In my guest post for the awesome J. Money at Budgets are Sexy I listed the ten things I didn’t expect in retirement.
#5 was “I’ve gotten very comfortable wearing casual clothes.” Here’s what I said on that subject:
I’m not going to say I have always been an uptight dresser. Let’s just say I was always dressed for the occasion. I like to look nice and professional whether at work, church, or even out shopping. I’m not wearing $1,000 suits by any means, but I like to be dressed “nicely” wherever I go.
Cue the workout pants. You know, the baggy, comfortable ones similar to what basketball players wear during warm-ups? They refresh my soul.
It took me about three days to go from button-down Bob to casual Clyde.
Do you know how comfortable workout pants are? Answer: VERY comfortable. These are for colder temperatures. Do you know how comfortable shorts are? Answer: VERY comfortable. These are for warmer temperatures.
Both are accompanied by a t-shirt and/or a Columbia thin pullover depending on the temperature.
These are now my clothing wear of choice. I haven’t donned even a pair of Dockers more than twice in eight months (I did wear a pair to a funeral, however). I’ve gotten to the point where even putting on jeans feels like I’m “dressing up”. And they just aren’t as comfortable as I like.
We even joke at my non-profit board meetings that I dress up for them by wearing my “nice” workout pants or shorts.
But what do I care? I don’t have anyone to impress.
Consider Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and the like. No dressing up there. They don’t (didn’t in Jobs’ case) care what they are wearing, they just want to be comfortable. And while I don’t have billions like they do, I am financially independent and can wear whatever I want.
Much different than my pre-retirement days…
As time has passed since I wrote that I have become even more enamored with casual clothes. And a couple experiences recently reinforced that. I’d like to share them with you.
Jimmy over Warren
My wife, daughter, and I were taking one of our last walks before my daughter went off to college.
Somehow the subject of “dressing up” came up. I think it was because I was going to meet some of the administrators at her college and wondered aloud if they would care if I wore shorts and a t-shirt.
Not too far into the conversation I blurted out:
“When it comes to dressing up, I’m more Jimmy Buffett than Warren Buffett.”
My wife and daughter groaned a bit, but I thought it was clever. I amuse myself sometimes. 🙂
My wife didn’t take too long in replying:
“When it comes to money, I think you’re more Warren Buffett than Jimmy Buffett.”
🙂
Actually, Jimmy Buffett has done quite well for himself. But I think we can all agree that Warren has done at least a smidge better.
Anyway, it surprised me how easily and naturally I voiced this thought. It came out so quickly because it’s true — I like to be comfortable these days and to me casual clothes are part of that.
As we finished the conversation the consensus was that the administrators wouldn’t care what I wore and if they did, who cared anyway. So a few weeks later I wore shorts and a t-shirt and things were fine. And I was very comfortable.
Award Ceremony
In September I attended another college homecoming. My best buddies were going and our fraternity was celebrating its 150th anniversary, so I headed back.
One of my friends was being honored as a distinguished alumni. Since he was going to be tied up with various activities, I wasn’t going to have much time with him.
I called him a couple months before the event and we discussed when we could get together.
He suggested, “You could attend the ceremony where they formally recognize me as a distinguished alumni.”
My first thought was: “Ugh. I’m going to have to dress up for this thing.”
I replied, “What are you going to wear?”
He said, “I’ll probably wear something nice since it’s a ceremony and I’m being honored.”
I was dying inside. Could I survive a sportcoat, slacks, uncomfortable shoes, and tie?
I asked, “If I come, do you think I should dress up too or should I simply come in casual clothes like I’m retired and don’t care what others think of me.”
He said, “You can do what you want, but if it was me I’d come like I’m retired and don’t care what others think of me.” 🙂
So that’s what I did.
The ceremony was great, I got to celebrate with my friend, and I was comfortable. A side benefit was that I looked like I had no money so the college’s development officer left me alone.
Ode to Sweatpants
I can’t remember the last time I wore even jeans — they are just too dressy (and uncomfortable) for me.
In the summer, it’s shorts and a t-shirt.
In the winter, sweatpants (though they are the “nice” ones) and a long-sleeved shirt.
If I have to wear something else, there better be a good reason for it.
I know, it’s not a big thing. But it is one of the small, awesome perks of retirement that many people don’t consider.
So take some time and imagine what your life would be like dressing comfortably all the time. Pretty cool, right?
And stay tuned. I’m only a year into retirement at this point. By the end of year two I may never get out of my PJs! 🙂
Exactly! I’ve been retired since February…and have these thoughts all the time. I met a former colleague for lunch yesterday and debated between my normal attire of shorts and a polo shirt…or jeans….shorts won out…although cooler weather today in Florida….jeans might win out today!
You and I are kindred spirits. I’m retired and dress casually as well. 🙂
I wear t-shirts and shorts all summer. I wear sweatpants indoors in winter, but I do wear jeans outdoors.
I should start by saying that I’m NOT retired, but hope to be in 9 years. While I understand that casual clothes cost less to buy and maintain, I am dismayed by the overall turn in the culture to the “slobification of America” ( word credit to Tim Gunn). I like to dress up. I don’t do it for others. I do it for myself. I’m not talking about a daily regiment of suits and pearls, but what’s wrong with pants with zippers, tops with structure and seaming, that show a comfortable and neat appearance? I’m at work now and perfectly comfortable in a stylish top, cardigan, pants and heels. I only wear t shirts and yoga pants to work out. I never wear pajamas outside of the house. (I’ll never understand people who do). I am uncomfortable in a message T, think that most workout gear is shapeless and unflattering and am baffled by those who wear these things in the name of authenticity. I would be horrified if someone took my picture and I didn’t dress for an occasion. I used to think it’s my age and experience that influences this, but reading this article, I guess it’s not. Makes me sad.
Have to side with Ellen, to the greater degree. Thanks for the moniker, slobification, it largely works. To my observation, which tends to be on the ‘critical’ side, the emergence of track pants has been a rather large and unwelcome shift. My label for track-pant-wearers tends to be “have you given up?” On life. Unless its a gym, track, hike, camping sorts of environment, I do not see the fit in this opinion oriented discussion. Shorts and jeans are better go-to’s for a trip to the coffee shop or grocery shopping. We are seeing the designers try to pick-up their track pants game. The wearers of these garment will thus spend more in the newest of the clothing categories to hit “keep up with the Jones’ “. For gender completeness, yoga pants are not in the same category (I suspect a double-standard accusation is forth-coming).
That’s what is great about retirement – you can dress however you like!!!
As you can tell, I dress for myself, just like you. We just have different feelings on what that means.
I never wear PJs out either. Also don’t wear yoga pants. 😉
I guess I’m part of the slobification. I’m a white collar worker (engineering), and I show up to work every day in a pair of jeans and a white Kirkland t-shirt (I buy them 6 at a time from Costco, for about $2.50 each).
I’ve never work a tie to work. If I’m meeting with a fancy person (I avoid these encounters whenever possible) I might wear a button-up shirt. I know some companies still have a dress code, but hopefully those companies are dying out like the dinosaurs they are.
Like you, I don’t dress for others, I do it for myself. I wonder what the sum total of my clothing and dry-cleaning bills would be if I’d tried to be a fancy person for the last 20 years. I’m 42 and able to retire whenever I want, and this is in part due to not spending money buying fancy stuff.
Suits (male or female) are essentially a uniform, like the scrubs my wife wears or the white jacket for my son. I don’t wear a suit any more for anything but a formal occasion (wedding, funeral, etc.) because I don’t have to and the bloody things are uncomfortable!
And, ESI, you’re right: the people looking for contributions usually stay away because they think you’re broke!
This post really cracked me up. You are one funny guy ESI, and I look forward to hanging out and hitting the trails with you one day.
Since I started working for a big hospital a few years ago I need to bring a tie in when I come to work. Usually once I go to my desk I promptly remove it and only put it on again (with my badge) when in public areas and in meetings. I also leave my suit top on a coat stand in my office and use it only when needed.
I’d have to say my preferred style of dress is the high end comfortable smart fabrics like you can buy at REI. I love materials that wick moisture and keep you comfortable in different temperatures. Also materials that looks smart, don’t wrinkle, dry quickly and are soft to touch. I’d be a model for REI when fully retired, they are my most comfortable clothes and worth the very expensive prices although they don’t necessary flash expensive like a luxury brand. I take care of them and they last for many years so it’s a great deal overall.
I do notice when I dress better, especially in Asia, I get treated better in normal everyday life. Status and ‘face’ is a big thing out here. That’s why it’s nice to come back to the USA and chill out with the multi millionaires who are dressed in sweats. 🙂
And being in good shape is much more important than any type of clothes you can buy. A good posture, 6 pack (or 2 or 4 pack) and positive attitude will do more than the most expensive Italian threads.
-Mike
There is something about going to a nice dinner and wearing dockers and nice shirt instead of jeans and t-shirt. If you are going to a dinner that honors a friend, why not show that same respect? Not that you didn’t care for him, because you talked to him and he didn’t have a problem. Still the dinner was honoring him. And I hate wearing dockers. I have one pair. I am a jeans, shorts guy myself.
I just figure if others are dressing up, I could make effort too. This is America though. We say we can do what we want and we don’t care what people think. There are worse problems in world than worrying about what someone is wearing at a nice dinner though.
You see me walking down the sidewalk and you would never know that I have over $1M. Jeans and t-shirt 95% of time and I work in a supposedly professional setting. I wonder if I do that to stay under the radar and at the same time make a point to myself that I probably have more money than the guy in the fancy suit that just walked by me looking smug.
Happy Shorts Day!
For the record the “casual clothes” I wore to the awards ceremony were jeans, dress shirt, and sport coat. I did keep the tennis shoes. 😉
I felt very dressed up but was probably middle of the pack as far as dressiness (is that a word?)
Glad you clarified what you wore at the dinner. I was picturing your casual wear being shorts with hopefully a shirt at the dinner. Ha ha.
Sportcoat, my wife bought me one three years ago to wear with my jeans. I have yet to wear it. Gotta surprise her someday with it. I might look like a million bucks. Ha ha.
The issue boils down to cultural standards and the desire to please others. Some people dress up because they worry about what others will think if they’re seen wearing casual clothes or without done-up hair and makeup, etc. I think we are in the early stages of suits being relegated to the closet for everything but weddings and funerals – if even for funerals. My generation looks at a suit and asks “Why?”. Really, look at a suit and ask yourself what the point is of wearing one. The old adage of ‘you work better when you dress better’ isn’t really true. You work better when you’re comfortable, not sitting in awkward positions to keep your clothes from wrinkling. Jeans are considered normal now because we have better, nicer jeans than back in the day when they were considered to be only for hard work. I have to wear business casual at work but I would much prefer if I could wear jeans and an untucked polo with tennis shoes. I hardly see anyone throughout the day and those that I do probably couldn’t care less if I wore jeans instead of khakis.
“But what do I care? I don’t have anyone to impress.
That is the perfect definition of freedom, ESI. You have what everyone wants.
btw, I know you are ‘the funny one’ in the family, and your wife sounds pretty funny, too! She is listening to you. Great shared humor and communication. You have many kinds of great wealth, ESI!
Nice post, ESI. You had me lolling with the bit on looking broke in front of the college development officer.
In my opinion, slobification is not simply the style of clothes you wear but more so how they fit. I have seen plenty of people in ill-fitting dress clothes that made them look rather shabby. On the other side, I regularly see people in workout attire that I would never label slobs. I am a firm believer in wearing whatever makes you feel comfortable, but what I would recommend to anyone is to choose items that fit properly.
As far as the “look good, feel good, perform good” mantra, there might be some truth to it, at least at the onset. However, there are plenty of entrepreneurs and startups out there who could make a convincing argument that your attire makes no difference. Again, wear whatever you want because your suit (track or business) makes you no more or less than someone else.
huh? I didn’t think this was controversial topic but I guess it could be one. I think there is a cultural shift about dressing appropriately. flip-flops, board shorts, and a tank top appropriate for a flight? … maybe if you’re headed to Hawaii, but the Bay Area (Ca)?? I don’t know how i feel about this but I can see the shift.
When I was a consultant for anybody paying my bills including Fortune 500 companies back in the day (80’s), i’d wear a suit. Polished shoes and an expensive tie was part of the norm. As time went on, the business casual attire came into being. Nowadays, there are infinite pages written on company manuals as to what is appropriate in their “business casual” environment. For example, Jeans are ok as long as they are not torn or ripped. No tube tops or holster tops, no yoga pants, no flip-flops … etc. You get the point.
In my case, I started out my career in slacks, a button-up shirt and tie. As I became more successful, I graduated to a suit and tie. Then came back to slacks, shirt and tie when i worked for an apparel manufacturer. I moved jobs and it was ‘business casual’ as a broad definition but no tie required. In my current job, I wear jeans almost everyday with a polo shirt, and it’s comfortable.
I can’t help it but realize i’m getting close to being FI as I see my dress habits becoming more of a comfort-based than needing to impress someone. I once heard a man wearing a bright red jacket in a financial seminar, sort of like those Real Estate agents used to wear, say, “When you’re a millionaire, you can get away dressing anyway you like”.
I’m recently retired.. While I used to wear slacks and shirt tucked in at work for years, for the past several years before I retired, it was mostly jeans to work.. Now retired, I have a favorite pair or shorts and a favorite t shirt that my wife hates.. because the shorts are ripped and the tshirt is beginning to get holes.. I did finally break down and purchased a new shorts on-line just like the old pair.. however, I still like the tshirt even tho it’s 10 years old. Even tho I could afford it, I was never one to spend much money on clothes.
A new t-shirt. Or, a new wife.
Choose. While the choice is still yours.
I work for a family owned business, some-what small, and am allowed to dress casually. In fact one of the VP’s dresses very casually. My husband works for a very large organization but he works from home so he can whatever he wants. Guess we are just both very fortunate.
Hi ESI,
Funny, funny post. And so true. My husband came home from work yesterday, took one look at me and said “Oh, I see you’re still wearing your blogging outfit.” BTW, my blogging “outfit” consists of a pair of sweatpants from Target and an old college sweatshirt.
Yes, sweats all day! While I have a ways to go to early retirement, I’m happy to hear that one of the simple pleasures will be wearing sweat pants and t-shirts everyday … awesome!
Tee shirts and shorts or sweatpants, depending on the weather if I’m knocking around the house or just going to the grocery store. If I have to go out and meet or potentially run into someone then I usually throw on a polo shirt and khakis. They are comfortable and it is dressed up enough for pretty much any situation.
It is fun not to really have to give two chits about this anymore 😉 Oh, did my spell check not work right again?
I have two people to please with what I wear–myself and my wife. I choose the level of comfort and she helps me with “style.” I don’t mind looking classy if it feels comfy. But then, it goes with the white hair and amazing movie-star handsomeness I’m stuck with. And I don’t want to pull down my smoking-hot wife, either. It’s a burden I’m willing to bear.
As I read this I’m getting ready to go out for lunch and run a few errands. I have my retirement uniform on. Cargo shorts, sandals, and a t shirt that I will change to a polo shirt. Retirement living is casual and comfy. I haven’t worn blue jeans since I was 18, but do like shorts, work out pants and causal pants. When I worked at a corporate headquarters years ago, it was suit and tie and even wearing the jacket at lunch but off at the desk. That slowly changed and for the better. I have worn a suit twice in the last 2 years of retirement. A wedding and a funeral. My wife is retired and also smoking hot – she is a head turner even at 72. She always “dresses up” and full make up to go out (anywhere). She says that is what is most comfortable for her.
My DH and I both work and I try to dress nice on days I go in. But he is not a nice dresser at all. But what he does now it doesn’t matter. Think more jobs and zukerberg type jobs. So guess it depends on job/career/industry. But I must say both of us have never worn professional attire so now he’s more of a slob than before.
Do not underestimate the power of overalls! They have become my casual uniform, harkening back to my ancestors who were farmers. In the summer, it’s overalls and a white T shirt, or if i want to dress up, kakis and Tommy Bahama shirts.
The last but most important element is a nice hat. I have some Panamas and fedoras. I’m 64, and twice in the last month I’ve had young folks stop me and say, “I love your look, Dude!”
I just re-read this column, as it’s one of my favorites that you have written. Fashion choices aside, the fact that you can (and do) wear whatever you want, because you can, is a nice illustration of what an early retirement can enable for each of us. The same ‘logic’ can be applied to so many other aspects of life that working 8 – 6 requires of us. (side note: if you have a 9-5 job, you’re doing better than a lot of us where our jobs require much more time).
Keep up the good work. You probably don’t even realize how many anonymous people read and enjoy your posts, and they are mostly motivating.
Thanks so much for this comment, Ken!
I really appreciate it!