# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/141 "2012-10-12T18:46:51Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > A stylish well fitted suit will never go out of style. The only thing that goes out of style with suits is the color patterns. > > P.S. The double breasted suit is not in style right now btw. You do know that the second point in this post contradicts the first. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/142 "2012-10-12T18:49:44Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > You do know that the second point in this post contradicts the first. As does the P.S., actually. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/143 "2012-10-12T18:54:25Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > The reason I posted that info from that website was to show to you men on the board that real professionals share the same outlook on style as I do. Just so you didn’t think I was odd or something. > > Know what I mean? The negative response you’ve gotten is because you come across here like a total jerk. You’re basically saying “anyone who doesn’t think the same way I do about fashion is a loser/dork/etc”. There are plenty of extremely successful people who have totally different ideas then you about fashion- why should I take your version over theirs? I don’t like to wear suits- I don’t have to at work- so what’s wrong with that? Why do you insist on insulting people because of the way they dress? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/144 "2012-10-12T18:57:08Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Anybody else picturing [this?](http://governor-andrew-neveu.site88.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/barney-stinson-suit-up.jpg) I’m picturing [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Abe_Simpson.png). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/145 "2012-10-12T19:01:24Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Anybody else picturing [this?](http://governor-andrew-neveu.site88.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/barney-stinson-suit-up.jpg) Nope, because (so far as I know) Barney never attacked anyone for choosing not to wear a suit. He just wears them and lauds their positive qualities. That’s why you’re getting dumped on, by the way, OP: it’s not because you like suits, it’s because you’re telling everyone who doesn’t wear one that they look like shit and probably don’t shower. Don’t be an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/146 "2012-10-12T19:02:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Last time I went to a funeral, around 8 years ago, there were plenty of people in suits, including myself. Has this changed? About 2 years ago, I went to Memorial service for dear fallen friend. The church was packed, had to have been at least a couple hundred people there. I wore a suit. It was uncomfortable, but it was a solemn occasion. A lot of the men wore suits. But there were more than few people who showed up in shorts and t-shirts. A couple in flip-flops, ferchrissakes. I’m pretty liberal, but I have to admit I was appalled. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/147 "2012-10-12T19:35:46Z")
When it comes to a job, I will dress as the job requires. I was tech support for a firm selling medical sensors and software back in the nineties. I wore jeans and a t shirt. We had few visitors to the office, of those most were the Bill Gates type (Impress me with what you can do and I won’t care what you wear). The boss (who owned the business) dressed in jeans and a t shirt 95% of the time. He made it clear that he was the boss because he knew every aspect of the business and got things done. For a summer, I worked as an editor for Weird Tales. My boss was a former lieutenant colonel. He looked like Happy of the seven dwarves in khakis and a button down shirt. Besides exuding confidence and giving gentle guidance, when you really screwed up that man could be terrifying. I firmly believe he had the power to make marines wet themselves and could turn away a pack of wolves. He would be similarly inspiring or intimidating regardless of what he wore. At weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs I will dress as the guest of honor would want. It’s their day and they should get their way. I met my last two gf’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My friend Michael is a metrosexual. He looks sharp whatever he wears. He is a living refutal of the statement that anybody in jeans and a t shirt looks like a bum. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/148 "2012-10-12T19:36:35Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Hey OP, how old are you? Not old enough to project “alpha male” without props, apparently. It’ll be a few more years before he realizes it’s the man in the suit (or whatever he’s wearing), not the suit on the man. ---
**Author:** ![GQELITE33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GQELITE33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GQELITE33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/149 "2012-10-12T19:38:53Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > You keep bringing up showering. No one has given up daily showering; that’s still the norm. You don’t need to wear a suit in order to shower. > > Fashions change, and suits aren’t as fashionable (or non-suits as non-fashionable) as they once were. You think they convey a certain image, but to the mainstream, they often convey a different image than you think they do. Wear them if you like, but you’re coming across in this thread and quite possibly in life more as stuffy and behind-the-times than as stylish and fashionable. > > And no one in the modern world thinks not wearing a suit makes you look like a bum. (Well, except you, of course). Again, fashions change; that’s the nature of it. There’s nothing objectively good-looking about a suit (even though I’m sure you’re about to argue that there is); that just happened to be the traditional attire for certain cultures for a while, and now it’s less so. Nothing good looking about a suit? Are you nuts? Ever read GQ Magazine? They would highly disagree with you. Also many others would disagree with you who are involved in fashion for a living. They would just laugh at you for making that comment. Now if you went into a dive bar and asked a bunch of hillibillies that question, they probably would agree with you. Because they have no class, no style, or teeth. They also think wearing a pair of blue pullovers for a wedding is acceptable. Please do not try to argue this point with me, cause you will lose. The only people that think the way you do are people who have no fashion sense. Anyone with fashion sense would laugh in your face. That is a fact and you can have all the brains in the world and still be ignorant when it comes to sense of style. T-shirt and jeans is not a sense of style. Do you ever see James Bond wear t-shirts and jeans? That answers my question. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/150 "2012-10-12T19:44:41Z")
I used to pride myself on my style. However, I lived in New York, where it’s an appropriate mode of expression. Most places, today, dressing up for anything but a few well-defined jobs or events has become a sign of stuffiness or membership in a subculture (eg: you might get a pass if you’re gay or Black). Two other factors. One, we’re a lot heavier today, and heavy people look extra foolish dressed up. Two, suits are made to be costumes, so they don’t fit as well or last as long now. ---
**Author:** ![GQELITE33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GQELITE33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GQELITE33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/151 "2012-10-12T19:46:28Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I used to pride myself on my style. However, I lived in New York, where it’s an appropriate mode of expression. Most places, today, dressing up for anything but a few well-defined jobs or events has become a sign of stuffiness or membership in a subculture (eg: you might get a pass if you’re gay or Black). > > Two other factors. One, we’re a lot heavier today, and heavy people look extra foolish dressed up. Two, suits are made to be costumes, so they don’t fit as well or last as long now. A suit will always look good if you spend the money to get it tailored. Do you know that certain cuts can make a person look lighter than they really are? Also… Do you ever see celebrities on the red carpet wearing t-shirts and jeans? That answers my question. There is a sense of style that is involved in people who have a fashion sense. IF t-shirts and jeans were acceptable, designers would be having people on the red carpet dress in sweats and gym shoes. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/152 "2012-10-12T19:46:35Z")
Yep, I’m going to go with Troll on this one. Fast appearing, target subject name, looks like he knows his way around a message board, uses weak but inflammatory arguments. I’m thinking gone by Monday. ---
**Author:** ![GQELITE33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GQELITE33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GQELITE33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/153 "2012-10-12T19:48:05Z")
Also why is dressing nice a sign of stuffiness in todays culture? Explain that to me. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/154 "2012-10-12T19:50:53Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > Nothing good looking about a suit? Are you nuts? > > Ever read GQ Magazine? They would highly disagree with you. > > Also many others would disagree with you who are involved in fashion for a living. They would just laugh at you for making that comment. Now if you went into a dive bar and asked a bunch of hillibillies that question, they probably would agree with you. Because they have no class, no style, or teeth. They also think wearing a pair of blue pullovers for a wedding is acceptable. Please do not try to argue this point with me, cause you will lose. The only people that think the way you do are people who have no fashion sense. Anyone with fashion sense would laugh in your face. That is a fact and you can have all the brains in the world and still be ignorant when it comes to sense of style. T-shirt and jeans is not a sense of style. Do you ever see James Bond wear t-shirts and jeans? That answers my question. GQ magazine and people who work in fashion might disagree? Imagine my concern. Also, are you familiar with the word “because”? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/155 "2012-10-12T19:51:10Z")
Hey GQ, do you know how many magazines there are in this world? Using a magazine as a proxy for majority belief is w e a k. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/156 "2012-10-12T19:51:52Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > Nothing good looking about a suit? Are you nuts? You lack reading comprehension skills- he said the word “objectively”. Do you know what that word means? > [@](#): > > Ever read GQ Magazine? They would highly disagree with you. Please tell me more about this GQ magazine- you have not mentioned it nearly enough in this thread. > [@](#): > > Also many others would disagree with you who are involved in fashion for a living. They would just laugh at you for making that comment. Now if you went into a dive bar and asked a bunch of hillibillies that question, they probably would agree with you. Because they have no class, no style, or teeth. They also think wearing a pair of blue pullovers for a wedding is acceptable. Please do not try to argue this point with me, cause you will lose. The only people that think the way you do are people who have no fashion sense. Anyone with fashion sense would laugh in your face. That is a fact and you can have all the brains in the world and still be ignorant when it comes to sense of style. T-shirt and jeans is not a sense of style. Do you ever see James Bond wear t-shirts and jeans? That answers my question. Do you know what a strawman is? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/157 "2012-10-12T19:54:32Z")
I wear a uniform to work, because I’m more interested in protecting my country than protecting my image. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/158 "2012-10-12T19:58:35Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > Also why is dressing nice a sign of stuffiness in todays culture? Explain that to me. People who do it without style look overage or straitlaced. People who do it with style look great in an appropriate social context and desperate for attention outisde one. ---
**Author:** ![GQELITE33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GQELITE33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GQELITE33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/159 "2012-10-12T20:03:07Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > People who do it without style look overage or straitlaced. People who do it with style look great in an appropriate social context and desperate for attention outisde one. So dressing with style is bad in todays society? Because people get defensive obviously because they feel they are not in the same social circle as the guy who dresses in expensive shirts and shoes? Right? It makes people feel like the person who dresses really nice thinks they are better than them? Correct? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-main-factors-in-why-people-dress-down-much-more-today-compared-to-previous-generations/637447/160 "2012-10-12T20:04:29Z")
> [@GQELITE33](#): > > So dressing with style is bad in todays society? Because people get defensive obviously because they feel they are not in the same social circle as the guy who dresses in expensive shirts and shoes? Right? It makes people feel like the person who dresses really nice thinks they are better than them? Correct? Well, now you’re just not trying any more. [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=7) [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=9)