January 13, 2008

Weekend Casual?

Today I wore a plain black long sleeved dress that had a cotton bodice/sleeves upper body part and velvet skirts, with a textured black belt, black (almost) flat boots and my medium size shoulder black leather bag. I know, it sounds really black, but it is what I would consider a very safe brainless casual everyday outfit. Because really, even though the dress has velvet parts, it IS still very plain and casual and is really suitable for all occasions. But anyways, you get the picture.

So, dressed like that, I walked into the restaurant and met my mom and aunt up for Saturday lunch. And the greeting I got were affronted expressions followed by, "Oh dear, what are you wearing today?" Granted my outfit is boring and black, but I didn't think I looked THAT bad. Turns out that they thought that I was dressed too formal for a weekend! Apparently while it was fine to dress up so on a weekday, on a weekend one always dresses very casually with jeans, t shirt and flats/sneakers!

Generally I take these edicts my mom says with a grain of salt, because most of them contradicts previous edicts and I get thoroughly confused, but this time I couldn't help but wonder if there IS a grain of truth to it. As I glance around the streets, people indeed were all dressed very casually (though I WAS in a casual part of town). And I'm sure that the term weekend casual didn't just come out of thin air. One of my friends recently even bought a pair of "weekend shoes."

Personally I don't dress any differently on a weekend than on a weekday. Mostly because I'm a student and its casual day everyday so I wear the same things everyday regardless of the day of the week (though I DO dress differently depending on where I go, my mood and how much time I have). Over the summer, while I was working and wearing semi formal clothes every weekday, I DID miss my jeans. So I guess "casual weekends" could just be a social by product of this. But that doesn't mean that I want to wear the "casual" outfit every weekend. Weekends are the also the only time I get to experiment with what I wear and have fun with fashion! I really don't think that just because everyone else decides its casual day, I have to follow it as well.

But just out of curiosity, what are everyone's preference for weekend dressing? Do you generally dress down or is it an arbitrary decision subjected to many other factors that don't include the day of the week?

33 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

i think i dress nicer on the weekends because i have more time to think about my outfits in the morning. on the weekends im not rushed to pick an outfit and run to class.

1/13/2008 5:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It really depends on what I'm doing. If I go out to lunch or dinner or something more upscale than the gym or beach, I dress up but not extremely dressy. Usually a skirt and a nicer shirt.

1/13/2008 5:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i definently dress casual on weekends, but not because its a rule, just because i usually work so hard on the weekdays that all i want to do is relax on the weekends. i say, if you want to dress up, go for it.

1/13/2008 6:12 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I remember my roommate told me last year that I did everything backwards. I dressed up and went places all during the week, but on weekends I didn't do a whole lot nor did I dress up unless it was for church.

But I dressed up during the week because I was constantly seeing people I considered important ie. professors, cute boys, advisors, and potential employers. Not to mention, no one really dressed up during the week so I like standing out.

But when the weekend hit, I just wanted to feel completely comfortable, whereas my roommate went out to parties and bars. She was in a sorority so most of her gatherings were on the weekends so she had to look good.

I think that dressing up or dressing casual depends on what's going on that day. If I'm not doing anything important or just like going to the mall I'll throw my hair up and forget the makeup.

Just depends on your lifestyle.

1/13/2008 6:14 AM  
Blogger pbl said...

I usually dress up on the weekends just because I have more time. I agree with the previous comments posted that it really depends on your lifestyle. For me, I use the weekends as a special treat for myself to do this and I just feel a lot better knowing that I could still "dress up" and be "fashionable" doing this. My weekday schedule is so hectic with school, work, etc. that I don't even have time to think about what I wear.

1/13/2008 6:55 AM  
Blogger Bruised Orange said...

I work at a doctor's office so I wear scrubs during the week. After work, I'll go to a friend's house, but I don't really go out, as I get up for work at 6am. So the weekend is usually the only time I really dress up.

1/13/2008 9:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have classes on the weekdays, so my outfits are extremely casual (jeans, t-shirt, sweater) because it is the most practical! However, on the weekends when I go out more (restaurants, malls, or museums) I dress to impress! This is because I feel that my outfit would be more appreciated in a mall rather than on a college campus!

1/13/2008 10:38 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

hmm..I'm a student and I work at Lucky Brand Jeans so I practically live in jeans and a tshirt. I only dress up if I'm going out or something.

I have a friend though who dresses up everyday and to her its not dress up at all. I don't think she owns a graphic tee in her closet. She goes all out (blouse, jeans, heels, bangles, makeup..etc) EVERYDAY...

so I guess it depends on the person and /or lifestyle as stated before

1/13/2008 11:36 AM  
Blogger Secretista said...

^^ Yea I agree.

I never "dress down" I usually dress up. If I'm not going out and staying in my dorm most of the weekend, then I'm not going to waste a good outfit by wearing it because I feel like it.

1/13/2008 12:29 PM  
Blogger Pink Sun Drops said...

It would depend on my job. Right now I'm casual during the week so I like to go fancy (or more stylish any way) on the weekends. When I was doing professional attire during the week I would do anything I can to get comfy on the weekends.

1/13/2008 2:07 PM  
Blogger Marilyn Hepburn said...

Casual isnt in my vocabulary. Please define. ;)

1/13/2008 5:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I totally agree, the week-end is prime time to experiment with outfits and make-up. It is one of my pleasures and passions in life and prerogative as a woman:). Just because some people would rather dress down, it doesn't mean that we all have to conform.
We are all different and we are not on this planet for ever so we should do what makes us happy! Its all very serious you know;)!

1/13/2008 6:58 PM  
Blogger Noel said...

I made it a goal for 2008 to NEVER dress down, not even on the weekend. I'm especially dressed up during the week for school though -- my peers always say I look like I'm going to a cocktail party instead of to economics class.
I will admit that I'm super lazy at home though. Anything goes then.

Btw, I love that people thought you were "too formal for a weekend". Personally, I love it when people dress up 24/7.

1/13/2008 11:58 PM  
Blogger Marie-Kristine said...

Personally I think that outfit sounds pretty chic and great, especially for a weekend. But what can I say, i wear too much black.

1/14/2008 2:39 AM  
Blogger Jael Paris said...

Because I have more time and know I'll be out and about rather than stuck at a desk for 8 hours, the weekend is my fashion play time. I break out the makeup, go wild with my hair and put together outfits that would garner strange looks in the office.

Most people do the opposite on the weekend of what they do during the week, which for me is rolling out of bed and slipping into something that's still comfortable.

1/14/2008 2:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I dress pretty much the same on the weekends as I do on the weekdays. Sometimes it'll be jeans and a t-shirt, and sometimes it'll be a minidress and bright tights. I dress on what mood I am that day, and who knows when I will want to dress up? It really depends. :)

1/14/2008 6:53 AM  
Blogger becca said...

Weekend attire is based on what I'm doing and what I wore all week. When I wore dresses to work, the weekend was all about jeans. Now that jeans are work attire (I'm still dressed up compared to everyone else), I tend to wear dressier clothing on the weekend.

I also wear more makeup on the weekends because I have more time.

1/14/2008 9:46 AM  
Blogger Eli Marks said...

hmm... it seems to depend on where you live and you're definition of dressing up I think as well. For some girls "dressing up" is simply finding a good pair of jeans and a cute top and going out the door, where casual are those horrid cheelreader shorts and a tshirt. Not my case however, as I really only consider dressing down when I'm home alone or running to the grocery store. Other than that, my outfits I always make interesting and dressed up everyday even for my classes as that's just what I've become accustomed to. Rarely will you see me in jeans, and if I am they're grey and skinny still complete with interesting boots and tops.

Basically for me, there is no "casual day". Weekday, or weekend.

1/14/2008 12:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yikes. well i would have to honestly say your outfit does sound a bit off for the occasion. for one thing, all black, unless the pieces were really casual, such as jeans or something sporty does have a dressier look. all black might have been okay, but not a black dress for lunching on the weekend. at least it wasnt june, so thats good. maybe you could have thrown on a bright colored belt, tights or scarf to distract from so much black (grey might have been OK!}. so you had three dressy elements, a dress, black and velvet. but you dont have to go too far the other way and just wear jeans and sneakers! NO! its not all or nothing

1/14/2008 1:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i was just looking at gap.com (i know, not that trendy) and they have a black dress shown with knee-high brown suede boots. it looks really cute and not dressy. so maybe that would be another option, maybe paired with an off-white scarf or something to stay with the casual neutrals theme

1/14/2008 2:07 PM  
Blogger alis said...

When I was in college, my department was on the same floor as fashion design students, and all the girls there always wore very interesting outfits everyday, sometimes even ridiculously overdressed, always with full make-up. So no matter how dressed up I felt when I left the house, I always ended up feeling too casual when I arrived to school! Now that I'm doing masters degree at another school where ppl dress like hippies, I grab a sweatshirt and just use mascara, and still feel "casual cool"(yes, those ppl dress horribly). So at weekends when I go out I try to dress up, but thats usually skinny jeans, heels/boots and something cute on top, and a dressy coat. I kind of not wear skirts, and my dresses are all for the summer.

1/14/2008 7:40 PM  
Blogger Elle said...

hmmm. I dress up whenever I want I guess. Depending on where I go/ who I'm with. I always say it's better to be dressed up than down though! Days of the week have nothing to do with it!

1/14/2008 9:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

well i must say it was very nice of you to dress nicely to meet these ladies. that shows respect. not showing up in torn jeans and faded tshirt for a lunch with your mom and aunt is far beyond your years, so dont feel bad!

1/15/2008 1:12 AM  
Blogger Suzanna Mars said...

Jeans, stiletto boots, turtleneck, with carousel of jackets. Been the same way for 20 years, not likely to change.

Sometimes substitute top for men's oversized hoodie. The epitome of chic. People stop and stare.

1/15/2008 1:33 AM  
Blogger Q said...

Hmm. I might have gone for full-cotton instead of velvet-that might have made it more casual. I like the boot thing, but it could do without the belt. The bag works, but I'm not sure about the belt. The only way I could think for it to work would be if the belt, the bag and the boots all matched in shade and texture.
It would have looked younger and more casual, while still looking elegant enough, if you had added some bright colored stockings or some colorful jewelry/hair accessories.

I think it's always good to look casual but still fancy enough for an occasion that might require it. Remember, accessories make any outfit sparkle!

1/15/2008 2:00 AM  
Blogger NA said...

Jeans for me on the weekend. But I make it a policy to never, ever except fashion advice from my mother! So do the opposite of whatever she says. ;)

1/15/2008 5:18 AM  
Blogger  said...

I don't think there's that much difference for me in theory, just the amount of time I have before I need to be somewhere. In practice this does= 'dressing up' on weekends yeah, where I'm not trying to get from bed-class in under 20mins.

1/17/2008 6:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I usually put more effort in on the weekend and come up with slightly quirky outfits that are a little nicer than what I wear to classes during the week. And yes, sometimes I've gotten a few stares and noticed that almost everyone around me is dressed more casually. I've gotten to the point where I just don't care. I view the weekend as my time to play and experiment with different looks (some of which turn out bad, some of which turn out good) that I wouldn't necessarily wear to class. So I just ignore the whole "weekend casual" thing. On the other hand, if I know I'm not going anywhere and am just staying at home, I bum around with my pajamas on and no makeup, but that's another story.

1/18/2008 7:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wear corporate wear during the week, because I sell businesswear, mainly suits and shirts for guys and some bits and pieces for ladies. So during the week its pencil skirt, shirts knits and a pair of heels and full makeup - when its the weekend for me its jeans or casual pants with some funky knits or tops, or even a dress or two... just depends on my mood.

1/24/2008 2:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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1/29/2008 2:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm in high school, so i'm probably more 'laidback' about choosing what to wear on holidays and pupil-free days. The garments i wear are usually exactly the same on the weekends to the weekdays, and i'd like to say i 'defy' fashion by not wearing styles according to season, though i would according to practicality in different seasons.

2/10/2008 6:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

EASY- always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed!

3/17/2009 6:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i think how I dress on the weekend depends on my mood or where I'm going really.

2/20/2010 10:03 PM  

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