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?

trainers with a long dress and a denim jacket
That look really really needs to die.

It is quite hard to get the casual but still stylish thing right, especially when you are older and sporting a few lumps and bumps. If I wear beige loungewear (a la Naomi Watts) I look like a bathmat.

I deplore (as do my dcs) just how casually some people dress. Pyjamas on a plane - ugh! I saw this recently - and then the woman walked through passport control etc like that. And not a lounge tracksuit affair, either, but full-on pjs with “I heart sleep” or some such written on them .

May I also nominate t-shirts in Barclays Bank. Captain Mainwaring must be turning in his grave!

@Iamthewombat - brilliant.

@Chubarubrub - I am almost 6 foot and wear heels - go for it. Theses days you are not all that tall. I very rarely get tall comments now.