How did our sense of style come apart at the seams?

But even then there are a few basic rules most of us adhere to. If we're venturing out in public this means a shirt, trousers, shoes and underwear, of course. I say "most" of us, because it seems some people are of the opinion that such rudimentary attire is optional.

Managers at one Tesco store in Cardiff this week banned customers from shopping barefoot or in their pyjamas, after a handful of people turned up in their nightwear. A number of people complained causing the supermarket giant to introduce a new dress code. So now customers at the store are greeted by a sign warning them not to enter wearing pyjamas and telling them that shoes must be worn at all times.

A spokeswoman for Tesco said: "We're not a nightclub with a strict dress code, and jeans and trainers are of course more than welcome. We do, however, request that customers do not shop in their PJs or nightgowns. This is to avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others."

Now it's fair to say that the rules on what we can and can't wear have relaxed over the past 40 years or so, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Few restaurants, for instance, still insist on men wearing a jacket and tie as many used to. Similarly, offices have generally become less formal places which is reflected in people's attitudes to what they wear.

However, you've got to draw a line somewhere and turning up at your local supermarket wearing your dressing gown because you can't be bothered putting some clothes on, is a step too far in many people's eyes. But is such behaviour merely an example of our "dress down" culture, albeit a somewhat extreme one, or is it a sign that society in general is becoming lazier?

A recent survey of TV viewers made for interesting reading. It

concluded that people are increasingly turned off by their favourite on-screen personalities being casually dressed while presenting news,

sport and current affairs programmes. Most viewers wanted to see "serious" presenters dress smarter, rather than dispensing with ties and jackets and wearing casual trousers or even jeans, according to the study of 1,000 Britons.

Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May were seen as the scruffiest presenters on television, followed by Adrian Chiles, from The One Show, with the top 10 most untidy presenters all being men.

There were some exceptions with Sir Trevor McDonald and Bruce Forsyth among the best- dressed presenters, along with Fern Britton and Fiona Bruce.

Nadia Kelly, from search engine Ask Jeeves, which commissioned the survey, said many viewers wanted "presenters to smarten up a bit".

"It's notable that the smartest men are old school veterans Sir Trevor and Brucie who are rarely seen without a tie," she said.

"Just wearing a tie is not enough though. Even in the new TV 'uniform' of open necked shirt and no jacket, some presenters still manage to look smarter than others. Perhaps women have the answer to carrying off the casual look without being too untidy."

But isn't this move towards a more casual appearance merely a practical one? In the past, people would don their "Sunday Best" and go to church, but nowadays you're more likely to find people shopping in the high street on a Sunday morning, than in a place of worship.

Angela Marshall who runs her own image consultancy, Appearance Management, believes our sartorial standards have slipped. "I think as a country we have become more sloppy, in general we have become scruffy rather than casual and that's a sign of laziness."

She says that fashion, such as the trend among teenagers to wear their jeans halfway down their backside, plays a big part. Although this may see us smarten up. "In recent times fashion has been all about dressing casually, but with TV programmes like Mad Men we're seeing some of the 1940's and '50s fashions coming back. Which I think is a good thing, because the way we dress is a reflection of the way we behave and when people dress smarter they behave better."