# The main factors in why people dress down much more today compared to previous generations? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447 "2012-10-11T19:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/241 "2012-10-15T23:51:55Z")
I love pleats, sue me. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/242 "2012-10-16T00:07:32Z")
If you are trim and in relatively good shape, pleats on well fitting pants look okay. If you have a few extra pounds, it looks as though you haven’t lost the baby weight; a little sexually ambiguous.If the pants are baggy, and the pleats unpressed, it just looks sloppy and lazy. See: SNL Pat. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/243 "2012-10-16T10:35:11Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > She also got into a row with my wife a few years ago because she bought my wife a skirt, blouse and blazer _with shoulder pads_ and insisted she wear it to an upcoming job interview. The thing was seriously straight out of a parody of the early eighties. That reminds me. I went to a job interview last week, for a programming position. I wore Docs, jeans and a short sleeve shirt over a white T-Shirt. That is the norm here (Sweden), someone in my position turning up to an interview in a suit would look weird, as if he is overcompensating for something else. I currently work for a financial software company. Very, very few people wear suits here and of the ones that do hardly any wear ties with it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/244 "2012-10-24T16:31:53Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I once wore a suit on the Log Flume ride at Disneyland. And, admit it, why don’t you, everyone around high-fived the Alpha Dog who dressed classy to show everyone how it is done and you gave out silver neck chains to all the dudes in your log, because, hey, that’s just how you roll, and the ladies, oh, the ladies … three, count ‘em, three, soccer moms offered to take you back to the minivan while their kids took another turn on the flume, because ladies know what they want, and they want a man who stepped out from the pages of GQ right into Disneyland and it was a freakin’ dream come true for all the peoples to be in the midst of so much classitude that it HURT, baby, it HURT! to be oh, so good, in an oh, so classy way. Brings tears to my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/245 "2012-10-24T16:52:27Z")
To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, can you tie a tie? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/246 "2012-10-24T17:13:59Z")
I can tie a bow tie, a four-in-hand, a half windsor, and a full windsor. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/247 "2012-10-24T18:40:32Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, > > can you tie a tie? To all the guys who love to GQ it up, do you enjoy having those sticks up your condescending, pretentious asses? ETA: I can tie a bow tie, half windsor, and full windsor as well. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/248 "2012-10-24T18:50:17Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > To all the guys who love to GQ it up, do you enjoy having those sticks up your condescending, pretentious asses? How’d that chip on your shoulder get up _your_ ass? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/249 "2012-10-24T18:57:07Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, > > can you tie a tie? I can but it’s via a method that no one else who has ever seen me tie a tie says they’ve ever seen before, with the exception of my dad who taught it to me. I don’t even know what the final knot is called. Luckily I’ve never had to go to an occasion that cared beyond the fact that I was wearing a tie. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/250 "2012-10-24T21:25:54Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > How’d that chip on your shoulder get up _your_ ass? Well, to pull out an old one, your mom certainly helped. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/251 "2012-10-24T22:09:13Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, > > can you tie a tie? Of course. Choosing to dress casual doesn’t necessarily mean being ignorant of style and formal wear. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/252 "2012-10-25T00:18:07Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Of course. Choosing to dress casual doesn’t necessarily mean being ignorant of style and formal wear. There’s no “of course” about it. Lots of guys can’t tie a tie to save their life, which is why I thought **Great Antibob** ’s post came off as overly defensive. eta: Especially considering BMalion’s [first post in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15583231&postcount=91) where he said basically to each his own but he used like dressing up before a disability stopped him from being able to handle knots and zippers. Seriously, you are largish jack ass **Antibob**. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/253 "2012-10-25T00:22:05Z")
A real gentleman has no idea how to tie a tie. There are people for that… ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/254 "2012-10-25T00:30:17Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > There’s no “of course” about it. Badly written. I meant “Of course I can,” and then went on to talk generally. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/255 "2012-10-25T00:33:34Z")
Well, I didn’t mean to bite your head off about it. I really was just taken aback by the ferocity of Antibob’s reply. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/256 "2012-10-25T01:54:12Z")
Well, forgive me for not remembering every fucking post by every fucking poster in a thread that’s gone on for 2 weeks, started by a jackass (to be fair, not **BMalion** ) who liked to look down on people for a ridiculous reason. Apparently, it’s wrong for me to read that post as a condescending putdown of some people, especially since (1) the thread was a condescending POS designed to put down the people who, for whatever reason, cannot or will not wear ties as a regular part of their wardrobe and (2) this is a pit thread anyway. If it was a genuine call for information, then I’m sorry for misreading the tone of the post. But I’m not sorry for not remembering 12 day old posts or for thinking that a pit poster who suggested something the OP might have said (that people might not like “dressing up” for an inability to wear ties) might not be generally be doing so genuinely - especially after the comments re: red carpet dress. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/257 "2012-10-25T03:33:42Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, > > can you tie a tie? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/258 "2012-10-25T07:04:20Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Apparently, it’s wrong for me to read that post as a condescending putdown of some people, Yes, proud jackass. Yes it was. eta: Your ability to sound offended that your foolishness was pointed out is quite hilarious, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/259 "2012-10-25T08:18:45Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > In no way was I saying you have to wear a suit every single day to look nice. Today I am not wearing a suit. I am wearing a nice dress shirt and a pair of nice slacks with dress shoes. No tie btw. How nice. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/260 "2012-10-25T09:22:13Z")
This thread gives me the urge to strip off my clothes and lounge about in my underwear while posting, just because I can. Don’t worry, I haven’t given in to the urge…yet. Today. > [@BMalion](#): > > To all the guys who don’t like dressing up, > > can you tie a tie? No. I don’t even own one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447.md?page=14)