I had to travel again for work yesterday, and arrived at the meeting site about 90 minutes early, so I decided to kill some time and go to the Coldstone Creamery across the street. As a sidebar, you know how if you tip them a dollar at Coldstone, they have to sing some kind of super-enthusiastic T.G.I. Fridays sort of song? Apparently in high school, James used to go to his suburban Coldstone Creamery, where he was the only customer and there were only like one or two people working there, and bring maybe 6 dollars, and just periodically tip a dollar for no reason other than forcing them to sing those stupid songs, which they did with furious rage on their faces.
Anyways, I walk in, and it's chock full of high school or maybe middle school kids and a few poorly dressed parents. In I come, on a lovely 75 degree day, in a full suit and tie. Pretty awkward - everyone had this look on their face like "Who does this douche think he is?" But what the hell, I already walked here - no 13-year olds are scaring me away. So then, picking up my briefcase, I walk up to the 16-year old cashier, resplendent in his acne and braces, and muster the straightest face I possibly could.
"Can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, I'll have a Cookie Doughn't You Want Some, please".
"Sure, a Cookie Doughn't You Want Some. You want a 'Like it' or 'Love it'?"
"'Like it' is good."
As I tossed my tie over my shoulder to avoid any ice cream stains, it occurred me that I'm rarely overdressed for any situation. The whole experience threw me for a little bit of a loop. I'm wondering, is it better to be overdressed or underdressed for a given, typical situation? Like, would you rather be in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts at a wedding, or wearing a tuxedo at someone's beach house? Annie said she'd opt for being underdressed, because it's embarrassing either way, but at least when you're underdressed, you're physically comfortable, which I think is a good way of looking at it. Eager to hear other thoughts on overdressed versus underdressed.
And in case you were wondering, my Cookie Doughn't You Want Some was tasty, but melted extremely quickly. It would have been a lot of wasted ice cream had I gone with the "Love It" instead of the "Like It".
Anyways, I walk in, and it's chock full of high school or maybe middle school kids and a few poorly dressed parents. In I come, on a lovely 75 degree day, in a full suit and tie. Pretty awkward - everyone had this look on their face like "Who does this douche think he is?" But what the hell, I already walked here - no 13-year olds are scaring me away. So then, picking up my briefcase, I walk up to the 16-year old cashier, resplendent in his acne and braces, and muster the straightest face I possibly could.
"Can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, I'll have a Cookie Doughn't You Want Some, please".
"Sure, a Cookie Doughn't You Want Some. You want a 'Like it' or 'Love it'?"
"'Like it' is good."
As I tossed my tie over my shoulder to avoid any ice cream stains, it occurred me that I'm rarely overdressed for any situation. The whole experience threw me for a little bit of a loop. I'm wondering, is it better to be overdressed or underdressed for a given, typical situation? Like, would you rather be in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts at a wedding, or wearing a tuxedo at someone's beach house? Annie said she'd opt for being underdressed, because it's embarrassing either way, but at least when you're underdressed, you're physically comfortable, which I think is a good way of looking at it. Eager to hear other thoughts on overdressed versus underdressed.
And in case you were wondering, my Cookie Doughn't You Want Some was tasty, but melted extremely quickly. It would have been a lot of wasted ice cream had I gone with the "Love It" instead of the "Like It".
12 comments:
overdressed for anything work-related. underdressed for everything else
i'd say overdressed. at least you look good. i hope.
Why didn't you tip?
Do you tip at Starbucks? Seems like the same thing to me...
i think he's asking why you didn't tip so they would sing
oh, and it's easier to dress down once you realize you're overdressed, but if you're underdressed, it's hard to remedy that
Oh, I don't tip because 1) I don't think they deserve it (see my Starbucks comment earlier) and 2) I don't want to hear any singing.
I'd have to say it depends on personality. If you're comfortable looking dressy, I'd say go with that, but if you're worried about feeling awkward, go with underdressed. (and this is for everything non-work related...otherwise, I'd follow the first comment)
"Tip, tip, hooray!"
Watch out for Jamba Juice, too.
writer's block? how about screech on celebrity fit club? or those atrocious david blaine commercials?
i'd definitely go for underdressed bc yeah... you're more comfortable. Although I feel like when ur overdressed people tend to snicker ... but when ur underdressed people may consider it rude even depending on the occasion. so in conclusion... I don't know anymore. HAHa
id rather be overdressed.. you feel a little uncomfortable, but when youre overdressed you can take off the tie, the jacket, unbutton/untuck the shirt..make it look a little more casual, but when youre underdressed there isnt much you can do. and update your blog here eric, im tired of opening up my bookmarks and seeing that coldstone logo over and over. haha
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