I prefer casual clothes to anything. I'm not concerned about my appearence like some people are. It can give a superfluous image depending on what you are wearing, but I don't really have a problem with that

If you don't dress up for them, then you don't respect them. I would hope you would at least shower and change clothes, but kids now days don't care about anyone except themselves.

To be honest, I think its nice to show respect for the person who's party it is to make an bit of an effort. You don't have to go for all out cocktail gear just to go out for drinks, but brushing your hair and wearing clean clothes is a good start. I know some people think its shallow, but if someone turns up at say, a smart wedding, in their jeans and football shirt looking like they just rolled off the sofa I'd get the impression that they just didn't really care about the person who's wedding it was. It might be OK if the couple had specified "casual dress", but if an invite says black tie, and you're not willing to respect the person who invited you by honouring that then frankly you probably just shouldn't bother going. Its a bit like when an invite says BYOB and you turn up empty handed. It's just polite, and shows a bit of respect, that's all. Plus, dressing up and making yourself look half-decent before you leave the house can actually be a good thing. It shows you respect yourself a bit, as well as others. You'll probably feel better about yourself if you go out looking like you made a bit of effort. It doesn't have to be conventional - if you're more of a black lipstick and eyebrow piercing type, (provided its appropriate to the situation) that's fair enough- at least it shows you care.

Etiquette Forum answer: It is disrespectful to go to another's home dressed shabbily. It is improper behavior to attend a party or a wedding or any type of social event in anything less than "Sunday best" as it used to be called. That is the "etiquette" answer. The common sense answer is, you should always show respect to those whose homes you visit by dressing cleanly and nicely. It shows to them that you thought enough of them to make an effort to look nice for your visit. People should not go to formal affairs unless they are willing to wear formal attire...as uncomfortable as it may be. Having worn a wedding gown before I can ASSURE you there is NO ONE in the building more uncomfortable than the bride! If the bride can wear that gown for HOURS - smiling the entire time, then the guests can do the same....suits and dresses will not kill anyone for a couple of hours. People showing disrespect for others is why we see mid-drift shirts, skirts with the wearers rear-end hanging out, tops with breasts exposed to the nipples, pants with holes in the crotch, etc...being worn in public. It's disrespectful to others and 10 years down the road the person wearing it is generally going to wonder what the heck they were thinking wearing it too!

Clothes have been shown to affect people's behavior (ie. dressy clothes = proper behavior. skanky clothes = disrespectful behavior, and etc.). For my money, though, people are going to have a better time if they feel comfy. Bring on a great party with so-so clothes over a so-so party with great clothes!

I think it is artificial - let me put it this way, I know who I feel like 'dressing up' for without being 'forced' to....and the people I don't feel like doing that for I don't need to go near in the first place....

I don't think anyone needs to wear a ball gown to anyone's home but it is nice to dress up at least a little bit.Nothing hanging out, no rips or stains. You can be comfortable yet still look good The dollar store flip flops and cut off's need to be used for the tubing party and that's it. I was flabbergasted when my husband's cousin brought a "friend" to our wedding and she was wearing a tube top and had more spare tires than michelin.That's the kind of thing people should NOT do.