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.
so true, i also get the “why are you so dressed up question” all the time, i do it because i like to, i enjoy it, and it in general makes me feel better for the day ahead. To the people that say it gets rid of the class distinction between those who can afford designer labels and those who can’t, i say designer labels aren’t the only thing that can look good, i will openly say i buy most of my things second hand or from walmart or other lower priced places and always come out looking good or as good as anyone who purchases a similar item from a brand name or designer store.
“dressed up” is not synonymous with “looking good”. You can look cute and fabulous without wearing clothes that are inappropriate to a situation. I don’t dress up for school, but that doesn’t mean I don’t put effort into my appearance. It’s not called dressing up when you’re wearing your favorite boots, dark wash jeans, a blazer with a pretty cami and a scarf, which is a perfectly non dressed up yet cute option for school.
U SHOULD HAV THE mobile thing wear u get updates send to u or do u jst u no……..
anyway i always think i go ott some times but thats mi
i luv mi style but lately iv seteled for the converse with skinny jeans and baggy to dnt know y
I totally agree with every reason you’ve named! Somethimes i’m getting some weird looks and comments from some of my friends, my family, sometimes my boyfriend about my dressing up so offten, but I just tell them that i like it very much, and that i don’t need a special ocation to do that, or that every day is special for me in some way =)
Hey !
This post was so great ! I’m really happy to see that i’m not the only one who get asked that same boring question about my look when i go to school.
But I was wondering, I know you were talking a lot about college and everything but I wanted to know how you feel about dressing up in High School (I’m a Sophomore). I love wearing heels and dresses and blazers but sometimes i really feel out of place ! In your opinion Zephyr, is it too much to dress up in high school ?
This makes me soooooo mad. I get asked this almost every day. Especailly when I was still in college. Now that I work a full-time corporate job, my co-workers count down the days till casual Friday. It just makes me laugh.
I grew up in Chicago where people usually dress up for the most part. Now I live in Minnesota where everyone wears jeans and a sweatshirt. It bothers me so much! Errrr! Good to see others have the smae feelings!
To: awkward grinnellian
Um, last time I checked you do not have to spend a lot of money on clothes to look good.
Also, you ARE going to college to expand your mind and not your wardrobe but I would hope that you have a hobby on the side! Some people like to play sports in their free time, others like to draw. Well, some people like me care about fashion.
It’s really not that hard to comprehend…
Thank you so much for writing this article! When I look good, I feel so much better about myself. My whole day can be impacted. I love this list, I’m totally saving it on my computer!
BTW i really understand awkward grinnellian, i read somewhere ( i do not reamember where:( ) a statement saying that noone should buy a 10.000 $ bag, when a third of the world population is starving.
I am not saying that grinnellian is starving, but since i have gone to private school without being rich. I know, its totally the Jenny Humpfrey story, except in my case it broke my self confidence.
However i LOVE dressing up and it can be done at a reallatively low budget, but it is not worth waisted self confidence, money problems or any of that sort.
And I understand that most fashion lovers are really smart, it is a buisness always changing, but i have also read that more young people in America wants to be beautiful than being smart. Have we gone too far, when we all want to be dumb blonds? ( no offense, Marilyn Monroe was actually very smart)
I completely agree! I dress up anytime I leave the house. For me, it gives me the energy to get out and do things instead of being sluggish all day long. Plus, it really doesn’t take much longer to throw on a dress and some accessories than it does to put on sweats and a sweatshirt. There’s no excuse!
ummm Carrie Bradshaw may not approve of my UGG boots but Sarah Jessica Parker certainly does !
OK LADIES and you boys out there,
firstly, dressing up doesn’t have to be for any one but YOU. I LOVE dressing up, not because i like to SHOW people i am dressing up, but because, hell, as cliche as it sounds it makes me feel good. Taking as little as 30 mintues after a good shower every morning just to “prim” myself, wear good clothes makes me leave that front door feeling like a million bucks, and that translates into how my day begins and how I feel.
So, with me feeling fabulous, I am consequently more confident, do a better job, and I KNOOOOW people are gona probably squirm at the idea of this, but its true ” Good looking people are treated better” ok it doesn’t even have to do with good looks, but the fact that some one takes care of themseves reflects a lot on the person.
and hey, like the article mentions, you never know if Prince charming may bump into you on your way back from class.!
Call me an idealist/romantic, ITS TRUE!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you… I hate when people ask me that… It’s like maybe I’m dressed up because I don’t own any uncute and ugly clothes… smh
Great post 🙂
Another reason: this is kind of shallow, but think about which girl the guys are going to notice. Is it the girl who looks exactly like everyone else? Or the girl whose outfit makes her stand out visually because of its different colors and styles, and shows off her, ahem, “assets” in a way that sweats never will?
And that attention could lead to more confidence, which leads to more fabulous outfits – everybody wins!
Ah Zephyr, you are really too wonderful! Thank you for the mention 🙂
I love the reason about “trying out looks” so you can make fashion faux-pas. It’s not about getting it right every time. It’s about being fearless.
And, of course, it’s about looking good juuuust in case you see that someone you’d want to impress. Why dress normally when you can always dress fabulously?
Yahoo! That was very motivational, made me wanna dress up and go out right away))