Clothing & Attire Vocabulary
How clothes look, fit, and what wearing them says about you.
Dressing Level & Attire Standard
Overdressed
/ˌoʊvərˈdrɛst/
Definition
Too fancy or formal for the occasion.
Example
"She felt overdressed in a ballgown while everyone else wore jeans."
Underdressed
/ˌʌndərˈdrɛst/
Definition
Too casual or simple for the occasion.
Example
"We were horribly underdressed when we walked into the gala."
Dressed up
/drɛst ʌp/
Definition
Wearing nicer clothes than usual, for an event.
Example
"The children were dressed up in their Sunday best for the ceremony."
Dressed to the nines
/drɛst tə ðə naɪnz/
Definition
Dressed in one's absolute finest, perfectly put-together.
Example
"He arrived dressed to the nines in a tailored velvet suit."
Well-dressed
/wɛl drɛst/
Definition
Neat, stylish, appropriately dressed.
Example
"A well-dressed gentleman opened the door for us."
Sharp / Dapper
/ʃɑːrp/ /ˈdæpər/
Definition
Trim, elegant, polished appearance (especially for men).
Example
"You look incredibly sharp in that navy blazer!"
