Seriously? OMG! WTF?

You’ve likely heard the expression that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed, and it’s undoubtedly true. It’s much less embarrassing to walk into a venue wearing slightly more formal clothes than your peers than it is to walk into a venue wearing casual clothes when everyone else is in a suit.

But is it possible to be overdressed to the point of social faux pas?

The Case for Overdressing

There is a case to be made that it’s not possible to overdress, and that dressing at a formality level above what’s expected can actually be a good thing.

Here are some points of reasoning to justify that:

•       Formality assurance. For starters, overdressing is a way of practically guaranteeing that you’re following the minimum expected level of formality. If you’re not sure exactly what smart casual means, wearing a suit is a great insurance policy to ensure you’re exceeding expectations. This can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable in your environment as well.
•       Respect and admiration. The better you dress, the more respect and admiration you’re likely to earn from others. If you’re the one who’s best dressed in the room, you might have an easier time networking and making new connections – with a great first impression as well.
•       Confidence and self-esteem. It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that your style and fashion choices can impact your confidence and self-esteem. If you know you look good with higher-formality attire and feel confident wearing these items, you’ll demonstrate that confidence in your actions. At this point, overdressing isn’t about how other people feel; it’s about how you feel.
•       Standing out. Overdressing is also a tactful technique to use if you want to stand out a bit. If you separate yourself from everyone else by dressing slightly better than them, you could get more positive attention.

The Case Against Overdressing

Of course, there’s also a case to be made that overdressing can be problematic in some circumstances.

For example:

•       Stealing attention. Some people argue that overdressing is a way of stealing attention. You’re artificially drawing attention to yourself by dressing well above the expected level, and this can cause wrinkles for some of the social dynamics at this event.
•       Ignoring the dress code. If the event organizers have set a dress code, it’s a good idea to take that dress code seriously. If you dress at a level far beyond the recommendation, people could perceive it as a way of flagrantly ignoring the dress code. To some people, it may even seem like an act of disrespect toward the event organizers – though this is still far more respectful than underdressing.
•       Embarrassing others. Dressing more formally than others could make other people feel as if they’re underdressed, even if they aren’t from a literal perspective. That said, the bigger the event is, the less this is a problem – and it’s not necessarily your responsibility to make other people feel comfortable in their clothes.
•       Standing out. We mentioned standing out in the case for overdressing, but standing out can also be a bad thing. If you’re celebrating a particular person or if this is the type of event where you’re expected to blend in, standing out due to overdressing can be problematic.

General Guidelines for Success

There are two dissenting opinions here, and both of them have valid foundational reasoning. That makes this a difficult space to navigate. Still, there are some general guidelines you can follow for success:

•       Read the dress code. If there’s an official dress code in place, read it and try to follow it. There’s nothing wrong with being slightly above the target level of formality, but don’t jump more than half a level at a time.
•       Ask others. If you want to make sure you dress at a similar level as everyone else, ask other people going to the event what they’re going to wear. You don’t have to copy them exactly, but if you get a feel for the types of outfits you’re going to see, you can make a much more appropriate decision.
•       Feel confident. If you’re torn between outfit choices, lean toward the one that makes you feel more confident. If you feel good about what you’re wearing, the opinions of others shouldn’t affect you.
•       Err on the side of caution. There’s nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution; in other words, in an ambiguous situation, overdressing slightly is clearly the best option.

So what’s the bottom line here? Is it really possible to be overdressed? The answer is yes and no. There are occasions when overdressing can steal attention, embarrass others, and ignore the wishes of event organizers. 

But for the most part, thoughtfully overdressing is rarely perceived as disrespectful or harmful to the event.