Around 14 when I went to highschool. Important distinction is 'care' about dressing well versus actually dressing well.
Exactly, I started worry about it when I moved in with my dad and didn't have my mum to leave me out an outfit every morning but didn't start dressing well til a few years ago.
About the time I went to prep school at age 14. The previous school had a uniform, so I didn't give clothes much thought for the couple of years I was there. Before that, it was mostly just what my mother got me. She had good taste, so that was okay.
I went to visit a friend from school and his parents made snarky comments about my clothes...
I decided after that sorry episode to always wear the best clothes I could afford.
After that they always referred me as the Dandy one...
Right around the time I got married...so 4 years ago. That also coincides with when I lost about 50 lbs, so I spent a fortune on 44R's only to spend another fortune getting them tailored to 42R's, then another fortune buying a new wardrobe of 40R's (as the 44's couldn't be altered any longer) and then a fourth fortune on stuff that were 36. Now that I've stayed around a 38 for two years I feel more comfy selling my RTW stuff and moving over to a primarily bespoke wardrobe. Last fortune spent!
When I was 18...so about two years ago. One day I was like okay it's time to dress nice. A simple good search land me in SF. Thanks to sf...I got hook into two other expensive hobbies ...watches and cigars.
That is quite an amazing odyssey, NewYorkRanger. I definitely enjoy buying new stuff, but I'm not sure if I could go through that many cycles without going crazy!
Since I was a Boy of Lint.
I was dressed in a little suit & tie for Sunday school & church service, and I liked it.
The girls liked it too. That got me hooked.
funnily enugh, i really started caring about my clothes right after i quit smoking. I dont know if its just a coincidence or if i needed a substitute that made me feel "cool" or some psychological stuff like that
Maybe it was just because i had more money to spend after stopping to smoke 30 cigarettes a day.