# Why do we have 'casual' and 'formal'? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989 "2014-03-18T09:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/1 "2014-03-18T09:31:47Z")
I suppose its to set a level of expectation in society? Sure. But what sense does it make to have casual? What benefit does it bring? Doesn’t such a division create confusion of how far one should extend formality in their life? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/2 "2014-03-18T11:35:53Z")
Why classify people as “friends” or “professional associates”? Why bother with picnics \*and \*banquets? Why not treat everyone the same in all situations? Is that what you’re asking? As to the benefit of casual - isn’t it nice to be able to relax and kick back with those close to you as opposed to maintaining an artificial formality expected in business settings? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/3 "2014-03-18T11:59:11Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Why classify people as “friends” or “professional associates”? And what’s the deal with acquaintances? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/4 "2014-03-18T12:47:40Z")
You’d feel a right plonker turning up somewhere in a tuxedo when everyone else was wearing jeans and T shirts. And vice versa… > [@kayaker](#): > > And what’s the deal with acquaintances? They are people you know but wish you didn’t… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/5 "2014-03-18T13:00:44Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > They are people you know but wish you didn’t… Nah, that’s family ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/6 "2014-03-18T13:08:25Z")
> [@3rd\_Rock\_From\_The\_Sun](#): > > I suppose its to set a level of expectation in society? Sure. **But what sense does it make to have casual**? What benefit does it bring? Doesn’t such a division create confusion of how far one should extend formality in their life? What’s the point in formal? Casual is easier to achieve, less expensive and for most people, more practical and comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/7 "2014-03-18T13:53:49Z")
Never mind casual. Too expensive. I think we should go back to loin cloths. For important events, we can break out the sackcloths. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/8 "2014-03-18T14:05:07Z")
I think the casual/formal divide derives from the idea that people wore their best/cleanest clothes to church on Sundays, and kept their other clothes for the rest of the week. Somewhere along the line, there became a class divide involved- middle and upper class people wore suits, while working class people tended to have the clothes on their backs. So “formal” type clothing were a sort of low hurdle to keep the riff-raff out of certain places, events and professions, which is still the case today. You can’t show up to many restaurants wearing a cowboy hat, tight jeans, and a western shirt, even in Texas. The church aspect still exists in that for a great many people, myself among them, one of the primary times I wear a suit and tie is at weddings and funerals, both of which typically take place at churches. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/9 "2014-03-18T14:08:24Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Nah, that’s family And cow-orkers. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/10 "2014-03-18T14:11:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > What’s the point in formal? Casual is easier to achieve, less expensive and for most people, more practical and comfortable. Fuck that, I want to dress like they do in Game Of Thrones. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/11 "2014-03-18T14:13:40Z")
> [@3rd\_Rock\_From\_The\_Sun](#): > > I suppose its to set a level of expectation in society? Sure. But what sense does it make to have casual? What benefit does it bring? Doesn’t such a division create confusion of how far one should extend formality in their life? I do not understand your question. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/12 "2014-03-18T14:24:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Somewhere along the line, there became a class divide involved- middle and upper class people wore suits, while working class people tended to have the clothes on their backs. So “formal” type clothing were a sort of low hurdle to keep the riff-raff out of certain places, events and professions, which is still the case today. You can’t show up to many restaurants wearing a cowboy hat, tight jeans, and a western shirt, even in Texas. I don’t agree. In decades past, when people dressed more formally every day (even to go to the movies or to go shopping), every man, rich or poor, owned one or more suits. Even the “riff-raff” could manage to dress up. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/13 "2014-03-18T18:25:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > What’s the point in formal? Casual is easier to achieve, less expensive and for most people, more practical and comfortable. It’s not necessarily expensive, not if you know how to shop. That and it’s fun! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/14 "2014-03-18T18:31:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not necessarily expensive, not if you know how to shop. That and it’s fun! Fun? Heh. I do my very best to just order everything online so I don’t have to have any ‘fun’. I do have a good friend that seems to enjoy shopping. But my wife is more like me. Find our where it can be bought, and go buy it. I’m rarely in a store for longer than 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/15 "2014-03-18T18:52:42Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not necessarily expensive, not if you know how to shop. That and it’s fun! Right. I own five tuxedos and 10 or more suits. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-casual-and-formal/683989/16 "2014-03-18T19:00:36Z")
You can’t have one without the other. If everyone dressed formally, it would just be what we wear. The same thing if everyone dressed casually. They exist because sometimes you want to impress people, and other times you want to be comfortable.