scruffy whether for work or leisure. My DH is a prime example of this. He always used to wear a suit and tie or trousers with jacket and tie for work - he looks lovely in a suit - this was one of the things which attracted me to him! Now it's jeans and a t-shirt for work every day (he works in an office so it's not physical work) - and he just looks as if he has fallen out of bed! He tells me that 'nobody' bothers to dress smartly for work any more. Why have standards fallen so far?

Standards have become more relaxed in the workplace - and I say in the conservative sector of financial services in the City

But who decides on 'standards'?! It's a ridiculous concept. It's about people being controlled by some kind of supposed higher authority.

I'm glad people can wear what they want. Does it make any difference to how they perform at work? I doubt it very much!

Wear what you like - what you can afford, what suits you. Why on earth not?

I do think people dress a lot more casually in general these days.
When I'm feeling relatively good about myself (I'm a slave to my menstrual cycle) I dress smartly.

Today I'm wearing a scarf print pleated skirt, a black twinset and leather knee high boots.
Last week I was in baggy jeans and a jumper.

I can wear what I like to work.

Also people are fatter these days which always makes clothes look worse or maybe makes people feel like they don't want to bother.
(I'm overweight before anyone jumps on me )

‘Standards’ have not ‘fallen’. That is a very outdated view.

What has happened is that fashions have changed, as fashions do, and there has been a recognition that for office workers in non customer-facing roles rigid dress codes are irrelevant and pointless. If jeans & a hoodie are good enough for Zuckerberg....

Dressing very smartly and wearing uncomfortable shoes would make zero difference to how I do my job, compared to wearing jeans & a t shirt.

I like to dress smartly even for every day but I do feel out of place
nowadays. For instance nice dresses I like to wear are now called 'occasion' dresses.

I wear a suit or equivalent (smart dress/ skirt with blazer) to work. It’s smart, professional and classy. I don’t wear this in my leisure time though.. it’s just about dressing properly for your day.

@goodgodingovan
I agree with you. People are bigger these days. People dress for personal comfort not style. Things change.
I look at old films and the women are so tiny.. Slim. Their clothes fitted because they were made for them personally. They looked well groomed and glamorous.
Today everything is 'off the peg' so won't look as good anyway
There's good and bad in both examples

But who decides on 'standards'?! It's a ridiculous concept. It's about people being controlled by some kind of supposed higher authority

At work my employer did - I kid you note

I am retired and live in Levis. But I also iron. No need to look scruffy and disheveled. You can be comfy, casual but still.presentable.

It’s also a status thing, particularly for men.

“I work in tech, I wear whatever I want.”

Vs

“I work in a shop, I have to wear what I’m told to wear.”

That is a big leap, it’s making me wonder what he does.

I work in a casual environment but the top people would make more effort than the junior creative people.

Or rather they’d look ok for meeting clients which did mean jacket and trousers, or dress etc, don’t think anyone did ties though.

@Bluntness100 - I don't mean he should wear a suit or dress smartly just because I like him dressed like that! I appreciate that he is only conforming to what everyone else wears now! I'm not that weird!! I don't go out to work at the moment, but I used to really like wearing smart clothes - my wardrobe now consists of jeans/leggings and jumpers!!

the only people who wear suits at dh's work (multinational Asia-US-EU-UK engineering company) are the Americans & frankly they look weird - out of place, dated & a bit naff. The men have a definite uniform though - work = jeans/shirt/jumper/leather boots & off work = jeans/t-shirt/hoody/vans. It is a bit dull!

I agree OP. I would love our dress code to smarten up at work. If it's 'wear what you like' some people have no concept of the fact it's still not great to wear jeans with your knees out or cold shoulder tops to work.

Definitely quality of material etc. You can look smart in good quality jeans and jersey jacket but some £5 a pair 'work' trousers look like rags when washed once.

I think it’s also because we are getting fatter too. A tightly fitted waist band and a jacket that doesn’t do up might on a day to day basis remind us of that

If you go to Italy, Rome in particular, it is noticeable how smartly the people dress. Especially men with smart suits and of course many of the women. It is more of a thing with them to keep up appearances, mind you most of them are not as overweight as many in the U.K. better diet perhaps?

my wardrobe now consists of jeans/leggings and jumpers!!

Yet you are complaining about "standards falling". You're part of the 'problem'!

I dress for comfort and what I like
Tailored pants, skirts, shirts are just ugh to me, don't like the look., so stuffy and uncomfy looking Perfect hair and make up is too time consuming for my liking.

I live in sneakers, jeans or denim mini shorts and tank tops with skulls, slogans and possessed cats
Love a good pair of gothic platform boots or weird funky sky high heels though, purely for fun, not to elongate my leg to appear more feminine or some shit.
I wear UGG boots to the shop in winter with pride

@BedSprings I'm exactly the same, I like to wear dresses especially in Summer and noticed they are now called occasion dresses! I also have a load of clothes that I've had for years and want to wear and don't really go anywhere to wear them. I am retired now due to ill health so have no idea what people wear to work. I like to look smart and although I dont mind jeans on others I find them very uncomfortable and haven't worn them for 20 years! I think it's good though that there is a bit more freedom at work about clothing now especially if you don't meet clients.

@bsc - but I still keep those clothes clean, pressed and accessorised appropriately for a person at home.

@DDIJ wear what you want. I do get what you're saying though as i feel like i stick out a bit at times. Where I live most ladies my age dress very casually in expensive clothes. I don't have immaculate hair and make up just like it wear skirts or dresses with a bit of a vintage/boho look.

It’s more comfortable

When I stepped down at work, I gave away all my suits

I knew id never again take a job where suit wearing was necessary.

I dress for work every day. Today is a pleated skirt, heels and a black top. Or I might wear a more pencil type skirt with a blazer and soft blouse or top. Our dress code is smart, no jeans, trainers, chinos, polo shirts, strappy tops etc
Most men wear a shirt and trousers