Dress and white trainers

[MJFEB2026]

Dated? Or still acceptable to wear?!

My comments are more on the patriarchy's influence than the fashion industry.

They could have been made 20 years ago and would have been just as unappealing then as they are now.

That makes no sense. What drives fashion is not just what the fashion houses promote, but what women themselves chose to pick up, buy and wear.

and the fashion right now is wide leg trousers, midi dresses or skirts, over sized bomber jackets, nothing fitted or tight, trainers are still fashionable, just coloured or cream/tan, dresses are still fashionable, just not the floral print with white trainers,

none of these items are uncomfortable, and none of them are driven by the patriarchy, who would prefer women looking like love island extras.

Wait till summer - my bet is the floral dresses and white trainers will be pulled out from wardrobes of middle aged women (including me) up and down the land and worn again. That won't stop us wearing coloured trainers and plain coloured dresses as well, of course.

Of course, many people can’t afford to just bin their clothes or buy all new ones as what they have is dated. And many struggle to move from their comfort zone etc.

just because something is dated doesn’t mean everyone stops wearing it. You see all sorts out there, way more dated than a floral dress, denim jacket and white trainers.

I just looked in my wardrobe and got a migraine. I have about 7 dresses that hung together look like someone ate 5 packets of Starburst and projectile vomited.

I'm surprised anyone doesn't see sexism in fashion aimed at women. The vast majority of men trundle on each year without worrying whether the clothes they wore last summer will have become dated. They put their feet into shoes that are comfortable and match the shape of their feet. They wear colours that they like. They don't become "frumpy" by means of reaching middle age. Youth is not seen as essential to looking good for men. Most importantly they are not constantly judged on how they appear to others.

@DespairMode I thank God I’m not a boring man! How glorious to be a woman and able to express myself via clothes! Plus men do buy clothes! My DH is 72 and buys beautiful clothes! Why do you think men don’t want to look good? He’s going to look wonderful at our DDs wedding and he won’t be letting the side down in Hush Puppies and a 50 year old shirt!

Sorry just reading the thread about men who won't wash and feeling a bit fed up with being female.

FWIW, I agree with you @DespairMode Men aren't subjected to sartorial judgement at anywhere the same level as women are - particularly once they have the temerity to hit middle age.

Absolutely stunning OP!
The two colours that I really like are sold out in my size 😔

They [men] don't become "frumpy" by means of reaching middle age.
They do if they're dressed in the clothes that they were wearing 20 years earlier.

Finding these comments on men not getting frumpy etc very odd. Men absolutely get frumpy, men absolutely care about what they wear, their bodies, their hair. Sure some men don’t. Like some women, but it’s very odd to think all men don’t care. I understand it maybe the posters have very limited interaction with men, so their view is just as limited, but yes men have the same issues,

have these posters not even seen adverts for men, from hair colour to skin care, all the clothes retailers?

I have never heard a man or his choices described as "frumpy" that is a gendered word.
Men spend money on clothes and beauty - about 2/3 of the female market on clothes and 1/2 when it comes to beauty.
Very different figures.
Love the wee insult about not knowing many men 👏

@Firesidechatter , I agree with you. If you look at the men where I work, a lot of the middle aged men look 'frumpy'. They're often carrying a bit of extra weight and are dressed in repeat purchases of the same old styles they wore 10, 20, 30 years ago, and have the same hairstyles.

There are some who look great, but they have kept themselves trim and have updated their hair, clothes and shoes.

Yes it is no different to the woman, in my work place, it is predominantly male and yes some are frumpy, dated, whatever word you wish, bit podgy , ooorly kept hair etc. and some are fit, groomed and dress well.

same in my social circle, some of the men take their appearance and grooming, their fitness seriously. Some have let themselves go and wear the same old shit.

id have thought this was fairly common, I see it when out and about.

We tend to use the term 'dad' instead of mumsy.

Given the smart casual outfit is quite typical, they'll be wearing something like a rugby style top, straight chinos or not-denim jeans, and sensible shoes (something like dad-shoes or merrells), their hair is slightly overgrown, they have the rounded shoulders of a sedentary desk job worker and a bit of a paunch. He probably shops in places like Fat Face and M&S.

If smarter dress code they'll be in a shirt and trousers combo grabbed in a quick visit to M&S or Debenhams with probably some slip-on shoes or the sensible dad-shoes in black.

There's truth in what both of you are saying. I'm glad I'm not restricted to the boring choices men have but equally men aren't subject to the level of scrutiny women get.

Who is giving women this scrutiny. It’s other women. It’s not men. Men aren’t wandering round commenting on women’s clothes being frumpy or dates. It’s women. And it’s women who do it to men also.

this isn’t about men. We can’t blame everything on them.

Who is "we"? I don't use "dad" /"mumsy" /"frumpy" for anyone or any clothes.
There are clothes and styles of dressing I like; clothes and styles of dressing I wouldn't wear myself but can still admire; clothes and styles of dressing I'm completely indifferent to; and stuff that would make me cry if I had to leave the house wearing them (the dresses you suggested on here are in the latter 2 categories)

In real life I compliment people wearing the first 2 categories and mind my own business for the latter.

? I didn't say it was men.

You jumped into a conversation where a poster said it was all about the patriachy not letting women wear what they wish. We are all correcting him or her. As it is simply not correct.

We - my circle of acquaintances.

(the dresses you suggested on here are in the latter 2 categories)
I didn't suggest the dresses. I gave them as examples of outfits. I'd put them in the 'inoffensive' category.
If I wore them, people would notice because they're very different to what I normally wear.

I don't use "dad" /"mumsy" /"frumpy" for anyone or any clothes. I didn't say you did.

Okay. I'm not overly concerned by someone who finds "frumpy", whether applied to men or women a useful adjective.

Hence my question -"we" is kind of a silly word to use without clarification of who "we" are (or is, if you're royalty)

But Tbh I'm not hugely interested in the opinion of anyone who finds "mumsy" "dad" style, or "frumpy" useful.