what do you think about people who go to a nice restaurant looking like they....

United States
September 28, 2008 5:13pm CST
[i]just dropped their kids off at a ball game? Whenever hubby and I will eat out especially dinner and in a nice restaurant, we both love to enjoy, explore and just have fun and that includes the way we dress(to the nines)! We will only wear our "regular" attire when we are in an ordinary restaurant! LOL! [/i]
7 people like this
34 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 08
it is nice to dress up when you are out but perhaps that really is the only clothes they have.
3 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi winterose, Thanks for sharing..I didn't really realize that I will sound judgmental in this post,ANyway, I know I am not that type in real! Just want to bring up a topic to learn from other friends, their views and perspectives and I am! [/i]
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
28 Sep 08
Oh, this is one of my pet peeves checapricorn! I cannot stand it when people go to a nice restaurant dressed in jeans, shorts or just plain frumpy clothing! It drives me nuts! I mean, I know that Red Lobster & Olive Garden are not fancy fancy but still... I think they are at least types of restaurants that one should NOT wear jeans, shorts or t-shirts! Don't you?! Am I wrong? That kind of dress is for fast food restaurants or outdoor picnics or barbeques! It definitely isn't the type of clothing people should wear to a sit down restaurant like that, but especially not to places even fancier than just Red Lobster or Olive Garden!
@capirani (2736)
• United States
29 Sep 08
I do not think of these restaurants you have mentioned as being dress up kinds of restaurants but more the kind where you can dress however you want to...dress up or not. Granted, I would not go without wearing my nicer clothes, and I don't own a pair of jeans but I don't see anything wrong with going to these restaurants in jeans. These are not the dressy restaurants I would think this discussion is referring to, but then since no specific restaurant was mentioned, I don't know. It very well could be. But since I have been to much fancier restaurants where people do dress up very nicely, I cannot compare these you mentioned with those.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Sep 08
This is in response to capirani who replied after mine. I don't know capirani... I eventhough the places I mentioned like Olive Garden and Red Lobster are not dressy dress-up places, I just remember when even restaurants like these were given a little more respect for their atmosphere & cuisine! At least people could not wear faded out jeans with holes, for goodness sake! And shorts, I think are out of line completely. I'm not saying that I have never worn shorts to one of these restaurants before, because I have occasionally. However, I do not make practice of it because I do not think it is appropriate. Even more inappropriate to me is flying on an airplane in jeans or shorts, etc. I don't think I've ever until this day worn either of those on an airplane. Even today with the horrible service you get and the outrageous costs of the tickets, I still would not dress like I'm going to a fast food restaurant. I don't know, I guess it was just the way I was raised.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi koal, Yea..I believed we will have different view about this post because we were raised differently,,,HOnestly, I am not bothered by those who dress casually in the first place it's not my business and I am there to eat and enjoy! But, seeing people in jeans which has holes, a sando shirt, i can't deny that I will pause and think about their reasons....ANyway, I am learning a lot from this post and I honestly, didn't know that I sounds so harsh and judgmental here..ANyway, thanks for sharing koal...nice to learn also from your view![/i]
• Canada
29 Sep 08
I am not going to let the shabby appearance of other people spoil my good time. sure my husband and I dress up to go to a nice restaurant, and we even dress up if we are going to go somewhere casual. That's just us. We are not going to worry about the appearance of others, because there is nothing we can do aboout the fact. Why let it spoil our good time?
2 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi danish, Very positive and very kind approach...That is also how I am..I didn't realize that I sounds so harsh here and insult other people where in fact, my aim is to post this and learn from other people! I am also learning a lot! Thanks for sharing![/i]
@capirani (2736)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I wasn't insulted. This has been a good discussion and brought out lots of opinions. We each have our opinions. If we are insulted by what another person says about this, I think it is us who are insulted who have the problems. Good discussion.
• United States
28 Sep 08
Why would it bother you? Some people don't like to dress up. Do they have to come up to your standards just to eat out? As long as they can pay for their food and the restaurant doesn't care, what business is it of yours? If you don't like the way other people dress, don't look at them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but you're being judgmental about something that's none of your business.
2 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi unusual, ohh...sorry if I sound so harsh here, I apologize..I actually don't judge people here, I was just thinking it's nice to discuss this situation and I want to hear from other people about it....and I am learning a lot from everyone's comment! I don't mean anything about posting this..Just want to learn from different perpectives and views of my friends! Thanks for dropping![/i]
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi Tess, Ohh..sorry if you find this post harsh also..I am not that way and just try to post here to learn from other friends which I did! [/i]
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
29 Sep 08
My sentiments exactly. Can we say snobbish?
• Philippines
28 Sep 08
Hello! I honestly respect people who dress like that when eating at such a nice restaurant. To them, it doesn't matter whatever they wear as long as they're comfortable with it. Maybe they couldn't afford a nice dress or tuxedo but one of the couples going into a restaurant with a beautiful ambience must have got their first paycheck or something to be able to treat their date for a nice dinner. The restaurant does not have a dress code anyway. IF the restaurant does, they won't dare go inside to eat. Happy Mylotting!
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi roses, I love your very positive approach about this issue but I also appreciate those who think that other way around and criticize my post..I am learning...But, upon posting this, I didn't mean to insult anyone and unfortunately, i did... ANyway, I am just sharing to you![/i]
@wotfpatty (2065)
• United States
28 Sep 08
I love any excuse to wear my dressier clothes so I always dress up when we go to dinner at a restaurant that is not totally casual. I can't believe what some people wear to places. They look like they just rolled out of bed. I think if you're going to a nice restaurant and enjoying the meal and ambiance, you should dress accordingly. You don't have to go overboard but a nice outfit makes the experience even nicer, in my opinion. I was at a dressy restaurant a week ago and a couple came in wearing ratty shorts and flip flops. YUCK. The restaurant didn't have a dress code but that couple looked out of place sitting at a nice table with candles and such looking like they just cleaned out their garage!
2 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi wot, I know you are presenting a very real and very correct view here, I mean we don't like to judge people but we can't deny that they will catch our attention once we are in a restaurant like this, and people will come in a sando and jeans with holes..ANyway, I agree with the first responder koal, just because we were raised differently! Thanks for sharing![/i]
@capirani (2736)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I think you nailed it with the words "totally casual". It is all relative as to what each of us considers "totally casual". For me, in this time period, I consider most sit down restaurants as being "totally casual". If kids are welcome there, then it, to me is a casual restaurant, and dress as you choose to. If kids are not welcome there, you best be dressed your best.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
29 Sep 08
I do not really pay a whole lot of attention. I do not have much a wardrobe to choose from anymore since I gained a little bit of weight. I just have to wear what I have but I always try to look presentable.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Sep 08
[i]Hi steph, That is a very positive approach and I know that even with our simpiest attire, we can always make us look appropriate and smart! Thanks for sharing![/i]
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
28 Sep 08
It depends on what you call "nice" as compared to "ordinary." I have gone to some very nice resturants dressed okay - but I have gone to some that seem to have a mix of nicely dressed and casually dressed people. I'm probably one of the casually dressed ones. Its been many years since I felt I needed to dress up for most resturants.
2 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi Elic, ohhh..I sounds unclear in that aspect....Nice, I mean expensive resto! Anyway...I know each individual can always project a smart appeal with whatever they wear! I am learning a lot from this post and enjoy the sharing and learning my friend's attitude in a way! I didn't know some will find this as judgmental where my aim is to discuss and learn from each other! ANyway, I am just sharing to you...LOL! Thanks for readin[/i]g!
1 person likes this
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
28 Sep 08
my wife hates me when we go out. i am not much of a dresser. i only dress up when i go to work. but when i will go out with her (those times when we dont have a child yet) i just dressed up simple. until now that we had a child i still dress up simple. but being simple is not the problem the problem in me (thats what my wife said) that i dont care. i dont care how i look like, and i dont care what people around me will say. i always tell her that the important here is we have money to pay. but she does not agree with that. har har har.
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi se7enthbird, hahahahaha! You have a great wife then who loves to see you always wonderful in and out and wants to be always appealing in and out too!!!.. I know a close friend who is a very rich man but prefer to dress simple all the time because he said, he has nothing to prove anymore..hahahha..but, when he met his 2nd wife, he was force to change his style in terms of dressing.....Everyone was happy about it and appreciate the wife for making some changes...LOL! It's just the same for sure about having kids and we want all the best for our kids, physical, spiritual etc![/i]
@capirani (2736)
• United States
29 Sep 08
I think we need more details as to what you mean by the kind of restaurant you are talking about. There is nice and then there is NICE. There are those where you are required to wear a tie, where the waiters are in tuxedos, and your bill will be at least $100 for the two of you. Then there are the ordinary nice restaurants where the servers wear uniforms. Just because it isn't fast food doesn't qualify it as a dress up restaurant. If you want to dress up when you go out, go for it. But unless you go to one of those restaurants that restricts how people dress, forget hoping everyone else in the place will be dressed to the nines just because you want to dress up. I remember going out to eat with my husband after we had spent a long hard day working on painting and remodeling our house. We were exhausted and didn't even change our clothes. We decided on the way that we sure didn't want any fast food after a day like that so we went to one of the nice sit down restaurants in our town. We don't have the big name sit down restaurants. We were probably the worst dressed in the place, but we didn't care. We just wanted some good food at a good price that we didn't have to make ourselves and clean up after ourselves. That was the one and only time that happened. As far as we were concerned, and as far as I am concerned now, if anyone would have judged our appearance and nerve to show up like that...that is their problem, not ours. And that is how I feel about how people dress in nice restaurants even now. Unless there is a dress code because it is one of the really fancy places, let it go.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi capirani, ohhh...I apologize about being vague...Hmm..I am referring to a restaurant NICE resto! ANyway, I am learning a lot from posting this and didn't know that I sounds judgmental here where all I wanted is to present a scenario and for everyone to discuss openly..Thanks for sharing! [/i]
@capirani (2736)
• United States
30 Sep 08
LOL. After reading all these posts, I think the term "nice" means a lot of different things to different people. I am thinking of dividing up restaurants in maybe 4 groupings....at least 4 that I have experienced over my 53 years of life. 1)Fast food...you serve yourself. 2)Sit-down homestyle, family style restaurant that is family owned and local. 3)Chain franchised sit-down such as Red Lobster, Applebee's, Lonestar, Olive Garden, etc. and is family style. 4)Ritzy, expensive sit down restaurant, usually not a chain or franchise, privately owned and only found in the city rather than in the small town or rural locations--maitre'd at the door to seat you, MUST have reservations or you won't get in--generally no children are ever at these restaurants and they can range in prices from mildly expensive ($25-30 each) to highly expensive ($100 or more each). Now, to me, unless you are going to Number 4 on this list, don't count on seeing everyone there dressed up. You are going to see jeans, tshirts, shorts, etc. as well as people dressed up. That's just life. And it all depends on how people were raised and how comfortable people are with themselves. Life has changed over the last 50 years since I was a child who was raised to dress nice when even playing outside because of what the neighbors might think. People have learned that our clothes do not determine who we are on the inside and that those who do have a problem with what we are wearing are maybe the ones who have the problems. I don't feel you have been judgemental so much as just making a good topic for discussion. You succeeded by how many responses this one has gotten.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Well..... I dress up very rarely. My husband never dresses up. I'm not the type of person who feels that you have to dress up to look nice either, *I* can look nice in a pair of jeans and some jewelry and nice leather platform sandals. If a place does not have a dress code and they don't have an issue with what I'm wearing (and I don't look like I wandered in after hours at a ballgame) then I don't think it matters as much. I do think that people should not be going to a place which requires reservations dressed in a tank top and sweats and slippers with a baseball cap jammed over their hair but I don't go out like that anyway unless I am sick and going thru the drive-thru at CVS lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Sep 08
[i]Hi mommyboo, I agree that we can always make ourselves looks appropriate and smart even in jeans and tops..I love that outfit too! Sometimes, I will just wonder for people who loves to be in sando and jeans with holes in a place which have a dress code! ANyway, maybe it's their style also! Thanks for sharing![/i]
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
29 Sep 08
we seldom eat out, we just have to do that when there is special occasion like birthdays and anniversary. We are not concerned also of how we dress because we are not going to an expensive restaurant.. hahaha...Just ordinary place and that we dress up in ordinary way. Good for you, you are enjoying a lot out..
• United States
30 Sep 08
[i]Hi Bebs, MY husband loves to eat out often...He loves to cook and at the same time loves to taste food always new to him and I can't cook that not unless he will eat "humba" and "Pinakbet", I can cook that! LOL![/i]
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
30 Sep 08
hahaha you're funny!!! is your hubby vegetarian? Mine is... that is why we don't eat out often because aside from the expenses, hard to find vegetarian restaurant. hahaha tomorrow we will eat out because it's our anniversary ...
@psspurgeon1 (1109)
• United States
29 Sep 08
Ok so heres my opinion... our kids are in private school, and have nice things and cloths. The thing is... we spend all extra money on them. When we do have a date (2 times per year is average) we don't have the money to go out and buy new clothes to go with the dinner. My husband has some things that are not jeans but I do not. I don't have time or money to shop and quite frankly would rather be making my kids look nice. So I find it a little hurtful that people would be peeved by my extremely casual outfit. Just because I can't afford the money or time to look nice doesn't mean that I don't deserve a trip to a nice restaurent without offending someone. This definitly adds another notch to the self concious meter.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi psspurgeon, Thanks for sharing your views and do not apologize about anything...I am not posting this to hurt anyone or insult anyone and if I did, I apologize it..I am not very particular about other people also but it's just wonderful to hear people's view on this issue or particular situation...I can see my Mother in you, she rarely shop before and rather give us the best and that makes you a very wonderful Mom..Enjoy your day![/i]
• United States
29 Sep 08
I'm sorry if I came off defensive or rude...that is not my intentions, I was just a little hurt that I could offend or urk someone with a quick date to red lobster.
1 person likes this
@debbie9 (11)
• United States
29 Sep 08
I agree with so many of the points already made on here! First and foremost, what do you care about what other people are wearing? If you are truly enjoying your time together, it shouldn't affect you. And of course, everyone has a different opinion of what "nice" is. My hubby and I go to Applebees, Outback Steakhouse, and Olive Garden in jeans and a nice shirt. Once while driving home from a vacation, we stopped in a restored victorian home made into a restaurant because it was my daughter's favorite place to eat... I had on sweats, my daughter had on shorts... We were there for dinner. We saw some people dressed in evening attire, and people dressed in jeans. But we didn't care what others thought of us, because it was more important to have the memories with my daughter!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Sep 08
[i]Hi debbie, I know I didn't make this post clear about nice restaurant and I am not judging those people in the first place since I know I don't have the right to do it and it's none of my business.. I am making a situation here for everyone to discuss and to comment too and I didn't mention in my post that I am bothered and I do care about what they are wearing, that is a situation given! you can share your views and personal experiences![/i]
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
29 Sep 08
i work at home and so i dont usually dress up because it is just me. i like to dress up when i go out anywhere (nice jeans, blazer, nice shirt) because i dont get to do it that often. so when i get the chance, i do it - ESPECIALLY when we go out to eat!!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 08
H[i]i cher, that is me also..LOL! I quit my job and now that is the only time for me to dress up..LOL! unlike when I was working where there are many functions and formal gatherings to attend too! ANyway, thanks for sharing and open-minded![/i]
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
29 Sep 08
That is so common here in my area... people eating at very nice restaurants wearing shorts and t-shirt... i would never do that... and mainly because i rarely eat in fancy restaurants... and when i get the chance... i really dress up... but if it is only restaurant in a mall or a fast food chain... that is the time when shorts or ordinary clothes will do...
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi aseretdd, I know what you mean...I will not see also myself in a jeans with holes and unwashed when I will go eat out in a nice resto..Just makes me wonder sometimes why! ANyway, thanks for your open-minded response.. I never thought this post will makes me sounds harsh..LOL! I love what i learn from everyone here![/i]
@ellie333 (21016)
29 Sep 08
Hi Checapricorn, I like to dress up if I am going out to eat in a restaurant if it is just a pub lunch though it is okay to wear casual clothes. Huggles. Ellie :D
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi ellie, Thanks for sharing! I love my learning in this post..Learn a lot from different people's view and didn't realize that I sound harsh and judgmental in my post! ANyway, my ever first controversial topic..LOL! Just sharing to you my friend! [/i]
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
29 Sep 08
Not all of us own (or can afford for that matter) dress clothes purchased just to look nice in a restaurant. I wear clean, but comfortable clothing and that should be good enough for anyone. If you are able to afford dressing "to the nines" and enjoy it, that's great. But that doesn't mean everyone else should have to. Just because my clothing may be better suited for McDonald's (which is usually all I can afford anyway) doesn't mean that now and then I don't enjoy a nice meal I've saved up for!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi Tess, I know I missed a lot of words in my post to make everything clear! but, can't redo this... I am just referring "dressing to the nines" as smartly! Thanks for sharing your view! [/i]
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Sep 08
Hi checapricorn, Well "regular" attire to me is a decent pair of jeans and a presentable shirt. You can dress up a jean outfit and make it look quite presentable. Dressing to the nines is for going out to a high quality restaurant and that is a matter of opinion what each person considers a high quality restaurant. I do not consider Red Lobster or Olive Garden or Applebees high quality restaurants and I see nothing wrong with wearing jeans to those places. They are extremely casual and don't call for getting all dressed up. In the summer people do go there in shorts too. It is up to the individual on how the want to dress. It really depends like I said on what you condsider a high quality restaurant and dressing to the nines.
• United States
29 Sep 08
[i]Hi Opal, I know that everyone even in a very simple attire can make it look smart and prim! You have presented a very open-minded view here and I know that I have some fault for missing some point in my post to make it very clear to everyone! Thanks for sharing![/i]
@eztuner (450)
• United States
29 Sep 08
People have totally forgotten what dress code means! Anyhow, one of the fun things when you are treating yourself to a nice night out is to dress nicely and look different from your regular self. I totally agree When a restaurant enforce their right to dress code, because I find disrespectful for the rest of the clients to accept someone that is not properly dress.
• United States
30 Sep 08
[i]Hi eztuner, I agree with you and even if we don't like to mind them, we can't control that whenever a group of people will come in dress with jean with holes and slippers, people inside will really get their attention! Thanks for dropping by and enjoy Mylotting![/i]