<p>I actually do try to hold myself to that standard when evaluating others and berate myself when I find myself falling short in this regard. </p>
<p>It’s a reason why I have few issues striking up and maintaining hours-long conversations with well-spoken intelligent people…even if they happen to be not only unkempt, but also have odors due to lack of care regarding proper hygiene(few undergrad classmates) or homelessness (Did this on the Boston T during undergrad road trips and after graduation). </p>
<p>I’m much more interested in what someone has to say, the level of insight/intelligence in the way it is expressed, and whether it peaks my curiosity.</p>
<p>I really flat out don’t care. I went to Burning Man and within a few hours didn’t notice whether or not people were wearing clothes. I believe those of you who care about clothing when you say how much it means to you, but it means nothing to me. People are different.</p>
<p>I really don’t care what people wear. On the other hand, I judge people by their spelling, grammar, and punctuation. </p>
<p>If I have a choice between associating with someone who shows up in a sweatshirt and sweatpants at an event where everyone else is wearing formal business attire and someone who writes “everyday” in situations where the correct usage is “every day,” I’ll go for the inappropriately dressed person every time.</p>
<p>Well I sleep nekkid, so at least I can say I don’t sleep in my clothes!
( although depending on what I am doing, I have put on what I wore the day before)</p>
<p>“much more interested in what someone has to say, the level of insight/intelligence in the way it is expressed, and whether it peaks my curiosity”</p>
<p>One doesn’t preclude the other. Being smart and stylish/attractive is a great combo.</p>
<p>“Apparently. Here is a lesson for you: With jeans, one can wear dressy shoes and boots, and dress them up with a nice T-shirt, polo or oxford shirt. Not so with sweatpants.”</p>
<p>Assuming the occasion calls for it such as work, formal dinner parties, formal dates, etc. Otherwise it can be much effort for the sake of affecting the pointy-haired bossy types. </p>
<p>Not something I or most of my non-fashionista friends would be inclined to do. </p>
<p>If anything, some of us may derive much pleasure from annoying fashionista types like you and Bay. :)</p>
<p>As an aside, I personally haven’t worn sweatpants since I was a 14 year old HS sophomore. Once I outgrew that pair, I didn’t bother getting another because they tend to cause me to overheat even in the coldest NYC winters. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, I will strongly defend the right of others to wear them and mock the fashionistas who fling their disdain upon sweatpants wearers or those who can’t be bothered to be stylish.</p>
<p>I think there is a wide variability as to what people notice.
Take cars for example. My H is often checking out the cars on our street, noticing if the person leaving it lives on our street, and how long it stays in one place.</p>
<p>I barely even notice what color they are. To me most of the cars are smallish, white, could be a Taurus or a Honda. Most cars aren’t that memorable and unless you are Minnie Pearl, I’m not likely to notice what you are wearing.</p>
<p>I would like to mention however that my failure to dress “with respect”, is not a conscious slight, because I don’t even know what that means!</p>
<p>Quote:
"One doesn’t preclude the other. Being smart and stylish/attractive is a great combo.</p>
<p>Assuming the occasion calls for it such as work, formal dinner parties, formal dates, etc. Otherwise it can be much effort for the sake of affecting the pointy-haired bossy types. "</p>
<p>Why does there to be an “occasion”? Why can’t I just enjoy looking polished and put together? </p>
<p>I put effort into what I wore when I visited colleges on tour, when I went for parents’ weekends, and the like. If I have a choice between looking like a late forties schlump in sweatpants and a sweatshirt or a stylish, pulled together fortysomething, then I prefer the latter. It’s still casual, but it says I value myself enough to take care of myself and present myself in an attractive manner, versus I just wanted clothing to cover my body. And it’s just not all that hard to do.</p>
<p>Most of us are judgmental about something. For some of you, it is clothing. I don’t understand it, but I accept it, sort of. I don’t understand the need for using derogatory terms, but there you are.</p>
<p>PG, I can honestly say I’ve never seen ballet flats once hoodies come out. They’re not practical and they’re just not worn. Walking from building to building (I am on a large campus) in those flats when it’s cold would be uncomfortable and impractical.</p>
<p>Truly, I don’t care if you believe me or not.</p>
<p>"Another analogy is that of someone who likens him/herself to a busybodyish petty tyrant entitled to pass judgements and to feel offended if other folks don’t dress according to what they deem “acceptable”. (snip)Putting pressures on others to dress in public outside of such limited venues so you won’t be offended is IMHO…a serious imposition on the rights of others to dress however damned well they please. "</p>
<p>There you go again cobrat. Where do you get “busybody”? Where do you get “putting pressure on others”? Do you think that when I’m sitting at Starbucks with my latte, I’m tapping people on the shoulder and telling me they don’t meet my sartorial standards? People can wear what they like. It’s a free country. All the same, I like to look polished and pulled together for ME. The same way I decorate my house in colors and pieces that please ME.</p>
<p>We were on a college tour and a mom was dressed in very tall spike heels, tight patterned pants with a big flashy gold belt, etc. She looked like a character on Sopranos or one of those Housewives shows. I would rather look at someone in neat sweat pants and running shoes. I suppose we all have a different idea of what looks good and bad.</p>
<p>“Anything goes for the most part. On some campuses like Berkeley…you can even go sans clothes at all as illustrated by one student who attended all classes wearing only a backpack.”</p>
<p>Yes, because clearly that was the aesthetic I meant, LOL. The moment someone goes above sweatpants, it’s leopard stretch pants and hooker heels.</p>
<p>Nope. There was a Berkeley student who attended all his classes wearing only a backpack and nothing else. Recalled seeing it in the newsmedia/papers several years back.</p>
