Do You Dress UP or Down?

United States
March 8, 2008 1:50am CST
Can you dress "down" when you go out in public? Would you ever wear Sweatpants in Public? Or do you have to be dressed "UP" to go out of the house? Do you think it's okay for people to wear sweats in public? What about those flannel jammie pants? I hate wearing jogging pants in public. I had to wear them after surgery several times when I was out in public but I was so uncomfortable. I am more comfortable in a skirt or jeans.
17 people like this
43 responses
• United States
8 Mar 08
I love wearing sweats even in public, who cares what people think? as long as a person likes to wear them I don't see nothing wrong with them or whatever you wear as long as you are clean nothing else matters, at least I think so.
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Oh goodness, I've been horrible about this lately. Just yesterday I was standing in the school lobby waiting to pick up my grandson and looked around at all the other parents and grandparents waiting for their children - I was the only one in sweatpants :( I really need to start 'dressing up' at least a bit more.
2 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
8 Mar 08
You know, I think that the show 'What Not to Wear' has had such a big impact on many people, making them more aware of their appearance than ever before! The show frequently mentions that women should not go out wearing sweatpants or the flannel pajama pants. I have never been one (even before the show!) to wear sweatpants or pajama pants out in public. I feel that both sweatpants and pajama pants make me look fuller and more hefty than I actually am! Many people feel that they look smaller in these types of pants, but this is usually untrue. I try to at least put on a pair of jeans and a shirt if I am going out in public.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Mar 08
I have never heard of the show 'What Not to Wear'. Is it pretty good? What channel does it come in. I think I might enjoy it. I do go out on my porch in my PJ's but my Pj's are more decent than many peoples everyday clothes. I would never go anywhere in my pjs or sweats except when I had surgery and had no choice
• United States
9 Mar 08
The show 'What Not to Wear' is really good. It comes on TLC (the learning channel). Women (and men) are coached about appropriate clothing sytles and colors for their body shape, skin tone, hair and age. Then the person gets their hair re-styled and are assited with makeup for their skin tone. Most of the contestants end up talking about how much better they feel about themselves. The people who come to the show are nominated by a co-worker, family or friend and are surprised by the arrival of the show's co-hosts- Clinton and Stacy. Although often a bit cheesy, I have personally learned a great deal about clothing cut and styles for my body shape.
• Philippines
16 Mar 08
Me too but I like wearing slacks sometimes.I don't mind wearing jogging pants in public as long as I feel comfortable in it.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Sweats is all I ever wear in the cold months. Warm months it's shorts and t-shirts. I don't even own a dress or skirt and a couple jeans that I'm not comfortable in.
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
23 Mar 08
I think in today's society anything goes. Although I would never wear those pants that look like flannel PJ's that so many people are wearing, but I would and do wear sweat pants sometimes when I go out to the store or something. But if I am going out to someone's house or to the bar or somewhere like that, I do dress up, not down. I also will wear makeup everytime I go out of the house, although I don't wear much makeup. I only wear some blush and some lipstick just because I am so pale skinned and it helps me look brighter.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Now adays people wear whatever. There have been a few times that I was in sweat pants and wanted to run up to the corner carryout, I didn't want to change and didn't. I did end up feeling funny about being in sweat pants. I would never go to the mall or out shopping to a dept. store in sweats or jammies, I do see lots of people shopping in those clothes. Its mostly the youngens that do that.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Mar 08
I wear anything that suits my fancy. I like to dress down and it is not unusual for me to go our in sweat pants. I wouldn't wear the flannel jammie pants out in public though. But the sweat pants are very comfortable and a lot of people wear them any way. I like to be comfortable whether I am at home or going out in public.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I would not wear sweat pants in public - unless I am at a woman's gym or exercise group. I only wear skirts and rarely I will wear a dress, but these are not conducive to exercise machines so I do put on sweats for that purpose.
1 person likes this
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I definately prefer dressing up when I leave the house. The only time I wear sweats is when I am working out or going for a run. I would NEVER wear pajamas outside of the house (not even to run outside for a quick second). Jeans are probably the most dressed down I get.
1 person likes this
• Pakistan
11 Mar 08
We, the south Asians are quite different in respect of wearing the dress. We could not go out in public without our native dress. We are covered people. Our ladies cover their faces and part of bodies before going out of their homes. Our males also wear the common dress of the society. Other wise they are supposed to be punished or disgraced.
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
12 Mar 08
I would consider my self to be a fairly dressy person, I don't ever wear jeans or even own a pair of sweats. so I couldn't dress down if I wanted to. I wear mostly suits during the week for work and just don't think about changing untill bed. and the weekends outside of church I dress more casualy but still looking nice. For me I can't be comfortable being too casual, I always feel dirty and lazy. Not like casual people are like this it is more of a attitude thing on my end.
1 person likes this
• China
12 Mar 08
I think it's ok for me to dress down. Sometimes I wear Sweatpants in public. Of course, i have to wear the suitable colthes and shoes.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
8 Mar 08
I dont dress up up when I go out, but I like to look nice but casual. I am most comfortable in jeans, I could not go out in sweat pants or jogging bottoms unless it was like a posh tracksuit thing, like that velour stuff.
• Canada
24 Mar 08
When I'm not lounging around the house naked, I tend to dress up, not because I'm out to please anyone, but because I like to be UNIQUE. I find sweatpants uncomortable because they ae exactly that. If *I* liked them, I'd wear them. I don't dress in designer clothes, but I do wear nice skirts and bouses and dresses when I go out. I find any kind of pants uncomortable.
@fec139 (810)
• United States
27 Mar 08
depends on where I am going! If I am going somewhere dressy at night, I wear my casuals to do my errands during the day. Why get my good clothes all sweaty and dirty? BUT I never leave the house with holes in my panties. You never know if you will get into an accident or collapse on the street and have to go to the hospital. You don't want to show up with holey panties!
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
lol i could care less what i wear, I dont care what people think about me, if you dont know me and you wanna judge me by what i'm wearing i figure that's your own problem and i dont need to associate with that type of person anyways ;) So yes, i wear whatever makes me comfortable in public, sweat pants, or flannel pj pants, i've worn both. In fact, last night i work pj pants in the grocery store.
• United States
9 Mar 08
Sometimes I even wear my very comfy house slippers out. The only thing I don't wear out is if I've stained a shirt or it's dirty or wrinkled. As long as it's comfortable and not obviously "pajamas" it's a go. I have gone to fast-food drive-throughs in my jammies :D
10 Mar 08
yep i've done that in the winter with a pair of trousers I cut down. I think the only time i've gone out in my jammies was to take something to my boyfriends but, that was like 1 in the morning so no one would see me.
@cortney09 (1345)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I am one of those people who dress for comfort, for the most part. It depends on how I am feeling that day. It is rare that I go out anyway because of my severe anxiety, but when I do go out I like to be comfy. I would wear sweatpants out, if it was cold enough.
1 person likes this
@michelyn (717)
• United States
10 Mar 08
I have worn sweatpants in public, but usually only when I've been sick and I'm just going to Walgreens for medicine or if it's really cold outside and I'm wearing sweatpants with a sweatshirt. Even then, it's not to go out to eat in, go shopping or go to a movie. It's more of a relaxed look. Flannel pajamas... I think not. I see kids wearing them to school and it just floors me. I can't believe that parents let their kids out of the house wearing those for school. Either wake up, get dressed and get on to school OR stay home in bed and fail. The rest of my attire depends solely on where I am going, who I'm going with and what the occasion is.