======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ==== ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ====
My personal style has never been what you could consider “flashy” or “high end” or “professional.” I’ve never had a period of time where I was frequenting formal events, and the ones I did go to rarely involved photos. I don’t hang out in the bars that have standards on how people should be dressed, and when I do, I stick out like a sore thumb. In fact, one of the benefits of working at my company is that we don’t have a dress code, so I have attended meetings of relative importance while wearing a hoodie and jeans.
The fact is, I’ve never really been a particularly fashionable person. If I had to describe my style in three words, I would either choose “generic white guy,” or “grown-up emo.” It’s not like I’m wearing all black, dying my hair, painting my fingernails, or putting on eyeliner. Not all at once, at least.
But either way, I think the issue here is two-fold. I don’t really outgrow my clothes, and I hate throwing things away. Perfect example: I have a pair of gold gym shorts that have a blue stripe down the side with a faded “Notre Dame” written on them. The only tie that I have to Notre Dame is that I went to basketball camp there in fourth grade, which was when my mom bought those shorts for me. Granted, I was a chubby kid, but scientists have yet to prove why those still fit me.
There’s nothing wrong with them though! That’s why I can’t find it in me to get rid of them. They fit me fine, they’re not torn or stained or anything. If they’re still serving their purpose fine, then why would I part ways with them?
And that’s how I feel about the majority of my clothes. I don’t think I’ve actually bought new sweatshirts, tee shirts, or dress shirts since 2014, and I think that makes a lot of people cringe. That’s not to say that I’ve worn the same thing for the last three years—I’ve gotten gifts from my parents and brothers—but at the same time, my style really hasn’t had so significant of a change that I’ve needed a complete closet overhaul.
That is, until a few weeks ago when Black Friday and Cyber Monday hit.
I decided to hold out until Thanksgiving to head home and gather my winter clothes, only to realize that I only really had one sweater and two hoodies to wear for layers. So that Friday, I ran out and bought four sweaters. Well, I gained a little bit of weight over Thanksgiving (as we all do) and ended up ripping the crotch of my favorite pair of jeans two days later, which resulted in me going apeshit on Cyber Monday. I picked up new pants, new jeans, new hoodies, new shirts, all ripe to be worn.
And wear them I did. The first outfit was when I met my girlfriend’s family. She swooned, her friends let out various forms of, “Damn, you clean up good!” and her dad invited us out for dessert afterward. The next one was at work, where I was met with compliments on the sweater-dress shirt combo and interrogations on where I was taking my girlfriend on a date that night.
Then, the third time came. I was wearing dark jeans, white dress shirt with micro-polka dots, and a black sweater with the sleeves rolled up. I walked into a happy hour with some friends and was interrogated, but the mood was shifted.
“Hey dude,” one said, “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah!” I replied. “I mean, I’m a little stressed at work, but that’s normal. Why?”
“Are…are you sure?” they asked.
“Positive.”
“Well, y’know, if you need to talk about something just let any of us know.”
“For sure…wait why?”
“We’ve just, well, we’ve noticed that you’ve been dressing better lately. Like, a lot better. Did…I mean, have you lost control of something in another aspect of your life?”
“No…”
“So, you just decided to start dressing better? Not because you felt like you were losing control of something and had to take control of something else?”
“Yeah, dude. I just wanted to change things up a little bit. Didn’t realize I was dressing so poorly to begin with, but you’ve made that clear. Dick.”
The same happened at work. And at home. Well, not home with my parents. But my roommate did take notice and was wondering if I was trying to change my lifestyle. I’m sure this can lead to an entire theory on how changes in style can signify a shift in values or something, but honestly, I just needed new clothes. .
Respond
Charlie
Using sarcasm as a defense mechanism since 1993. At any given moment I'm either tired, drunk, or stressed out. Get at me at charliepgp@gmail.com or whatever.
@therescharlie
@herescharlie
herescharlie
Got a girlfriend and suddenly started dressing better? She inceptioned the hell out of you
You can always get the best new clothes at manoutfitters.com! @Will @Dave @Dillon @Ross cmon guys I’m doing your job for you
Username checks out.
Similar thing happened to me. I switched from a job with not much of a dress code (jeans, polo, sneakers 5 days a week) to one with a more formal dress code (dress pants and shirt, dress shoes, 4 days a week with jeans on Fri) and now all the moms at school drop off in the morning have stopped looking at me like I’m some hobo wandering in to steal their children. Even though they’re all in athleisure 5 days a week.
Coworker wore makeup to work today. Other coworker, “Are you cheating on your husband?”
Well, was she?
Is it just me who sees Charlie literally as Charlie Kelly?
Well people think I’m gay now because I’ve modeled a couple times and dress better/more fashionably than I used to. So that’s a…fun conversation.
Wore a (completely average, $15) tie to the office Xmas party yesterday, and you could’ve sworn I wore a full tuxedo with tails, top hat, white gloves, and cane. Scientists dress like ass.
I have to say though, after getting a consistency complaint from my boss’ boss(don’t ask because I don’t understand either) I started dressing up(khakis/polos/dress shirts) and I feel lots more confident.