Dress clothes

[MouseEarsJenny]

I have dress clothes, but I am finding fewer and fewer occasions to wear them.

Until this year, I hadn't attended a wedding or a funeral in over 6 years. This year I've been to both. At both events (even though it was an evening wedding and a funeral for someone from an earlier generation) I was clearly overdressed, just by wearing what I considered appropriate. Most people attending were in jeans and casual clothing. I wore gray wool slacks and a black sweater set to the funeral (which I would actually consider part of my professional apparel, not dressy) and a very simple cocktail dress to the wedding. Way off. The wife of the deceased was wearing bright red. The sister of the groom was in a t-shirt and jeans.

Even when DH and I go to the most expensive or highly rated restaurants in our area, there are people wearing jeans. So when should I wear my dress clothes? I can see why people are saying they don't need them.

 

[Sorsha]

I so know this feeling! When we first moved to Montana we were overdressed for everything!

Welcome to Montana! Enjoy the dress code!

Most Montana men own several pairs of at least 4 different kinds of jeans - the Work Jeans (old and worn), the Casual Jeans (Ok to wear to the store or your kid's school program), the Dress Blue Jeans (self explanatory) and the Dress Black Jeans (ditto). The Dress Jeans are usually considered sufficient attire for anything from church to weddings to going-out-to-dinner, and may be paired with anything from a nice polo to a dress shirt and tie. In the summer months, some men may be persuaded to swap the jeans with a pair of khakis, but this depends on the man. For VERY formal occasions, most Montana men also own a sport jacket or a leather vest or a suit, but it usually only comes out of the closet once every couple of years and then only under EXTREME duress. Cowboy boots are the dress footwear of choice, even with the aforementioned suit.

Montana women, as you have discovered, usually consider nice jeans or khakis and a blouse or sweater, sufficient attire for most casual gatherings. Most Montana women, however, do own at least one dress, or skirt and blouse combo, often western themed.

In general, things are much more casual in Montana. For job interviews, nice jeans and a polo are perfectly acceptable. In fact, for most jobs, if you were to show up in a suit and tie, the boss would look at you funny because he is in jeans and a polo and you look like you are trying to kiss bum from the get-go. Even in the fanciest restaurants, the man will be in khakis and a button-down shirt and the lady will wear a skirt and a sweater - that's as fancy as it gets. Except for prom season, you can't even buy a formal cocktail gown in my town - you can rent one at the bridal shop, but it's several years old and probably stained and will have to be altered. At church, if you attend (we don't anymore, but when we did...) most men wore a suit or jeans and a sport coat, and the ladies wore a casual dress or a skirt and blouse. Nice clothes, but not too dressy; respectable, but not overly formal.

As you have found out, TheColtonsMom, its just a different world out here. Not bad, nice enough (once the bloody snow melts - sheesh) - but different. Waayyy less formal.

 

[bethbuchall]

I guess I wasn't thinking of people that live in the mid-west states not needing suits or nice clothes. I don't live in an upscale/nice area but people do still dress up for funerals, dinners, weddings, etc. I still can't imagine not owning anything but jeans though...no matter where you live.

I can't remember the last wedding, funeral, or dinner that I have been to. Maybe we're just not social people. My husband is a software engineer in a major computer company, but he wears jeans to work. We know how to dress for formal occasions, we just don't have any formal occasions.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I wear a suit to work every day, and own, I believe, twelve of them, as well as a few additional sport coats with coordinated slacks, about fifty ties and probably twenty dress shirts. I've worn a sport coat to work twice since starting my career, both on office-moving days. But that is the norm in my industry, so I fit right in.

I own four or five pairs of khaki slacks and maybe ten polo shirts for lounging around the home.

I own precisely one pair of jeans, although I should probably buy a backup pair.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Suits are expensive. I'm sure there are many who can't afford them.

We went to a wedding a couple summers ago that was Jacket required. Got a suit jacket at goodwill for 5 bucks or so And yes its the only jacket my dh owns.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm not sure what lifestyle has to do with anything? Regardless of lifestyle, I believe every adult man should own atleast once nice suit and adult woman should own a nice dress.

Oh, I agree with not having a lot of dress clothes for the kids. They grow so fast. My DD had her standy-by dress clothes but has since outgrown most of them them. I'll not buy any more until she stops growing (which I hope is soon) or we need them.

But like I said, suits are expensive. Many people can not afford one. Of course there is Good Will, etc, but from what I've seen, most of the suits are pretty dated.

 

[tlbwriter]

But like I said, suits are expensive. Many people can not afford one. Of course there is Good Will, etc, but from what I've seen, most of the suits are pretty dated.

Also, if you live in an area where people buy fewer suits, there are fewer suits at Goodwill.

 

[wvjules]

But like I said, suits are expensive. Many people can not afford one. Of course there is Good Will, etc, but from what I've seen, most of the suits are pretty dated.

If you're on the DIS and can afford a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" then you can afford a suit. (The generic you.)

 

[sweet angel]

If you're on the DIS and can afford a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" then you can afford a suit. (The generic you.)

Just because you can afford to go to Disney doesn't mean you want to throw money away on something you don't need right away.

 

[Liberty Belle]

If you're on the DIS and can afford a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" then you can afford a suit. (The generic you.)

Possibly. I guess that depends on how you'd define "afford", but I know I'd rather take my kids to Disney World than have a gown that I'd never wear (and I'm sure my husband would say that about a suit) - if we were in that situation.

 

[tlbwriter]

If you're on the DIS and can afford a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" then you can afford a suit. (The generic you.)

Yes, and you can also afford kid gloves, and a top hat, and spats, and rainbow suspenders, and a leather corset. But if you're never going to wear them, why should you buy them just because someone else occasionally has a reason to wear them? You seem to think your personal wardrobe needs should dictate the contents of someone else's closet. Why is that?

Also, did you miss the point that posters are not only talking about themselves, but of other people in their lives, who perhaps don't go on expensive vacations?

 

[SaraJayne]

We buy dress clothes on a as-needed basis.

Not just so we can say we have them.

 

[suzannen]

I'm in NYC and my family (DH, 16-year old DD, married DD with son-in-law) dresses up constantly - work, funerals, weddings, parties, museum openings, fundraising dinners, anniversaries, birthday parties, and for the majority of the restaurants we go to. We even dress up on vacation. It always puts us in a great mood to start our evening, as well as giving us a reason to shop! And, we get smiles and complements (plus some fabulous tables) wherever we go, so it makes us happy.

 

[wvjules]

Yes, and you can also afford kid gloves, and a top hat, and spats, and rainbow suspenders, and a leather corset. But if you're never going to wear them, why should you buy them just because someone else occasionally has a reason to wear them? You seem to think your personal wardrobe needs should dictate the contents of someone else's closet. Why is that?
Also, did you miss the point that posters are not only talking about themselves, but of other people in their lives, who perhaps don't go on expensive vacations?

You must have missed the part where I said that I was forgetting about those that live in areas where they are not needed. Read a few pages back and you will see it.

 

[sweet angel]

I see no reason to spend money on clothes I may not need for years.

I'm going to need a new car eventually...should I buy it now so I'm ready?

 

[tlbwriter]

You must have missed the part where I said that I was forgetting about those that live in areas where they are not needed. Read a few pages back and you will see it.

Okay, but then why are you still arguing the point? I'm confused.

 

[sweet angel]

Yes, and you can also afford kid gloves, and a top hat, and spats, and rainbow suspenders, and a leather corset.

You snappy dresser, you!

 

[ICF]

I own 2 suits -- and can't tell you the last time I wore all the pieces to them. Probably a job interview many years ago.

I'm 38 and have been to 1 wedding in the last 5 or so years. It was an outdoor wedding last summer. It was 95 degrees that day and believe me a shirt / tie with suit pants were plenty hot enough.

I've also been too 2 funerals in the last 5 years. I dont think in either case I wore the suit jacket.

Guess I'm one of those mid-west slums that dont dress up to often......

 

[Grandmouse]

I think its kind of sad that so many people don't think specials occasions are "special" enough to dress up for.

 

[sweet angel]

I think its kind of sad that so many people don't think specials occasions are "special" enough to dress up for.

I don't remember seeing anyone say that.

I dress up when it's necessary. I just don't stock clothes that may not be necessary.

Personally, I long for the days past when, on a cruise, you had to dress for dinner. Now, while they have a dress code, it's rarely enforced. I guess because cruising has become so much more mainstream.