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.

[quote mafted]@PrincessNutNuts

I'm glad it's not just me. I can't even ride a bike in a dress. And sitting down's just a bit more complicated. I made a terrible hash of getting up and down off a picnic blanket the other day.

I always worry when I bend over in a shop in some flarey floaty or shirt dresses too.

I've ripped a maxi dress and a skirt this summer through standing on them as I got up from a picnic blanket
Also feel I'm forever knicker flashing in anything shorter than calf length. [/quote]
Yes, and walking up stairs in a long dress with your hands full. I wore a maxi dress and tried to carry my laundry basket upstairs. Damn near broke my neck stepping on the dress and falling over.

Dressed down, dressed up, dresses can be scruffy af. I favour a Sporty hoodie dress with trainers for everyday. What's all this 'dresses mean dressed up' and where's it come from?

@HomeSliceKnowsBest

Dressed down, dressed up, dresses can be scruffy af. I favour a Sporty hoodie dress with trainers for everyday. What's all this 'dresses mean dressed up' and where's it come from?

I really thought this was going to be a little poem at first, I was quite disappointed!

[quote mafted]@PrincessNutNuts

I'm glad it's not just me. I can't even ride a bike in a dress. And sitting down's just a bit more complicated. I made a terrible hash of getting up and down off a picnic blanket the other day.

I always worry when I bend over in a shop in some flarey floaty or shirt dresses too.

I've ripped a maxi dress and a skirt this summer through standing on them as I got up from a picnic blanket
Also feel I'm forever knicker flashing in anything shorter than calf length. [/quote]
I do too.

Oh, walking upstairs @SpnBaby1967. It drives me crackers.

I am really starting to enjoy dresses. I have some smart ones for best but also like jersey, knee length dresses with footless tights or leggings for day to day wear. I have some lovely Seasalt dresses for this purpose. For those of you who find tights uncomfortable, have you ever tried Snag tights? They have some lovely styles and colours and have been a game changer for me.

@PurpleParrotfish

For those who wear dresses every day, what do you wear on your legs and feet for in-between weather? In winter I wear dresses or skirts with black knitted tights and boots, in summer when it’s warm enough with bare legs and sandals. But when it’s in between, I feel tights and trainers look wrong and other shoes aren’t comfortable so end up back in jeans. .

For in between days, I wear maxi dresses with closed toe espadrilles.

I do wear jeans when I want to wear trainers.

The shoes dictate the outfit.

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.

All that unpleasant comment does is show how out of touch you are with current fashions!!!

Why do people feel the need to derail the thread with such nastiness

In answer to your question OP, I wear skirts and tops all the time in summer, not so much in winter, but for some reason the moment I put a dress on I feel "dressed up". I have to give myself a really good talking to . For winter I find it much easier to throw on jeans and tops rather than faffing about with tights and a skirt (although I do wear them for work) - and I get sick of washing the tights.

I'd imagine it's because lots of people don't wear them day to day.

And that when there's an event that requires looking fancy for women the norm is it means a dress.

I don't wear dresses or skirts day to day. Esp dresses.

They aren't comfy for me. I'm short and apple. The cut is generally all wrong. Fits everywhere except over boobs. Waist in wrong place. I loathe wearing any kind of tights I find them itchy. They are often tightish in armpit and I sweat. It's a big thing to wash, with jeans they go a few days and new top each day. Some are dry clean only. I like patterns but only on bottom half. Etc.

I mean everyone has their own style and preferences. And that's fine.

Dresses are may day to day go to. Nothing new there, it’s been the same for years. I have casual dresses and “posh frocks”!

Comfy, practical and you never have to worry about matching a top and a bottom. And when nobody’s looking, l love doing a little twirl. 👗

My feet and legs are always cold. I don’t do bare legs or sandals unless it’s at least mid 20s in temperature. So that means I have to wear tights (or leggings, but that is starting to look dated as a style) under a dress. So I find trousers much more comfortable and practical. In winter I wear thick trousers with knee length socks underneath - bliss. I do like how dresses look and often wear them for work but given I wear tights with them I don’t consider that a particularly comfy option.

I couldn’t do the dress with leggings thing. It’s so not ne.

Dressed are so much easier.

I like to wear dresses, and wear them often. From April to September with bare legs (Bournemouth area micro climate privilege ) and in winter with tights and boots/trainers

For me it’s an easy and comfy way to dress. I have a knee length trench and knee length waterproof winter coat to wear on top.

For dog walking I wear jeans and a jumper, then get changed when I get home.

I used to get comments about being dressed up but people now know it’s my “style”

Sadly, knee length jersey or wrap dresses are really really anti- fashion now

@Violinist64 thank you for the snag reminder! They look lovely.
And now I've googled then the ad keeps coming up on my page so I won't forget! 😂
I want all the colours!!

I’m a tad puzzled by the knicker flashing comments. As a regular dress wearer I’m sure l manage to go through my every day life without showing my knickers on a regular basis.

I wear nice underwear, most of which can be found on the racks in a certain well known department store and if someone did on occasion see my knix, l don’t think it would cause either me or them lifetime trauma.

@SpnBaby1967

I'm just very round. I'm not fat, but all my weight sits on my stomach so I feel like trousers define my waist where as a dress just makes me look round & frumpy. I cant wear wrap dresses that are usually good for defining a shape as I have zero boobs so they look ridiculous. I'm also not especially tall so mid calves dresses look wrong but although I have cracking legs for a mini skirt they're just not practical

I do love wearing dresses though if I can find a good one. I have a gorgeous royal blue lace one, it's really old now but I look great in it. It's too dressy for every day though

This is exactly the issue I have. I am not overweight but have a big tummy following pregnancies and 2 c sections, small boobs. I look pregnant in dresses, especially smocks/tunics/empire lines which just enhance my stomach. Inspired by this thread I have put on a loose maxi dress today. It looks ok with my denim jacket but without it I look like I am hiding a pregnancy. Trousers/decent jeans hold everything in so well.

In winter I love black tights, boots and a casual stretchy dress

@StarlightLady

I couldn’t do the dress with leggings thing. It’s so not ne.

It’s not a look I like either. Trousers rolled to sit above the ankle are completely different for some reason.

My skin is naturally very pale. It's that skin that natural blondes have so it isn't nice without some sort of fake tan on. Therefore if I want to wear a dress and reveal my legs then I'd have to go to the effort of putting fake tan on which I can't be often bothered with. This is why I only wear dresses if I'm going somewhere worth the effort.

My naturally olive skinned friend doesn't understand this and wears them all the time.

My naturally olive skinned friend doesn't understand this and wears them all the time

To be fair, I don’t understand it either and my legs are pale blue! The only person who notices or cares about your legs is you.

@Ihaveattached

My skin is naturally very pale. It's that skin that natural blondes have so it isn't nice without some sort of fake tan on. Therefore if I want to wear a dress and reveal my legs then I'd have to go to the effort of putting fake tan on which I can't be often bothered with. This is why I only wear dresses if I'm going somewhere worth the effort.

My naturally olive skinned friend doesn't understand this and wears them all the time.

Good point. I’m the same here, plus I have dubious joy of thread veins - so a bit of fake tan is a must (which is a total faff).

Blossomtoes trust me I look truly awful without fake tan on my legs. They are virtually transparent. I don't even put a lot on so that I look tanned. It's literally so I can look non-transparent. It makes my hair look blonder and my teeth look whiter and just overall better than I look day to day.

And yes totally with @MaMelon on the thread veins too. I keep meaning to try that Sally Hansen stuff.

I also live in the North East where people in general don't do pale and interesting. I'm going out in Jesmond today and you betcha I'm sitting covered in tan today so I can comfortably get my legs out in a dress! All about how I feel comfortable.