Do you miss the way we used to dress before everything became so informal?

[strawberrydress]

I was at work today and thinking how much dress codes have changed. Even just five years ago I was wearing pencil skirts, blouse and heels to the office and that was a totally normal outfit. I feel like if I wore that now everyone would think it was really weird! Today I saw people wearing trainers, jeans, t-shirts. I don’t remember the last time I saw a man in a tie. Everyone was so casual.

I feel I notice the same thing everywhere - people don’t seem to dress up for things which used to be seen as quite formal events like going to the theatre or out for dinner.

I used to really enjoy clothes and thinking about what to wear but it doesn’t seem to be as much fun anymore and there aren’t many opportunities to wear nice things without looking out of place. Does anyone feel the same or is it just me?

Sorry pressed to soon...my DH is a director and says he does think he will ever wear a suit again to work though. He tends to wear a causal shirt with a jumper at the moment - so it's definitely a think in the professional world.

Doesnt think surely?

There are so many spelling mistakes etc. in that, I think I shouldn't have bothered...I'm very tired in my defence - I don't tend to use exclamation marks either and see I used two in the first post, I think I should probably stop posting for the day

I spent literally decades in formal office attire, it’s just what you did, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then COVID happened, we all had nearly 2 years WFH, and now we only go into the office twice a week. Everyone is extremely casual and I think it’s great. Jeans would not be acceptable, but just about anything else is fine. It just feels so much easier.

Socially it’s been pretty similar in terms of clothes. But recently I realised I still have the dressing up gene and miss getting dressed up for dinner etc. So if I’m out somewhere nice, then I make an effort and feel better for it.

I WFH but visit people at home at times. So at home I’m invariably in lounge wear, will quickly change into a dress, tights and boots for visits and then straight back into lounge wear. Dress, tights and boots are my go to for everything out of the house, the same dress stays clean for days as I only wear it for an hour or so. Jeans and walking boots for walks and park with the kids.

i don’t miss formal wear at all.

I did use to wear lovely navy wool coats and am now wedded to puffers but do miss the glam of the wool. So impractical though.

Im not sure its changed for me. I always wore "smart but comfortable" clothes for work, so flat shoes with trousers or dresses but no jeans and trainers. The dress code hasnt changed.

I was just thinking this today. I live very rurally and don't work (renovating a house excluded). I feel there's no separation between my being at home wardrobe and going out clothes. I'm a sucker for Massimo Dutti and COS but I can't justify the cost when I feel so overdressed in it.

I WFH so generally live in leggings with a nice top but always have my hair and make up done.

I still get dressed up for a night out, I don't care if I'm the only one! During the lockdowns, DH and I would get dressed up every Saturday night to drink cocktails and have a disco in the kitchen. My nice clothes weren't going to go to waste just because we couldn't leave the house!

Yes I completely agree. I noticed it more this week as we had a photographer in to do headshots for the team. Up until now we have always had a corporate dress code such as suits and ties for male employees and smart dresses or separated for females. This time hardly anyone dressed up and the vibe was very casual.
On a personal note, I do feel so much better at work when I'm dressed in a smart pencil skirt/trousers with a nice top! I'm quite happy to be unfashionable!

I do not miss it at all. I was flouting dress codes by wearing trainers all the time pre-pandemic anyway so now I just feel right at home! That being said, I absolutely wouldn’t think it was odd if someone still preferred to be more dressed up for the office, and in fact where I work it would still be considered absolutely normal, so for those who do miss it I am sure all is not lost!

This is my first year back in an office (WFH for years previously) with such casual dress.

I am so out of the habit of wearing heels now but I also can't bring myself to wear trainers. Flat shoes and boots instead.

I now tend to do jeans and a smart top. Also tunics or dresses. But I have lots of smart day dresses that I haven't worn for years and now unlikely to be worn again. Time for Vinted!

I really miss getting dressed up, even nights out no one looks any different to people wandering around Sainnsbury doing the weekly shop. When I worked in an office I had a fabulous work wardrobe, now I work from home and live in yoga pants, it’s a bit depressing actually and I must admit now I never get dressed up other things have slipped, I don’t go to the gym as much as I think to myself I’m not wearing nice clothes and no one ever sees me these days so a less honed and toned body doesn’t matter so much, I need to get myself out of this funk, dressing down for me personally is not healthy for my mind or body.

No I haven’t changed. I love casual and have always worn trainers and t shirts and trousers to work. I’m glad of the much larger choices of trainers available. I’m happy my daughter’s don’t have to wear heals to be fashionable.

I don't give a damn about the office, but I like to dress up (a bit) to go out, for dinner, theatre or whatever. It feels like more of an occasion, even though DH and DD don't bother and just wear whatever they've had on all week day.

It's great for those of us who hate shopping!!

I have a particular favourite outfit which I could wear to a restaurant, a meeting with the school head teacher, work, Aldi and the crazy golf course and its perfectly acceptable for all of them.

I hate clothes shopping.

Really bored of seeing rail upon rail of trackies and hoodies in some shops. I work from home and always wear comfy but smartish clothes, jeans and a cashmere sweater are as casual as I go. Tried a hoodie and felt I work better when I'm smarter (Uggs on my feet this time of year though!). Happy to wear more casual things at weekend or evenings but like to be smarter for working.

My husband is finding it difficult to find smarter clothes, even the dreaded 'smart casual' for a relaxed office, all trousers seem to be trackies, jeans or elasticated waists.

Imagine things might change with time though.

I definitely miss the idea of different clothes for different things, yes! I realised that when I was off work with DD I wore comfy clothes. Then when I was back to work but working from home ... same clothes. Then covid, and ... same clothes. Then I went back to work somewhere very informal ... same clothes. I felt bored, but I also felt as if there were no differences in my life and I didn't like that. I want to feel I've moved on and changed in the last few years. It's not that casual clothes are awful per se, but I think blurring the boundaries between work and home, or between one work context and another, is not always healthy. For me, having different work clothes is something that helps me to put work down once it's finished, so I can relax mentally.

Since lockdown I'm a whole size bigger, including 2 sizes bigger in bras. I need elasticated waists, stretch fabrics and long baggy tunic styles these days.
<<gazes down sadly at straining buttons>>

I dressed in my style every day of COVID lockdown. I live alone and it helped keep me sane. When out on the daily walk I noticed how closely matched the clothing of men & women had become. Dreary dull colours. Each to their own though.

I hated formalwear. My last job was fairly formal and it just wasn't me.

Now I'm in a role that's very casual and I much prefer it.
It doesn't affect how I do my job.

For going out, I'm delighted heels aren't really a thing as much as they were so I don't look totally out of place in my flat ankle boots/trainers.

I do still like dressing up for big parties and weddings but not for a night out with my mates.

Nothing has really changed for me. I still wear comfortable dresses with tights and boots or low heeled/flat shoes. Hate trainers and only wear them for the gym. But don’t really care what others do, whatever works for them.

I don't do casual. I always wear smart casual at the very least. It makes me feel good about myself and I need all the help I can get with that 😜. If you like more formal styles just wear them. Everyone will think you're posh and eccentric and you'll be able to get away with being socially awkward.

I don't miss it at all, I work in a corporate office job (although not 'front of the house' customer facing). I was wearing shift dresses and heels before and I am so pleased this is no longer necessary! I can wear jeans and t-shirts now. I bought some new gym wear and cycling gear but no formal wear whatsoever since 2020, and I love it. Good for the environment too.

I’d agree with this. I don’t personally dress differently to before Covid. I’m an academic, who walks or cycles everywhere, and I wear wide-legged trousers, jumpers, blouses and leather trainers or wool dresses and boots, so it’s not made much difference to me personally. But I found the old definition of ‘office wear’ kind of dull. I like the variety.

I agree to a certain extent, OP. I like clothes and I am interested in fashion, but I also like freedom to express oneself though fashion. I'm in the Southern US, and although our official dress code has become more casual, most people in my workplace still dress smartly for work. I work mostly from home in jeans and t-shirts, but on the days I go to the office, I am mostly "smart casual," nice trousers and a blazer, and flats (no heels ever for me). I enjoy seeing what others are wearing so I am glad that they are dressing well, too. I also do some public speaking in my job and I definitely tend to dress up for that.

And of course, in the South, you might (in a pinch) wear your pajamas to Walmart, but your hair, make-up, and nails will be impeccable.