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AIBU?

To think overtly sexy dressing looks very old fashioned?

407 replies

BecomeStronger · 05/12/2020 20:47

E.g Claudia's style looks far more modern than Tess'. I love the way young women will wear flats or even trainers and be comfortable rather than dressing for men.

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Am I being unreasonable?

481 votes. Final results.

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FrownsAndDimples · 05/12/2020 20:49

I think it's an assumption that they have to be dressing for men.

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CarlottaValdez · 05/12/2020 20:49

Sexy is a bit subjective but I know what you mean. I know a couple of (really nice!) women at work who still do the spike heels, pencil skirt, lots of make up look. It looks very dated to me suddenly and none of the younger women do it.

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emilyfrost · 05/12/2020 20:51

Don’t be so ridiculous. Wearing glitzy dresses and high heels isn’t “dressing for men”.

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Nackajory · 05/12/2020 20:52

Completely agree. I see it with DD, much comfier and therefore confident in trainers, although she's too young to dress 'sexy', put her in something too glam and she would be v self conscious. Wish I'd have known that at her age but then fashions change. Dressing sexy looks like you're trying too hard and like you've just stepped out of 1987.

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CarlottaValdez · 05/12/2020 20:52

Oh I agree it’s not dressing for men, that’s quite an assumption.

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berrygirlie · 05/12/2020 20:53

I feel judged no matter what I wear. There would be an equal amount of people saying if I dressed modestly, "that looks very old fashioned". Can't win.

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emilybrontescorsett · 05/12/2020 20:58

Depends what you mean.
I was watching an old episode of Top of the pops, it was 1990 something. All the audience looked to be having the time of their lives dancing around. Most of them had frizzy, permed , shortish hair. Wore hardly any make-up, wore baggy tops and low heels. Not a lip filler or hair extensions in sight. Compare that to today, it would be a sea of women standing around, unable to dance in their heels and shirt, low cut clothing. Probably not wanting to put a hair out of place and feeling too awkward in case they embarrassed themselves.

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damnthatanxiety · 05/12/2020 21:03

I agree OP. Women can look older when they dress up too much. They lose all the fun and freshness and look hard abs a little desperate

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FoxyTheFox · 05/12/2020 21:06

I feel judged no matter what I wear. There would be an equal amount of people saying if I dressed modestly, "that looks very old fashioned". Can't win

Exactly this.

Perhaps we should just let people dress themselves in whatever they want to wear without the need to pass judgemental opinions on it.

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berrygirlie · 05/12/2020 21:09

They lose all the fun and freshness and look hard and a little desperate

You get all that from a woman in heels?

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FoxyTheFox · 05/12/2020 21:13

No one ever makes these sorts of value judgements about men and their clothing choices, do they?

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Oblomov20 · 05/12/2020 21:15

Why is it dressing for men? If I go to a party, dress up glam in a dress, I do it for ME!

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berrygirlie · 05/12/2020 21:15

Indeed, @FoxyTheFox. "dressing for men, desperate, unfresh". If you say these things about women based on solely what they dress like, you're not on the side of women.

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BecomeStronger · 05/12/2020 21:19

Why is it dressing for men? If I go to a party, dress up glam in a dress, I do it for ME!

Would you do it for a girly night out with women only friends?

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berrygirlie · 05/12/2020 21:21

Why is it dressing for men? If I go to a party, dress up glam in a dress, I do it for ME!

Would you do it for a girly night out with women only friends?


Won't speak for PP, but I absolutely would. I dress up to feel nice and to mark the evening as a special occasion.

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OoohTheStatsDontLie · 05/12/2020 21:21

I agree with 'overtly sexy' looking a bit dated...I dont agree that heels and pencil skirt is overtly sexy!

I'd assume overtly sexy to be the only way is Essex type look; fake tan, hair extensions, lash extensions, nail extensions, tattoo makeup lip fillers, skin tight clothes, sky high heels. I've never liked it though, it makes me feel kind of itchy looking at all that extra stuff stuck on them and the clothes look uncomfortable

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Newsorrynewagain · 05/12/2020 21:22

Yes, regularly before Covid obv. I love the excuse to get dressed up and certainly not for a man

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TheCovidHalfStone · 05/12/2020 21:23

@CarlottaValdez

Sexy is a bit subjective but I know what you mean. I know a couple of (really nice!) women at work who still do the spike heels, pencil skirt, lots of make up look. It looks very dated to me suddenly and none of the younger women do it.

What do the younger women wear? I fear I’m one of these older women you describe!
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SOmuchsparkle · 05/12/2020 21:23


" Perhaps we should just let people dress themselves in whatever they want to wear without the need to pass judgemental opinions on it" totally agree @FoxyTheFox


The current "comfy" style is very now & does seem very influenced by early 90's - DMs, baggy jeans, wide legged trousers, puffas etc... the fashion will change. And perhaps comparing someone from a previous generation is a bit apples & pears?

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ShandlersWig · 05/12/2020 21:25

I 100% dress up for me, regardless if its trainers or heels.

Sometimes Claudia looks great, othertimes awful. Same for Tess. Same for every other human on this planet.

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TheCovidHalfStone · 05/12/2020 21:25

@BecomeStronger

Why is it dressing for men? If I go to a party, dress up glam in a dress, I do it for ME!

Would you do it for a girly night out with women only friends?

I’m more worried about what my female friends think of what I wear, so yes.
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berrygirlie · 05/12/2020 21:27

I’m more worried about what my female friends think of what I wear, so yes.

Yes me too, which has been exacerbated by this thread. Don't think any of my partners mates have ever called me "old fashioned" or "desperate" because of what I wear when I go out!

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Branleuse · 05/12/2020 21:27

I think its different in different areas. Northern women dress up more than southern women who dress far more casual for example

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pinkdragons · 05/12/2020 21:31

Northern women dress up more than southern women

  • yes to be fair I did find that when I moved from Yorkshire to London in 2013 that the woman were happy to wear low-key / more comfortable outfits. Even for nights out. And less make up. And I think that style has gained momentum all over the UK now. Suits me.
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LunaTheCat · 05/12/2020 21:46

I am not sure that women who do the whole high heels, body con, lots makeup are doing to look sexy - I would like to hear from them.
Women who look most sexy tend to look more comfy in their skin -flats, jeans, a dress.
Sometimes less is the most sexy of all - although I am a woman and a man may disagree 😂😂

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