I think where you get so much resistance is that people still cannot see the wider implications. People are talking about comfort as if there aren't black trousers and t shirts out there that are as comfortable as sweatpants and pyjamas. The reason why people can agree that you should dress for weddings and the theatre is because people (for now) still acknowledge that sense of occasion. The age we live in now, the sense and wonder that accompanies treating daily and perhaps mundane tasks as an occasion is slipping. Going to the supermarket is no longer an occasion, nor is going to the courthouse, nor is going to work. The fluidity that comes with modern times has completely eroded the demarcation between these distinct elements of our lives. As a result we fail to treat it with the dignity it deserves as we cram it into our self-centred ego-driven lives. Comfort is not the issue, nor time, nor budget as these things are not correlated with sloppy dressing. It's about egocentricity.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

8 жыл бұрын

+UseHERnam3 Wow! You really nailed it with your comment. It will definitely be showing up as a comment of the week on the blog. Excellent points.

@squirl6519

8 жыл бұрын

+UseHERnam3 I have seen jeans and sweats at both weddings and the theatre. In our community people are encouraged to wear anything when attending any of the arts performances. It takes away the elitist image from plays, symphonies, opera and art galleries. We have wonderful turnouts across the board. Those who wish to dress up do and those who don't, dress casually. The best part is how many young people now attend these functions.

@UseHERnam3

8 жыл бұрын

+Squirl respectfully I disagree with the underlying motivation. I went to an elitist private school where people wore sweaters and jeans (with holes). Not dressing to the occasion doesn't remove privilege and it doesn't widen accessibility. It removes that sense of occasion I spoke about and places the event in a position that can be incorporated in people's self-involved stream of activities. There are dirt poor people in the Caribbean with 3 outfits that will still pull out their Sunday best for occasions that call for it. The way we dress really explores philosophical and anthropological ideas of the Self being located out of the body (and into the wider world where we respect the gravity of occasions) versus it being confined within ourselves (where the event must come to us and our levels of psychological comfort for us to entertain it as a notion)

@Sunnysidestoriesandmusic

Жыл бұрын

@@UseHERnam3 wow! So thought provoking!

In high school, I was voted best dressed. No one knew I shopped exclusively at thrift stores. Furthermore, in my school where torn jeans, flip flops and sweatshirts were the standard, I chose to wear pumps, nice tailored jeans or slacks, and blouses with blazers. Having recieved the peer voted award of best dressed, to me, shows that my peers valued the more polished outfits I wore, even while they were mostly in sweatshirts.

I'm a stay at home mom and this is my day... I take my daughter to school in workout clothes because I'm going to the gym. Then I go home, shower and get dressed in a presentable outfit. Then I do whatever errands need to be done. I only wear gym clothes at the gym! I get so many compliments on my outfits when I pick my daughter up from school! I feel better when I look better. I agree with you 100%!

@bandbporter

8 жыл бұрын

Same here!

Yes!! This is a topic we need to be discussing in our society! This morning my husband asked if I wanted to come with him to Walmart. I declined, because I hadn't showered or done anything to get ready for the day. He jokingly said, "It's just Walmart - you'll look better than anyone else even if you're in your pj's!" He was kidding, but it's easy to live by society's standards and think you'll be ok if you're not the worst dressed person at the store, wedding, etc. I don't live by Walmart's standards - I have my own! I expect that even on a day that I don't leave the house, I'm still presentable. Thank you for this great discussion!

@typeagoneastray7383

7 жыл бұрын

Whitney Pendell I don't live by Wal-Mart standards - love love love this!

If I wear REAL pants or a skirt (not a maxi skirt or yoga/stretchy/comfy pants), I find I have buckets of motivation to keep my home clean and accomplish more during the day. I change from pajamas every single day, but on days that I get lazy and choose yoga pants (on the premise of "I'll be exercising later"...ha...right!), I don't keep up with my daily tasks. It may not make a difference to some people who argue that "if I'm comfy, I'll be more productive", but it makes a MAJOR difference in my attitude and productivity. I wholeheartedly agree with you, Jennifer. It may not be for everyone, but it is certainly my reality! God Bless!

@orsolyatoth7440

8 жыл бұрын

+Lindsey M I totally agree with you! I'm working from home, have two small kids, and dress up every day. It might just mean a pair of jeans and a shirt, but I shower, brush teeth, probably put some light make up on and get dressed. Makes a huge difference.

One year in elementary school my aunt bought me this beautiful dress to wear for a Christmas concert. I was so proud of that dress and it made me feel good to wear it. As an adult I get that same feeling when I find a really cute top or a nice pair of jeans that fit perfectly. It just feels better to put myself together daily, even if I'm not leaving the house. I really don't understand why people feel so threatened, to the point of being outraged, at the very idea of looking presentable.

Something you said in another video of yours on this topic really struck home with me. To paraphrase it, you said “Dressing well is about living with dignity”. That hits the nail on the head! It’s about dignity, self-respect, and respect for others and the occasion or situation.

I give you a standing ovation for speaking up for so many of us who feel the same way and wish women would respect themselves, feel good about who they are, whether they are home, or out. In Respecting yourself, you are also respecting others. Believe it or not women, there are many of us who don't want to see your fuzzy pj's, and everything else that is NOT appropriate. I personally appreciate seeing others, men and women who take pride in themselves, their overall cleanliness and grooming: clean hair, nails, white teeth, hair that you brushed out to look presentable, a little makeup, etc....Yes, you are worth it to spend an extra few minutes on YOU, it is not selfish or egotistical. Wear your nice clothes, whether they are from a thrift shop or the mall, because how you feel about the way you look makes a big difference on how you feel about you on the inside, and how you treat self and others! Jennifer, you are an angel, with a powerful message, delivered in an unpretentious, non judgmental, respectful and classy way. MY admiration and respects dear. Victoria

Thank you so much for this video. I just mentioned this to my husband last week. Your clothes are pretty much your uniform. It's the first thing people notice when you walk outside. Whatever message you want people to accept about you starts with your clothes and the way you present yourself. This is also very important if you have children. They need to see how to dress properly and respectfully in this new world of sweat pants and leggings. Btw, comfort does not mean slouchh

@kiarataylor8380

8 жыл бұрын

I meant slouchy or lazy. You can be comfy in a nicely put together outfit that doesn't involve workout clothes. Especially in a professional environment

Jennifer, I completely agree. I was raised to always dress better than my circumstances. Not because I was better than anyone. My parents encouraged dressing well because you never know what people or opportunities you may have that could be lost when you look like a hot mess but also because of self-respect. It is definitely not about brand names. Take care of your clothing no matter how much it cost and dress nicely. It is not about impressing people. It is about showing others that you have respect for yourself, therefore, you will have respect for others. You are representing!

I believe a lot of this comfort wear started in the 60's. My grandmother, who is my idol, passed away 7 years ago at 93 and she ALWAYS looked classy. My mother who was a hippie in her day is very much the opposite. She does dress when she goes out but doesn't wear a bra. That's a whole other subject. *Shivers*

I'm a nonverbal communication professor, and yes, how you dress absolutely matters - how you behave, the messages you're communicating about yourself and others and the situations, how others perceive you. It matters a lot.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

8 жыл бұрын

+Rikki Tremblay Thanks for your comment. I bet your course is so interesting!

@deborahhanna4397

8 жыл бұрын

+the Daily Connoisseur Guest blog post????

@kimberlyperrotis8962

3 жыл бұрын

@@deborahhanna4397 Great idea!

Love your books and channel. I have a quick story to bring home your point. My son attended an all boys Catholic High School and his senior "uniform" was a white long sleeved shirt, khaki pants, belt and a special senior tie. It took him all year to realize he'd been dressing for a job interview the whole time. He is in professional school now and is required to wear similar attire and he's the only one of his friends that doesn't complain about it.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

8 жыл бұрын

+Carlette Seng I love that!

I actually see being "presentable always" as a very centering practice. The less you have to worry about your appearance, the better your outlook, and the easier it is to just BE yourself. On an average day, I'm a "jeans and t-shirts" kind of girl myself, but I make sure the fit is flattering, the quality is nice, and that I always feel comfortable and confident. It does make a huge difference! Take a closer look at the people who clearly don't care about their appearance...if you listen and watch, you'll likely find that they care little about anything else either. And that's an unfortunate way to walk through life. If all you have is rags, but you clearly took the time to present yourself the best you could; it shows and you glow. You radiate a sense of brightness, and you affect the world in a positive way; and usually that positivity will come back to bless you.

I've noticed that people don't appreciate it when you dress appropriately for an event that they aren't dressed for. This happens with people from EVERY age group. I'm often told I make people feel underdressed, that I shouldn't dress up so often, that I make them uncomfortable with how nicely I dressed. On the other hand, I feel I am dressing appropriately for the things I do. A shift dress to a funeral, the same dress to a wedding, a flowy dress on holidays/birthdays, jeans and a loose top with heels on date night, a high-waisted skirt and a tucked sweater (or even nice jeans and a graphic shirt) day-to-day. Unfortunately, I've been to parties and family get-togethers at which people have worn shirts with swiss-cheese holes, socks with holes, stained jeans and tops, worn items that are separating at the seams. I've been to weddings (including my own) where people feel jeans and t-shirts were appropriate wear. That's not to say by any means I'm perfect. I'm guilty of wearing work-out clothes for errands, but ONLY if I'm running errands immediately after, or before my workout. When I was in school I experimented with clothes and didn't dress appropriately for some events at all, but that was how I learned how to dress. Make-up doesn't always happen, especially if I am at home during the day, but I do always fix my hair...even if it means a clean ponytail, or quick bun. Looking as classy and put-together as often as possible, I find my demeanor and mood are totally different. I'm happier and tend to have more determination. My husband and I are 27 and still have a lot of school debt, which means we don't spend a lot of money on clothes. It takes more effort, and the ability to not settle when shopping, but we try to choose clearance Target/Walmart/Old Navy clothes that LOOK expensive (clean lines, neat seams, opaque fabrics). Would we like to spend more on clothes that will last a long time? Sure, but it just isn't financially possible. Nevertheless, we are able to look presentable and clean-cut. I, too, am fearful that as time goes on, people will care less and less about what they wear and I'll make more and more people uncomfortable social gatherings. As our culture becomes more casual, so does the way we dress. Dressing appropriately is a reflection of self-care and awareness, not social status or financial standing. If a young couple in their mid-twenties, breaking even, can find a way to dress with care and propriety, I believe anyone should be able to do it with enough patience and care.

@kimberlyperrotis8962

3 жыл бұрын

You are doing the right thing.

I'm 40 seconds into the video and I just had to comment and let you know that I appreciate what you do Jennifer. When you make something your passion it can be hard to keep its importance in perspective to the rest of the world. What we wear does matter but at the end of the day it is just clothing. You're wonderful and I'm happy you made that statement in the beginning of the video to ground us, the viewers. Now, on to the rest of the video.

I wholeheartedly believe that what we wear matters. When I say what we wear I mean in the sense of clean, well groomed, occasion appropriate - not necessarily high-end designer clothing. When we take the time to put effort into our appearance, in my opinion, it is a sign of respect for oneself.

OF COURSE it matters!! OMG!!! You can FEEL it!!!

Hi Jennifer, After coming across your videos and binge-watching them all within a couple of days I started to implement your teachings of a capsule wardrobe and looking presentable always. My life definitely changed. I already had a reputation for being well dressed, a follower of my own fashion and style, and at times more formal than others thought was necessary. Instead of continuing to let this last comment make me feel insecure, I embraced this side of me. When people would say to me "You always dress up", I began to say "No I don't, I just dress in a way that makes me feel happy, life is too short not use the best you have". I am from Perth, Western Australia which is very similar to California in the way that it is a beach town and exceedingly casual. This is great in the sense that most people are laid back, caring and friendly, but unfortunate in other ways (and not just in the fashion department!). It is common for men to shop without shoes and shirts on and for women to wear denim shorts, singlets and flip flops at the cinema, out to dinner and on other special occasions. There are times when the latter is appropriate but I do not believe it is as often as people think! I created a summer capsule wardrobe (not quite ten-item...maybe I will get there some day), which included denim shorts and singlets. I found myself reaching for these less and less in favour of my dresses and skirts. They were just as comfortable to wear in the hot weather but looked more polished and brought out my feminine side. A friend of mine who happens to be a fashion model sent me a message the other day saying "Elise I would love to know what you are doing in terms of an exercise regime and diet, because you look slimmer lately and very beautiful". I was shocked because over the holiday season I had stopped exercising as much and was not watching what I ate at all! I had a think about it and I can attribute my apparent slimmer and more beautiful body to wearing clothes that are more flattering on me than jean shorts. And this came from simply wearing clothes that expressed the real me and made me happier and more comfortable! Thank you Jennifer sharing your message with the world, you are affecting everyone including twenty year olds in one of the most isolated cities on the planet! Sorry for the long comment! If you have read this far could you please check out my blog elisevanaken.blogspot.com.au ...I would love your opinion. I hope your pregnancy is going well xxx

I once saw an American make over program featuring an excellent teacher working in a deprived area of New York. She dressed like what is called a 'bag lady' in the UK, quite deliberately as she didn't want to splash out a lot of money on clothes and have that as her priority. Her priority was to give service as a teacher in a deprived area. During the program the presenter very skillfully made her realise that the way she dressed set an aspiration for the children she was teaching and to set the bar at 'bag lady' wasn't really going to make them aspire to better themselves. Thankfully she was a bright young woman and got this message very quickly. She was also taught that looking well put together doesn't have to mean to spend a lot of money and how she could source good outfits at a good price point. I thought this illustrated the point of dressing well in relation to setting a standard for children very well. But at the same time being clear about the occasion to dress for is very important. When we go out with our dog during the winter months when it often rains and is quite muddy, we dress in appropriate outdoor clothing that keeps us warm and will wash and tumble dry perfectly.

Everything you said is so true. I don't want to see what it's going to be like in 20 years! I'm not sure how this over relaxed dressing started but it's a sad state we are in. Its not just dress , what happened to Sir. and Mrs. we are getting more casual with everything! How we speak how we act, it's too much. So keep up the great work Jennifer it's very much needed. thank you! Love your books as well. They should be required reading for young girls.

You are so right, have respect for your self and others will respect you. I have three daughters aged from 23 to 40 they are all professionals and I am always proud to be seen with them they dress beautiful. I think what is important for me as well is their encouragement and input to the way I look and dress at 62. It is so lovely when you are paid a compliment on you dress, hair or makeup or even the perfume you are wearing and in my daily job I give out these compliments as I know the effect it can have. Thank you for this video I agree with you 100%. Have a great day and by the way your hair looks beautiful. Cheers Tricia.xxxx

I left a version of this comment on Feather Factor this weekend in a discussion about people wearing gym-clothes for daily wear: I do regret that people don’t dress as well in the U.S. as they did in the 1950’s and before, though I wouldn’t want to go back to girdles & gloves & all that hairspray they wore back then… Having said that, as long as people have good personal hygiene, and wear clean & well-fitting clothes, and dress fairly appropriately for events, unless you know a person and their daily calendar/schedule extremely well judging people by what they wear is a dangerous and slippery slope. Plus maybe there really are a whole lot of people who use gyms these days and have packed their schedule so full that they don’t have time to change clothes much. It’s interesting that in France-although you occasionally now see people in gym-wear, something that up until a very few years ago you never used to see-people still think that active lives and healthy bodies do not require special clothes and gym memberships, but instead walking and hiking in regular street clothes, taking the stairs & not elevators, gardening, swimming, and other such centuries-old activities are more than adequate to be one of the healthiest and trimmest countries in the world. Most of us here following you, Jennifer, do care about presenting themselves well for the most part I imagine, but not everyone has had the advantage of being encouraged to consider what they wear and how they present themselves. Leading by cheerful example is always preferable to looking down on others whose circumstances we may know nothing about. Why would anyone in sloppy sweats or gym-wear or baggy jeans and tees want to emulate well-groomed judgmental snotty people? But consider that if badly-clothed & groomed people have the occasion to interact with cheerful kind nonjudgmental well-groomed people, they may be more likely to think to themselves something like, “That appropriately-dressed person seems to be a person whom I could like and admire and like to emulate.” People in the U.S. who are really, really, top-out-of-sight, rather old-money rich, dress the way they want yet dress appropriately for events, are self-confident and kind and nonjudgmental. People who aren’t too far away from their sometimes-insecure-middleclass-roots tend to make assumptions and judge people for what they wear, or latch on to some media-driven hype of the day such as what to think about what other people wear. When out & about or at lunch or dinner, it’s always most pleasant to be around or sit next to cheerful kind people no matter what they wear, and if they know enough about dressing well and are able to dress appropriately for the situation then all the much more better.

I definitely believe that what we wear matters. I'm an English teacher living in S. Korea and I've noticed that after living here for nearly 7 years, that I've started being much more mindful of what I wear and how I present myself to others. When I visit my hometown (Michigan), I can clearly see the vast differences between the American mindset of dressing and the Korean mindset of dressing.

I appreciated you bringing up how people dress when they need to go to the courthouse. A few months ago my husband was called into court over a speeding ticket (which is hysterical because he drives like a little old man 90% of the time but I digress). He was also shocked at how people were dressed. He described some of the women as looking like 'street walkers', some of them were wearing hair curlers and sweat pants, the men were dressed just as badly. And, while my husband only owns one suit, by George he was wearing it to stand before the judge! I agree completely that being dressed appropriately is a form of good manners and respect - respect for others and for yourself.

Definitely about respect, for yourself and others. So you feel good and people are happy when they see you

I think treating yourself like you are someone you are responsible for taking care of is a good rule. I realized once read a Jordan Peterson book that I would definitely take care of myself better. I took care of my elderly grandmother and I always fed dressed and kept her hygiene in tip top shape. I loved her so much I only wanted her best. The way I may treat myself is less than. That's a shame so I've taken your advice and I'm learning a lot more. I found a lovely store that sells quality clothes and I'm building my wardrobe also exercising each day. You are an inspiration.

What we wear matters because it says all about us. It's called non verbal communication and can express whether you are happy or depressed, stressed or calm. If what er wear doesn't matter, then go to the movies wearing a bathing suit. You don't care about anyone's opinion, right? I bet you will change your mind after being the focus of nonsense. Jenny, your advice is important and can help many people. The 10-item wardrobe is also a way of letting us aware of our necessity, of common sense. There are lots of people who need those items we left for years in our drawers. Thank you for pointing out these wonderful ideas! I hate hypocrisy and I love when someone faces it. The world changes because of people like you. Xoxo, Thaísa

The more I think about your question why clothing matters... I'm realizing there's emotional pain involved with dressing poorly & I'm not talkin about dollars. I stopped taking care of myself because of emotions. The less I address it the more painful it is. It's feels in my case like I stopped loving myself. My 8 yr old son told me twice this week I like it when you look nice. I never allow my kids to look or go out like I do 90% of the time. I love them & I gotta go back to loving myself. Thanks ❤

completely agree. how you present yourself to the world represents your respect for self as well as respect for others

Dressing nicely is such a morale booster. Even through losses and medical issues, depression, chaos - I get dressed. It’s a way to stay sane and have a little control, to show yourself respect even when no one else does.

@mamabear090

4 жыл бұрын

It’s getting sad the way people dress for funerals, now. How little must a person care to show up in ripped jeans and a sports jersey (that has nothing to do with the deceased’s wishes) ?

I remember when we moved to another state and was just blown away that people here went to the store in their pj's and slippers. I had never seen that before because we came from a fairly nice place in FL. But I totally agree with you about dressing properly. I always tell my children that you never get a second chance to make a first impression and you want it to be a good one. I think it was wonderful back in the 40"s and 50's when people cared about how they looked, men wore nice clothes and hats and they shined their shoes and women looked like women, not something out of a horror movie or x rated film. No tattoos or piercings. I hope someday things might return to a somewhat normal state.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

7 жыл бұрын

It would be so nice :) Thanks for your comment.

@sherisetodd999

7 жыл бұрын

I know of a woman who says as a teenager she would usually be disheveled. For, people who have seen the movie THE BREAKFAST CLUB, (they still show it in recent years although it is an 1980's movie) Aly Sheedy's cgaracter was disheveled. This woman I know says that was her style on a regular basis not just sometimes. She says she was constantly called ugly so her mom started doing her hair and helped her fix herself up and it substantiallt reduced comments from bots

@sherisetodd999

7 жыл бұрын

My previous comment accidently submitted itself before I could finish. Anyway, her mom giving her a little makeover substantially reduced a lot of the comments from guys about her being ugly.

I think it's important to present your best self, whatever that means to you.

I am so grateful to have found you!!! I have started my journey of decluttering and dressing with consciousness a few months ago. Now I have a teacher to guide me through!!!

No lie..I work in a bank and our team leader has to give the staff a lesson on dressing well every week. For example, don't wear clothes with stains, holes, or wrinkles. It matters. People who handle money (other people's money) need to look professional. It doesn't take tons of money either. On my limited budget I purchase things from consignment and I follow the 10 item wardrobe. It can be done. Oh and an iron or steamer is necessary:) great post again!!

I have five sons, all adults now, and each has commented on how nice I look on a regular basis and how they appreciate that. This influence makes a difference in who they choose for companions as well as the respect they display through their own personal appearance. The human brain understands that where more effort has been focused, that thing has more value. When we take effort to look presentable each day, we are telling our children and those around us that we have value, because more focused effort was applied. Even young children make this connection in their brains. Bravo, Jennifer Scott! Now, please write a book for the men in society! (Maybe your husband could give the male perspective!)

@TheDailyConnoisseur

8 жыл бұрын

+marla west Thank you! This will definitely appear as comment of the week on the blog!

I completely agree here. The clothes we wear is not an indication of the type of person you are but yes, wearing presentable clothes, having neat hair and looking after your personal hygiene/daily body care routine is extremely important to me. All you need to do is put that little bit of thought into your daily outfit, adjust posture, take care of your skin and this sense of self pride will most definitely extend into other areas of your life. For me, I can't stand my bed not being made and I also can't stand dishes in my sink as well as the counters bring messy.

Thanks Jennifer. Reminds me of 2 things, recently in the news a Head Teacher had to write letters to the parents to advise them to dress properly, as some had been turning up for the school run in bed wear, the teacher had to remind them of being a good example! Also a quote from from the previous dressmaker to the Queen, Hartnell who once said that "the suit is the uniform of a gentleman, if that diminishes, so does order" your comments are timely, it's so true to present yourself well shows respect. x

I completely agree with everything you've said. How we dress, absolutely is a way we show respect to not only ourselves, but to others as well. Thank you for sharing your perspective, the world needs to hear this message!

Jennifer you are right about this. Also I liked that in this video you brought out that it isn't a brand name or lots of money thing you are talking about. I personally shop a lot in flea markets and thrift stores. Not because I'm so poor I can't afford nice things. But that in those places you can find nice clothes and decor for much, much less than retail price. It's also recycling. So now that you know I'm no slave to the latest things that cost a lot, I can say this without being automatically labeled a snob. It's not snobby to say that getting in the habit of dressing sloppy instead of casual chic is a slippery slope. She's absolutely right about that. I've experienced it in my life. And in fact I'm trying to get back to a better way of dressing because I slid down that slippery slope. It's easy to do when all you do for the most part is run to the grocery store or Library, general shopping errands. It's very easy to say oh who cares, and throw on ill fitting pants and any old top. Who's going to notice? You do. Dress like that and no one will notice much because you blend in, in a bad way. Wear nice fitting clothes that are flattering in both color and cut and you stand out in a good way. You also physically stand differently and feel different. Consequently you're treated in a more positive way. Slop around and you tend to feel like disappearing, you slouch, bow your head more. The most prominent message you're sending with your outfit is, Meh. It's no accident that we associate looking sloppy with depression. And worst of all looking sloppy can depress you, from the outside in. If you don't believe how you dress matters then look around the next time you're out shopping. See if you see anyone nicely dressed. If you do, see how your eye is drawn to them like a patch of beautiful flowers in a lawn of grass. They stand out in a good way. You think thoughts like Wow, or Pretty, when you see them. You feel drawn to them, they are attractive. Then look at the rest. They all blend into the background of the uniform of sloppy and careless looking. It's not a class thing, or a brand thing, or how much money you've spent thing. Again, it's not a snob thing. As you can tell Jennifer is a very nice person, obviously kind and thoughtful. It's the thought and time you invest in yourself, and it matters. It's no accident that the French are considered chic, read Jennifer's books. They put a lot of care and thought and some effort into their lives. This gives them that lovely bon vivant attitude and lifestyle. Thank you again Jennifer for stressing a point that still needs to be made.

I mainly wear dresses with tights in the cold weather and bare legs otherwise. (I live in New England) and I look polished but I feel as comfortable as if I were in my nightgown. And a lot of my dresses cost under $30, bought on clearance, so unless one is truly poverty-stricken, one can dress better than in sweats and men's t-shirts. You can look sloppy in torn-up jeans and a tacky t-shirt or you can look nice in dark jeans and a t-shirt designed for a female. You can wear grungy workout wear or you can wear cute workout wear. You can your husband's old hoodie or you can wear a cute cardigan. Both are equally comfy but the cardigan is certainly prettier. Leggings and long tunic with ankle boots or cute flats is a super cute look and couldn't be more comfy. Just make sure you butt is fully covered by your top. I feel sad when I see so many plus-sized ladies wearing what looks like rejects from the men's dept. at the thrift store. I know how it is. I am barely over 5 ft. tall and I wear a 2x on a good day. And I am all butt and gut and short stubby legs. It is possible to dress cheaply and nicely. Please ditch all the men's t-shirts and hoodies. Bit by bit you can have a really nice wardrobe that will make you feel good about yourself. Maybe you do feel good about yourself, but it doesn't look that way to anyone else.

@snuggleduck2919

8 жыл бұрын

hey I was wondering if yiu had any fashion advice? im 32 yrs, 5 ft 2, size 18/20 ( uk) and very much apple shaped. having a large tummy just makes me look pregnant if I wear flowy tunics. and I find most jeans and trousers just dig into my middle and I often just wear wide legged yoga pants. I do love leggings under a dress but don't want to show my thighs!. its so difficult because I want to feel feminine and pretty and be warm in this blustery London weather. but I just feel slouchy with my long waterfall cardi and leggings. any tips? I also prefer natural fibres and hate polyester.

@liorajimenez3085

8 жыл бұрын

+estreetangel "Just make sure you butt is fully covered by your top." My girl, you can say that again! I'm so tired of people's barely covered buttocks (male AND female) being displayed. Whether it's the hanging pants or the leggings. I've seen more cellulite, panty lines, distended abdomens, "hair", etc., etc., than I should. It's just flat out vulgar. There are no buttocks so tight that they should be exposed in public. Sigh ... smh. I just keep my eyes lowered so my eyebrows aren't seen creeping toward my hairline and earbuds in my ears. Oh well, at least the low-riders are gone - what a debacle THAT was!

@estreetangel

8 жыл бұрын

+Snuggle Duck I'm not sure how much help I'll be as I love waterfall cardigans! lol And for the winter I think most of my clothes have a lot of polyester. I'm at peace with the fact that I'll never look like I have no tummy or no butt. I just try to dress so clothing skims over them rather than cup those areas. I hate blazers and jackets because I feel choked in them, but they are very flattering if they fit right. So maybe blazers are for you. I prefer dresses because they don't cut me off right where I'm fattest like skirts and tops can. It's very hard for me to find the right length of tops to look good with skirts. With pants, I think it looks pretty good if the top stops a few inches past the underhang of my gut. And rarely wear pants/jeans anymore because they are so constricting in the crotch and upper thighs. But I do like the Starfish pants from Land's End. They are like yoga pants but in a thicker fabric that keeps its shape. This might go against common advice, but I think longer skirts are more flattering than shorter ones as on me shorter skirts, even knee-length ones look like a square on my body, emphasizing the wideness of my body where as a longer skirt looks like a vertical rectangle and IMO makes my lower half look longer and not as wide. I personally love long, flowy skirts so I buy them in light fabrics, very light-weight denim, jersey skirts in a material heavier than t-shirt jersey, light cottons. And in the winter I wear the old-fashioned lacy fullslip under them for a bit more warmth. And tights or leggings under. I'm too cheap to buy clothes that require dry cleaning but a nice supple wool riding skirt would be perfect for winter. Proper fit is the most important thing and the hardest for us to find. We need the plus size for our girth yet we need petite sizing for everything else. Shoulders are too wide, necklines too low and wide, pockets in the wrong places, sleeves too long, hemlines too long. I'm sure you are familiar with those problems when trying on clothes. It's very hard to find here in the US so I hope it's better for you in London, but search out stores that have a petite-plus line. It makes such a difference. I buy a lot of clothes from Talbots.com as they have an impressive range of petite-plus clothing. Even tank tops and shorts. Talbots can be pricey but they have good clearance prices each season. I have no idea if they serve the UK though but you can check them out I suppose. Recently I bought some skater dresses from The Avenue on clearance for between $15 and $30. Even though they aren't petite-plus, just plus, they fit well and I prefer that the skirts hit me mid-calf rather than at the knee like on the tall models. That is my favorite style dress as it skims over the gut and butt. I also like dresses with an empire waistline for the same reason. I hope some of this is helpful to you. We all have our preferences so if you are one who loves straight and structured clothing and all this flowy talk makes you run away in horror then none of what I wrote will probably be much help but I tried. :-)

@winnieeileen6908

8 жыл бұрын

+estreetangel Go Girl, Street Angel!

@MimiNwabuokuMD

8 жыл бұрын

Can you and I be friends????

Thank God for people like you, who still care about how they look. Originally I am from Moldova, a western-european country with strong opinions and values. High school girls go to school wearing stiletos! All day every day! I know, too much... My feet can't do it anymore :) Anyway, when I moved to U.S. I started taking a few classes at a community college and I was shocked to see teenagers wearing pajamas to school, and sweatpants, baggy unflatering shirts. I don't say that all teenagers in U.S. dress up like that, but it is always nice to see people dressing appropriately, in clean clothes.

Hi Jennifer. I really enjoy when you talk about this topic. How we dress does absolutely matter. I used to think it should not be anyone's business what I wore, but peoples perception of a person is influenced by outward appearances initially. I have experienced this personally. So I do agree with you in that we should look presentable at all times and that is something I am working on because I am the comfort dressing type. It is not because I don't like to look nice and presentable but because shopping is a challenge for me. But I am sure I'll get better at it with time. Thank you so much for speaking about this topic and have a beautiful day.

I agree 110% with this topic. It irkes me to see people not care about how they present themselves themselves in public. Jeans and t-shirts to a wedding or funeral, pajama pants to the grocery store, skin tight leggings worn like a pair of jeans with a short top - what is this world coming to? Its true what you said, people treat you differently and respect you when you are presentable. Why wouldn't you want that for yourself?

I feel that the key word that sums up this message is "EFFORT". Muster up enough self worth to put a little effort into yourself and the image that you project to the world. Loving your channel!

I so agree with you. I find that I stand and feel differently when I am "dressed".

I absolutely agree with you 100%. This is a very important topic and I thank you for putting it in such a nice way. I've been judged by many people in regards to my way of dressing. I have this mentality that I have to respect myselfand others as well and showing respect is not only through your attitude but by the way you present yourself. I come from Europe and I've lived here for 23 years but when I go visit Romania I always see class and style

I do agree with you, as I raised with this philosophy. I’ve certainly known that it has grown out of “fashion”, but I’m delighted to hear a much younger woman spout this way of thinking. Do not give up, keep on doing what you’re doing.

Wonderful message--thank you, Jennifer! I agree and believe that what is immediately part of our presence--our clothes, speech, posture, facial expression--can lift or lower our day, and , therefore, life, as well as lift/lower that of others. I hope all is well for you, and thanks, again!

i agree with this video. sometimes i feel lazy and just want to go out in a sweatshirt and sweatpants and not do anything with my hair or face but then i realize how uncomfortable i feel when I'm actually out like that and i hope that no one i know sees me lol. i always feel more confident and better when I'm dressed nicely and do my hair and make-up which doesn't even take that long.

@Riopuppy1

8 жыл бұрын

Same! Sometimes I say oh well what the heck I'm out in scruffy clothes but I NEVER feel good about it, some nicer jeans tee shirt and light make up make me feel so much better.

this is sooo good for me. I have suffered from the "who cares" attitude for at least a couple of years. in 2014 I received a diagnosis that has left me on disability. (but don't feel bad for me, God has already used this for good). after that for some reason I just felt the who cares. I searched for so long for answers about being more feminine, skin care ECT. anything that could make me want to care about my appearance. I didn't find you through those searches but one day I was watching terigigi and she was talking about your book. now I'm hooked. lol. I have a long way to go but I realized that the words you speak are what I was looking for. how refreshing! thank you

I loved this and totally agree from personal experience as well! I think often people confuse that being presentable means being uncomfortable. I think this is in part to things like growing up equating wearing skirts to needing pantyhose (which are for many very uncomfortable) or having itch fabric dress pants, or dress clothes that are too fitted. I think most people wear jeans so tight that they don't find them comfy which is why they want yoga pants, etc. You can look lovely and be comfortable. It is such a false dichotomy we seem to have in our culture.

I totally agree with you Jennifer and thank you for helping us become better people!!! Have a wonderful day!!!

Jennifer I totally get it. Having your hair combed, putting on clean clothes and dressing for the occasion will lift the spirits. Sweat pants are fine for home but wearing them to the store brings me down. You've shared so much and I have all your books! :) I try to stand up straight, have poise, be gracious, and dress appropriately. I don't always succeed but you have challenged me to try harder. Thank you!

I know better and today I didn't represents my self well. I regret it. Won't happen again. I was hoping that I wouldn't come across anyone I knew. Glad I didnt. But still- I didn't feel that I presented my self in the best light. It's a process. A few yrs back I wouldn't feel this way but after dressing well for a while I can't tell the difference. Once u present your self well nothing else will do! Thank you

I like to think of my appearance as one of my primary sources of non-verbal communication, which often sends a stronger message than any amount of verbal communication. I don't think of appearance as a chore or a burden or just another routine--I think of it as another tool that I can actively use to send a message about how much I care about/respect an event/occasion, people, myself, etc. Thank you for the lovely books and videos. : )

These videos are the best! I agree with you. People don't seem to respect organizations anymore such as dressing up in church or dressing appropriately for school.

Glad you did this video! I need a reminder every now and then. Thanks so much!!

I totally agree with you. I love to dress, but I feel awkward sometimes when I do, because I am sometimes the only one who seems to care. I find myself dressing down just so I fit in. I’m not talking about dressing for a banquet when you’re going to work. I always like to be appropriate, but sometimes I spend far too much time trying to decide what to wear because I think that others won’t be dressed nice and I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard or wanting attention. It’s a problem in our society and I find it sad that we are losing our refinement in dress.

💯 I have bought my clothes from name brand stores, yard sales, thrift stores, goodwill etc. I have always been complimented on my clothes. It’s about quality clothing and putting it together well. Pinterest helps with that so much! You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look presentable. Good thoughts and keep on keeping it classy. 🤗

Yes! How much more sloppy and casual can we get? My in-laws always talked about the time they dined at a fine restaurant in Philadelphia, and people were staring uncomfortably, because they were dressed so elegantly, and styles had become so casual. My MIL said that that was the time period she knew styles had changed for the worse - forever! They would always get decked-out to dine out!

Hi Jennifer! I love your aspect on life and I am so glad I found your books a few years ago. I was really in a rut and you helped A LOT. I have four children and have been a stay at home mom for about half the time. We would all love to live in a world where people don't judge us but we don't. I used to actually go to the bank or shopping in pjs, not even showering before I left the house because "I didn't have time". I would shower at nap time or whenever I could squeeze it in. At first I dressed my children well at all times but my laziness started seeping into what they wore as well. Store clerks were not nice to me. I was even followed around at ross! But most importantly I started to notice I was not a nice person anymore, because I was always on the defense due to people not treating me well. I'm still working on it but now I at least make it a point to put on some lipstick and wear some jeans and fix my hair, and I'm back to feeling a little more carefree and happy.

I love this. I have 5 children and i am pregnant with number 6. My clothes go through a lot. I try to have clothes that can go from not pregnant to pregnant to nursing to pregnant again. lol But I know I feel better when I am dressed for the day. just jeans and a shirt, a little make up and usually a top knot. I do sometimes stay in yoga pants, but this is a rare occasion. Thank you for always reminding us that the way we present ourselves matters!

Thanks to you I take so much more pride in mine and my children’s appearance. It has made life so much more savorable. 🌸

A person who goes out in sweats and winds up in a place where everyone is dressed up is going to feel uncomfortable. A person who is wearing a cocktail dress and say has to stop off at the store where everyone is wearing exercise clothes and sweats is going to feel uncomfortable as well. I know when I go out I feel better if I am dressed appropriately for the situation. I find it difficult to believe that others really don't. It bothers me when people complain and judge others for judging others. We ALL judge others. That is how we determine who our friends are, who we can trust, who will be good for us in our lives, etc. As you said Jennifer, it's not about judging others it's about testing to see if looking our best makes a difference in our lives. I have found that it does. It's also not about dressing fancy or expensively or spending money to look better than anyone else. It's about presenting ourselves well so we feel good about ourselves and others feel good about us as well. If person doesn't care what others think of them then they don't have anything to worry about.

I could not have said it better and totally agree with the person below. Thank you, that was said beautifully.

I wholeheartedly agree with all you said Jennifer! Amen😀

I love this because what we wear matters for many reasons. If you are not caring about your appearance then what else in life do you not care about? It matters because we should always be showing up for our lives with our best foot forward, happy, confident, and ready to do so!

I always felt this, but didn't realize there was a whole movement that put this into words, including poise & etc. I never understood why this was important to me; I don't judge others, but I tend to have a higher standard for myself. For example, sometimes I feel like rushing to the grocery store first thing in the morning, pjs and all. But I can't bring myself to do it, even when I'm about to, I turn around and make myself look presentable. I realized that it was bc I was raised that way. My mother always looked her best, and would cringe at anyone in the store wearing pjs (and slippers!). Even at home, though not in her finest, she is always presentable. It's a sign of self respect, and also respect for others when out and about. :)

Jennifer, you are right. Off course people should always look presentable. When I look around in our city and see the students from university nicely dressed to the occasion, behaving themselves, talking respectfully there's hope for the future.

This issue goes deeper than I ever thought before. My experience is living in Europe in a little town. There's a positive social pressure among the ladies of the upper crust, you'd never ever go outside your frontdoor (or your bedroom door) without being perfectly groomed. We still visit each other at home, so you have to look presentable always. In our town you can tell very easily who is an educated cosmopolitan urbanite, who's a farmer, who's an inmigrant, who's a gypsy, from the specific way they dress. You'd never wear a pajamas outside, that's what gypsies do at their degraded quarters. You usually aren't conscious of these "social dress codes", you've grown into them from childhood: like wearing neat elegant uniforms everyday at school, observing your mom... The dress and footwear tabus get ingrained into your marrow. I took it for granted: it matched the social differences: dress codes, language, music, tv-channels, shopping areas, they are all determined socially, to the point that we don't have music nor tv in common, we cannot stand other level's tastes. It's so different from the picture you all draw from the US...

Great topic Jennifer. Yes, what you wear matters. You don't need a lot of money to look presentable. That's just an excuse. Having a limited number of clothes such as the 10 item wardrobe or Project 33 helps out. And have clothes that fit. Alterations makes a difference in comfort.

I totally agree with you our society is very relaxed on our way of dressing . It does not surprise me in the least to see women in the grocery store dressed in leggings or what you call work out clothes with flip flops mind you not even tennis shoes , with their hair up in a bun like if they just got up right out of bed. As far as i can remember as a young girl maybe 5 or 6 yrs old i have always been concerned on how i look and what i am wearing . i recall going shopping with my mom NOT in expensive stores but picking out nice dresses for school . She taught me to lay out my clothes for the next day the night before to this day i still do that i feel it saves me time. She taught me to be neat in my appearance . I do not leave my house if i am not showered my hair and makeup is done and i am properly dressed to wherever i am going just do not feel right. I notice this vlog is from a couple of years ago but you do still talk about this subject in your recent Vlogs so that is why i decided to comment. It is a subject that does bother me but i do not know if our world is ready to change. I think everyone is very comfortable and are not willing to change. That is why you also see moms in their PJ 's when they are dropping off their kids at school. Maybe if we can keep talking about it ...Maybe !!!

Hi, Jennifer. Your YT channel popped up in recommendations a while ago, and I clicked on it. It was the video about sloppy people in a restaurant. Yup, this is a lady after my own heart. Then I read the Lessons book. Half way through it internal dialogue: "But I know all this. Yes, so why don't you apply it?" I've been mindful of its' recommendations since. Thank you. The world is getting sloppier by the minute. Reading comments here I learned that jeans are now considered dress-up in some quarters. I live in New York City, so it's not bad as all that. Our answer to jeans is black pants, whether they're summer or winter weight. Black pajama pants are great for taking he dog out first thing in the morning. Throw something on top & out the door - they don't look like pajamas. Newyorkers generally take care of how they present themselves to the world, though occasionally I see younger people going into nearby church in sweat pants, torn t-shirts & flip-flops. It's the weekend so they don't have to look human? As someone already pointed out here, old people dress for church - men in coats & ties, women in nice dresses & even hats, so it's generational. With me it's purely selfish: I like myself more if make the effort to dress appropriately & neatly, hair combed, bit of make-up on. I work from home, so laziness crops up - nobody sees me so why try. Sloppy attire ---> sloppy thinking ---> sloppy speech ----> sloppy life ---> self-distain. When we dress better we act better & feel better about ourselves. Ever hear a loud-mouthed disturbance? Turn around. The person causing it is inevitably a badly groomed & badly dressed slob.

I agree with you. I feel much better when I put some effort into what I'm going to wear. When I go shopping, there is a noticable difference in how others respond to me. At home, there is a better attitude than when I wear my paint splattered yoga pants. It doesn't take loads of extra effort. For me it's just laying out my clothes the night before. My husband calls my 2 or 3 outfits my "uniforms". Yep, I wear them that often!

I take my job and myself more seriously when I dress to be presentable, even though I work alone from home most of the time. And I find others do as well, in particular my family who tends to act as though I'm on social media all day if I'm in sweats. I may show up in exercise clothing if I am on my way to or from exercise or often when I walk to get my daughter from school as we will often do a bit of running on the way back though. I think everyone should be comfortable but appropriate in their dress, keep your body parts covered and your pajamas at home. There are plenty of things to wear that are comfortable and still look appropriate for the occasion.

Love everything about you Jennifer, i myself also believe as you , as you see i was raised this way so i do not see how some people dress and wear pj's in public. But the fact that you have brought it to view is very important to the young generation of folks male and female I love seeing people looking presentable in public it shows they are proud. I am a 67 yr old and am pleasing to the eye and do get compliments on looking so good with hair make-up and my attire, you look wonderful and continue being you . And yes it should matter, if it doesn't then what does?

hello Jennifer, I think you are right, my GrandMa used to say: You have to be always clean and presentable, even when your clothes are not the best quality, because at that time We had limited resources, but that's not an excuse, She used to say always : clothes clean and well ironed.

Just stumbled upon this video. Just wanted to say thank you and I agree. I'm soooo tired of seeing ladies (and some men) walking around in pajama pants! They're shopping at the local grocery store, Target, the mall almost everywhere in pajamas! Have we really gotten to the point as a society that we don't even care if we put on clothes??? Have we gotten so comfortable with dress down day that we have forgotten how to dress up? Somebody PLEASE bring back real clothes! Glad I saw this video thought I was the only one concerned about our lack of dressing these days.

I think it is most important to dress appropriately for the occasion. How you dress says who you are. The same applies to the way you keep the entry to your home; it speaks of who lives inside. There is a proper way to dress for every occasion; I feel better when I get up and apply light makeup and wear something fit for my day ahead. Should I need to go out to the store, I will wear appropriate clothing. If I wore a simple outfit to stay home and read, that will not be the appropriate outfit i will wear to go out to a store to look for a certain item i plan to wear at an upcoming church gathering. The store attendant will immediately perceive what kind of person I am and get an idea of my taste, and direct me to that specific section of the store where i can find the item i may be looking for. We say who we are by the way we present ourselves and the way we interact with others.

I completely agree. Know that believing we have become too casual does not make you a snob. I was raised to respect occasions and I'm trying to pass that tradition to my children. Ignore the negativity.

I now only wear skirts and dresses everyday because I didn't like how trousers looked on my and they didn't feel comfortable or feminine so I just gave them all to charity and I love getting dressed every day and my family have noticed how happy and more confident I am.

Another thought, which I don’t think you mentioned this time, but you do in a previous video, is that dressing appropriately but well is a reflection of respect for yourself, but also for others who see you. It isn’t about what people think, but a showing of respect and dignity.

Absolutely it matters! Not only does dressing presentably show you have respect for yourself, just like good manners, it demonstrates respect for others. When I was growing up, no one ever went out in public without at least clean clothes, combed hair, and a washed face. AND the same standard was applied to children. The idea of going shopping with a child with a dirty fact, tangled hair, and torn, dirty clothes was unheard of.

What a great video luv, so many ideas and insights to consider. I agree, what we wear, how we wear it and where we wear it has such an impact on everything it seemed to me. Living fulltime in an RV I had noticed my dress code had got pretty relaxed we'll say and I realized a tidy-up for myself was needed, especially if I had plans to go outside the rig into the public eyes. I didn't do it for them, I just felt better about myself and whatever errands I had to cover knowing I felt my outfit was promoting my best self. Amazingly uplifting. I enjoy your videos and I think you're a very poised and elegant young lady with lots of helpful info. Keep up the great work. Cheers ! Janis

How timely! I just commented to another youtuber that took the train from Atlanta to NYC that I could remember as a child how train travel was an elegant affair. People dressed up when traveling by plane or train; heck, my mother, grandmother and aunts dressed up to go shopping. Admittedly, times have changed, but like you said, can't we dress appropriately for the occasion. Grocery shopping doesn't require dressing up but neither does it require pajamas. Have you ever thought of giving lectures at high schools!! :-)

I totally agree with you!

Totally agree with you on this topic. Thank you!

Great video, thank you for bringing this to light. Have you seen the Boden website. They do lovely dresses and Breton tops and co-ordinate beautifully. I love the 10 item concept. My staples are white shirt, jeans, trench, black dress, white t shirt , ballet flats. Last year I got some lovely cropped trousers called bistro crops from Boden and wear them with a Breton or white t or blouse.

I love this, thank you for saying this. I hate when I see people walking around all day in exercise clothes, or going to the cafe in bike Lycra! To me it is not appropriate. We should take pride in how our appearance gives an impression to others! I hope to teach this to my children, boys and girls. To dress up to leave the house, wear casual things to play.

Nail on the head as always. I could not agree with you more. Standards are most definitely falling, and not in a good way!

I have been working hard to follow your advice for about the past six months. Little by little I am making improvements. It used to be I wouldn't think twice about wearing yoga pants on a daily basis...now I limit myself to just when I am at home. I hope to throw them away soon ( because I don't actually do yoga!!) I completely agree with everything you have said here, it does matter how you dress. My one obstacle in presenting myself appropriately is pants. I know that sounds crazy...but I am really tall and after two kids I have what some call "a mummy tummy," so jeans are just so constricting and uncomfortable. I just can't seem to find attractive, yet comfortable pants that fit and are long enough!! I will keep trying though;) thanks for the continued inspiration Jennifer:)

The background of your home always looks so beautiful! Please do a home tour!!!

I do follow your thoughts on looking presentable always. Thank you again and I look forward to more videos on this topic. It's so inspiring n interesting. Lots of love

Love this. Thank you! I'm so tired always with babies back to back so I'm always in leggings and sweats. I dream about dressing presentable because appearance says SO MUCH about you. I used to be in management for hotels so I'm used to looking very presentable and I miss it! I know my husband would love to see me dress up more

Raised in the world of music, I was trained and led by example to always present myself well as a form of respect. I have certainly been through phases of not doing so at times. During University, I recognized that the students in the College of Fine Arts were always well dressed. At first I thought I was just seeing a display of artistic students who loved fashion. However, I realized that the music/art/architecture students were immersed in a culture where our professors mattered to us. They were our mentors, people who had put decades into mastering their craft so that they can be great teachers of their art. I was required to dress presentably for my private lessons and for any setting that I may be performing, even a rather informal small gathering. My private instructor would often give mini lectures on the importance of dressing appropriately. Though dressing well for my lessons started as a requirement, it morphed into a habit that said, "I respect you and your dedication to teaching me, and I am ready to learn." Now, as a teacher myself, I know that dressing well for my students says, "I care about the important work of sharing this art with you, and I'm here to do my best." * On a side note - As a child I would begin my lessons with my teacher by bowing to each other - my teacher would say "I am ready to teach," and I would respond, "I am ready to learn." I still look back on that as a way that I was taught to respect my mentors.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

8 жыл бұрын

+Johanna Chastek What a wonderful comment! I'll be sure to include you as comment of the week on a future blog post.

@JohannaChastek

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jennifer!

I kind of see it both ways. As a mom of two small children it's sometimes nice to be able to throw on jeans and a logo tee shirt (not a nice one like you're wearing but a school team one for example) and run to get gas, the bank and grocery and not feel out of place because a lot of people are dressed the same. It was also nice a few years ago when I needed to go to the funeral home and I had just had a baby and did not have any dresses or dress slacks that fit. I wore my nicest pair of jeans and a fancier top and again I didn't feel too out of place because a lot of people were in jeans. But it's a slippery slope! It's easy to get in the jeans or yoga pants and tee shirt groove and it does feel good to put on "appropriate" clothes daily. I knew I had an issue when I wore jeans and a sweater one day and my toddler said "mommy, where are we going?" He was not used to me wearing "regular" clothes unless we were leaving the house to go somewhere.

Thank you! Much needed advice and comments to think about.

We moved to a smaller town a few years ago & I was convinced the first couple of years the dress code was pj bottoms/ sweats/valour track pants, hoodie & Ugg boots/slippers. I mean EVERYONE dressed in a similar manner. People who were better off just wore the name brands. Fortunately that faze died out a couple of years ago! lol Now, I admit, I love my hoodies and a comfy pair of pj bottoms or yoga pants, just not as a "fashion statement" or a "trend". ;-)

Another great video, Jennifer. It is all so true. All it comes down to is a matter of respect, for both yourself and the people around you, whether you know them or not. It has nothing to do with status, money, or impressing people. When my grandmother was young (30s and 40s), they were poor, as were most people. Still, they dressed appropriately ALWAYS! They would have died of shame to go out dressed like people do today. At my son's basketball game recently, I could not believe how many moms showed up in active wear. It was a Saturday morning so they were not heading to or from the gym. You would think they were playing the game, not their kids!