Forget the Falling Birds and Floods, America's REAL Problem??? "LAZYWEAR"!

There have been some good points made on both sides. Some people are more/less productive, according to what they are wearing. Overcoming Clinical Depression is a 'One step at a time' process. Having disabilities are a MAJOR drawback. An' so many other perfectly good reasons to dress comfortably. Sloppiness is a whole 'nother story, though.

When you walk down many city streets, it's a fact that the general population seems to have left its pride somewhere else. I've known many people who are confined to wheelchairs (not now, but myself included) an' even beds, who still found small ways to show they cared about how they look.

I realize that not everyone has that option, nor inclination, but from my perspective Americans quit caring a long time ago. Why do you think so many underwear companies began advertising their 'Wares' on their products? Because they saw that people were willing to show it off. Have we really lost so much personal pride that we are no longer embarrassed by that?

I don't think that Jellysbean intended to offend anyone. Nor do I. But it is a sad thing to realize that more people don't SEEM to care. And as Jellysbean said, it is simply an observation; not a judgement call. Hopefully, the biggest share of Americans are not struggling with Clinical Depression, disabilities an' lack of clothing, but an outsider sure might think so by how many people are representing such struggles in their dress.

~ Yaya

I was going out to meet myself, but had to stop because
Myself was coming back from there; I wasn't where I was. ~ Yaya

Yesterday on the Colbert Report, I saw these creepy Snuggie-material onesies if you can believe it. They even UNZIP for bathroom functions. Ew.

What was more surreal were the pictures of people in regular settings. One was of a woman, leaning on a small over-the-brook bridge talking to a man and of course, they're both wearing one.

But that wasn't nearly as awesome/horrifying as the picture of the TAILGATE PARTY. I wish I were making this up. But they actually said "It's great for your next tailgate party." And there are all those people sitting around in snuggie-type onesies. Including a guy BBQing, which surely wasn't a good idea as all the material looks so damned flammable.

I will start by saying that you couldn't PAY ME to wear those pajama jeans or jeggings or even leggings. I prefer to keep my fleece PJ bottoms and snuggie at home. But that's where my agreement with you ends.

Maybe your mindset is impacted by your mother's influence, but I work just as well (and perhaps even better) in my comfortable clothes. I focus better when I'm comfortable. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but it's not a "fact" that we are all that much more productive based on what society says we should wear at any given time. The only reason a suit is considered more formal than pajamas is because someone said so and everyone else bought into it.

I know that appearance matters in our society, although I think it's absurd just how much, but I choose not to lower my own standards of productivity and quality based on my hair or clothes. And it doesn't impact how much I eat, my posture or anything else. My self-worth can survive some cozy PJs and questionable hair.

Christy@morethanmommy
Quirky Fusion ( http://quirkyfusion.com )
( http://twitter.com/morethanmommy )

I feel horrible when I am "all dressed up" and like myself when I am comfortable. I like people when they are in t-shirts, jeans, yoga pants, looking ready for anything. When they are wearing some ridiculous painful heels, restrictive clothing and pounds of face paint, I think they look like clowns ready for a show. But I'm from a surf town in Southern California, where it seems like enjoying yourself outdoors is one of the most important parts of life.

As for dressing up for work - I work at home in my sweats and slippers and I kick butt all day long, too. When I go into the office, I put on slacks and a nice shirt and cardigan with jewelry and makeup, but only because it is expected of me there. It doesn't make me more productive.

And people with physical disabilities. Honestly, that's the first thing I thought of. I have a physical disability that makes wearing a lot of clothes uncomfortable at best. Why should I be forced to wear it and be in pain/uncomfortable/have my movements further restricted if I'm mostly just going to be at home all the time anyway?

We are a small but significant group. And while some choose to continue trying to squeeze into those uncomfortable jeans and then spend all day stiff in a wheel chair, I choose comfort and unrestricted movement.

Not that I think adults should be wearing onsies out in public and a "back door" that is really pathetic. But jeans that are as comfortable as pajamas, why not? Can you really tell the difference?

Jen shares her life of special needs with a special needs child at Different But determined ( http://differentbutdetermined.com/ ).

I literally JUST did a post in my blog ( http://www.musicianswidow.com/blog/2011/01/17/beca... ) YESTERDAY about this same issue!

My final line sums it up: It will make you appreciate PJ days as something to enjoy, not as everyday wear. It will help you focus. It will make you happier.

Denise
Musician's Widow ( http://www.musicianswidow.com )

I apologize that my article might have come across as judgemental, however, it is just my observation and opinion. I completely understand that everyone has something going on in their life (ie: sickness, layoffs, depression, old age, etc.) and to categorize everyone as lazy is incorrect.

I feel that in general we as a people have become lazy in taking care of ourselves. I am not saying that everyone has to be beautiful, or have to have money to look like the people on the covers of magazines. I have some very close friends that do not have the means to go and get a designer wardrobe or a snappy haircut, but still manage to look nice. I am actually in the same boat. I don't have bags of money and all of the time in the world to worry about my outfit or my appearance. I am the mom of a two-year-old, and oftentimes I am lucky to have a few minutes to myself to go to the bathroom alone! Hahaha! I do feel that it is important to myself, not for anyone else, to look appropriate. Even if it is just me and my daughter at home all day, I do it for me.

This article wasn't meant to sound superficial or condescending, merely an observation.

Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it!

I would be lying if I said that I didn't didn't enjoy staying in my yoga pants for a few extra hours on the weekends. I am a stay at home mother and as hard as it is for me to break away from the cozy clothes, I try to think of my SAHM life as my job. I have only been doing this for about 2 years, and it is still a work in progress!! It is difficult! LOL!!

Thanks for the comment and thank you for reading!!

I'm trying my damnedest not to write a whole column here.

But all those days you're hearkening back to... Women were expected to be a complement to their men. Even if they worked, they were expected to be home and presentably dressed by the time their husbands came home.

Not to mention all of the issues surrounding self-image that women battle from childhood.

So maybe a little flexibility in the grooming standards isn't such a bad thing, if it gets us further away from this ridiculous idea that we have to look a certain way at any time, let alone all the time.

That said, as a depressive, I do tend to function better when I make an effort to get dressed in something approaching normal clothing.

So... Yes and no. Would it be nice if we all took a little more pride in how we looked? Despite the feminist in me screaming bloody murder, yeah honestly it would be.

That said, you have no idea why these people are dressing down. There are times when you literally can't handle both getting into "real" clothes AND leaving the house. Those days, you feel proud that you got outdoors, not worrying if you look acceptable to other people.

Let's not forget busy moms and stressed out students who maybe just dash out to the grocery store for a minute. Maybe they have all they can handle just getting everything done in that moment, and dress is the least of their concerns.

Point is, I worry about how quickly we all (myself included) judge people based on such outward trivialities. You and I know nothing about that person's life and what might have caused him/her to go outside dressed that way.

Since I was laid off in March 2009, I've been at home. I'm taking University courses. I find that my achievements for the day correspond almost directly to how I have dressed (or not dressed) for the day.

Shower, jeans, shirt, hair & teeth brushed = productive day.

No shower, pj's or uber comfy sweats, pony or whatever hair = semi-productive to downright unproductive day.

Plus, when I dress nice, I feel good, and when Hubs gets home he notices and then it makes me feel even better about myself because I know that my Hubs thinks I'm pretty.

(Of course, there are the days that I'm just a buzzing bee and clean the entire house whilst in jammies, then shower & dress etc, then have an utterly fantastically productive day ... those are rare though!)