We have become a nation of scruffs!

Interesting that people still refer to dressing up for weddings. Having been to quite a few lately (in a professional capacity ?)I have observed that people wear everything from jeans to evening dresses with few of the guests dressed up. We even had a woman wearing a dress so similar to the bridesmaids that she was nearly hauled out of her pew to follow the bride. ?

MayBeMaw

I so agree. Smart and casual are words which seem beyond the ken of the average British male.
I am not proposing bowlers and rolled umbrellas but I do like to see a man in a nice bit of tailoring for business wear and they could learn a lot from the Italians when it comes to “smart casual”
Even red carpet do’s when the women can be in stunning long dresses seem to confuse their male partners who will combine jeans with their DJ, and open neck shirts .

I would include women in this too.

Yes Ethelwasherel, smart casual to me means that your clothes are well cut, coordinate, fit you properly and are made of natural fabrics (or at least aren’t shiny, baggy, stretchy or clashing patterns). Bothering with hair, makeup and nails all contribute to looking smart casual. The Italians are good at it, but on the whole the Brits aren’t, with some honourable exceptions of course we look downtrodden in comparison - and it’s not about money, it’s about self image. Sorry, I’ve probably offended people, but that’s what I think.

Born scruff here and couldn't give a ....
Comfort is what matters to me at the end of the day. I have a medical condition which means I can't wear anything with a fixed waistband, so I tend to live in leggings and anything with an elasticated waist. I can scrub up reasonably well if I absolutely have to, but apart from that, I'm only out to do essential shopping anyway, so no-one sees me apart from husband and dog! I don't go around looking down my nose at the way others dress.

As long as I feel I’m dressed appropriately, I’m comfortable, last time we went to the theatre, in Chichester, everyone was dressed casually. I’ve never like judging people on their clothing, or being judged and haven’t worn socks for months.

Ethelwasherel
Everyone’s smart casual will be different. One of mine and probably my favourite is my navy cashmere blazer ( 2nd hand)
Tan Ralf Lauren chinos ( £20 in TKMax) a good white shirt and loafers no socks ?

Purpledaffodil

Interesting that people still refer to dressing up for weddings. Having been to quite a few lately (in a professional capacity ?)I have observed that people wear everything from jeans to evening dresses with few of the guests dressed up. We even had a woman wearing a dress so similar to the bridesmaids that she was nearly hauled out of her pew to follow the bride. ?

Wouldn’t it be good if women thought of something to wear at weddings other than pastel dress /jacket and fascinator ….which are often worn with no thought if whether they actually suit the wearers hair etc.

I totally agree with you. Even people in poor countries seem to dress better than some these days. I remember sitting in a theatre about 25 years ago and the performance was ruined by the man sitting next to me who constantly complained about people being dressed too casually. When I’m going somewhere special I dress up, that usually means wearing a special outfit that I have or that I have bought. Dressing casual is when I go shopping. In my scruffs is when I’m at home and this is when the tracksuit bottoms and a sloppy T-shirt get put on.

Ealdemodor

Is it just me, or does anyone else think it’s a shame that hardly anybody dresses up any more?
Hubs and I have just been to a theatre matinee - such a treat, at last! - but hardly anyone had dressed up. There was even a guy with low-slung trousers and his pants were showing.
I love to dress up, but nowadays I often feel overdressed, as everyone else is casual - or just plain scruffy!
I had hoped that, after the lockdown, there would be a backlash against the tracksuit bottom look, but I think I’ll have a long wait.

It's none of your business what others choose to wear, is it?

What you are complaining about is others not altering their way of life to suit you.

This isn't a "backlash". I often feel like this about the "Women Own" style questions on GN.

I’ve never been to a West End matinée, or indeed any matinée. I’ve never worn a pastel dress with matching jacket, or a fascinator. I fear I am not as posh as most Gransnetters

Thanks, Casdon - just you and me then!
Some people seem to have taken my comment completely the wrong way.

I think it's good that we are free to wear exactly what we feel most comfortable in. Apart from parties and weddings, I rarely feel the need to dress up.

I'm never bothered about what other people wear. Why the need to make comparisons?

The better dressed I am,even at home, the better I feel. I'm sure there must be a study somewhere to show the effects mentally

Halfpint1, that may be true for some. I feel confident and good - about who I am and what I do. What I wear doesn't change that - apart from the knowledge that some (small minded) folk will judge me by the clothes I'm in!

I lunched in Sky Garden yesterday. One young man really caught my eye in a beautifully cut suit and contrasting polo neck. I mentioned him to my son who said 'yes, but have you seen his foowear? Amazing and seals the deal'. He had black socks and white 'training' shoes. Now, not at all my cup of tea but my son had a few knowledgeable facts for me as to modern fashion and apparently these are currently top of the tree. Have to confess they didn't distract from the Adonis before me but my initial thought was negative although I soon came round. Maybe we need to be more receptive to change? I'm certainly pretty rigid in my smart casual look but might try to reappraise that. Don't quite know how when I'm on a no wardrobe addition trajectory! Yet another challenge!

Oh, I love to see a man in a beautifully cut suit, my lovely sons scrub up really well when necessary.

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I like being comfortable. And think it's great these days that we can wear whatever suits us without having to conform.
Fashion was so rigid when I was young; thank goodness for freedom now.

Whether consciously or not we all judge people all the time by what they wear Hetty58, including you. There’s lots of research out there that bears this out. I get pleasure from knowing I look my best when I go out, if you don’t that’s fine, your choice, but don’t assume people who do care are small minded.

I`m all for clean comfortable clothing tbh.
Suits me not many people dress up to go out.

The young have different ideas about what is smart. My grandson pays a fortune for white trainers. I laughed when we had a family walk through the fields, he borrowed Granddad’s wellies because his trainers would get dirty. His tee shirt is more like a second skin to show off his physique. In his eyes he is ultra smart.

Hetty58

Halfpint1, that may be true for some. I feel confident and good - about who I am and what I do. What I wear doesn't change that - apart from the knowledge that some (small minded) folk will judge me by the clothes I'm in!

Well it certainly does me. The minute i'm out of my
pyjamas, I'm a different person, up and ready to go!

What I used to love was the dress up nights on long cruises. Wonderful. Especially when they had a live band playing classical music. It was about the only time I could persuade my husband to wear a bow tie and dinner suit. Phwah, he looked sexy!

Lucca

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Thank you Lucca.

I think we would all be on to a loser if we didn't feel confident in our own choices. Those who like to live by rules will judge others by clothes rules (even if they are very outdated). Those who are happy to live and let live as long as no harm is done will see the whole person.