Originally Posted by
Broctoon
Because I know we're only going 10 or 15 miles, and average speed will be about 12 MPH, I might choose some cargo shorts or joggers and a T-shirt, polo, or even a casual button-down. She gets a little upset and tells me I have to wear some more serious biking attire. Why? Because she's wearing her most performance-oriented clothes, and if someone sees us, she wants them to know we're avid bikers. In casual clothes, I might project the wrong image, and then people won't take us seriously. I've tried to tell her, "You wear whatever works for you. I'm fine with this comfortable outfit for today's ride." But that doesn't go over so well. She pretty much insists I dress up.
This is pretty fascinating. My wife and I don't really enforce any dress codes with each other. The closest behavior we have is spite-wearing clothing that the other has previously commented negatively on, like my Vibram Five Fingers shoes. I think the path of least resistance for you would be wearing Rapha City Shorts or similar casual gear that is nonetheless marketed as cycling-specific and high-performance. I know from experience that the Rapha City Shorts pair very well with Vibram Five Fingers shoes. Over time you might be able to explore your partner's ideas about being an avid biker, and what underlies her conviction about the importance of communicating this via clothing choices.