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Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

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Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#121
post #6

The article's title is "Showing off your status and wealth makes you seem less co-operative", and the title here on HN is absolutely wrong. I like wearing flashy clothes myself, and I would even say it has proven advantageous to cooperation in my line of work, so I was curious about this article. However, nowhere is it stated that flashy clothes make people less likely to cooperate with you. They say wearing clothes…

One case where that works against people is sales. For example, we had a sales rep for some software we use that would always show up with gaudy gold rings on almost every finger, an obviously-5-figure watch, high end suit, etc.

It sent a pretty strong signal to us that their margins and commissions had a lot of room to negotiate down. I suspect we negotiated harder with this organization than we would have otherwise, looked for opportunities to reduce usage, and so on. Not solely because of the wealthy display, but I'm sure it played some part.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#122
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uniqlo is too normcore for my taste.

Same for me. It took me some time to find a brand that doesn't dazzle everybody with their logo, uses the fabric and design that suits me, is durable enough and so on. I place a substantial order and forget about clothing for a few years.

What brand did you opt for over Uniqlo?

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#123

I know some folks that own a successful clothing company. The wife is one of the top designers in the field. She's won all kinds of accolades, and is respected by the top people in the world (but not well-known, outside the industry). They wear expensive clothes, but it's not noticeable, unless you really look. I suppose they "put on the ritz," when they go to industry events, but I don't attend those. Some of the hu…

I think what people might be missing here is that there are $60 unbranded T-Shirts and $300 jeans.

If you have even a mild eye for clothing you would still be able to see that they are not just a hanes shirt with levis. Casual fashion is a thing too.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#124
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that's the spirit in which you want to take this conversation then, yes, absolutely, show up to a job interview in a tux. If you're applying any where other than Downton Abbey, then you get what you deserve for taking the conversation in this direction

Can you help me get on track by sharing what you mean by its never a faux pas to show up overdressed? That’s the part that just seems quite surprising to me in my experience. I would say it’s just as easy to show up over as under dressed in an awkward way, rather than something that can never happen.

I never said it wasn't possible to show up overdressed. You just said that.

I simply stated what I had been told that if you're going to make a fashion faux pas it is better to be overdressed than under. What is confusing?

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except for sneakers, I can't think of a single category of clothing where it is common to have visible logos?

What? All of those branded T-shirts, hoodies/jumpers, blue jeans that have logos embroidered, printed, stitched on to them doesn't ring a bell? All of the sports people do it. Nike swoosh. Adidas symbol. Kappa's posed back-to-back figures, etc. Abecrombie & Fitch's giant A&F on every thing. Ball caps with logos. None of this sounds vaguely familiar?

Yeah, I guess it depends on location to some degree. In Europe, the cheap mainstream would be H&M and Zara, neither of which puts logos on things.

Above that, you're wearing a dress shirt, which never ever has a logo. Adidas and the like is strictly worn only by people who have lost control of their lives.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#126

I was having this talk the other day: I hate "high end" logo clothes and don't want to compete with people that showcase their logo clothes. The average clothing store is decent enough for me. I would buy clothes with no distinctive marks if I could find them. Just plain material and colors.

Gustin [weargustin.com] is great for this in men's clothing.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#127
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you help me get on track by sharing what you mean by its never a faux pas to show up overdressed? That’s the part that just seems quite surprising to me in my experience. I would say it’s just as easy to show up over as under dressed in an awkward way, rather than something that can never happen.

I never said it wasn't possible to show up overdressed. You just said that. I simply stated what I had been told that if you're going to make a fashion faux pas it is better to be overdressed than under. What is confusing?

Ah ok, I had somehow misread your comment as saying it is never a faux pas to show up over dressed. Thanks for the clarification, that makes way more sense!

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#128

I was having this talk the other day: I hate "high end" logo clothes and don't want to compete with people that showcase their logo clothes. The average clothing store is decent enough for me. I would buy clothes with no distinctive marks if I could find them. Just plain material and colors.

I would buy clothes with no distinctive marks if I could find them. Uniqlo

Also J Crew. They have great t-shirts made from actual cotton instead of plastic blends.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#129
post #94

I was having this talk the other day: I hate "high end" logo clothes and don't want to compete with people that showcase their logo clothes. The average clothing store is decent enough for me. I would buy clothes with no distinctive marks if I could find them. Just plain material and colors.

>> I would buy clothes with no distinctive marks if I could find them. Just plain material and colors. The irony being that actual "high-class" clothing is exactly what you're describing, at least since I've been a lucid adult. Seems like there is a bit of an inverse correlation between a person's income and the amount of logos they'll tolerate on their clothing.

I did notice the more expensive the item the more discreet the logo, but it's often still there.

Still, I find it distasteful to pay extra so they don't stick a logo. So I don't.

Re: Wearing flashy/status clothes makes people less likely to cooperate with you

#130
post #95

A long time ago in one of the first properties I rented the washing machine stopped working. My flatmate called the agency and a day later, I think it was a Saturday morning, a rough looking man turned up to repair it. I remember he had a tattered pair of working jeans and a similarly tattered polo shirt on. He pulled the machine out, took it apart diagnosed the issue and popped out to his car get a part. While he wa…

I’m of the opinion that truly good clothes do not need to sport a logo at all. Unless you can see/feel the quality, why pay a premium just to show people you spent 500% more on your shirt?
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