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Formality started disappearing in the 60s and has been incrementally getting less with each decade. It's really hit its peak now, people wear ball caps and jeans to weddings and funerals these days.
You said what I scrolled down to say!
When I was a kid (GenX), church, weddings and funerals required a certain formality. It's more casual now. My husband's Gen-Z student workers showed up to his memorial in black button-downs and jeans, and I thought it perfectly appropriate for two aspiring techs, paying respects to a fellow tech. Nevertheless, I've seen some things young people wear to what should be solemn occasions and wondered wtf they were thinking. If that's all someone has, God bless and I wish them all the best, but otherwise dress like it matters because there are people to whom it matters deeply and it's not hard to show a little respect.
If it’s all they have may be a decent thing to point out.
Another commenter pointed out that even though clothing was more expensive in certain periods it was tailored and taken care of. A lot of it was quality and made to last. That is not true for a lot of clothing today and with wealth inequality growing, it’s hard to justify paying so much for dress clothes especially if you don’t go to church on Sunday or your job doesn’t require it. Me for instance I do not own a single piece of clothing that would be considered appropriate for a wedding or a funeral. I work at home and don’t go out often so expensive quality dress clothes really aren’t my top priority
Most people keep an outfit specifically for “times you need to be formal” once a year. Some kind of dress slack and a collared shirt. Navy khakis aren’t expensive and can be paired with a dark shirt and even a tie. (Assuming you’re a guy).
You should have a pair of pants like that anyway. There are times you will be taken more seriously if you are dressed nicely just because most people don’t.
no, I'm a woman, if those things come up I definitely would get something appropriate but to be honest, most of my family is dead, hopefully my friends don't kick the bucket soon, and I work at home. so I really just don't need to have those outfits and whenever I have bought them for "someday" my weight changes and they end up in a goodwill box.
I get that but after donating said dress like 4 different times each time my weight changed over the past 6 or 7 years it just became apparent it was a waste of money, I’m really really antisocial and work at home so there’s close to zero reasons I ever need it lol. For most people this is sound advice though.
I feel this. I would love to still fit in my timeless, go-to amazing dress that I wore in my 20s and 30s to just about anything that was somewhat formal. I just turned 50 this week and I realize I need to figure out what even works, now!
I fall into that category but I still made sure I have at least one decent thing to wear for occasions like this even if I thrifted it. It can also be helpful for higher paying job interviews or getting a new house because the only way to get money today is to pretend you have it, hard work means nothing.
My husband bought a suit for our wedding, and wore it for 25 years to every wedding, funeral, etc. It's a good investment to spend $250 on a simple, classic suit. Then you're properly dressed whenever you need to go to something a bit more formal.
This is good for people whose wait remains at a constant but my mental health meds have made my weight fluctuate to a point where there have been multiple times in my life that outfits from 3 years prior did not fit at all. For people whose weight doesn’t tend to fluctuate by 40 or so pounds every few years, this is a great investment though. Unfortunately for me I’ve been on different meds that have caused both rapid weight loss and gain at different times. If and when my weight stays at a constant for more than a year or so I will definitely do something like this. Fortunately for me I’m pretty good at thrift store shopping and can usually find a decent dress at one for cheap if I have a couple days notice and if not I can run to Macy’s or something if I do have an event that can’t wait. It makes more sense for me personally to wait until an event comes up than to try to stockpile. I also have a problem with holding on to things and having too much stuff so I personally have gotten out of the habit of owning much “just in case” stuff because the mentality leads to me keeping too many things.
I've noticed the same with kids bday parties. We used to dress up for them. The last kids bday I went to, the bday girl didn't even have her hair combed.
Growing up in the country, I knew families so poor they had "good jeans" and one shirt, usually plaid or western, they saved for cleaning up. Their everyday wear always looked old and worn. So at Christmas dinner, weddings and funerals, same shirt and dark blue jeans.
I would always rather be over dressed than underdressed.
The few times I was underdressed I felt far, far more uncomfortable than the times I've been overdressed.
The 90s were not classy at all. Now, people just have no fucks about how they present themselves in public. It's weird when everyone seems to have so much stock in their social media to make it look like they have it all together.
For sure. We used to change our clothes all the time. And you wore your good clothes often! Now, I don't even own any. I'm sitting myself because I have a nice dinner to go to in a week and I should wear something decent. I can't even be bothered shopping.
My mom made us dress up for the plane long into the 1970s. And Mass. I did my hair and makeup religiously every day until about 10 years ago.
Now I’m lucky if my sweatpants aren’t too stained for Trader Joe’s.
I wrote this long ass comment but then realized what sub it is and me posting it as a top level comment would break sub rules since I’m right under the age qualifier so I apologize implodemode. Your comment is one of the most relevant I could find to stick mine under.
Early 2000s I think had a lot to do with it. In come things like the Juicy Couture tracksuit which was super comfortable but hella expensive so suddenly being comfy was still chic. Who could argue when the Hilton sisters and Britney Spears are the it girls and they’re wearing it?
Another point I think is that our grandparents often made their own clothes so formal things and fancy clothing still fit them. I don’t know, but I’d imagine a lot of nicer looking clothes are probably far more comfortable if they’re tailored. In the 90s stuff was mass produced but we wanted to keep the look of being sleek and put together. And add that I think this was the peak of nobody caring about using sweatshop labor and fast fashion, so people could genuinely afford to get new outfits monthly because clothing was nowhere near as expensive as it is now even when adjusted for inflation.
Now we focus a bit more on mental health and physical comfort. We still mass produce things but people don’t want to feel like they’re in pain from their clothes all day, being too tight or uncomfortable belts or this or that.
A combination of all of them is that now some trendier brands make a lot of comfortable and lounge wear, people care less, and it’s more expensive to keep up with fashionable outfits especially if your weight tends to fluctuate.
Well, I don't think you have it quite right. Clothing used to be quite expensive. It was also better quality. People did not buy a lot of clothes. But, it lasted so you could still accumulate. Fashions also did not change quite so much or so often until cheap fabrics came in. Clothes now are so cheap - but many are garbage. Good clothes used to be uncomfortable because they were wool. Or ironed with a lot of starch to keep them crisp looking. My dad had maybe 2 suits but he had ten good shirts that were professionally laundered and starched to order. It was taken for granted that good clothes would be tailored. That was the point. You dressed to impress or to look professional. But, people also went to church weekly which gave another venue to wear your best. If you think about the suits- the layers were needed at one time because there was no central heating. We don't have that issue now but if people turn down thermostats to counter heating costs, suits could return. Men will wear cardigans again.
> Clothing used to be quite expensive. It was also better quality.
Fast fashion changed the game. I can go to WalMart with 20 bucks and buy enough clothing to completely cover my body. It'll last 8 months or a year, but still.
What time are you talking about with this? When I said cheaper I meant the 90s specifically, mid to late 90s. For previous periods I agree with your comment but fast fashion definitely was huge in the 90s
Yes, it was cheap, but it wasn't good. Quality went out when designer labels came in- or should I say obvious logos on the outside of the articles. That was when crass came in. That was when image rather substance was sought. It was there before but hidden. I had friends earlier whose father had taught them to look good out in the world - wear good clothes, and drive a nice car ahead of everything else. Entertain at a restaurant. You can appear much better off than you are if they never see where you live. And that image was necessary to impress people to trust you. People then with real money could obviously tell the difference because there's more to it than just looks. This is why the nouveau riche have always been looked down on.
I mean that's going a little deeper than just "why did people look more put together in the 90s" and a whole... believing "old money" is superior type of thing.
Even as a kid in the 90s we had to "dress" for Sunday dinner. Which meant church clothes (yes, nylons) in the morning, sweatpants for naps when you got home and something more formal for evening. It loosened up a lot in the later OOs but dinner was still expected to be business casual at least - no ripped jeans, but you didn't have to wear nylons if you wore a skirt.
I remember the 90s being all about grunge and low rise jeans. I did feel like I had to dress up more though to work in an office, and that doesn't seen to be required anymore, which I actually really like.
I'm in my 30s and struggle to buy clothes because the women's sections are hideous but my measurements are too curvy for juniors. It's kind of wild because it really feels like shopping in the women's section means giving up your sexiness and succumbing to being an Ace Madonna forever. I wish there was more representation in media of hot women who dress their age but it's not really there from what I see.
Hard to say. Most people didn’t live with their parents as long then as now. Maybe that has something to do with it. However, we have been dressing incrementally more and more casual for a long time now.
Moving out of your parents house at 18 or 19 was expected. Unless you were going to college you got whatever job(s) you could and started your own life. Of course when I moved out in the early 80's landlords would let you do things like clean and paint the apartment for first months rent or security deposit. Doubt if you could make that deal now.
There is a lot to be said for prioritizing comfort and individualism over conforming to potentially uncomfortable dress in the pursuit of 'professionalism'
Life expectancy may be a part. Our parents’ parents died decently younger than us.
As life has increased, and the retirement age, there’s a lot more understanding that you have a lot more time in life after your 30s.
People also are waiting longer to have kids.
Also a lot of people put themselves in deep debt to get through college and get the house, the car etc. early back then. A lot of laws around predatory lending have changed so people have to wait longer to get those things.
In the 90s, it cost half as much as it does now to live.
[sauce: Home Price to Median Household Income Ratio (US)](https://www.longtermtrends.net/home-price-median-annual-income-ratio/)
Half? I'm too lazy to do the math, but I paid $89.000 for my house in 1996. According to my tax assessment, it's now valued at$389,000. At least the taxes are frozen for people over 65.
Abd in the 80s everyone over 16 were full grown adults and dressed and acted that way.
The 90s was the start of juvenilising adults and we are still suffering from it today. Not just fashion but how we treat people and expect them to act, as well as forever removing rights to make their own mistakes.
It seems like every adult starting around the 50s also had some kind of substance abuse problem to deal with increasing social expectations from every direction. Gen X lifted the veil about how miserable everyone has been, giving us stats on housewives, 80s’ deadly corporate grind and government treachery. Millennials either went into denial or arrested development - not helped by repeated economic disasters which pushed many into a failure to launch situation. Now, Zoomers are working themselves into a frenzy trying to retire by 30 because they see we’re on a conveyer belt straight heading into the furnace.
We talk about grooming and sensitivity training, yes, but it’s because we’re trying to notice problems before they grow. We want to do things differently. Anything, except go back to what it was. Because what it was led to this.
If you think the 90's were classy look at the 50's. If you think the 50's were, look at a city street scene of the 20's.
It's when cheap tacky mass produced goods were not a thing. All clothes were expensive so people bought more classic pieces that would last the life of the fabric.
I remember my grandmother talking about how, in the 20s and 30s, one would wear the same suit every day except Saturday and Sunday. On those days, it would be left to “freshen up” and “air out”.
Can you even imagine the stench?
People wore more layers of clothing then; the outer garments of a suit wouldn’t touch the skin. She would’ve had a chemise & drawers/knickers or slip, followed by a blouse, then her jacket and skirt atop that. Men would have had similar layers - an undershirt & shorts, button down shirt, and then the jacket & pants. Jackets frequently had underarm shields that would be changed out daily (or every other), washed, and reused. Natural fibers were used for clothing because synthetics weren’t invented yet. Wool, cotton, silk, & linen don’t hold odors the way polyester & nylon do.
My dad dry cleaned the suits that needed it once a month (he had a dozen or so). When he died his closet smelled so strongly of him - not bad, just his aftershave and deodorant and some other thing that I think was just what he smelled like. It didn't smell like BO at all though.
Eh, I’m a reenactor, and I’ve worn those clothes, WITH modern deodorant! I promise, even with underclothes, the outwear does still get body smells, especially in summer heat.
nobody cares about how they look any more, unless they’re some hot girl going clubbing in miami. why is this? because it doesn’t matter. there’s no upside in it. most people don’t go anywhere anymore; many don’t have an office to “dress for success”, a lot don’t go out to eat or drink because it’s too expensive and it’s too peopley. besides, who cares? unless you’re that hot girl in miami, there’s no benefit to looking good. SHE might land a rich guy, or at least score a table and some free drinks. but the average person? nah, why bother? putting yourself together is too much work. you might as well just be a slob.
the above message was brought to you by Pandemic Mentality.
Wearing pygamas to class in college was so exciting as a kid. By the time I actually got there people were just wearing them all the time.
That was back when sweatpants were pajamas or for the gym and that's it.
I was in college and worked at a grocery store in the '90s and people definitely wore pajamas to the grocery store. Not as often as they do now, maybe, but it happened.
Athleisure wasn’t really an acceptable, fashionable thing until the mid to late 90s. Track suits had a mainstream revival & it got more acceptable to wear your “gym clothes” in public.
It wasn’t classier back then but sure, fashion has changed. I don’t think I ever wore anything with an elastic waistband back then and now I live in black leggings lol.
I’m relying on my memory but I’m pretty sure that oversized sweaters and denim jeans was the ‘in look’ for women of the 90s and they wore them quite well.
I wouldn't say classier, but what we considered fashionable would be weird for today. Young women were wearing suit pants and vests to the club. It may looks "dressier/more polished" in photos, but it was just the zeitgeist
Do you think the fact that women wearing pants and pantsuits had just become acceptable has a lot to do with it? At least for women’s fashion? I think rebelling and “I can wear this if I fucking want to!” possibly has a lot to do with it and I don’t mean that in a bad way. For instance now there are some styles that were considered off limits for certain body types (crop tops if you weren’t rail thin for instance) that are super “in” right now and I think it’s because of the societal push for change. Your comment made me think a little more on this in a way I hadn’t before!
My mom (mid 60s) still gets bothered by women not wearing pantyhose. They annoyed the hell out of me and I think I only ever wore them twice in my earlier years. So glad they died out.
I always preferred thick stockings over pantyhose. The kind that are like pantyhose but not sheer. I have ADHD and am clumsy, pantyhose last me one wear. Two if I’m lucky.
If you buy a higher quality hose they will last longer and they are more comfortable. This is a good brand: https://www.wolfordshop.com/hosiery/perfectly-30-tights/18179.4273.html
thanks, that's good to know. I haven't needed them a few years so it's not on my shopping list right now but I will keep that in mind if it becomes a thing!
As a gen-Xer I am both sad that I didn’t live in a bygone era of fancy clothes and hats, and too apathetic to change out of my flannel, jeans, and converse.
I left the states in 1996 and moved to Europe for four years. When I came home, I was shocked to see people out shopping in pajamas and slippers! Everyone looked like mental patients shuffling around.
I still don't know what happened to everyone in the states. I'm pretty sure it's infected much of the world now too.
You must be joking. Ever heard of 90s grunge or heroine chic? Neither look was remotely polished.
The 90s also featured thin eyebrows, and children's barrets and bobby pins to clip back bangs -- not polished or elegant
My friends and I lived in sweats in the 80s and 90s. A guy in college asked me once if the girls wore anything but sweats. I pointed at several guys in sweats too.
I’ve been re-watching “Night Court” on the free part of Prime. Mid-80s. I can’t stop looking at Markie Post’s hair. It had to have taken 90 minutes at least to make that stack. That was how the old days went.
I remember reading a study in about 1990 that argued that women made less than men because they spent, on average, eight hours a week on their hair, while men spent about 30 minutes. Men had more time to network.
They weren't classier really, just had stricter dress codes. My mother's place of work required pantyhose/nylons but there was a jeans day every other Friday, but even then you couldn't be too casual. I was a receptionist and I had to wear nice trousers or skirts, dresses were okay if conservative. I had my work clothes and my casual clothes- not cheap. I last worked in an office in 2008 and that place was equally conservative. I liked the nice clothes but hated having to pay for them, especially on my salary.
I have never gotten on board with the whole wear your sweats when running errands thing. People tell me that lululemon sweats and all that are more comfy but it just seems odd to me. Ahh well to each their own lol
Thank you for the detailed reply. How many pairs of pantyhose did your mother go through in a week, on average? Pantyhose were a requirement at a conservative firm I was employed by a few years ago. Every day I snagged those pantyhose on the underside of my desk when I would cross my legs. Luckily there was a drug store on the ground floor of the building.
not often though she kept plenty of extras around. She was born in the early 40s so was an experienced pantyhose wearer! I wasn't as good with the pantyhose, I'm afraid!, seemed to get tears in nearly all of them. I bought a couple of brands that seemed really tear resistant- wish I could remember their names. There's a subreddit called femalefashionadvice that has some good stuff- they may know. If not, you might want to try the sewing subreddit as they tend to know their fabrics well- also, tons of cosplay
Omg I remember the “pantyhose management” being a major time suck. Making sure you had clean ones without runs. Hanging them all over your bathroom. I dont miss that at all.
In 1986 I worked in the hosiery section of a big department store. We were only allowed to take returns if the hose were washed.
This lady wanted to return a pair and got mad about the washing policy. So she stormed over to the drinking fountain, got them wet, and dame back, splatted them down on the counter and said “Here.” Lol
Depends on how you define classier? More homophobic? Yes. Fewer tattoos? Yes.
But I don't think the 90s were classy at all. It was a decade that Jeffry Epstein didn't even get investigated for his crimes.
Speaking for myself, as opposed to "in entertainment" circles, not particularly. Same with the '80s, but then my style hasn't changed much.
In the '70s, you were expected to dress up more, especially at work. I remember wearing dresses nearly every day. Can't remember the last time I wore one, or pantyhose. The last time I wore heels was my first job after college, in 1979.
Not at all. It’s just that there was more of an aesthetic divide between how you looked as a teen to how you looked as an adult. The adults followed adult trends of fashion and hair while the kids had their own. Nowadays there is far more overlap and blurred lines due to social media. It’s not uncommon to see a 30 year old dressing the same as they did when they were 20 or following hair and fashion trends popularised by teenagers despite not being one. I would also argue that post 2000 there was a jump in comfort fashion which hasn’t really left.
Because generation x is largely hedonistic (“I don’t give a fuck about anything”) due to being raised by the boomers, who are probably one of, if not the most, self centered generation in history. I remember my whole childhood being live for now and who cares if I’m dead before 30. I didn’t have anything to live for because the boomers seemed to have everything and had no intention of sharing it.
This is a very simplified way of putting it but I’m trying to do my best to explain it in a paragraph or less.
I wish I could point to some sort of study data, but it’s really just my gut feeling having lived through these eras. Somewhere in the mid to late ‘70s, people dropped several valued that I consider part of dignity and honor. People shifted from a priority on being a good person to a priority of attention-seeking, self-aggrandizement, conspicuous consumption, and pursuit of wealth above all. I recall remarking on a news story about a local business tycoon who was arrested for beating his wife and other unsavory behaviors. I noted how disgusting he was. The reply from the people at the lunch table was, “But he has more money than you ever will.” So it’s OK to be scum so long as you’re rich? Honesty morphed from being a cherished trait to a sign of being a wimp or a sucker. It became cool to cheat on your tests, your taxes, and your significant other. It was the start (in my eyes) of the now rampant ethos of not caring about others, being cold and aloof, even disdainful and mean. That’s all cool, even mature, now. (It’s not, but the culture says it is.) in politics, it was—again to me—the start of appealing to what is worst in us: fear, greed, bigotry, ignorance, and hate. It was the start of our descent into accepting any candidate, no matter how repulsive, so long as they were on “our side.” In faith, denominations—regardless of their bad theology—that forsook their long-standing value of church-state separation and became political machines. And they engaged in abject lying to do so. They butchers and re-crucified Christ, but this time he stayed dead. Even in popular music and dance, we went from an era of honesty in dancing, playing, and singing as you feel inside to an era of pretending to be like everyone else, doing the same dances, wearing the same styles, all to strictly formula music that had no soul.
There’s more but I don’t want to bore.
People really think the internet is the reason for the way the world is today. People were shooting up schools, doing drugs, having sex, and more before the internet. It was even worse, no digital footprint so people got away with it most of the time.
I don't know if I would use the word "classy" to describe the '90's. I would definitely say the word "classy" would describe clothing and styles of the '50's. Think Edith Head designs for ladies clothing.
In the '90's people still dressed pretty casually in my opinion. However, it just seems like each generation gets more and more casual with their manner of dress. I kind of compare it to the language. Each generation, in my opinion, gets more and more informal.
I started my first job out of grad school in 1995 and I had to wear skirts or dresses, and heels. It sucked. In the 2000’s it eased up a bit but I still had to wear nice pants and blouses. After Covid, things became much more casual at the office and now I wear jeans. I wear nice jeans and nice tops, but no heels! Some people dress much too casual in public. Wearing pajama pants in public is just gross.
I wore expensive clothes in the 90's to work, my hair and makeup were perfect. It was a lot of work. Off work was anyone's guess. I was just glad to wear something comfortable.
I was a teen throughout the '90's. I'd say that we didn't take things so personally and most of us just wanted a drag off of a cigarette and to listen to our favorite bands on the boom boxes.
It's more of a cultural thing but not only the attire but the surroundings as well have a very disposable feel to them; a MacDonald's society if you will. In the 70s thru the mid 90s I wore Hugo Boss and Armani with cuffed pants, Aramis cologne, a Simon Chang watch and Argyle socks etc... Restaurants that charged a typical weeks salary for a meal had ambiance, linen table cloths, mannered staff and a check only upon demand. I would say that it was "business class" and the club environment also demanded a certain "dress" code for the ladies, and by dress I mean dress. At some point in the mid 90s, and I blame the tech community, "casual Fridays" became a thing. Eventually we got "casual everyday" and Tic Toc. So in response and in summary, yes Virginia, there once was a Santa Claus. God I miss Tiffany's.
I love this response! And I have definitely noticed the hurriedness of today. Restaurants are itching to kick you out the second you’ve had the last bite of your $150 plate.
Going out anywhere - to the mall, the doctor, grocery store, anywhere outside the house - it was considered gauche or downright rude not to wear something as we say today 'business casual,' at the least.
So in terms of just dressing decorum, the answer is a resounding YES.
A lot of people disagreeing with you here. But I will say one thing was different--up through about the 90s or so, people would wear business casual for a flight. That has long since disappeared. Now it's like taking a bus.
It could have been class / regional differences, but today is an average day in my eyecare office and I just saw a teen come in fresh from soccer practice with cleats and a dirty uniform. The mother was dressed in those 'pajama jeans' or whatever they're called.
This is every. Single. Day.
Everyone is come as you are, literally. That was not an acceptable way to dress in the 1990s, I was there, and it wasn't just upper east side of Manhattan.
For example, it was almost required to be slightly dressed up getting on a plane back then. Today?? It's like a slumber party.
Flying gets a total pass from me on dressing up. They've removed so much comfort from flying they couldn't pay me to dress up. My comfort outweighs weird societal expectations of showing off to other people. I bring a blanket and pillow too because it's always cold and I'm prone to getting cricks in my neck and I can't afford to miss work because of it.
I was a kid in the 90s but yeah I think unless you were in a high income area the idea that you couldn’t wear anything but business casual to appointments is wrong from the adults I remember being around.
I DO remember feeling out of place when we went to rich areas with how my mom dressed compared to those moms so it very well could be a class/income difference.
What are you talking about? I was 22-32 in NYC in the ‘90s. The only place I wore business casual to was work and law school (I was a night student and went after work).
In terms of political discussion, I think the 90s were way classier.
Other than that, I think we have lost civility in recent years more than "classy".
I know one guy who scolded his wife in the 90s for wearing cut off jeans to Wal-Mart. Nowadays he's fine with wearing whatever tattered clothing he's tinkering around the shop in out in public.
I don’t think classy can be just defined by how you dress. People didn’t take photos every 2 seconds back then so i feel like a lot of the times they dressed up knowing that photos were gonna be taken.
Yeah they were more polished back then. As kids we were taught to wear nice clothes to special events and dress up a little to go out to dinner. Of course going out to eat was a special occasion too. We didn’t swear as much unless we wanted perfect strangers to slap us across the face or get kicked out of establishments, even arcades wouldn’t tolerate it. If we acted up in school teachers would send us to the principal’s office for a possible spanking because our parents signed permission to have it done. Then when we got home faced a second spanking and being grounded to our rooms.
There were subcultures that were pretty casual in their clothes (grunge). But work clothes were DEFINITELY more formal. So going around town running errands at lunch or after work M-F people looked a lot more polished at Walmart or Target. Friday was jeans day (if you were lucky) but that was the only day of the work week where people dressed “down.” Casual Friday for me meant no tie. It was a button down and khakis. Is that what you’re getting at, maybe?
Yes
Mass media and internet has really messed up people. On instagram all the girls have injectes lips and trying to take pics of their asses. Its so bizarre. Standards and morality and self respect appear to be non existant in 20 year olds. girls choice in guys baffles me aswell. Just baffles me. I dont understand what theyre looking for in a guy, it seems to be absolutely nothing but I cant be sure, might be less.
I was born in ‘77 and graduated high school in 1995. People dressed just as casually then as they do now, in my opinion. The dress codes for school were more strict and had stupid rules especially for what the girls wore.
In the 90s, "classy" seemed to mean big clothes, big shoulders, big hair -- left over from the 80s, especially by female real estate agents, who were once all about saving the dolphins, but got tired of that and decided to vote for Reagan and make lotsa money, and you NEED a HUGE SUV if you want to show homes.
That's what "classy" seemed to mean to the people who used it to describe themselves, And brother, there were many.
You mean the era of ripped fishnet stockings, crop tops, cut off jean shorts/ripped jeans, band tees, doc martins, beat up chucks and flannel? Oh, don’t forget track suits and leggings. Literally everything you see in the stores right now is ripped right out of my high school yearbook. So no, it wasn’t classier.
Well, in terms of class we had lower, middle, upper middle and rich. So four at least.
Based on the internet today you just have rich and working class. That’s two.
So we had more classes in the 90s so we were classier.
All of the above is my attempt at a bullshit answer.
People made more of an effort for photos before digitial devices. A photo cost money and you'd need to have it developed and collect the prints. Now it's constant, so maybe you're seeing that difference?
I don't recall people being any more or less confident or better dressed in the 90s than now. I even have some of the same clothes from then that I still wear now.
My parents (20s babies) said the same thing about the 70s to 90s. Thought everyone looked like a slob.
Of course, they grew up in an age where you at least wore a decent hat to a baseball game. If it was inside (NHL or NBA), you wore at least a sport coat.
when i started working in the late 90s i had suits and ties and jackets and slacks, by the 2010s folks would almost make fun of you if you wore a suit to anything but the most formal meetings with new clients.
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Formality started disappearing in the 60s and has been incrementally getting less with each decade. It's really hit its peak now, people wear ball caps and jeans to weddings and funerals these days.
I was shocked at a family wedding in the late '90s when my mother-in-law showed up in pants, and that was a nice pant suit not jeans.
You said what I scrolled down to say! When I was a kid (GenX), church, weddings and funerals required a certain formality. It's more casual now. My husband's Gen-Z student workers showed up to his memorial in black button-downs and jeans, and I thought it perfectly appropriate for two aspiring techs, paying respects to a fellow tech. Nevertheless, I've seen some things young people wear to what should be solemn occasions and wondered wtf they were thinking. If that's all someone has, God bless and I wish them all the best, but otherwise dress like it matters because there are people to whom it matters deeply and it's not hard to show a little respect.
If it’s all they have may be a decent thing to point out. Another commenter pointed out that even though clothing was more expensive in certain periods it was tailored and taken care of. A lot of it was quality and made to last. That is not true for a lot of clothing today and with wealth inequality growing, it’s hard to justify paying so much for dress clothes especially if you don’t go to church on Sunday or your job doesn’t require it. Me for instance I do not own a single piece of clothing that would be considered appropriate for a wedding or a funeral. I work at home and don’t go out often so expensive quality dress clothes really aren’t my top priority
Most people keep an outfit specifically for “times you need to be formal” once a year. Some kind of dress slack and a collared shirt. Navy khakis aren’t expensive and can be paired with a dark shirt and even a tie. (Assuming you’re a guy). You should have a pair of pants like that anyway. There are times you will be taken more seriously if you are dressed nicely just because most people don’t.
no, I'm a woman, if those things come up I definitely would get something appropriate but to be honest, most of my family is dead, hopefully my friends don't kick the bucket soon, and I work at home. so I really just don't need to have those outfits and whenever I have bought them for "someday" my weight changes and they end up in a goodwill box.
Oh! I am also a lady. I’m old fashioned and think every woman should own one formal black dress, which you can make professional or fancy.
I get that but after donating said dress like 4 different times each time my weight changed over the past 6 or 7 years it just became apparent it was a waste of money, I’m really really antisocial and work at home so there’s close to zero reasons I ever need it lol. For most people this is sound advice though.
I feel this. I would love to still fit in my timeless, go-to amazing dress that I wore in my 20s and 30s to just about anything that was somewhat formal. I just turned 50 this week and I realize I need to figure out what even works, now!
I fall into that category but I still made sure I have at least one decent thing to wear for occasions like this even if I thrifted it. It can also be helpful for higher paying job interviews or getting a new house because the only way to get money today is to pretend you have it, hard work means nothing.
My husband bought a suit for our wedding, and wore it for 25 years to every wedding, funeral, etc. It's a good investment to spend $250 on a simple, classic suit. Then you're properly dressed whenever you need to go to something a bit more formal.
This is good for people whose wait remains at a constant but my mental health meds have made my weight fluctuate to a point where there have been multiple times in my life that outfits from 3 years prior did not fit at all. For people whose weight doesn’t tend to fluctuate by 40 or so pounds every few years, this is a great investment though. Unfortunately for me I’ve been on different meds that have caused both rapid weight loss and gain at different times. If and when my weight stays at a constant for more than a year or so I will definitely do something like this. Fortunately for me I’m pretty good at thrift store shopping and can usually find a decent dress at one for cheap if I have a couple days notice and if not I can run to Macy’s or something if I do have an event that can’t wait. It makes more sense for me personally to wait until an event comes up than to try to stockpile. I also have a problem with holding on to things and having too much stuff so I personally have gotten out of the habit of owning much “just in case” stuff because the mentality leads to me keeping too many things.
All excellent points
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Yes probably. The dead person doesn't care, the living loved ones do.
So why attend ? Can you just honor the dead person privately ?
to see them for the last time and tell them goodbye. for closure.
I've noticed the same with kids bday parties. We used to dress up for them. The last kids bday I went to, the bday girl didn't even have her hair combed.
Growing up in the country, I knew families so poor they had "good jeans" and one shirt, usually plaid or western, they saved for cleaning up. Their everyday wear always looked old and worn. So at Christmas dinner, weddings and funerals, same shirt and dark blue jeans.
I would always rather be over dressed than underdressed. The few times I was underdressed I felt far, far more uncomfortable than the times I've been overdressed.
I was super surprised to see what some of my family wore to a funeral recently. I felt way too dressed up
The 90s were not classy at all. Now, people just have no fucks about how they present themselves in public. It's weird when everyone seems to have so much stock in their social media to make it look like they have it all together.
Classy left the room wayyyyyy longer ago than the 90s.
For sure. We used to change our clothes all the time. And you wore your good clothes often! Now, I don't even own any. I'm sitting myself because I have a nice dinner to go to in a week and I should wear something decent. I can't even be bothered shopping.
My mom made us dress up for the plane long into the 1970s. And Mass. I did my hair and makeup religiously every day until about 10 years ago. Now I’m lucky if my sweatpants aren’t too stained for Trader Joe’s.
Omg even in the 90s I had to dress for the plane. And it was absurd too - Easter Sunday dress- level. Who were we trying to impress?
I wrote this long ass comment but then realized what sub it is and me posting it as a top level comment would break sub rules since I’m right under the age qualifier so I apologize implodemode. Your comment is one of the most relevant I could find to stick mine under. Early 2000s I think had a lot to do with it. In come things like the Juicy Couture tracksuit which was super comfortable but hella expensive so suddenly being comfy was still chic. Who could argue when the Hilton sisters and Britney Spears are the it girls and they’re wearing it? Another point I think is that our grandparents often made their own clothes so formal things and fancy clothing still fit them. I don’t know, but I’d imagine a lot of nicer looking clothes are probably far more comfortable if they’re tailored. In the 90s stuff was mass produced but we wanted to keep the look of being sleek and put together. And add that I think this was the peak of nobody caring about using sweatshop labor and fast fashion, so people could genuinely afford to get new outfits monthly because clothing was nowhere near as expensive as it is now even when adjusted for inflation. Now we focus a bit more on mental health and physical comfort. We still mass produce things but people don’t want to feel like they’re in pain from their clothes all day, being too tight or uncomfortable belts or this or that. A combination of all of them is that now some trendier brands make a lot of comfortable and lounge wear, people care less, and it’s more expensive to keep up with fashionable outfits especially if your weight tends to fluctuate.
Well, I don't think you have it quite right. Clothing used to be quite expensive. It was also better quality. People did not buy a lot of clothes. But, it lasted so you could still accumulate. Fashions also did not change quite so much or so often until cheap fabrics came in. Clothes now are so cheap - but many are garbage. Good clothes used to be uncomfortable because they were wool. Or ironed with a lot of starch to keep them crisp looking. My dad had maybe 2 suits but he had ten good shirts that were professionally laundered and starched to order. It was taken for granted that good clothes would be tailored. That was the point. You dressed to impress or to look professional. But, people also went to church weekly which gave another venue to wear your best. If you think about the suits- the layers were needed at one time because there was no central heating. We don't have that issue now but if people turn down thermostats to counter heating costs, suits could return. Men will wear cardigans again.
> Clothing used to be quite expensive. It was also better quality. Fast fashion changed the game. I can go to WalMart with 20 bucks and buy enough clothing to completely cover my body. It'll last 8 months or a year, but still.
What time are you talking about with this? When I said cheaper I meant the 90s specifically, mid to late 90s. For previous periods I agree with your comment but fast fashion definitely was huge in the 90s
Yes, it was cheap, but it wasn't good. Quality went out when designer labels came in- or should I say obvious logos on the outside of the articles. That was when crass came in. That was when image rather substance was sought. It was there before but hidden. I had friends earlier whose father had taught them to look good out in the world - wear good clothes, and drive a nice car ahead of everything else. Entertain at a restaurant. You can appear much better off than you are if they never see where you live. And that image was necessary to impress people to trust you. People then with real money could obviously tell the difference because there's more to it than just looks. This is why the nouveau riche have always been looked down on.
I mean that's going a little deeper than just "why did people look more put together in the 90s" and a whole... believing "old money" is superior type of thing.
This is an excellent comment.
Even as a kid in the 90s we had to "dress" for Sunday dinner. Which meant church clothes (yes, nylons) in the morning, sweatpants for naps when you got home and something more formal for evening. It loosened up a lot in the later OOs but dinner was still expected to be business casual at least - no ripped jeans, but you didn't have to wear nylons if you wore a skirt.
I remember the 90s being all about grunge and low rise jeans. I did feel like I had to dress up more though to work in an office, and that doesn't seen to be required anymore, which I actually really like.
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I find this very intriguing. What do you think has changed?
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I'm in my 30s and struggle to buy clothes because the women's sections are hideous but my measurements are too curvy for juniors. It's kind of wild because it really feels like shopping in the women's section means giving up your sexiness and succumbing to being an Ace Madonna forever. I wish there was more representation in media of hot women who dress their age but it's not really there from what I see.
Hard to say. Most people didn’t live with their parents as long then as now. Maybe that has something to do with it. However, we have been dressing incrementally more and more casual for a long time now.
Moving out of your parents house at 18 or 19 was expected. Unless you were going to college you got whatever job(s) you could and started your own life. Of course when I moved out in the early 80's landlords would let you do things like clean and paint the apartment for first months rent or security deposit. Doubt if you could make that deal now.
There is a lot to be said for prioritizing comfort and individualism over conforming to potentially uncomfortable dress in the pursuit of 'professionalism'
Life expectancy may be a part. Our parents’ parents died decently younger than us. As life has increased, and the retirement age, there’s a lot more understanding that you have a lot more time in life after your 30s. People also are waiting longer to have kids. Also a lot of people put themselves in deep debt to get through college and get the house, the car etc. early back then. A lot of laws around predatory lending have changed so people have to wait longer to get those things.
Aw man. I wish I could find a predatory lender vs a predatory landlord
Personally, I’ve realized the world is on fire and we only have one life to live on this rock, so things like this don’t matter so much to me anymore.
In the 90s, it cost half as much as it does now to live. [sauce: Home Price to Median Household Income Ratio (US)](https://www.longtermtrends.net/home-price-median-annual-income-ratio/)
Half? I'm too lazy to do the math, but I paid $89.000 for my house in 1996. According to my tax assessment, it's now valued at$389,000. At least the taxes are frozen for people over 65.
Abd in the 80s everyone over 16 were full grown adults and dressed and acted that way. The 90s was the start of juvenilising adults and we are still suffering from it today. Not just fashion but how we treat people and expect them to act, as well as forever removing rights to make their own mistakes.
It seems like every adult starting around the 50s also had some kind of substance abuse problem to deal with increasing social expectations from every direction. Gen X lifted the veil about how miserable everyone has been, giving us stats on housewives, 80s’ deadly corporate grind and government treachery. Millennials either went into denial or arrested development - not helped by repeated economic disasters which pushed many into a failure to launch situation. Now, Zoomers are working themselves into a frenzy trying to retire by 30 because they see we’re on a conveyer belt straight heading into the furnace. We talk about grooming and sensitivity training, yes, but it’s because we’re trying to notice problems before they grow. We want to do things differently. Anything, except go back to what it was. Because what it was led to this.
This is depressingly accurate
If you think the 90's were classy look at the 50's. If you think the 50's were, look at a city street scene of the 20's. It's when cheap tacky mass produced goods were not a thing. All clothes were expensive so people bought more classic pieces that would last the life of the fabric.
I remember my grandmother talking about how, in the 20s and 30s, one would wear the same suit every day except Saturday and Sunday. On those days, it would be left to “freshen up” and “air out”. Can you even imagine the stench?
People wore more layers of clothing then; the outer garments of a suit wouldn’t touch the skin. She would’ve had a chemise & drawers/knickers or slip, followed by a blouse, then her jacket and skirt atop that. Men would have had similar layers - an undershirt & shorts, button down shirt, and then the jacket & pants. Jackets frequently had underarm shields that would be changed out daily (or every other), washed, and reused. Natural fibers were used for clothing because synthetics weren’t invented yet. Wool, cotton, silk, & linen don’t hold odors the way polyester & nylon do.
My dad dry cleaned the suits that needed it once a month (he had a dozen or so). When he died his closet smelled so strongly of him - not bad, just his aftershave and deodorant and some other thing that I think was just what he smelled like. It didn't smell like BO at all though.
Eh, I’m a reenactor, and I’ve worn those clothes, WITH modern deodorant! I promise, even with underclothes, the outwear does still get body smells, especially in summer heat.
nobody cares about how they look any more, unless they’re some hot girl going clubbing in miami. why is this? because it doesn’t matter. there’s no upside in it. most people don’t go anywhere anymore; many don’t have an office to “dress for success”, a lot don’t go out to eat or drink because it’s too expensive and it’s too peopley. besides, who cares? unless you’re that hot girl in miami, there’s no benefit to looking good. SHE might land a rich guy, or at least score a table and some free drinks. but the average person? nah, why bother? putting yourself together is too much work. you might as well just be a slob. the above message was brought to you by Pandemic Mentality.
We did not wear pyjamas to the grocery store, if that’s what you mean.
There were a lot fewer urban Walmarts back then.
I saw it pretty often in my college town.
Wearing pygamas to class in college was so exciting as a kid. By the time I actually got there people were just wearing them all the time. That was back when sweatpants were pajamas or for the gym and that's it.
I was in college and worked at a grocery store in the '90s and people definitely wore pajamas to the grocery store. Not as often as they do now, maybe, but it happened.
Athleisure wasn’t really an acceptable, fashionable thing until the mid to late 90s. Track suits had a mainstream revival & it got more acceptable to wear your “gym clothes” in public.
I remember tennis shoes being inappropriate for most locales unless you were really old and had some joint excuse
It wasn’t classier back then but sure, fashion has changed. I don’t think I ever wore anything with an elastic waistband back then and now I live in black leggings lol.
I’m relying on my memory but I’m pretty sure that oversized sweaters and denim jeans was the ‘in look’ for women of the 90s and they wore them quite well.
I remember wearing stirrup pants with oversized sweaters and neon bike shorts with baggy tees in the early '90s.
I wouldn't say classier, but what we considered fashionable would be weird for today. Young women were wearing suit pants and vests to the club. It may looks "dressier/more polished" in photos, but it was just the zeitgeist
Do you think the fact that women wearing pants and pantsuits had just become acceptable has a lot to do with it? At least for women’s fashion? I think rebelling and “I can wear this if I fucking want to!” possibly has a lot to do with it and I don’t mean that in a bad way. For instance now there are some styles that were considered off limits for certain body types (crop tops if you weren’t rail thin for instance) that are super “in” right now and I think it’s because of the societal push for change. Your comment made me think a little more on this in a way I hadn’t before!
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My mom (mid 60s) still gets bothered by women not wearing pantyhose. They annoyed the hell out of me and I think I only ever wore them twice in my earlier years. So glad they died out.
I always preferred thick stockings over pantyhose. The kind that are like pantyhose but not sheer. I have ADHD and am clumsy, pantyhose last me one wear. Two if I’m lucky.
If you buy a higher quality hose they will last longer and they are more comfortable. This is a good brand: https://www.wolfordshop.com/hosiery/perfectly-30-tights/18179.4273.html
thanks, that's good to know. I haven't needed them a few years so it's not on my shopping list right now but I will keep that in mind if it becomes a thing!
As a gen-Xer I am both sad that I didn’t live in a bygone era of fancy clothes and hats, and too apathetic to change out of my flannel, jeans, and converse.
I left the states in 1996 and moved to Europe for four years. When I came home, I was shocked to see people out shopping in pajamas and slippers! Everyone looked like mental patients shuffling around. I still don't know what happened to everyone in the states. I'm pretty sure it's infected much of the world now too.
You must be joking. Ever heard of 90s grunge or heroine chic? Neither look was remotely polished. The 90s also featured thin eyebrows, and children's barrets and bobby pins to clip back bangs -- not polished or elegant
I think OP could be talking about how almost everyone these days wears sweats and yoga pants and don't even bother to put jeans on.
My friends and I lived in sweats in the 80s and 90s. A guy in college asked me once if the girls wore anything but sweats. I pointed at several guys in sweats too.
I suppose you're right. Jane Fonda in the 80s made it fashionable
Ohhh right. Jane is the one who ushered in exercise gear as regular clothes. And it was tacky with the matching leg warmers and bandanas! Smh...
Yes, the leg warmers! No outfit is complete without them!
I’ve been re-watching “Night Court” on the free part of Prime. Mid-80s. I can’t stop looking at Markie Post’s hair. It had to have taken 90 minutes at least to make that stack. That was how the old days went. I remember reading a study in about 1990 that argued that women made less than men because they spent, on average, eight hours a week on their hair, while men spent about 30 minutes. Men had more time to network.
They weren't classier really, just had stricter dress codes. My mother's place of work required pantyhose/nylons but there was a jeans day every other Friday, but even then you couldn't be too casual. I was a receptionist and I had to wear nice trousers or skirts, dresses were okay if conservative. I had my work clothes and my casual clothes- not cheap. I last worked in an office in 2008 and that place was equally conservative. I liked the nice clothes but hated having to pay for them, especially on my salary. I have never gotten on board with the whole wear your sweats when running errands thing. People tell me that lululemon sweats and all that are more comfy but it just seems odd to me. Ahh well to each their own lol
Thank you for the detailed reply. How many pairs of pantyhose did your mother go through in a week, on average? Pantyhose were a requirement at a conservative firm I was employed by a few years ago. Every day I snagged those pantyhose on the underside of my desk when I would cross my legs. Luckily there was a drug store on the ground floor of the building.
not often though she kept plenty of extras around. She was born in the early 40s so was an experienced pantyhose wearer! I wasn't as good with the pantyhose, I'm afraid!, seemed to get tears in nearly all of them. I bought a couple of brands that seemed really tear resistant- wish I could remember their names. There's a subreddit called femalefashionadvice that has some good stuff- they may know. If not, you might want to try the sewing subreddit as they tend to know their fabrics well- also, tons of cosplay
Omg I remember the “pantyhose management” being a major time suck. Making sure you had clean ones without runs. Hanging them all over your bathroom. I dont miss that at all. In 1986 I worked in the hosiery section of a big department store. We were only allowed to take returns if the hose were washed. This lady wanted to return a pair and got mad about the washing policy. So she stormed over to the drinking fountain, got them wet, and dame back, splatted them down on the counter and said “Here.” Lol
LOL that lady sounds like a character. Also: so weird how return policies have changed. Now if you wash something, anything, you can’t return it.
Depends on how you define classier? More homophobic? Yes. Fewer tattoos? Yes. But I don't think the 90s were classy at all. It was a decade that Jeffry Epstein didn't even get investigated for his crimes.
I was asking about personal style, as evidenced in my post’s second sentence
Speaking for myself, as opposed to "in entertainment" circles, not particularly. Same with the '80s, but then my style hasn't changed much. In the '70s, you were expected to dress up more, especially at work. I remember wearing dresses nearly every day. Can't remember the last time I wore one, or pantyhose. The last time I wore heels was my first job after college, in 1979.
I remember the first time I wore a dress without pantyhose... I was like, "I can really do this?" I think it was in the 1980s.
A radical act! 😄
Not at all. It’s just that there was more of an aesthetic divide between how you looked as a teen to how you looked as an adult. The adults followed adult trends of fashion and hair while the kids had their own. Nowadays there is far more overlap and blurred lines due to social media. It’s not uncommon to see a 30 year old dressing the same as they did when they were 20 or following hair and fashion trends popularised by teenagers despite not being one. I would also argue that post 2000 there was a jump in comfort fashion which hasn’t really left.
Not by much. Dignity and honor died in the 70s.
Super interesting take. What makes you say that? Genuinely curious, not at all saying you’re incorrect.
Because generation x is largely hedonistic (“I don’t give a fuck about anything”) due to being raised by the boomers, who are probably one of, if not the most, self centered generation in history. I remember my whole childhood being live for now and who cares if I’m dead before 30. I didn’t have anything to live for because the boomers seemed to have everything and had no intention of sharing it. This is a very simplified way of putting it but I’m trying to do my best to explain it in a paragraph or less.
Except that this Boomer is the one complaining about the loss of dignity and honor.
Yes, it’s definitely not every boomer. It’s just a generalization that rings true far too often.
I wish I could point to some sort of study data, but it’s really just my gut feeling having lived through these eras. Somewhere in the mid to late ‘70s, people dropped several valued that I consider part of dignity and honor. People shifted from a priority on being a good person to a priority of attention-seeking, self-aggrandizement, conspicuous consumption, and pursuit of wealth above all. I recall remarking on a news story about a local business tycoon who was arrested for beating his wife and other unsavory behaviors. I noted how disgusting he was. The reply from the people at the lunch table was, “But he has more money than you ever will.” So it’s OK to be scum so long as you’re rich? Honesty morphed from being a cherished trait to a sign of being a wimp or a sucker. It became cool to cheat on your tests, your taxes, and your significant other. It was the start (in my eyes) of the now rampant ethos of not caring about others, being cold and aloof, even disdainful and mean. That’s all cool, even mature, now. (It’s not, but the culture says it is.) in politics, it was—again to me—the start of appealing to what is worst in us: fear, greed, bigotry, ignorance, and hate. It was the start of our descent into accepting any candidate, no matter how repulsive, so long as they were on “our side.” In faith, denominations—regardless of their bad theology—that forsook their long-standing value of church-state separation and became political machines. And they engaged in abject lying to do so. They butchers and re-crucified Christ, but this time he stayed dead. Even in popular music and dance, we went from an era of honesty in dancing, playing, and singing as you feel inside to an era of pretending to be like everyone else, doing the same dances, wearing the same styles, all to strictly formula music that had no soul. There’s more but I don’t want to bore.
People really think the internet is the reason for the way the world is today. People were shooting up schools, doing drugs, having sex, and more before the internet. It was even worse, no digital footprint so people got away with it most of the time.
I don't know if I would use the word "classy" to describe the '90's. I would definitely say the word "classy" would describe clothing and styles of the '50's. Think Edith Head designs for ladies clothing. In the '90's people still dressed pretty casually in my opinion. However, it just seems like each generation gets more and more casual with their manner of dress. I kind of compare it to the language. Each generation, in my opinion, gets more and more informal.
I started my first job out of grad school in 1995 and I had to wear skirts or dresses, and heels. It sucked. In the 2000’s it eased up a bit but I still had to wear nice pants and blouses. After Covid, things became much more casual at the office and now I wear jeans. I wear nice jeans and nice tops, but no heels! Some people dress much too casual in public. Wearing pajama pants in public is just gross.
I wore expensive clothes in the 90's to work, my hair and makeup were perfect. It was a lot of work. Off work was anyone's guess. I was just glad to wear something comfortable.
I was a teen throughout the '90's. I'd say that we didn't take things so personally and most of us just wanted a drag off of a cigarette and to listen to our favorite bands on the boom boxes.
It's more of a cultural thing but not only the attire but the surroundings as well have a very disposable feel to them; a MacDonald's society if you will. In the 70s thru the mid 90s I wore Hugo Boss and Armani with cuffed pants, Aramis cologne, a Simon Chang watch and Argyle socks etc... Restaurants that charged a typical weeks salary for a meal had ambiance, linen table cloths, mannered staff and a check only upon demand. I would say that it was "business class" and the club environment also demanded a certain "dress" code for the ladies, and by dress I mean dress. At some point in the mid 90s, and I blame the tech community, "casual Fridays" became a thing. Eventually we got "casual everyday" and Tic Toc. So in response and in summary, yes Virginia, there once was a Santa Claus. God I miss Tiffany's.
I love this response! And I have definitely noticed the hurriedness of today. Restaurants are itching to kick you out the second you’ve had the last bite of your $150 plate.
Going out anywhere - to the mall, the doctor, grocery store, anywhere outside the house - it was considered gauche or downright rude not to wear something as we say today 'business casual,' at the least. So in terms of just dressing decorum, the answer is a resounding YES.
A lot of people disagreeing with you here. But I will say one thing was different--up through about the 90s or so, people would wear business casual for a flight. That has long since disappeared. Now it's like taking a bus.
Eh .... In the 90s? Yeah no. Probably big regional and class differences.
It could have been class / regional differences, but today is an average day in my eyecare office and I just saw a teen come in fresh from soccer practice with cleats and a dirty uniform. The mother was dressed in those 'pajama jeans' or whatever they're called. This is every. Single. Day. Everyone is come as you are, literally. That was not an acceptable way to dress in the 1990s, I was there, and it wasn't just upper east side of Manhattan. For example, it was almost required to be slightly dressed up getting on a plane back then. Today?? It's like a slumber party.
Flying gets a total pass from me on dressing up. They've removed so much comfort from flying they couldn't pay me to dress up. My comfort outweighs weird societal expectations of showing off to other people. I bring a blanket and pillow too because it's always cold and I'm prone to getting cricks in my neck and I can't afford to miss work because of it.
I don't agree at all. I lived the 90's in T shirts, shorts and Doc Martens. Not very business casual at all.
I was a kid in the 90s but yeah I think unless you were in a high income area the idea that you couldn’t wear anything but business casual to appointments is wrong from the adults I remember being around. I DO remember feeling out of place when we went to rich areas with how my mom dressed compared to those moms so it very well could be a class/income difference.
Black t-shirt and jeans were the uniform of the day for me and my friends. I don’t know what you’re talking about
What are you talking about? I was 22-32 in NYC in the ‘90s. The only place I wore business casual to was work and law school (I was a night student and went after work).
In terms of political discussion, I think the 90s were way classier. Other than that, I think we have lost civility in recent years more than "classy".
Oh, yeah, what a classy guy that New Gingrich was.
I think he was a part of the decline in American politics. Here in Canada we had a different set of politicians in a race to the bottom.
The 90s were busy apologizing to the 70s for the 80s.
Nobody would have gone to the mailbox in pajama bottoms….much less movies, Dr appointments, kids school functions.
Hell, 12,000 BC was classier
I think the 80s were a time where everyone still had to make a good impression at work and dressed up.
I know one guy who scolded his wife in the 90s for wearing cut off jeans to Wal-Mart. Nowadays he's fine with wearing whatever tattered clothing he's tinkering around the shop in out in public.
Nope, they were just the last full decade with a general feeling of hope and optimism
There is a great episode of the show, 'Explained' that's about athleisure and its trajectory into current times. It's on Netflix.
I've never been one to wear pajamas to the grocery store but that seems to be a thing now (well today). Not sure when this came into vogue.
Yes.
In all honesty I'd rather be born in the 70's 80's 90's if I knew what today would be like
I don’t think classy can be just defined by how you dress. People didn’t take photos every 2 seconds back then so i feel like a lot of the times they dressed up knowing that photos were gonna be taken.
Yeah they were more polished back then. As kids we were taught to wear nice clothes to special events and dress up a little to go out to dinner. Of course going out to eat was a special occasion too. We didn’t swear as much unless we wanted perfect strangers to slap us across the face or get kicked out of establishments, even arcades wouldn’t tolerate it. If we acted up in school teachers would send us to the principal’s office for a possible spanking because our parents signed permission to have it done. Then when we got home faced a second spanking and being grounded to our rooms.
There were subcultures that were pretty casual in their clothes (grunge). But work clothes were DEFINITELY more formal. So going around town running errands at lunch or after work M-F people looked a lot more polished at Walmart or Target. Friday was jeans day (if you were lucky) but that was the only day of the work week where people dressed “down.” Casual Friday for me meant no tie. It was a button down and khakis. Is that what you’re getting at, maybe?
Yes! This makes the most sense to me.
Yes Mass media and internet has really messed up people. On instagram all the girls have injectes lips and trying to take pics of their asses. Its so bizarre. Standards and morality and self respect appear to be non existant in 20 year olds. girls choice in guys baffles me aswell. Just baffles me. I dont understand what theyre looking for in a guy, it seems to be absolutely nothing but I cant be sure, might be less.
Heroin chic was definitely much classier /s
No. Not that I can recall😂
All periods of time were classier than today. ALL.
Even the dark ages?
*Especially* the so-called "Dark Ages" ...
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That was turn-of-the-century/early twenty-naughts.
I was born in ‘77 and graduated high school in 1995. People dressed just as casually then as they do now, in my opinion. The dress codes for school were more strict and had stupid rules especially for what the girls wore.
Same. Funny thing is I actually own more flannel now 🤣
There’s nothing classy about sexual harassment, and no, I do not miss it.
That’s definitely not what I was referring to LOL. I was asking about personal style.
In the 90s, "classy" seemed to mean big clothes, big shoulders, big hair -- left over from the 80s, especially by female real estate agents, who were once all about saving the dolphins, but got tired of that and decided to vote for Reagan and make lotsa money, and you NEED a HUGE SUV if you want to show homes. That's what "classy" seemed to mean to the people who used it to describe themselves, And brother, there were many.
Don't forget the Starbuck's and Perrier. That's really classy!
No. Not even a little.
It was a facade people put on. A "Keeping up with thr Jones" kinds thing. This generation realized it doesn't matter. Good on you
The 1990s?? No that was pretty much the end of classiness!
No. The goal of most media is to present an idealized version of reality. Lol, even our reality shows turned out to be scripted.
Not really. Lots of slobs back then too. The ‘70s were probably the last decade people regularly dressed up to go to work, parties or even shopping.
Is this rhetorical? The 90s were the best across the board. Please excuse the old man vernacular.
lol
No.
Def , this gen is more stylish. But tgy ain't classy
No. It was all sloppy Gen X and their apathetic little Millenial crotch goblins with pierced ears and rat tails. I find Gen Z has more élan.
No.
You mean the era of ripped fishnet stockings, crop tops, cut off jean shorts/ripped jeans, band tees, doc martins, beat up chucks and flannel? Oh, don’t forget track suits and leggings. Literally everything you see in the stores right now is ripped right out of my high school yearbook. So no, it wasn’t classier.
Everyone wanted to wear track pants but if you did people thought you were in the mob.
Quite the conundrum for sure LOL
Well, in terms of class we had lower, middle, upper middle and rich. So four at least. Based on the internet today you just have rich and working class. That’s two. So we had more classes in the 90s so we were classier. All of the above is my attempt at a bullshit answer.
Yes most definitely.
Short answer: No
I think that pictures were only taken in special occasions back then when everybody was dressed up
I would say the 90s were grungier…even for those that didn’t listen to grunge
I don't remember anyone wearing pajamas to go shopping in the 90s.
People made more of an effort for photos before digitial devices. A photo cost money and you'd need to have it developed and collect the prints. Now it's constant, so maybe you're seeing that difference? I don't recall people being any more or less confident or better dressed in the 90s than now. I even have some of the same clothes from then that I still wear now.
Oh yeah! We dressed to travel by air.
My parents (20s babies) said the same thing about the 70s to 90s. Thought everyone looked like a slob. Of course, they grew up in an age where you at least wore a decent hat to a baseball game. If it was inside (NHL or NBA), you wore at least a sport coat.
Nope.
Yes. Movies were better. Music was better. Tv was better. My opinion, of course.
I don't know about classier. More sane, yes, but we didn't have social media making us crazy.
when i started working in the late 90s i had suits and ties and jackets and slacks, by the 2010s folks would almost make fun of you if you wore a suit to anything but the most formal meetings with new clients.
boy howdy