We have become a nation of scruffs!

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 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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ?

I'm surprised you dressed-up for the theatre - it's simply not necessary.

Smart and casual are opposites. Smart to me means dressing for a wedding, casual means jogging bottoms etc. Can anyone give me examples of smart casual.

I hate ‘dressing up’ but I do like to dress well . For me that means wearing clothes in colours and styles that suit me , hair washed and styled daily, nails painted and makeup on .
Clothes pressed and boots polished .

In my opinion I look more polished in my casual outfit than somebody who wheels out their LBD on all occasions whether it suits them or not .

During lockdown we are all wandering around in our scruffiest clothes round here. Kind of fits. All the makeup is on special, no one bothers with it and they can't sell it! It's been months and months now...

As soon as allowed after lockdown we started going out and I was delighted to get dressed up in my lovely dresses. People do what they want and dress how they wish. We do not live in a communist society and wear a uniform.

I dislike the shoes with no socks look favoured by younger men. I also dislike the normal (not sports) socks and sandals look favoured by older men.

Last Night of the Proms
Katie Dereham in a spangly frock
Gareth Malone - tennis pumps and no socks.

I rest my case

AmberSpyglass

I love dressing up, but people should wear what they want. The least attractive thing is a judgemental expression!

Absolutely

I love dressing up, but people should wear what they want. The least attractive thing is a judgemental expression!

Just wear what you feel happy in, sounds like "scruffy" people are also doing that right?

Everyone gets to wear what they want and everyone's happy.

I agree its all about casual dress now amazing when you think how much money is spent on clothes.

Where could one buy smart casual please?

I've had 4 theatre visits and 2 classical music concerts since lockdown was lifted and I'd say that, on balance, most of the audiences were dressed smart casual, especially in the summer months when women were wearing lovely summer dresses. Not much difference to pre COVID lockdown from what I recall.

Regular theatre goers don’t “dress up” -I had in mind events such as Elton John’s White Tie and Tiaras Ball or those trendy young things who frequent the more exclusive clubs like Boujis

I think I was talking about a wider range of activities than a West End Matinee! Most audiences at matinees are more of a type and an age compared to “regular” serious theatregoers

There's a lot of us going to West End matinees!
We went end of August. I didn't see anyone scruffy, but most people looked dressed to sit in a theatre for 2hrs 45 mins in comfort. But like a plane really.
But remember as John Lennon said, if you're in the cheap seats clap, if you're not, just rattle your jewellery.