A few weeks ago, a reader left a comment that made me think about the things we wear every day and why we wear them. She was asking for advice on what to do when people ask “why are YOU so dressed up?” As if wearing something cute that makes you feel good is a “strange” thing to do!
That comment got me thinking about dressing up and what that means.
Since when did it become an unusual thing to put effort into what you wear and have fun with fashion? Since when is anyone not wearing sweatpants and a hoodie breaking unwritten social rules? Why should “dressing up” be reserved for special occasions only?
I was immediately inspired to create this list. I firmly believe in “dressing up” every day of your life, and I think you should too!
So why dress up? Here are 25 good reasons.
1. Because life’s too short to blend in. Don’t settle for average.
2. Because you’re only young once. You’re way more gorgeous than you know and have a fabulous body you’ll one day look back on and wish you had! Take advantage now and show off how fabulous you can be.
3. Because fashion is a method of self expression. What are you trying to say?
4. Because you never know who you’ll run into. Brad Pitt at the grocery store? Hey, stranger things have happened.
5. Because it obviously annoys closed-minded people (like the guy who asks why YOU are so dressed up). The fact that it annoys them so much is all the more reason to keep doing it. They don’t get to control YOU.
6. Because you never know, there’s always a chance you could get snapped by The Sartorialist!
7. Because you deserve to look your best at all times if you want to.
8. Because you’ll never improve your sense of style if your default look is “I give up”. Yes, that was a Seinfeld reference. But it’s true! If fashion is important to you, make it a priority in your life.
9. Because dressing up helps you weed out friends who don’t love you for you. If they have a problem with the way you dress, they’re not the kind of friends you want around.
10. Because cute clothes and accessories are a great conversation starter. Wear something fabulous and people will ask you where you got it.
11. Because parties aren’t the only time to celebrate.
12. Because that fabulous party dress in your closet cost too much to only be worn once. Remember cost per wear?
13. Because it’s fun and can boost your mood!
14. Because even if you live in an “unstylish” city and are scared to dress up, cities don’t become stylish without someone going first. I know it sounds cheesy, but be the change you want to see in the world. Everyone else can follow your fabulous lead.
15. Because dressing up helps you make fashion mistakes and get past them. Mistakes happen to everyone and that’s how you learn what not to do – get them out of the way now!
16. Because it’s a test of your confidence. Dressing unconventionally forces you to develop the self-assurance necessary to stand out from everyone else.
17. Because fashion is one of the rare instances where art comes alive. What artistic statement do you want to make?
18. Because if you’ve got it (great style, killer confidence, amazing legs), it’s just wrong not to flaunt it.
19. Because someday when you have a 9-5 corporate job and are required to wear business suits, you’re going to miss the freedom of dress you had in college. Experiment now! There’s no better time.
20. Because glamour isn’t only reserved for the rich and famous, even though maybe they’d like you to believe it is.
21. Because if conspiracy theorists are to be believed, the world might end any day now. Don’t spend your theoretical final days in sweats.
22. Because Carrie Bradshaw would not approve of your sweatpants and UGG boots. You can do better than that. And deep down, you know I’m right.
23. Because dressing well means you don’t have to do your hair at all – you’ll have that ultra fabulous, slightly disheveled Kate Moss look.
24. Because nothing beats the rush you feel when you look in the mirror and LOVE what you see.
25. Because you want to. That’s the only reason that matters.
Why do YOU dress up?
What do you think? Do you make an effort to dress up every day? What inspires you to put effort into your look? Tell me what you think by leaving a comment.
This is the story of my entire life, I’m so sick of “all dressed up no place to go” comments everywhere I go for wearing a pencil skirt and a nice blouse. Gave me a lot of confidence, thanks.
Never too late to comment! Fantastic article, first view on this website but certainly not the last! Keep up the good work 🙂 x
This is an amazing post! Everyone deserves to look and feel fab every day of the week! 🙂 xxx
If fashion is art, then there can be no mistakes in fashion.
If I want to express myself with uggs and sweat pants, then I should be able to without being called “unstylish”
It is my personal choice and personal style.
The same goes for dressing up.
Art isn’t done for other people as much as it is done for yourself.
If you wear things to impress others, you aren’t being an artist, you’re being a conformer.
Thank you so much for this post!! I keep coming back to re-read it from time to time… I’ve always dressed sort of business casual – jeans, blouse, and a nice jacket – but lately I’ve been wanting to start wearing skirts and vintage-inspired outfits (mostly thrift finds, name brands for cheap!). I’m horribly afraid of standing out – my field is in IT, so I already stand out. But I love what you said about “be the change you want to see” – it always makes my day to see somebody dressed up! Even if they only own four nice, coordinated outfits – I dunno, I just love the nostalgia of it. I guess I should follow my own advice. 🙂
in high school i was always so worried about how to dress and how not to stand out too much. it wasn’t necessarily to “fit in” with anybody, but to stay where i was. even though i was content, it was still a stressful time in my life. i was also not into clothing. so i had basic graphic tees and whatever jeans. i felt embarrassed about many clothing pieces. ever since college though, i’d been experimenting and being in a new environment helped me calm down and let myself wear whatever i felt like, even if they were unfashionable or pretty gross and baggy. i also started developing an interest for anything lolita (a japanese street fashion), victorian, 19th century-ish, vintage, retro and feminine/romantic clothes made of soft materials like chiffon and lace. i started buying a lot more of my own clothes. the problem was, i wasn’t always wearing them. i told myself that i would save them for when “i grew older/ had a nice job where my dress shirts and blouses would be put to good use.” and since last year i started a new relationship with someone that i really, truly believe is the one, and there were times when i did think i was letting myself go because things were getting too comfortable.. so a few months ago i decided that i would start dressing up more and actually wear my pretty skirts and stockings to school. it may not seem appropriate, but i don’t wear blacks at all. i like that dolly look that’s popular in asia. so, my definition of dressing up may not be what’s fashionable or high end for every day life, but what i mean is actually wearing nice things. i agree with many of you, a lot of college students tend to dress in jeans and shirts or hoodies all the time.. especially dark colors. it’s tiring for me to see and i feel good about myself when i dress up in a crowd of people that all have the same color palette. personally though, i feel even better when i meet my boyfriend on those days that i dress up, and he tells me that i look great. and sure, it may seem kinda rude if he’s only saying it on those days, but i guess if all my days were great, then i wouldn’t feel like they were special and take them for granted again.
i love dressing up.
i love dressing up and i love nice and stylish staff.
i just love this. Thank u very much
I don’t dress up. It’s a waste of time I could be spending on important things. Like reading or listening to music. I’m all about comfort. And if jeans and tee shirts are what’s comfy for me then that’s what I’m going to wear. I dnt look good in anything else. Life is too short to not be comfy. I also don’t need all the unwanted attention from people, nor am I worried about running into anyone important. I live in a podunk town. Lol
I do like to look nice, I just have such a hard time finding things I can afford.. I don’t spend more than like 7 bucks on a shirt, 11 on jeans, or 15 on shoes… I dont make much, and I’ve always been more about quantity than quality, like more shirts for cheap rather than that one shirt i really liked for 20 bucks.
I think that it is very fun to dress up and go throughout the day feeling good about what i had decided to wear. Most days i make an effort becuase i like to show off my since of style and that is what i dont see in most people. Putting my ideas out into the world feels good. The thing that inspires me to dress up is how i am feeling emotionally. That could be romantic, therefore i wear something alittle more daring and bold. Other days i may feel shy and decide to wear something soft and comfortable. The thing i try to do everyday is keeping my hair looking nice and when needed, putting on make up. Adding fun to the day doesnt seem to hurt anyone and if it makes me feel better and happier then why not.
I experince this all the time at school! I’m a senior in high school and dress WAY differently than everyone else and get this question all the time!!
Amen!
Because psychology studies have shown that when you dress better you’ll be more attentive in class and do better on tests than you would have had you worn sweats. Sweats pants are meant for lounging and when you wear them to class your brain is put into a lounging type of mode and doesn’t retain as much info, and isn’t able to remember as much as it could.
So dress up because it will help you do better in class.
I love this article!! I dress nice all the time and people ask why, so I tell them because i want to! This article is exactly what I needed! In sixth grade we had a costume day at school & everybody else dressed like celebrities or football players (w/ face paint & jerseys ((horrendous right?)) and I dressed like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. My english teacher called me out in front of the class and asked if i was going to a wedding or something, and i said “No! Im dressed for costume day….”
Oh well, Audrey would have approved! 😉
-Sarah