Opinion By J1 Reporter Georgie Longo

“At least Look Presentable.”

This is something I’m sure we’ve all been told by our mothers walking out the door at one point or another. That could mean changing into a pair of jeans or putting on a sweater or trying to cover up at least until you walk out the door. But what does it mean to look presentable and where do we draw the line?

In modern culture it is not unusual to see people wearing sweatpants and an old tee shirt on a lazy Saturday morning. In fact that’s usually what you’ll find me on most days. Sometimes, you’ll even see people wearing their pajamas in public, taking the idea of just “rolling out of bed” a bit more literally. I’ve spoken to plenty of people who claim they don’t even care enough to try.

It all started during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic when we were cooped up in our own houses and we no longer had to wake up and get ready everyday because we weren’t going anywhere. There was no longer a need to make an impression (unless on zoom at least) knowing that no one had to see you in person. After that, it was hard to switch back to the standard business casual and full face of makeup, and most people never went back. Dress codes started to grow more relaxed and the issue was more focused on getting people back out of their houses and not on what they were wearing.

Don’t get me wrong, I still see plenty of people who take pride in their appearance and take the time every morning to look presentable, and it shows. When I see people who put no effort into their appearance, I can’t help but question where they get their confidence. I believe that the way you present yourself in public says a lot about the kind of person you are. Taking pride in your appearance has always been very important to me, and the belief that impressions are very important.

The standard for how we dress in public is on a rapid decline and the idea of looking presentable in public seems to be lost entirely. You would be more surprised to see someone in a dress and heels walking down the street than you would be if you saw someone in a onesie and slippers, and that is just the modern reality. Have people just stopped caring or is this the new norm? When are we collectively going to decide as a society when enough is enough and start dressing like we care about our appearances again, or is the formality too far gone?