# Is it bad to overdress? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 10, 2024, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049 "2024-09-10T10:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/61 "2024-09-13T15:02:13Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > If you work near machinery, you may want a bow tie… True. For those NASA dudes the real risk was getting their tie tangled in their slide rule’s cursor. Those guys could really fly on a slip-stick. When I was a kid the next door neighbor Dad was an engineer on the Apollo capsule. He _hated_ it when that happened. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/62 "2024-09-13T15:55:22Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > If you work near machinery, you may want a bow tie… For years, it was architects who were stereotyped as bow tie wearers, supposedly because long neckties get in the way when you’re leaning over a drawing board. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/63 "2024-09-13T16:59:48Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/64 "2024-09-13T19:26:02Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I think there are two aspects here: the dress culture and your self-identity. > > Generally-speaking, it’s best not to go too far over, or under, the dress culture where you work. It can draw attention, some of it negative (even for over-dressing; it might be considered a sign you are gunning for someone’s job) and make others focus too much on the outfit and not the person. > > OTOH, if you have a particular style in which you are very comfortable, that it’s part of your personality, I’d say roll with it. My boss wears Hawaiian shirts every day. Even to go to something very formal, he will just wear a jacket over the top of a Hawaiian shirt. It never raises an eyebrow though because you can see how comfortable he is; it’s like it’s his skin. Oh, and remember, next Friday is Hawaiian shirt day. So, you know…if you want to…go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. As a consultant we were always taught to dress a step above our clients. That was back when we used to actually travel to clients 4 days a week. Then again, I recall one client in my early years at an insurance company in Hartford telling all of us to “fit in” so people wouldn’t think we were a bunch of New York consultants there to make them interview for their jobs or something. Like “fit in” how? We are the only people in the building wearing suits with roller suitcases and contractor badges. Who else would people think we are? Suit models? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/65 "2024-09-13T19:33:38Z")
I have gone to traffic court wearing Dockers, dress shirt and tie - no coat. People outside start asking me to defend them. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/66 "2024-09-13T19:35:43Z")
How many cases did you win? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/67 "2024-09-13T19:39:27Z")
All of mine 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/68 "2024-09-13T19:39:46Z")
I went to traffic court (as a witness) dressed in khaki pants and buttoned shirt and was the best dressed person in the seats by at least a tier. I would have thought maybe a defendant would seek better favor by not wearing their pajamas, but I’m apparently old fashioned like that. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/69 "2024-09-14T13:22:08Z")
There are several stores in LA that offer all the colors you want, online or brick and mortar ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/70 "2024-09-14T13:43:12Z")
It’s far more complicated for women, of course. I only dress up for church – many of the older ladies in particular wear a nicer sweater, a skirt instead of pants, etc. I’ve always dressed up for church, it makes me feel like it is a special day and it is a sign of respect. I’ve rarely worked at a job that wasn’t dirty, so my ideas of businesswear are real patchy. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049/71 "2024-09-15T22:10:09Z")
When I was forced to go to church, I wanted to dress as comfortably as possible. I was always so **bored.** Of course, when I was quite small, my mom dressed my sisters and me in scratchy dress with scratchy crinolines, uncomfortable patent leather maryjanes, and itchy hats. Those years heightened the uncomfortability! As soon as I could get out of it, I stopped going. Yay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-bad-to-overdress/1007049.md?page=3)