AIBU to think in the UK women generally dress in quite a frumpy way and to wish we wore period clothing.

[NCJaneDoeNut]

Just that really. People don’t seem to make an effort and if you do you end up looking ‘overdressed’.

The reason I say UK is because that’s where I’m based and other places I’m seeing as a tourist or on tv, so maybe not a realistic impression. Not that they are worse than anyone else.

Why does it bother you what other women wear?

ffs

Which period?

Well I've got my period pants on. Bloody comfy in this warm weather.

I really don't want to make an effort. I don't mind being seen as frumpy.

Why do you care what I wear? I'm clean, my clothes are clean (unless I've been on a walk in which case I may have a little bit of mud on the bottom of my trousers), that's as much as I'm prepared to do.

I kind of know what you mean. We are shit at dressing for hot weather that's for sure.
But...I guess there's nothing to stop you wearing period clothing! Which period?
Or do you mean like the clothes you wear whilst on the blob, because I'm wearing those right now..? (Shapeless maxi sack)

Hmmm...would i rather wear a heavy corset and note show an inch of skin in 25 degree heat or would I rather wear a light sun dress or shorts and a tee shirt?

Tough one..

What is it to you how women dress? If you want a critique of women and the clothes they wear, you're better off reading the Daily Mail.

This will go well.

If you want to wear period clothing OP, you crack on. That's one of the benefits of living in a progressive western society, you can actually wear what you like.

Maybe one day, we might not even be judged on it! And crappy words like 'frumpy' will be obsolete.

I'd rather wear whatever is comfy and clean whilst being allowed to work, vote, drive etc than spend most of my morning putting on layers of fancy clothes to sit about sewing and reading all day every day. Cos there's probably no way period clothing would have been that much of a faff if women were getting out to work in the morning and didn't have servants to help them. Look at period menswear...trousers, shirts, waistcoat, jacket and hat. Or some combination of that. They worked, no corsets and hoopskirts for them!

I'm enormously grateful to be able to wear clothes which are practical. I've lived in a country where women were expected to wear skirts, and changing a tyre (as a very real example) is much easier in trousers, especially if you want to keep them out of the mud, and avoid exposing yourself. There's no way I'd want to wear Victorian dresses at all, let alone while doing manual work.

I'm super frumpy. Im ok with that. Life is too short to spend my time fucking about "styling" my "look" each day. Which is why I often post selfies with captions like "todays look is Off-Duty Bisexual" when wearing joggers, a men's tee and mens hoody.

YABU to be so critical of what other people wear.

YANBU if all you really want to do is dress like a Jane Austen heroine. Me too.

My experience of the uk is that you generally can weare what you want. But I agree, the clothing in other European countries seems more "formal" than here. I guess it's a cultural thing ...

You're comparing TV with RL. I have lived in other countries and people wear crappy clothes there. Even the stylish Italians wear crappy clothes by the lake, on days off and with family.

If you want to wear period clothing, bear in mind fainting, your internal organs moving around and permanent injuries (from whalebone, wigs etc.). Oh, and whatever that thing that I found out about here where women used to get dirt and stuff in unmentionable places

I do wish we could wear more colour, especially in winter when everyone is in black, grey or camouflage khaki.

A lot of people don't have a lot of money or time and are too overweight to wear vintage.

I know I am....😔

I love the idea of a nice long dress. The reality though is that you can't do fuck all in one except sit there looking pretty.

It has been quite fun watching sporty, active DD (6) grow up and realise the same. She loves to put on a dress and twirl around for a while, but then gets annoyed that it gets in the way of her running, or climbing stuff or riding her bike. She said "mummy, dresses are a bit stupid really, aren't they."

I have to agree. I'm happy sat here in a maxi dress, but only because I am only lounging around. If I want to do something, I'm going to put on some shorts or trousers.

I've been in Europe for the last few days; and have previously lived in another European country. Both had a lot of people wearing whatever they wanted. Sure; there are some very well dressed people in Paris and Amsterdam - but there are in London; too.

There's definitely no increase in "formal" dress here in the sun; although arguably in hot parts of the world, they have a whole wardrobe designed to cope with the heat, so look more put together during summer - and then slightly more rushed during colder weather that their main wardrobe doesn't cater for.

You've just reminded me that I have a long black cloak (think Scottish widows ad) that I always want to wear out but have never had the nerve. It's a re-enactment item so total a period piece. Unfortunately at under 5' I'd look more Hobbit than anything else!

Wear what you like.

What’s “overdressed”? And why should you care? I often wear a dress when other people are in jeans.

Wear what you like and let other people do the same.

Yeah, whatevs.

I'll wear what I like.

Some people tend to 'overdress' (I suppose I am one of them, but honestly don't give a fuck as to what anyone else may think; I love clothes and try to feel glamorous/chic etc. every day as it just makes me happy) and some tend to 'underdress'.

I am just grateful that we have the freedom to wear what we like, when we like.

This would be me if I tried: