I was at the Plaza Hotel in New York a while back. One of the most expensive and storied places in the world, and pretty much every guest I saw had brought their clothes at The Gap.
I do not like NYC “dress code”. I went to a cocktail bar and they asked me to keep my jacket on because I had a t shirt. The cocktails were only $15-17. Not even fancy! Is my money worth less that I’m wearing jeans or a tshirt?
This is why I love Seattle. Everywhere allows tshirts and jeans no matter how fancy. I’m comfy and spending money.
My personal theory is that it is a symptom of societal decay. People would dress nicely and look good when going out, so others would see and be impressed or attracted.
Now i have literally not worn anything else but different sweatpants for the last year or so, because i could not care less what other random passerbys perceive me as, since i am decidedly not interested in them either.
Nobody cares about real life impressions any more because the people that matter to them are in their phone. Friends and family are not necessarily in the same location as you, and romantic options are for the most part also in your phone now. Why brother looking good when potential partners are expected to judge you by your social media presence anyway and i’m just here for groceries.
Fancy is in the eye of the beholder though. In some places a polo shirt is fancy, in other places a western shirt. I think you want people wearing white button up shirts, slacks and nice dresses, but for some people it might be something completely different.
the family of the deceased (35, sudden heart failure from undiagnosed blood pressure condition) were in suits. It was at a crematorium with a flavor of traditional Vietnamese traditions. No dress code was specified.
I used to occasionally go to nightclubs in LA with some older guys that insisted on wearing nice, fitted suits. They actually bought me one when I first moved out there. If I was in a nightclub in my 20’s, it was usually cause I was working. So I don’t really have much to compare the experience to. But I’d say they were attention-getting - not necessarily in a good way. One dude tried to start a fight with me. And a girl I texted afterward was surprised to discover that I was, in fact, quite poor. That was a while ago. I have plenty of suits now. I never wear them. I guess nobody dresses fancy anymore.
The Plaza is more than a place to crash. There is the Palm Court and a number of bougee things going on there. I would argue that more that half of the folks using those hotel amenities are not staying the night. They’re there for special occasions.
But why would you dress fancy for a hotel? Most of the time it’s just less comfortable than jeans and a t-shirt. Not to mention the cost of dressing fancy.
Sure, but why? What is the point in wearing decent clothes when other clothes are often quite a lot more comfortable. I’m not here to impress people with my clothes, I’m here to get on with my day/holiday/escort, not brighten some hotel lobby with an expensive suit.
Depends on the clothes. It’s not that I feel physically uncomfortable in a suit, just often socially uncomfortable. However a good suit is often more comfortable than jeans and a holey t-shirt physically. It’s soft, well made and fitted material. It shouldn’t be super uncomfortable.
That just used to be the social norms in the past. At one point, it was expected that you had to wear a hat when going outdoors by default. When we were young we used to tie an onion to our belt, which was the style at the time. Things change over time.
The Plaza isn’t the Hilton Garden Inn. It’s a Fairmont hotel, and people 100% go there just for food, drinks, afternoon tea, the spa, etc.
Also, you need to book reservations for a lot of that stuff well in advance. Those things are frequently booked up and used by a fuck ton of people who are not hotel guests.
Designer clothes are designed clothes. The pretentiousness of looking like you have money was still there, just people do it differently now. You don’t scream “money” by wearing a suit you could’ve got tailored at Macy’s. There’s douchebag designer shit you can wear where it’s clear you spent a lot on it, and people recognize it.
Clothes and dressing nice has always had a pretentious side. Some people used to just be showing off they could afford a suit and nice clothes. Now it doesn’t mean as much. You show off you can afford to spend extra money on designer jeans.
I think ties have fallen out of fashion. At least in business dress. Button up shirt, nice slacks and a sport coat, all tailored. You have to specify black tie if you want people in fancy dress.
Nobody dresses fancy anymore.
I was at the Plaza Hotel in New York a while back. One of the most expensive and storied places in the world, and pretty much every guest I saw had brought their clothes at The Gap.
I do not like NYC “dress code”. I went to a cocktail bar and they asked me to keep my jacket on because I had a t shirt. The cocktails were only $15-17. Not even fancy! Is my money worth less that I’m wearing jeans or a tshirt?
This is why I love Seattle. Everywhere allows tshirts and jeans no matter how fancy. I’m comfy and spending money.
$15.00 for a cocktail??
I’m glad I don’t drink…
My personal theory is that it is a symptom of societal decay. People would dress nicely and look good when going out, so others would see and be impressed or attracted.
Now i have literally not worn anything else but different sweatpants for the last year or so, because i could not care less what other random passerbys perceive me as, since i am decidedly not interested in them either.
Nobody cares about real life impressions any more because the people that matter to them are in their phone. Friends and family are not necessarily in the same location as you, and romantic options are for the most part also in your phone now. Why brother looking good when potential partners are expected to judge you by your social media presence anyway and i’m just here for groceries.
That makes a lot of sense.
Nah. We just realized that the people wearing suits all the time are villainous cunts. #finance
Aight, the real question is “What were you wearing”.
Fancy is in the eye of the beholder though. In some places a polo shirt is fancy, in other places a western shirt. I think you want people wearing white button up shirts, slacks and nice dresses, but for some people it might be something completely different.
I was at a funeral recently where about 1 in 10 people were wearing cargo shorts or jeans, a graphic tee or a polo shirt, and sneakers.
Not that I think we should go back to dressing in powdered wigs and hose but I think there is room for clothing choices to mark an occasion
Depends on context. For my grandmother, I wore a black dress. For my boyfriend, a bunch of us wore replicas of his favorite tshirt.
the family of the deceased (35, sudden heart failure from undiagnosed blood pressure condition) were in suits. It was at a crematorium with a flavor of traditional Vietnamese traditions. No dress code was specified.
The clothing choices marked the occasion.
But there’s quite an array of options between “fancy” and “t-shirt tucked into jean shorts.”
And thank god for that too. The last thing I need is to worry about all the bullshit of dealing with clothes on top of everything else going on.
fancy? in this economy?
I used to occasionally go to nightclubs in LA with some older guys that insisted on wearing nice, fitted suits. They actually bought me one when I first moved out there. If I was in a nightclub in my 20’s, it was usually cause I was working. So I don’t really have much to compare the experience to. But I’d say they were attention-getting - not necessarily in a good way. One dude tried to start a fight with me. And a girl I texted afterward was surprised to discover that I was, in fact, quite poor. That was a while ago. I have plenty of suits now. I never wear them. I guess nobody dresses fancy anymore.
Why would you dress up for a hotel?
When traveling “looking fancy” is the last thing I care about.
The Plaza is more than a place to crash. There is the Palm Court and a number of bougee things going on there. I would argue that more that half of the folks using those hotel amenities are not staying the night. They’re there for special occasions.
Nobody dresses fancy anymore.
Thank you for proving my point
I would dress fancy if the world were worthy of it.
Realistically, it costs about the same to dress up as to dress casually.
In my humble opinion, when a person dresses nicely they are saying that they feel worth the effort.
But why would you dress fancy for a hotel? Most of the time it’s just less comfortable than jeans and a t-shirt. Not to mention the cost of dressing fancy.
Look at pictures from back in the day.
People used to wear suits and ties / dresses and jewelry if they were going out to dinner, or getting on an airplane.
Also, the Plaza is a very expensive hotel. If someone can afford to spend the night here they can afford decent clothes.
You sound pretentious.
That’s not what ‘pretentious’ means.
If anything, I sound elitist
Sure, but why? What is the point in wearing decent clothes when other clothes are often quite a lot more comfortable. I’m not here to impress people with my clothes, I’m here to get on with my day/holiday/escort, not brighten some hotel lobby with an expensive suit.
Depends on the clothes. It’s not that I feel physically uncomfortable in a suit, just often socially uncomfortable. However a good suit is often more comfortable than jeans and a holey t-shirt physically. It’s soft, well made and fitted material. It shouldn’t be super uncomfortable.
That just used to be the social norms in the past. At one point, it was expected that you had to wear a hat when going outdoors by default. When we were young we used to tie an onion to our belt, which was the style at the time. Things change over time.
because nobody goes to hotels just to spend time at the hotel anymore. because nobody can afford to.
The Plaza isn’t the Hilton Garden Inn. It’s a Fairmont hotel, and people 100% go there just for food, drinks, afternoon tea, the spa, etc.
Also, you need to book reservations for a lot of that stuff well in advance. Those things are frequently booked up and used by a fuck ton of people who are not hotel guests.
If you expect them to dress up for no reason, sure.
Go where people actually have a reason to care and you’ll find them…
It is expected to dress up for high end dining…. Even when traveling. It’s not “no reason”
That’s the point OP is making. Nobody is dressing up.
Last time I went to a nice restaurant, my wife and I were the only ones dressed nicely.
She wore a nice dress, I wore a shirt & tie; the entire rest of the restaurant was enjoying $75 entrees in designer athlesiure outfits.
Designer clothes are designed clothes. The pretentiousness of looking like you have money was still there, just people do it differently now. You don’t scream “money” by wearing a suit you could’ve got tailored at Macy’s. There’s douchebag designer shit you can wear where it’s clear you spent a lot on it, and people recognize it.
Clothes and dressing nice has always had a pretentious side. Some people used to just be showing off they could afford a suit and nice clothes. Now it doesn’t mean as much. You show off you can afford to spend extra money on designer jeans.
I think ties have fallen out of fashion. At least in business dress. Button up shirt, nice slacks and a sport coat, all tailored. You have to specify black tie if you want people in fancy dress.
Only 75 dollars? Where did you go? Olive Garden?