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I have a very important question to ask about UK style....

628 replies

EconomyClassRockstar · 31/07/2025 23:48

What is with all the dresses?!! Especially the flowery ones. I've just got home from 6 weeks back in the UK and I've never seen so many women in ugly dresses in my life! Is it just because they're cooler in the heat or has Me+Em just brainwashed the entire country?

This is meant pretty tongue in cheek before everyone starts coming at me with their pitchforks...which they're entirely dressed appropriately for! 😂

OP posts:
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Daffodilsarefading · 01/08/2025 09:20

I’ve just caught up and seen the op lives in New York. I stayed there for the first time earlier this year. I have to say everyone dressed down to a certain degree. I did wear jeans and a coat one day as it was raining, trainers too.
I saved my better clothes, including floral dresses! For when I was in a different state.
When we went to the theatre I wore a long dress, and heeled sandals, how I would dress when going to the theatre in the UK. I wouldn’t say I was over dressed, but lots of people were less dressy.

Definitelynotme2022 · 01/08/2025 09:21

I love a dress, I have some patterened/floral ones, but I'm most comfortable in a plain or block colours one.

I'm currently living in dresses for practical reasons at the moment. A nasty IBS flare up, causing lots of bloating. It means my jeans, trousers and short can become very uncomfortable, very fast.

I wear lots of dresses in the winter too, but they're short and generally plain with tights and boots. I love a clumpy boot!

Foolsgold74 · 01/08/2025 09:21

EconomyClassRockstar · 01/08/2025 00:33

WTF?!

Jesus Christ, remind me never to attempt a joke on MN again.

The thread has probably moved on since this comment but what part of your original comment did you think was funny? There was no punchline or wit or double meaning or clever play on words. You literally just said ugly dresses and thought it was funny?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 01/08/2025 09:22

Bobnobob · 01/08/2025 09:00

Jokes have to be funny OP. What you said was unkind and has obviously upset people. If you stopped and thought for a moment you’d notice that these dresses are worn primarily by middle aged women of all shapes and sizes who perhaps don’t have the body confidence to be wearing shorts and tanks. Who walked out of the house feeling good about themselves and then read your thread.

No body issues here. Shorts and a tank are just boring.

RosesAndHellebores · 01/08/2025 09:22

Funnily enough I was in Central London yesterday and didn't see one single floral dress or denim jacket or white trainers. Overall I thought the majority of people looked very scruffy. The scruffiest were the tourists, in long shorts and trainers or trainer sandals.

The big surprise, and I noticed it when DH and I went into Central London when it was very hot, less than a month ago, was the number of young women wearing knee high boots with shorts or short skirts/dresses. It was warm and muggy yesterday and roasting last time.

I love flowery dresses and dresses generally - they are my happy place. It started in the late 70s with broderie petticoats underneath, then Laura Ashley in the 80s. I also had a couple of tana lawn Liberty print dresses in the 80s.

I've just checked my summer dresses and to my surprise only two are flowery: a bright pink casual dress I wear at weekends and on holiday and a dark blue classic Seasalt summer dress. There are four navy ones, various styles, one plain turquoise, two shirt dresses and another with small repeat patterns but not flowers, a couple of easy Seasalt ones which though patterned are not flowery, one dressier dress with a leaf pattern bought for a special occasion which is silky. Apart from that they are all pure cotton or linen mixes.

I mix them up with trousers - smart for work, linen at weekends or for holidays. Yesterday I wore soft, high waist wide leg trousers with a silk top and whistles jacket and clunky sandals.

Cheeseplantandcrackers · 01/08/2025 09:22

Menopants · 01/08/2025 09:19

It’s so odd I remember lots of threads having a bit of a laugh at the Amish dresses that were/are a thing. The po has definitely taken over

I think it’s probably the Amish or cottage core style that op has spotted.

ddfd21 · 01/08/2025 09:24

Wellnowlookhere · 01/08/2025 09:14

I grew up in Australia wearing shorts and vests, which, as I noted when I travelled to NY, is much the same ‘uniform’ women wear - and results in most women having a rather homogenous look, clothing wise. I moved to the UK many years ago and one of the first things I noticed is the diversity in clothing women wear here and I bloody love it. To my mind (and my much larger thighs now 20 years later) shorts are fine if that’s what you like but I’d rather not set my fanny on fire with the bunching of fabric caused by said larger thighs, but give me a dress/skirt anyday. I don’t wear floral because sadly, I look like a sister wife when I attempt it, but I envy women who wear floral well and I like the look of it, and I’m happy they’re happy with it. Live and let live I say, and you can keep your fanny-fire-setting shorts.

Also, @Falseknock,with a bit of luck, your daughter too, will one day get ‘old’, and may even achieve ‘old hag’ status. Let’s hope she takes it with the same grace when she gets there herself. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I remember walking down Saint Georges Terrace in Perth and a guy coming up to me and saying I knew you were English, Because you and your children are dressed properly
12 months later, we two were in tanks and shorts and look like all the other Kmart Target residents 😆
You can always spot an Aussie a wedding

Daffodilsarefading · 01/08/2025 09:24

Also dd took her beautiful cream soft leather coat to wear in NY, along with her fitted block coloured dress, she didn’t wear it. She stuck to leggings, trainers ( Nike or New Balance) along with the sports socks, plus block coloured top.

Cathandkin · 01/08/2025 09:25

ddfd21 · 01/08/2025 09:24

I remember walking down Saint Georges Terrace in Perth and a guy coming up to me and saying I knew you were English, Because you and your children are dressed properly
12 months later, we two were in tanks and shorts and look like all the other Kmart Target residents 😆
You can always spot an Aussie a wedding

😂

TheyreLikeUsButRichAndThin · 01/08/2025 09:26

EconomyClassRockstar · 01/08/2025 00:15

In the heat, exactly what I wear at home. Shorts and a tank. Smart shorts and a smart tank. Basically, as little as possible, a good fake tan and great shoes!

Sounds REALLY stylish and interesting OP!

😄 honestly I don’t care what others wear but the judging of a whole country’s style is a bit odd coming from someone just wearing tank tops!

IfNot · 01/08/2025 09:26

Wel I checked my wardrobe and zero flowery dresses. I have a few cotton maxi skirts, which I wear with a linen halter top or sleeveless cotton top. Some cotton bright coloured abstract print trousers ( with a plain fitted T or a vest) and some denim shorts which I’d wear with a cotton blouse or cheesecloth shirt. I don’t really wear trainers in the summer, prefer wedge sandals.
For me, the little house on the prairie look doesn’t suit but equally if I wore beige shorts and a vest id look like I was leading an Outward Bound course so that’s a no.
Actually where I live in the uk I don’t really see many florals anymore. The young girls are in teeny shorts with their bottoms on display and the older women are generally in plain coloured cotton dresses.
When I spent a lot of time in NY all women wore short black cotton shift dresses and spindly sandals but that was in the SATC era!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 01/08/2025 09:26

Menopants · 01/08/2025 09:19

It’s so odd I remember lots of threads having a bit of a laugh at the Amish dresses that were/are a thing. The po has definitely taken over

But there wasn't a joke or anything funny in the OP's post.

Screamingabdabz · 01/08/2025 09:26

The actual joke of this thread that whilst a critical mass of British women are mocked because they find summer dresses cool, flattering and perfect for variable weathers and occasions, the alternative offered - supposedly the height of chic - is basically a vest and shorts! Something that only looks good on little children.

Righto op. 🙄

Cathandkin · 01/08/2025 09:26

Tana lawn Liberty fabric is just fantastic, @RosesAndHellebores . I have a shirt in that fabric, it's just gorgeous and has lasted years.

newrubylane · 01/08/2025 09:27

We've got to make the most of the summer weather here OP. The law states we all have to be back in our black leggings, long black puffer jackets and massive ugly trainers by mid September 😆

Cathandkin · 01/08/2025 09:27

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 01/08/2025 09:26

But there wasn't a joke or anything funny in the OP's post.

I think this is the point. It really wasn't funny.

IfNot · 01/08/2025 09:28

Yesterday I wore soft, high waist wide leg trousers with a silk top and whistles jacket and clunky sandals.
That sounds lovely 😻

Fernticket · 01/08/2025 09:30

If you don't like what we wear, do us all a favour and don't come back to the UK!

RosesAndHellebores · 01/08/2025 09:30

IfNot · 01/08/2025 09:28

Yesterday I wore soft, high waist wide leg trousers with a silk top and whistles jacket and clunky sandals.
That sounds lovely 😻

Thank you - and I'm 65!

StarlightLady · 01/08/2025 09:31

Screamingabdabz · 01/08/2025 09:26

The actual joke of this thread that whilst a critical mass of British women are mocked because they find summer dresses cool, flattering and perfect for variable weathers and occasions, the alternative offered - supposedly the height of chic - is basically a vest and shorts! Something that only looks good on little children.

Righto op. 🙄

… and the OP forgot her baseball cap! 😀

naomisno1fan · 01/08/2025 09:31

Love a flowery dress!

so much better than black or beige

CoubousAndTourmalet · 01/08/2025 09:31

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 01/08/2025 09:22

No body issues here. Shorts and a tank are just boring.

Likewise, always been slim but have never worn shorts and tank or leggings and trainers.

Pinty · 01/08/2025 09:33

handsdownthebest · 01/08/2025 06:58

You are not being unreasonable. Didnt get the flowery trend. Most of them look like tents as the British female demographic is also quite large.

Not as large as the US demographic though

Falseknock · 01/08/2025 09:33

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 01/08/2025 09:13

I'm happy to ignore the opinion of you and your daughter.

That's the relationship I have with her. If I cared what people thought of me and my daughter I would hide under a rock. Everyone is entitled to their opinion we are all human.

The only thing I am self conscious about is what I am wearing. I grew up in London you have to have pride in yourself in London or else you get it. If my loved ones and friends never told me how I look in an outfit and I went out looking dreadful I would be fuming. I had a friend who always said I lost weight and I was always the same 12 stone weight. I rather someone told me the truth about how I look rather than lie. I can easily change my outfit but my personality will stay the same I like who I am and my daughter and that's all that matters.

Purplecatshopaholic · 01/08/2025 09:33

Oh op. I hope your loins are girded under your shorts. Criticising flowery dresses! In the UK! Lol. It’s been a thing here for a while. I love dresses I admit - so easy to wear. I just tend to go for shorter styles, and defo no flowers as I think it looks dated. Don’t even get me started on the flowery maxi/denim jacket/trainers schtick - bloody awful (imo) but still really common. Each to their own I reckon. We should all wear what we like.