"Why are you so dressed up today?"

nilgiri · 3 months

dressing nice is good but i think it's also really easy to confuse over-dressing (or dressing up) with dressing well. there was one post a few weeks ago where the OP was wearing slacks, dress shirts and a vest and the occasion was running errands; that was a classic case of confusing dressing up with dressing well.

i think dressing well is all about fit, comfort and most importantly the occasion/context. i think you might be straddling the line with chinos, sperrys and OCBD for college where the standard uniform is jeans, flip-flops and sweatshirts. specially if the class is engineering or science where even the professors tend to dress down quite a bit. if many people are asking you why you are so dressed up (as opposed to dressed well) you might have to re-think the context a little bit.

but then again, it might just be that you are breaking from your norm and people are noticing. i hope it's because of this.

StreakyChimp · 3 months

"It's just my humble assault on the commonplace." - Neal Caffrey

whaaamo · 3 months

"I own this building"

danthemanhan · 3 months

6PM....farmers....etc.

keelomg · 3 months

"I'm bout to pimp some hoes"

makanimike · 3 months

Get a foreign accent.
Say an entirely surreal sentence.
????
Profit.

mtthwhdl · 3 months

I usually answer with, "I just felt like looking nice this morning."

sweaterguy94 · 3 months

Typically, I answer with "Because it's [day of the week]," and many are okay with that answer.

vermicin · 3 months

The question you put in the title, and the one you put in the text, are two VERY different questions:

"Why are you so dressed up today?" -- You are potentially dressed above the situation. It doesn't sound like you were being too crazy unless you're at an extremely liberal school, but sometimes in school, anything besides jeans+t-shirt is "dressed up." You have to be careful, though. Sometimes this is a gentle hint that you're dressing up too much. That is, you're the guy showing up in a formal tuxedo at a pool party. You have to dress to the situation, or maybe a tiny bit above it. We all remember that douche bag from college who would constantly overdress. It didn't come off as hip or neat or caring about appearances, it came off as pretentious and uptight. Without knowing the rest of the context, it's impossible to tell what you were doing, or if the person just didn't know how to give a compliment

"Why are you dressed so nicely?" -- This is a compliment. Just give some non-douchy reason (that is, don't make them feel like a slob, or give off the "bitch, i know it!" vibe). "Got this new item of clothing," "it's laundry day," "I just felt like getting my swagger on," "i have a date later," whatever. Learn to take the compliment without being annoying. The fact they noticed means that they pay attention to your clothes.

sockpupppet · 3 months

People who recognize you will say things like this when they they see a sudden change in that direction. Happened to me when I started wearing collared shirts (not tucked in or anything) after being a strict tshirt guy my whole life.

grailer · 3 months

Why are you wearing a tux? It's after six. What am I, a farmer?

Aiconic · 3 months

"The difference between you and me, I make this look good"

No I dont actually say this.

Ageofhoag · 3 months

IT'S MONDAY!

Space_Pirate · 3 months

http://dappered.com/2012/01/how-to-take-a-compliment-or-two/

Slep · 3 months

Next time someone asks you, do this.

timmfa · 3 months

You're probably breaking the social norms by not dressing like a slob. Keep it up!

As for responding, just smile and shrug like you did. Be confident, people are noticing how good you look!

Willravel · 3 months

What's your go to answer for that question?

"Thank you."

Captainsaicin · 3 months

If it is any consolation, when you graduate and get older the question turns into "are you gay?" ಠ_ಠ

unsexmenow · 3 months

"I felt like it"

or, when appropriate...

"I got this new <<item of clothing>> and wanted to try it out. What do you think?"

ChemicalEnginerd · 3 months

"You look good, you feel good!"

duhumshnuh · 3 months

"Cause I knew I'd be seeing you today"

qabsteak · 3 months

"I feel like I know her, but sometimes my arms bend back." That usually will do the trick.

sjgbfs · 3 months

"Trying to impress you. Wanna do coffee, or straight to my place?"

Works all the time 60% of the time.

Ledatru · 3 months

Dress appropriately for the occasion. Class is a casual environment. Dressing too formally for a casual event is like showing up to a wedding in jeans and a polo- it shows that you're not aware of the social norms. Granted, it's not as offensive as disrespecting the union of two families, but it shows lack of awareness and at worst makes you look pretentious. "I dress better than you, therefore I am better than you. You slob."

meatlikeproduct · 3 months

I get it all the time. It was pretty annoying at work for a while. "Gotta man up"

diewhitegirls · 3 months

In my head, I would love to ask why people decided to dress in their fucking pajamas, but I've thankfully never been asked this before.

fun_young_man · 3 months

No, normal wear in my office is nicer suits or at least OCBDs and a blazer.

[deleted] · 3 months

no one ever says this to me

carrotplanter · 3 months

I come to work wearing this and I get asked this question every single day for some reason. It's not even that dressy at all, right? Well, I mostly just smile instead of explaining myself whenever I get asked that question.

I've found that there are two types of people who will ask you that question. The first type are those who are genuinely impressed and fascinated by the fact that you put in the effort to dress nicely. The second type are those who are secretly jealous and will never be able to understand your motivations to dressing like a grownup anyway; that's why they always ask and try to make fun of you in the first place.

zitsel · 3 months

"I knew you were going to be here and I wanted to look nice for you.", is my standard response to the fairer sex. I don't get questioned very often as I wear jacket/suit more often than not.

liarliarplants4hire · 3 months

I'd rather be in a tux at a clam bake, than at a wedding in a wife-beater... Though, I've also found that it's best to be around only 1 standard deviation from the average in most situations... More than that, and people start looking at you funny, regardless of whether above or below.

bwv543 · 3 months

"Since when does a man need a reason to look good?"

ChuchDTF · 3 months

"I'm trying to impress my friends."

iseeyoutroll · 3 months

"Because 'dress like a bag of shit' day was yesterday."

No, but seriously, just give them a stupid grin and shrug, and be on your way. I, too, am in college, and wear the likes of shawl collar cardigans and wingtip boots. On some days, literally scores of people will stare at me on my way to some classes, and I accredit that largely to just looking different. There's something "weird" about a college guy who puts effort into what he wears, especially when every frat bro in his dad's navy blazer and a backwards baseball cap can get laid on the weekend.

Also, I think this is a perfect example of some people assuming that you think you're better than them because you're dressed better. You'll turn some heads, sure, but not always in a good way; there will always be one or two people who just think you're trying to "outdo" everyone else. The accusatory "Why do you look so good?" question is sometimes, but not always, posed because people realize that you're showing them up, whether or not that was your intention.

AlmostForever · 3 months

Why the hell do you tuck your shirt in when going to class? That's prob the sole reason you got questioned for overdressing. Either that or your shirt looks too formal. Otherwise your outfit is pretty standard in college so I'm not sure why anyone would ask you that unless your school is a lot more laid-back than mine.

Also make sure to leave the top button unbuttoned if you're not doing that already b/c it makes you look even nerdier/more out of place.

bly2425 · 3 months

I usually say "I have ladies to impress."

Exedous · 3 months

Yeah, if you're in high school you will get that a lot.

heteroptera · 3 months

As I sit here in my chinos, sperrys, and OCBD about to go to school

powerspank · 3 months

"The suit needed to get some air, you know?"

mrReeho · 3 months

Because it makes me comfortable

Phantoom · 3 months

"We can't all look like idiots" usually shuts them up.

hrgilbert · 3 months

I hate it when people say that — it just makes me feel awkward. I usually just smile and say "I don't know," or "no reason," or "just one of those days," or what have you.

justinw05 · 3 months

Someone on MFA said it best...

"What do you call an adult male that dresses nicely and cares about they way he looks? Oh... yeah... A grownup!"

And if that's too snarky for you, I like to respond to that question with "Why AREN'T you dressed up today?"

All_the_rage · 3 months

Soon, you'll get people that start questioning your specific style. Like why did you wear that with that? Or, do you think those match? Or, why did you get those shoes? It really means, why are you making me look bad, I don't like it.

AlGoreVidalSassoon · 3 months

"I don't know. I always dress like this."

"This is just how I like to dress."

Something along those lines.

It's been a while since college but honestly I would have thought you were dressed up too with the outfit you described when I was in college. Everyone in class it was all jeans, sweatpants, hoodies, etc. I'm sure it differs from college to college.

ximacx74 · 3 months

I say, I like looking good.

AmericanRonin · 3 months

"I have class"

Monocle is optional.

Ohai2you · 3 months

Raw denim, assorted button downs, hoodie/cardigan/sweater, Peacoat.

Gotta be more casual bro.

Damaband41 · 3 months

Why aren't you?

bugseverywhere · 3 months

You people take your lives way too seriously.

SJones37 · 3 months

"I dress like this everyday" or "This is just casual wear"

jdbee · 3 months

"Just being a grown-up."

PurpleLean · 3 months

"I'm not."

This is usually what I say, to give a subtle "I look better than you right now" answer. Unless its a compliment from a lady of course, but more often than not its just some prick trying to put me on the spot. That being said, I don't wear dress shirts, chinos, and aldens when I run down to the store.

Garretttyyy · 3 months

Its after 6 o'clock. What am I? A cave man?

mauibuakawi · 3 months

"I had an interview"

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