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.

@Blossomtoes

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.

Believe me, if you saw my whiter than white legs with the thread veins you’d notice - and not in a complimentary way

Solidarity @MaMelon!

Believe me, if you saw my whiter than white legs with the thread veins you’d notice - and not in a complimentary way

Trust me, I wouldn’t. I don’t look at people’s legs. 90% of the population doesn’t. Literally nobody else cares.

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

I appreciate you were just retaliating and are probably quite proud of this comment. But you really can't defend that dress, with its droopy, shapeless cut and "guest house curtains" pattern. Especially with Birkenstock's.

I'm sad that some people do. Some clothes look good and feel comfortable for one woman that are not for another. Body shapes vary.

Oh believe me, they do, mine are pretty bad - I've had people openly staring at them and then looking at me. On a thread a while back someone described the broken veins 'older people get' on the back on their knees as disgusting, and others agreed - lovely to hear your broken veins described in that way. It's nice that you wouldn't look though.

I live in dresses. Usually long ones in the summer. If chilly I will wear trousers or leggings under. I don't do fitted and not particularly feminine look. I have also stopped worrying about whether my clothes are officially flattering. I have big boobs so look slimmer in fitted things but I prefer comfort. This has been one of my favourite dresses for the summer. With sandals or trainers or yesterday with chunky black lace up shoes for work. (I don't look anything like the young woman in the photo though!)

We have so many brambles to navigate to get to the field behind us that if I wore a dress it would be ripped to shreds.

I like wearing dresses and like you say it doesn't mean you are necessarily dressed up but I find I struggle more with what to wear with it. So your example of the Hush dress (which is lovely) I would need a cardigan, jacket or jumper if nipping to Tesco as the fridge aisle is always so cold 🤣. I'd wear more dresses if I had more things to go with them I think.

That beret-wearing Instagram woman is someone you'd dread getting on your bus. She looks - to me - like she lost her rucksack en route to a rambling holiday and had to raid a Humana bin.

@Neverrains

It's that "unfit for an active life" quality that makes me feel "dressed up" in a dress I think

I don’t find this. I walk my dog over fields twice a day, walk my DC to school and back, run around after my toddler etc in a dress. Obviously I change for swimming/yoga/runs etc but I would do the same if I was wearing jeans.

I was wearing a dress the other week and had to tuck it in my knickers when I borrowed a child's BMX 🤣. Jeans or shorts would definitely have been more preferable! I'd not even been drinking!!

@AlbertBridge

That beret-wearing Instagram woman is someone you'd dread getting on your bus. She looks - to me - like she lost her rucksack en route to a rambling holiday and had to raid a Humana bin.

What was it Dolly Parton said about it costing a lot of money to look this cheap? It’s a particular look worn by a lot of women her age in London and it certainly didn’t come from raiding any bins!

Why can’t we discuss clothes without putting other women down?

I am more likely to wear a dress if it is warm. It is not related to dressing up. I have one on today. I’ll be going to the supermarket in a bit.

It’s short but back when I was a teenager my mum showed me how to get stuff off bottom shelves without flashing my bum.

@AlbertBridge

That beret-wearing Instagram woman is someone you'd dread getting on your bus. She looks - to me - like she lost her rucksack en route to a rambling holiday and had to raid a Humana bin.

It's very true! I'm sure she's quite the character, but after a whole bus journey of her talking non-stop about herself you'd probably be quite relieved when your stop came into view.

Why do women delight in putting other women down - I really don't understand it. Some of the comments on this thread are downright nasty. Looking at you @AlbertBridge and @MaMelon

It's very true! I'm sure she's quite the character, but after a whole bus journey of her talking non-stop about herself you'd probably be quite relieved when your stop came into view

You sound pleasant

@grannycake

Why do women delight in putting other women down - I really don't understand it. Some of the comments on this thread are downright nasty. Looking at you *@AlbertBridge and @MaMelon*

They’re not the only ones. I don’t understand it either. To look at a stranger on Insta and embark on a complete character assassination based on one picture is just bizarre.

Looking right back at you grannycake.

I don't like what the Instagram woman is wearing - I don't think she looks Hockney-esque, I don't think she looks frumpy, I don't think she looks crap, I don't think she looks dowdy like the Joules wearers, but I do have my own opinion of what she is wearing.

I agree. Most of my clothes are dresses or jumpsuits / rompersuits. You only have to choose one item of clothing!! I'm a bit tubby round the middle so also much more flattering / comfy than jeans or trousers / skirts.

I do have my own opinion of what she is wearing

You didn’t voice a criticism of what she’s wearing. You decided what kind of person she is and criticised that.

Why do women delight in putting other women down

I don’t know why people say things like “the only person who notices what you wear or cares what you look like is you” on these threads. I know it’s meant to be reassuring, but it’s pretty obvious that some people do notice and do care, and not in a good way.

I follow this instagrammer as I love toast, I hope it's ok to post this? I think she looks fabulous here and proves that a raincoat even if it is shorter than the skirt can work really well.

Sorry, catty or not, she looks like Ena Sharples.

On a bad day.

Of course people make initial judgements about you based on what you’re wearing - it’s disingenuous to suggest otherwise. If we didn’t then the shops would be full of dowdy Joules clothes and no-one would have a opportunity to express their individuality through Toast.

My mum is one of these people. If I meet her to go shopping and I’m wearing a dress, a casual cotton dress, she says something like “oooh! You’re looking a bit glam for shopping!” Or something equally irritating.

It’s the hairy leg problem for me. Trousers/ jeans/ leggings hide all that between waxes.

I wonder why we are all so ashamed of hairy legs! Although I don't panic or hide them if they are a bit stubbly in between, I too remove my leg hair. It's such a nonsense.