You arrive at your date only to find out the venue’s a lot more casual than you expected. You’re sure no one cares too much, but it’s impossible to relax. That out-of-place feeling stays with you all night — a question at the back of your mind. How do you know when you’re overdressed?
This scenario happens more often than you’d think. Events and restaurants don’t often publish their dress codes, it’s more intuitive. No reason to worry, however. As long as you remember these tips, you’ll be in the clear.
1. Remember Where You Are
Certain establishments have strict dress codes that are easy to follow.
Some outfits, like the tuxedo, are only appropriate in formal situations — weddings, cocktail parties or at the opera. Unless the invitation calls for a tuxedo or it’s a black-tie event, exercise caution. You don’t want it to look like you have the wrong address.
Most of the time, and for most outfits, the social code isn’t as clear. Even business casual — the official or de facto dress code in most American offices — has a definition that varies from workplace to workplace. Does it include jeans? Can you wear T-shirts with jackets? Do you need dress shoes? How do you know when you’re overdressed?
There’s usually no way to tell without spending some time in the office, and that’s true for most places. Unless you have a handbook, your outfit is always going to be an educated guess.
If it’s a restaurant, pictures can you help you see what guests usually wear. The same goes for annual or recurring events. If you have a friend who knows the venue, don’t be afraid to ask them how formal other guests usually dress. If your friend is also going, you can always base your outfit on what they plan to wear.
2. Fall Back on Tried-and-True Outfits
Sometimes you can’t tell how formal you should go for an event. Plan for these cases by building tried-and-true outfits that work in all settings, adhering to a few rules for dressing sharp. Some pieces are timeless classics — reliable and more flexible than most people give them credit for. Denim, boots and leather jackets can all seem dressy and casual depending on the rest of the outfit.
One possible downside, of course, is that if you lean too heavily on your most reliable pieces, you risk becoming the “leather jacket and jeans” guy.
Some pieces are the opposite — gym shoes, tank tops and running shorts pretty much only make sense at the gym. Athletic wear can work as casual street clothing, but athleisure is not going to look good in a setting that calls for some formality. Even at the bar, you never want to look like you just wrapped up a set at the gym.
3. Be Willing to Take a Risk
Playing to how everyone else is dressed is a good way to blend into the crowd, but it’s not a great way to be you. Developing your personal style and putting effort into your outfits is risky — when you try, you’ll run the risk of appearing over- or under-dressed.
That’s not a good reason to shy away from riskier outfits, though. Always aspire to look your best.
Knowing When You’re Overdressed
How do you know when you’re overdressed? You don’t, really. However, you can pick up on social cues and the outfits you see to figure out if you’re too dressed up. You can then adjust your ensemble so the next time you’re in a similar situation, you’ll be perfectly dressed.
You could always throw social convention to the wind and look sharp all the time. When you’re dressing for yourself, it’s not really possible to overdo it.
Dylan Bartlett is a men’s lifestyle blogger from the City of Brotherly Love. He runs the site Just a Regular Guide, looking at other topics related to health and wellness, relationships, the outdoors and DIY. You can follow him on Twitter @a_regular_guide to get frequent updates on his work.
