Should you dress up for larp?

Should you dress up for larp? The answer is usually a resounding yes, but in my madness chamber, I thought of something. What about why we shouldn't dress up? Are there any negatives to dressing up?
I give my key points and open it up to you as a discussion. Please partake and give me your thoughts!
Timestamps:
0:58 A practical reason why not to
2:03 New players
5:08 Why we should dress up more
6:27 Initial cost
7:58 Self expression
8:56 Giving starter garb
9:30 Opening a discussion up

[@boarbuckale7649]

All of my larps are a mix of roleplay and combat so for combat i walk in full plate armour, and out of combat i wear my fancy clothes (depending on what character im playing)

[@appletree3541]

So both me and my parks opinion is that the more extravagant we look the more we catch the eye of someone walking by. We frequently get people stop to watch or take pictures but they wouldn't take pictures if we were all in sweatpants. I joined a few years ago and was drawn in by the action and great community and friendly people but I may have not noticed a group of people if they didn't were garb and I was in no way intimidated or left out because I didn't have garb (been working on a basic tunic for 2 years so I may never have garb). I feel people should wear garb but if theres a couple people with no garb or really simple garb that would show the new people that theres no pressure to have garb while still being encouraged to if they would to.
My park has very very very little role play and I don't know much about other parks if anything is different elsewhere.

[@bendove1522]

Honestly i find just wearing whats comfortable is best for combat even if looking the part gives perks just what i find tho

[@MrHaicken]

Discussion? Sure, I'll bite. If I understand your argument, you are suggesting improvement of the appearance one's garb/kit is not an imperative,and may, in fact, be a detriment to your local LARP community. I generally disagree with this, though I strongly believe in setting a low bar of entry. I agree with your arguments for dressing up at a LARP. If improving one’s kit enhances one’s enjoyment, there should be few limits on what one is allowed to pursue (safety and courtesy/respect-for-others being the boundaries for unfettered kit development). I also strongly believe that a well developed kit enhances the enjoyment for others in the LARP.
As to your arguments against dressing up…
Safety and comfort in combat kits
I agree that safety and comfort are imperative when creating a martial kit, but I disagree this is a reason not to dress up. Please see some examples below:
wiki.eastkingdom.org/images/thumb/1/1a/AntoniiArmor2.png/355px-AntoniiArmor2.png
i.pinimg.com/originals/9b/eb/98/9beb98b8df1b9e7572537acdee40f14a.jpg
i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/18/21/7d1821395e257a74ca6862ffd70f2584.jpg (ignore the live-steel arrowheads and focus on the garb. Also, you can probably tell I come from an SCA background.)
Cost of entry
I agree that cost of entry is always a concern for any of the wide variety of LARP activities. I believe that a LARP should be as inclusive as possible, allowing entry at numerous different income levels, but limiting the upper bar of garb/kit development does not make the lower bar any lower and may detract from both personal enjoyment and immersion of others. I believe a well developed program for the entry of newcomers is a better way to address the barriers to entry (more on that later).
Intimidation of Newcomers
While intimidating newcomers is a valid concern for any LARP type activity, there are many tools to combat this, the most powerful being experienced participants actively welcoming newcomers and assisting them to engage with and enjoy an event. Dressing in a high-end kit will do less to harm a newcomer’s experience than allowing that player to be bored or socially isolated. Saying ‘Hi!’, listening to a newcomer's aspirations and then working to help them achieve those aspirations will do more for that newcomer than dressing down.
There are also some other drawbacks to down-dressing you did not address, restricting inspiration and bad publicity. Having people in your group who are willing to push the envelope with their garb/kit and are then willing to share how they achieved their success with the group is priceless. They inspire and empower others. Additionally, having well kitted members will make your group better. In my experience, both newcomers and transplants from other groups are attracted by a good looking LARP. Further, sites you rent or conventions and fairies where you may put on demonstrations for publicity will take your group more seriously and are more likely to provide you with good placement.
I really think you had a strong idea with the importance of setting an attainable minimum entry point and allowing newcomers to ‘develop’ and grow in the game. These are critical to success. I believe any LARP group will benefit more from a well developed entry program and regular kit-preparation workshops/gatherings than they will from encouraging members to dress-down. I would love to see a future video on how to develop your local LARP community outside of game, and I would be more than willing to share what I have found that works.