An Argument for Getting Dressed

Why getting dressed, really dressed, does more for us than we realize.

Chances are if you’re reading this post you are someone who wrestles with what to put on your body every day. Even I, a lifelong fashion lover with a carefully curated closet, struggle with this. We are only human. Sometimes our daily activities barely require leaving the house. Or our days may be fluid so we can’t really prepare for what activities may unfold.

And when that happens, we usually reach for something we don’t have to think about. Something comfortable. Something purely functional. And that something is usually leggings/athleisure/loungewear.

Let’s unpack (hah) the argument for why getting dressed, really dressed, does more for us than we realize.

Coming out of the pandemic, two key points really hit home for me.

1. We need so little.

2. We have so much.

For the COVID months (nay, years), 90% of our closets went untouched. So when activities finally resumed to normal levels, I felt a deep sense of duty to honor my clothes more so than I ever have.

Like a treasure trove of investments, they deserved to get out. See the world. Because not only do they represent something that serves us functionally, but they also represent our hard earned dollars. Our time. Our focused energy. As Carrie Bradshaw said, “I like my money right where I can see it. Hanging in my closet.”

I remember running into a friend at an outdoor concert circa 2017. She was wearing a pair of Givenchy studded ankle boots, THE pair that everyone was clamoring for at the time. The venue was a sea of dirt and wet grass, hardly a place you’d want to wear something nice. But seeing her in those boots was so powerful for me. Life is short. Don’t save things for a special occasion. That special occasion is today. Bust out your finery.

This is my first argument for ditching the loungewear and getting dressed every day. Don’t let the pieces you’ve spent, time, energy and money on go unused. Let them fulfill their purpose and be useful.

Whether you like it or not, the way you present visually, informs people’s perceptions of you.

Here’s a very eye-opening example.

Last week I dropped my child off at summer camp. 9 times out of 10 I am not showered and ready for the day by the time I need to load the car up and cart my child to said activity. This day was no different. I left the house in a baggy sweatshirt, leggings and tennis shoes.

Fast forward to pick-up and I’m wearing this (with a blazer to hide my midriff).

Yep, I could have stayed in my loungewear, but I chose to really get dressed. The same woman from morning check-in looked at me and said, “Who are you here to pick up?” Odd, I thought, considering I had pulled her aside for a quick, private conversation that morning.

I told her, and she asked for my ID. While I love the security precaution, she clearly had no idea that we had met that morning. Normally I’d brush this off due to the number of check-ins/check-outs happening each day, but there was definitely a focused interface between us. 8 hours later and armed with a presentable outfit and she thinks I’m a different person.

Let’s think back to a time when our grandmothers got ready for the day. My guess is your grandma rarely left the house without lipstick. She also probably wore heels, and maybe even gloves and a hat, most days when she was raising her young children (your parents). In her day, people dressed up to travel (see Airport Style), and Sunday finery was de rigueur. There’s a lot about modern cultural style cues that I love and am very grateful for. But I dare say that the acceptance of essentially wearing pajamas in public has gotten a bit out of control, even though I too am guilty of this sometimes.

And you know what? When I wear my loungewear in public, I don’t feel good. I get nervous that I will run into someone I know. And on the rare occasions I do, I minimize myself. And that, is awful. I don’t want to be a shell of me, I want to be me. It didn’t feel good that my child’s camp counselor had no recollection of who I was.

Clothing is armor. Not a charade. Not a farce. But a powerful extension of ourselves. We subconsciously know clothing is a no-contact communication cue to the world around us. It allows us to say something without saying anything.

Have you ever seen what little kids wear when they get to pick out their outfits? They look like Joey from Friends. “Could I BE wearing any more clothes right now?” They take everything they deem awesome and put it on all at once. Pile it up. Because it makes them feel amazing. Strong. Confident.

So let’s do the same. Instead of picking up the loungewear on your closet floor, pull out something from your closet that makes you feel amazing. I know, easier said than done, so here’s an exercise you can try.

1. Go to your closet and make room for two sections. If you have a valet bar or a rolling rack, those will work perfectly.

2. In the first section, you’re going to pull out 5-10 go-to pieces, i.e., your favorite jeans, most-worn top, versatile layering piece, etc.

3. In the second section, pull out 5-10 seasonally appropriate items that you haven’t worn in a while.

4. The next time you get ready for the day, reach for one item from the go-to pile and one item from the “haven’t worn in a while” pile.

5. See what outfits you can come up with. After 3-4 weeks, ask yourself what pieces served you and what pieces left you confounded. Anything that confounded you can be placed in a donate/sell pile. Voila! You’re editing and allowing your clothes to be useful.

Pro Tip

Footwear is usually the biggest hangup when it comes to getting dressed for the day. We tend to reach for our sneakers, which has a cascading effect on the rest of our outfit. Sneakers can look great with non-loungewear. Just stick to a non-athletic style – Sambas, Vans, Converse, Keds, you get the idea. Or, choose a flat sandal or ballet flat, which instantly elevate an outfit.

Let me know if you try this exercise and how it works for you. I promise you’ll walk a little taller if you challenge yourself to really get dressed each day.