why do people think wearing dresses....

[bellaiceberg]

means 'dressing up'?

I wear them for most things, I have fancy ones for fancy things and practical ones for everyday things, more solid, utilitarian ones for anything else - gardening, hypothetical dog walking with wellies, etc.

Im defo with the 'if monty don was a woman' fan club (a recent thread about clothes on here)

Is it so odd to just throw on a longish raincoat over a dress, paired with some tough boots and get on with your day?

I never found jeans or trousers very comfortable and don't think they suit me much, so it's a non brainer, but it's strange how many people consider it dressing-up to just wear skirts/dresses. Usually I just throw one on and there's no fuss. I wear the same footwear with most of them (boots in winter, converse in summer or birks, and that's that. It's simple and comfy.

Perhaps when people call it fussy or over-dressing maybe they mean more tailored stuff or club wear?

Im not overly 'girly' either, in the sense that my boots are usually a bit rough and ready and my hair is all over the place. I think I just prefer the ease of dressing this way.

Jersey dresses and thick tights were my lockdown discovery. Just as comfy as tshirt and leggings (which is something I'd never wear outside the house) and so mich more comfortable than jeans.

I agree with you. I almost never wear trousers. They’re uncomfortable, always riding up or down and they don’t feel as warm as thick tights in winter. I mostly wear dresses and have a wide range from the utterly slobbish to the highly sophisticated I wish

I don't think many people do think that putting on any old dress is dressing up. but it's probably a fair statement that a dressy dress is dressier than most other items of clothing. If you're wearing a dress with Converse and messy hair, then you're not going to look dressed up. Do people call it 'fussy or over-dressing'? If they do, I'd suggest listening to other people.

I'm the same. I've always had a fascination with the Land Girls and 1930s-50s bohemian country house weekend style too: gorgeous dresses paired with practical boots and a chunky knit.

I find wearing a dress far more comfortable than trousers or jeans. I love the fact that it's a no-brainer - nothing to coordinate - and nothing rubs/pulls/restricts you in any way. I wear most of mine year-round, with extra layers where needed. Either a knit or a long sleeve tee. In the winter, coat-wise, it's either a smart wool coat or waterproof (depending if dog walking) Like you, OP, footwear is either trainers, Converse, boots or sandals. And I rarely get changed for dog walks unless it's absolutely slinging it down so I just add my wellies or walking boots to whatever I'm wearing.

I'm also of the opinion that clothes shouldn't be saved "for best" either. If you love it, wear it!

I wear dresses nearly every day. Casual ones for a ‘normal’ day, smart ones for work, dressy ones for going out. Currently wearing a casual gingham smocked midi dress. No one has ever suggested to me that I look ‘dressed up’ in a casual dress!

Where do you guys buy your every day dresses from? I'm in need of some new clothing due to weight gain that I have no desire to lose 😂

I don't think wearing an everyday dress is particularly smart. I do think that for an evening out, it's a lot easier to look dressed up wearing a dress, and this is more true the more formal the event is. Dinner out at a nice restaurant can probably have equal levels of "dressiness" from a good pair of trousers, an appropriate top and good shoes but a formal event is much harder if you don't wear a dress. (which annoys me a bit).

Same! Dresses are my default day wear. Dress down.

I'd be constantly stressing about flashing my knickers

I tend to live in joggers and Primark tshirts. I love a decent knitted dress and joggers hide my mum tum.

I would love to know where your every day, slumming it dresses are from as I would love to expand away from joggers

I agree with this OP! I wear a dress to the office every day- they’re neither fancy or casual but somewhere inbetween. I am always getting remarks like “I would choose and extra 30 minutes sleep over getting dressed up for work”. It’s not dressed up and I find a dress much more comfortable and flattering than say trousers and a top. Especially helpful if you suffer from bloating which I do as there is no waistband digging in to me after lunch.

@fajitasrock @SpnBaby1967 Matalan and George at Asda are great for casual day dresses. For work dresses I tend to stick with next or Dorothy Perkins.

Has anyone actually said that?
I’ve never heard anything like that. I prefer to wear dresses although have to wear trousers at work.

@Gonewiththegin

I agree with this OP! I wear a dress to the office every day- they’re neither fancy or casual but somewhere inbetween. I am always getting remarks like “I would choose and extra 30 minutes sleep over getting dressed up for work”. It’s not dressed up and I find a dress much more comfortable and flattering than say trousers and a top. Especially helpful if you suffer from bloating which I do as there is no waistband digging in to me after lunch.

When I worked in the City I much preferred dresses as found it so much easier. Not just from a comfort perspective, but with trousers I'd then have to make sure the top I was wearing went with it, ditto jacket. And irritatingly, some tops would then make the shoes I'd normally wear look odd. With a dress it was so easy - slip dress on, add shoes, jewellery and go.

A good example is this:
I have this dress from Hush for summer.

Yesterday I slipped it on and stuck my Birks on my feet, grabbed my rucksack and went to Tesco. Took all of 2 mins, everything was appropriate and looked good and was super comfortable.

As opposed to choosing which jeans, then which top or whether I needed a card over it, then having to check leg length to suss which shoes/trainers. Takes me a lot longer if I do wear jeans or leggings, etc.

I wear dresses but people don’t say I’m dressed up?

@Seesawmummadaw

Has anyone actually said that? I’ve never heard anything like that. I prefer to wear dresses although have to wear trousers at work.

Seen it online and sometimes in real life quite a bit, usually people claiming it is dressier than trousers/jeans. It is usually said as a compliment, so nothing negative, it just perplexes me!

In truth I think we are all just different, so ease of wear is something of a personal perspective. I just prefer not to have stuff bunched around my waist or against my legs, but I appreciate many people feel better in jeans. Im small and slim but feel weirdly exposed in trousers - I'm possibly weird

For me, it's mainly not warm enough and I have to think about how I sit more. The fabric flapping around annoys me as well.

I'm the same. A dress or a playsuit. I hate separates and jeans are a no no because I hate feeling hot. I have to wear leggings and a tee for work and I just feel scruffy.
I love going on holiday and packing 4 or 5 dresses/ playsuits - done. All that co - ordinating is not for me.

Ok, for those who say nobody considers this - imagine going out in rain and wind to walk a dog through rural pathways or along a canal.

Yes, you can wear a skirt or dress with whatever, wellies, boots, etc, but if you look around, most people will be in jeans or leggings. SO there is generally a preference for them, I suppose, and so perhaps a dress wearer does stand out a bit in that situation.

People seem to accept dresses more during summer.

If I wore that dress from Hush I wouldn’t feel dressed up but I’d feel like a real frump. I rarely wear dresses at home because I’d feel like my grandmother in her pinny.

I always get accused of dressing up when I’ve put a casual dress on. Most recently was wearing a navy jumper dress, long sleeves, quite old with bobbling on but so comfy. Was “helpfully” told by a gentleman in a pub I was a bit dressed up wasn’t I?

I’ve always assumed it’s because I’m very tall and curvy, I bet shorter people wouldn’t be commented on as much.

I wear mainly dresses but when it comes to autumn/winter I feel like I have to wear the skirt length above the knee as I really struggle to find a suitable coat for a longer skirt. I do love a long skirt too, so it's annoying.

@Temporaryanonymity

If I wore that dress from Hush I wouldn’t feel dressed up but I’d feel like a real frump. I rarely wear dresses at home because I’d feel like my grandmother in her pinny.

nice. it is a slim fit on me and pretty unfrump. I'm sorry it would make you look so crap.

For me personally if I'm wearing a dress, I am dressing up. I don't wear them day to day, only for occasions where I'm required to 'dress up'. However if I saw someone wearing a dress whilst out and about I wouldn't assume they'd worn it to be dressier.

I guess if you want your legs covered (I feel the cold) you're essentially choosing between tights and trousers, the comfort of each varies greatly... plus I love comfy trainers which I don't like wearing with dresses, and find it hard to find comfy boots!

Also dresses are hard to fit if your top half is small and bottom half bigger.

If these weren't issues I'd wear dresses all the time, in fact I did when younger and not bothered by tights, and when pregnant (maternity dresses were brilliant).