To think people dressed more attractively in the past?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Hats, gloves, tailored outfits - tights, low heels

Now I'm not saying we don't dress more practically with our leggings and our 3/4 linen trousers and baggy t shirts and tops

But only that they don't look as 'smart' as before

I'd really like an excuse to wear ball gowns...so pretty I'd love an occasion where I'd need one.

I really like the 30s,40s, and 50s stylewise...my ideal style in my head is wellies, tea dress, and fair isle cardi, .....I'd look a bit of a twit in central london though.

My nan wore Housecoats too, I did consider keeping one, but the fronts were covered in cigarette burns..all the women seemed to smoke then. I think it was considered glamerous..

Mrs De Vere - Re wartime housecoats, is is this of any interest? It's only a reconstruction, not an original, alas: jacobiterose.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/sew-for-victory-wartime-style-pinny.html
Or do you mean the wrap-over variety of housecoat? Here is a vintage pattern for sale:
betsyvintage.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=10958

Well fashions come and go and some are more attractive than others.
The 40s and 50s look that many of you are referring to was very smart compared with now and great for formal occasions.

However I have a photo of my Mum with us at the seaside in the 1950s.
She is wearing a very fitted tailored suit, high heels and a hat. Her hair is permed and set. The whole look is not conducive to letting your hair down and having fun with the kids-it looks very rigid and formal. (I actually don't like the look much).

People looked absolutely terrible in the 70s. -much worse than now.

My DH doesn't look so good in a pill box hat, gloves or low heels.
However he does wear tweed very well!

I presume you are only critiquing women's dress sense here OP? And men get a get out of (sartorial) jail free card?

Fwiw I think everyone who wears stretchy or shiny clothes that allow them to slouch, look awful - beer bellies, bison humps and moobs included.

I don't think it's a solution found in Great aunt Betty's dress up box though....
Maybe compulsory sessions in an iron maiden would improve the situation. Medieval chic anyone?

No, I really like the freedom we have now to wear pretty much any decade we wish.

I'm very pleased that we don't have to wear constricting clothes any more. Liberty bodices, corsets, roll ons and that sort of thing. As somebody else noted, how could you run in that stuff?

I'm looking at the pictures on this thread and I am quite glad that we no longer dress like that. Seems heavy, restrictive and a lot of faff.

Yes Nettle those clothes were very restricting and uncomfortable and much more suitable for formal wear.
Women in particular could never forget their bodies and just enjoy themselves. I too am glad that I don't have to wear corsets and heels every day. It also took ages to iron those full-skirted navy and white spotty dresses with white collars in pure cotton. Working women with families spent all evening ironing.

The people saying these clothes are uncomfortable...have you ever worn them? I think it's personal preference, I find vintage dresses much more comfy than jeans for example (I think jeans are the most uncomfortable trousers I've ever worn). And heels aren't uncomfortable if they actually fit!

Jeans are uncomfortable and tea dresses can be very comfortable. Boned corsets and stilettos at the sea-side-not so much. I also find structured suits pretty uncomfortable. I was at the tail end of some of these fashions-lots of net petticoats for little girls that made marks on your legs and being tortured with 'twink' perms , armani setting lotion and ribbon bows. Had a roll-on at 13 with suspenders and nylons-glad mini skirts and tights soon came in.

I find suspenders nicer than tights - can never get tights long enough in the leg that don't have a massive body bit. Suspenders cut out that issue!

I like structured suits but I think some of it is what you're used to. I have friends who are horrified I wear such "stiff cotton" dresses which feel absolutely fine to me :S I've been wearing them for years though, to the extent that almost any trousers feels weird on me. So you probably get conditioned to your normal clothes.

I like smart clothes too.

As for the posters saying people in the past dressed like old ladies. That still happens now.

I don't think you get as many people in their ate 40s dressing as if they are 75.

late sorry

Look at the Middleton Women. They dress alike and share clothes.

They aren't wearing the equivalent of damart pull-on trousers and orthopaedic shoes. My grandmothers were early 50s at my parents wedding-one very smartly dressed-the other one v poor and doing her best. They both look 80.

My gran looked amazing in the 40s. Like Hiildy in His Girl Friday. Fab little hats, tiny waisted suits. She worked in a clothes shop though! I wish I had her old clothes, even though they would have been way too small for me.
I hate the cheap nasty fabrics in shops today too, but to be fair, cheap clothes will be made of shoddy fabric. People used to invest in clothes, buy one or two things a year.
You can still find beautifully made clothes but they do cost. Margaret Howell is good for classics.

My Grandmothers were in their 40's and 50's at my parents 60's Wedding. The older Grandmother in poor health and fat. They were both in up to date fashion, looked smart and not like old ladies at all.

We used to do it to attract men, I hardly see many women wearing make up either except a bit of eyeliner or mascara.
Now we are equal, career driven and don't see the need to attract men anymore, it isn't what women feel they should be doing now.