To ask... why do men and women wear different clothes?

[BogstandardBelle]

I was shopping in town today and since the summer holidays have started where I am, it’s mobbed ! I wasn’t in a rush. So I was people watching as I mooched around. And it struck me just how differently men and women dress. Why is this? Why do women and girls wear strappy sandals and high heels? While men wear trainers? Why do men wear T-shirts and women wear tight or crop tops? Why are women’s T-shirt’s tighter than men’s? Why do women wear make up - and men generally don’t?

I think this is on my mind atm as I have two sons and my best friend has a daughter. My son has never asked to wear a crop top - yet her daughter has: why?

I’m in France, and as I was walking home from said shopping centre there were lots of work groups coming out for lunch. The smartly dressed men did have suits and ties and lace-up shoes on, which is less comfy than shorts and T-shirt’s I guess. But the women in the business groups were wearing tight skirts, tight shirts and high heels - despite them doing similar jobs. There’s no practical reason why the women had to be dressed like that. Yet they were - and the men weren’t.

Those clothes weren't unflattering on me, either. A strappy crop top would look hideous, though.

I think its quite odd that even uniform (school and professional) is sexed.

Funnily enough, it was reading this article and my experience today that made me wonder about it, enough to post here.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/10/the-tyranny-of-the-schoolgirl-skirt-still-haunts-me?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Nearly all clothing / fashion trends throughout history have perpetuated deeply ingrained sexual stereotypes. Female clothing is designed to highlight slimmer waists, breasts and broader hips (relative to waist and shoulders).Male clothing is designed to accentuate broad shoulders and narrower waists. The extreme of this is seen in make military uniforms - think of epaulletes and braid across the chests, high hats etc

OP, this is a legit question especially with the the equality going on at the moment.
I have been thinking the same - we women have so many choices of clothes to wear - we can dress in trousers and trainers but we can also dress in more revealing types of clothes and wear heels, so why men can't?
I have to tell you I got to the confusion that most men wouldn't want to be associated/wear clothes perceived as feminine because being a woman is not a strong position and being a man is.in this regard the trousers are a symbol of power - yet women making them their own radiate power.
Say the opposite is not true (in some predominant mindsets of the last few centuries I must add). So for this type of men wearing a dress is not empowering, it's the opposite. That's why I think clothes equality never happened before.
I am still curious to find out how things will develop as apparently more men are open to hair dye, white cosmetics and even some sort of make up, traditionally liked to the weak and therefore having to resort to "trickery", women.

The conclusion not confusion...

So basically it's due to sexism and imbalance of power.

What I’ve been led to understand is that men were outdoors more hunting/fighting and women indoors, so it was a more practical thing. Everyone started off wearing animal skins and kilts/skirts. Women stayed wearing this,
men adapted their clothes to the outdoors conditions. Clothes-making technology improved. Romans wore tunics until they came to colder climates, such as Britain. Ancient cultures such as Greece preferred their women covered-up. ‘Twas ever* thus.

Doesn’t mean it can’t change, as evidenced by the blue/pink crossover.

*almost

even some sort of make up

The entire cosmetic and beauty industry is geared towards exaggerating/ prolonging the outward perception of being in the fertile portion of female life (from puberty to menopause).

Men don't have the same time and societal pressure imposed on them so the Male cosmetic industry will never have the same insecurities to stir up.

Because of social conditioning / marketing.

Of course, not everyone abides by those social rules. But many do.

Interestingly, a lot of catwalk fashion is more unisex and creative. But what gets filtered down is basic and boring.

“Why do we still dress so differently to do these things?”

I’m afraid I can only say people are crazy, and patriarchy.

I don’t wear skirts, dresses, heels etc.

For anyone who thinks mens clothes have always been butch, don't make me post all those renaissance paintings of men in velvet bloomers and cravats! And little baby boys in beautiful frilly little gowns! Because if you push me, I will! :D

For some reason I am reminded of this awful book

I do agree with IcingandSlicing that women have more freedom in some ways though. My wardrobe spans all the way from practical footwear, jeans and t-shirts to smart trouser suits to glitter-covered dresses. My husband has fewer socially acceptable choices. Women have embraced the masculine, but men are still scared of the feminine.

I don't know what they're stirring up but eyeliner, nail polish etc are making their debuts in men's bags.

This shit pisses me off. The women may as well just have a few shiny tassels on their nipples as their total clothing.

Ooh Icing, I can remember men's make-up being on the market briefly, around 15 years ago. There was 'manscara' and 'guyliner'!

I like to think of it like this:

Ug comes home and complains he was cold when out hunting.

Ug’s Mum slaves over making some clothes to keep her little boy toasty warm.

Ug’s Mum invents: the trousers!

Ug can now stay out hunting longer due to being lovely and warm.

Soon all Ug’s friends want them.

(Subtext: Ug’s sister is pissed off at her bloody golden-child brother.)

I think the separation is far less now than it was for my parents generation, (if still alive, my parents would be late 80s and 90, I am in my 50s), and it is different for my dc (just tipping into their 20s).

I wear lots of items that are the same as dh's - trainers, t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, tracksuit bottoms, jogging bottoms, jeans, walking trousers, fleeces, cag., shorts, basball cap in the sun, etc.

My dc wear the same clothes to even more formal function than I would. Many of ds and dds clothes are interchangeable (except for their size). I don't think it is anywhere near as clear cut as you are making out.

Interesting question.
Obviously there is a difference but just to counter your point I have seen quite a few women wearing boiler suit type outfits with flip flops or trainers, all looked lovely and comfortable.
I wear a lot of t shirts and jeans, rarely wear heels but also like dresses.
I'm definitely moving towards comfort and practicality more as I get older, and since finding feminism I'm making different choices.
The uniform where I work is unisex, one of the t shirts is offered in a womens cut but I don't wear it as I find it too low cut for me.
Bottom half is for us to decide so long as its black so on any day you might see skirts, dresses, dungarees, shorts, jeans, smarter trousers, leggings, jogging bottoms. The women have more choices where I work.
Saw a video earlier of the guy who went to the Oscars in a tuxedo dress.
Can't remember his name, very interesting and I think more men should wear dresses or skirts if that's what they want to do.
Personally I find men in kilts very attractive, I really like kilts in general.

@GibbonLover I don't know men who use these but see them promoted here and there.
@SuperFurryDoggy The fact that this notion exists as well as who wears the trousers in this household supports my theory. Men's clothes used to symbolise power and we've successfully usurped them

This evening DH and I were laughing because I was out when he got home, and we met in town for a coffee. He arrived wearing skinny jeans, a t shirt and converse. I was wearing skinny jeans, a t-shirt and superga plimsolls. We couldn't really have been dressed more similarly.

Social norms etc.
I think the reason women go for dresses and crop tops, rather than a boiler suit is to look good in their clothing. I enjoy skinny Jean's and t-thirts as much as the next person though when I am going out I like to dress in fitted clothes, sandles, makeup and hair done, it makes me feel better.

Because capitalism encourages the objectification of woman. Feminine clothes and high heels are appealing to men and bollocks to us being comfortable.

I do hope make up for men really is on the rise, I find eyeliner and mascara on men incredibly attractive.

Men's clothes (western) are ugly. Really ugly. And boring. I don't know why some women's clothing is overtly designed to show off the female form, or why some women like wearing it. But I'd rather not be wearing a drab pair of chinos and a blooming polo shirt. Actually men are really conformist when it comes to clothes - much less variety when you look at a typical street. It's a bit of a shame they are so scared to show their individuality if you ask me. (Nobody did)

I like skinny jeans because they don't flap or trip me up. The look is almost secondary. Today's jeans were a 4 year old pair of "boy fit" which seem to have disappeared from the market. Slim fit are just not the same. They might as well be flares on me.