This is a really well written article that makes good points, with which I disagree.

1. Most of us can't dress well off the rack. We simply can't. Goodwill is only useful if you can actually get there and if they happen to have something you like in your size.

2. Go into a jeans shop. Women have two options, typically: 1. Frayed, 2. Skinny to super skinny. I haven't worn dark-washed denim in years not because I don't want to...I *want* to wear dark-washed denim. However, I *need* to have jeans that fit, have pockets and aren't uncomfortably skinny.

3. Dress codes very often end up racist. Before the pandemic there was a guy in a mall near here who specialized in cleaning sneakers. I HOPE he survived and is back in business, I haven't been to that mall since early 2020. Somebody asked me who would have *sneakers* professionally explained. The answer, 90%, is rich Black people because in their street style, very expensive sneakers ($300 plus a pair) are important. Are $300 sneakers dressing down? $300 jeans? Nope, they aren't.

Caring about your looks is extremely expensive and many of us have to settle, after desperate searching, for clothes that kind of fit.

As for the branded clothing, it is very much not a European thing and I actually HATE the fact that my riding bag has a brand name emblazoned huge on the outside (it's actually a soccer bag that works well and is cheaper than purpose-made horseback riding equipment). Hate it. But guess what?

It was the only bag I could get that was the right size and a had a separate pocket for my boots.

Dressing "well" is:

1. A privilege that is more and more reserved to the rich, not even just the middle class.

2. Something that doesn't mean the same thing to everyone.

I present at science fiction cons in jeans and a denim jacket. The jacket is a signature piece covered in pins. To me, that IS dressing well. Would you consider it sloppy?