When Dressing Down Costs More Than We Think (The Drew Mariani Show)

It used to mean something to get dressed. On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew recalls when people wouldn’t dream of running errands in pajamas, and when a night out called for real effort — “gowns and jackets and ties.” Now, he says, restaurants quietly drop dress codes, and virtually everywhere, hoodies, sneakers, and athletic wear feel normal.

Drew isn’t arguing for “uppity” formality. He’s asking a sharper question: “What did we trade away to get to this point?” Because clothing doesn’t just cover our bodies. It can shape our attitudes and behavior.

He points to what psychologists have observed for years: clothing affects confidence, performance, and self-perception. When you dress with intention, you can think with more focus and act with more self-discipline. When you dress casually, your mind suddenly gives itself permission to relax, and that can spill into our social and even moral habits.

Drew’s producer Gavin backed him up. Looking at his professors, “dressed to the nines every day”, he realized it wasn’t vanity. It was respect. “I’m paying a lot of money to be in this chair across from them,” Gavin said, “and I’m dressed like a slob.”

Maybe “dress for success” isn’t just a slogan. Maybe it’s a signal: this moment matters, and so do the people in front of you.


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John Hanretty serves as a Digital Media Producer for Relevant Radio®. He is a graduate of the Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas. Besides being passionate about writing, his hobbies include drawing and digital design. You can read more of his daily articles at relevantradio.com and on the Relevant Radio® app.