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.

Not ashamed. I just don’t like the look of them on me.

@MaMelon

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.

Yeah, I mean if they were wearing a t-shirt with a Swastika on or something id make a judgement. I can’t imagine deciding on someone’s personality traits just because they’re wearing a fairly inoffensive skirt and coat that I don’t happen to particularly like though.

@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*

Yes, I'm both darkly amused and horrified! I am glad someone else noticed it and this isn't just a new social 'set point'.

Ok, I'll bite - I would imagine most of the nasty comments towards others on this thread are due to the poster either resenting NOT being able to wear dresses (possible overweight or self loathing) or perhaps it stems from feeling the urge to ridicule a stranger on the internet (woman in photo, who is very likely one of us) for daring to get creative with her style....because (drum roll!) it makes them feel a soupçon less miserable about the futility of their lives.

Smacks of middle aged spite to me, a tragic level of fear and conformity on these boards. The same posters are probably buying up all of their local Urban Outfitters wide leg jeans right now in a desperate, salivating attempt to fit in with the latest MN fad obsessing over adolescent teen style .

And ive just put other people down, so I am part of the spiral, but something really needed to come out about this, it's pathetic.

I can’t imagine deciding on someone’s personality traits just because they’re wearing a fairly inoffensive skirt and coat that I don’t happen to particularly like though

I think we all do this though don't we? And indeed we chose our look based on the image we relate to/message we want to present to a certain extent. (That lady might look individual to some but I think she is actually strongly identifying with a group/culture in her own way)
As it happens I imagine I would be quite happy to have a chat on a bus with her. I'm making my own assumptions though.

I agree it's a shame women put each other down but it's just the flip side of worrying about how they look themselves isn't it? The idea that legs/arms can't be seen if deemed imperfect/inadequate...veins/wobbly/white etc.

@Etulosba

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.

And you sound like you need to become conscious of your projecting. Something really bothers you about this subject. Make a cup of tea or coffee, put your feet up and have a think. This isn't high school and no one is impressed by this crap.

Oh dear! @JamSconeCat I think you totally negated your point!!!

As it happens I imagine I would be quite happy to have a chat on a bus with her. I'm making my own assumptions though

I’m antisocial git, I don’t want to talk to anyone on the bus .
To be honest I think I’ve met enough people in my 37 years to know you can’t really judge someone by what they’re wearing.

Wear what u want !!
I always wear dresses like I have said in above post ! I love the Instagram lady’s style so cool! A lot of creative people do dress like this !
I wore a floral dress ugly trainers and socks last week and I saw a couple looking at me and laughing 😂 I couldn’t give a crap 💩 I dress for me not for anyone else and most people who are nasty usually have some kind of insecurity and to make themselves feel better they horrible to someone else ! X

@MaMelon

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.

That’s possibly one of the most illogical things I’ve read on MN - and the bar is high. The reason there’s a vast variety of different styles available is because we all like different clothes and have different styles.

It’s fine to not like something. It’s not fine to invent a whole persona for someone based on their style and judge them accordingly.

I once wore an outfit that was described as soviet union era military nurse which made me laugh as was so specific and yet accurate. I did look a tiny bit funny.

Riding bikes in dresses is easy, just tuck the bottom of the dress in your knickers. 👍

I love dresses and they suit my figure much better than trousers. I struggle in the winter to find anything casual and warm though. What sort of outfits do you all wear in the winter?

@Titsywoo

I love dresses and they suit my figure much better than trousers. I struggle in the winter to find anything casual and warm though. What sort of outfits do you all wear in the winter?

I bought a couple of sweatshirt dresses from Kin last winter and almost lived in them.

@Titsywoo

I love dresses and they suit my figure much better than trousers. I struggle in the winter to find anything casual and warm though. What sort of outfits do you all wear in the winter?

I'd possibly swap for skirts, so that I could prioritise warm tops, merino, cashmere, etc.

I usually just stick a longish puffer coat over some leggings and I would love to make more effort!

And you sound like you need to become conscious of your projecting. Something really bothers you about this subject. Make a cup of tea or coffee, put your feet up and have a think. This isn't high school and no one is impressed by this crap.

You have to admit, there is quite a strong resemblance.

@Titsywoo

I love dresses and they suit my figure much better than trousers. I struggle in the winter to find anything casual and warm though. What sort of outfits do you all wear in the winter?

I have a couple of jumper dresses from Esprit. Pretty pleased with them.

I'd love to start wearing dresses more regularly, but I don't think it's necessarily particularly easy to find dresses that suit.

For example, I'd love to find dresses that I can wear everyday in the warmer weather.

For me that means - 100% cotton, longer than knee length, pockets, short sleeves, not see-through when the sun shines through it.

I also can't afford to spend much more than £25 per dress.

I have found a couple of dresses in the sales that I do like, but both have shoulder straps, rather than short sleeves. The dress straps are not in the same place as my bra straps, so my bra straps show. I don't really care, but it also doesn't lend to a particularly "together" look.

I also feel the cold, so need to think about a suitable cardi to go over the top (probably cropped cardis).

Whereas my usual summer outfit is linen trousers, either cropped or full length, in a variety of colours, with mix-and-match cotton T-shirts and tops.

I'm genuinely interested in where I can buy inexpensive cotton dresses in a decent fabric (not so thin as to be see-through) with sleeves and pockets).

@bellaiceberg - I really like the Hush dress you put a picture up of. What fabric is it made from?

Try the ubiquitous eBay @SkepticalCat. The trouble is you want champagne for lemonade money! Toast would fulfill all your requirements but cheap it ain’t.

I also can't afford to spend much more than £25 per dress.

Once you find a style you like, look on eBay. I get most of mine from there.

I've found the Hush dress.

www.hush-uk.com/cecil-floral-print-midi-dress-blue-white-ditsy-floral/DRS477-999.html

I do really like it, and would consider viscose instead of cotton, but I simply cannot afford or justify spending £99 (or £70 in the sale) for one item of clothing, sadly.

The search continues for decent dresses for less than £30.

Thanks.

Looks like eBay it is!

@Etulosba

And you sound like you need to become conscious of your projecting. Something really bothers you about this subject. Make a cup of tea or coffee, put your feet up and have a think. This isn't high school and no one is impressed by this crap.

You have to admit, there is quite a strong resemblance.

no I was thinking retro lesbian chic myself!

(that was sarcasm, for the simple minded)

her look isn't prescription MN though is it? I'm sure we all feel so much better in our joules mom jeans and a nice top. mid life crisis central. I'd rather look like ena, LOLLLLLLSSSSSS

common show me some more really funny photos then we can laugh at this woman, it's filling the void for me, please post more!

Poor Joules:)
I think the whole 'dresses are dressed up' depends on the dress. But it's also about tights, for me. I hate tights. Not tights per se, but the way they dig in and create dents and rolls (and I am straight up and down pretty skinny). Summer dresses require weather warm enough to not wear anything underneath - which has been rare this summer (I feel the cold), and winter dresses need tights which don't look great and create wrinkles in anything vaguely fitted.
Am realising as I type why i it that I rarely wear a dress;)