I’m originally from the East Coast, but I grew up in the West.  Having visited relatives back East frequently throughout my life, I’m continually surprised at the differences in the way people dress in, say, Pittsburgh as opposed to Denver.

My dad used to say that in Denver, wearing clean jeans is considered dressing up.  While this is a bit of an exaggeration for the sake of humor, like all jokes it also has an element of truth to it.  Dresses and slacks aren’t uncommon here by any means, but they also aren’t expected in most places.

It’s like in Denver, dressing up is a choice rather than a requirement.  You can walk into most restaurants in town dressed in jeans and a casual top, and not only be admitted, but also see plenty of people dressed like you.  Of course, you may also see some people dressed up a little more, depending on where you are – casual dresses for women, khakis or Dockers for the guys — but it’s hardly the norm.  I’d also say women are more likely to dress up than men, but for the sake of fashion rather than meeting the establishment’s expectations.

It’s just one of the many things I love about living in Denver!

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