Dress VS. Pants on the holidays - YouLookFab Forum

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Dress VS. Pants on the holidays

Bianca

Veteran

Based on another comment I just posted, I always feel I should wear a dress on holidays...even if it is just dinner with immediate family. There have been times that I have deviated from this rule, but I think it stemmed from when my parents put us little girls in dresses to wear on Christmas and other holidays. It always made me feel more "special." Even if its a cute sweater dress with flats, I think a gal should celebrate her femininity in a dress. What is the consensus?

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I tend to agree, Bianca...I feel inherently more dressed up when I put on a skirt or a dress. That said, that doesn't apply to all dresses. I'm currently wearing one of my all-time favourite dresses and briefly toyed with the idea of trotting it out for a Christmas Eve party, but dismissed it because the dress feels too casual. In that case, I'll be opting for dressy black pants with a sequin tank and velvet jacket. Those items have a fancier vibe than things like a sweater dress or even the one I'm wearing now, and so they feel more appropriate for a festive setting to me.

catgirl

Veteran

I have never worn a dress on Christmas! I usually wear something casual, comfortable and food-friendly in case of spills. Partly it's because I have to dress up for work every day, so I look at holidays as a chance to relax. But if I weren't at home, I would dress up more.

rute

Veteran

I love dresses! Use them 80% of the time but on christmas, as we used, when children, to wear our pijamas, I use jeans a lot. Maybe it has to do with our memories
But I agree, nothing like a dress to make us feel on the top!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Depends on where I am. At home with no one but the sister and our SOs, we are very casual, if not outright in pajamas. If we go somewhere with all adults, I do feel that only a dress will do. However, if there will be children or dogs present, I will do a dressy top with pants of some kind. I agree that anything I consider "special" usually spurs me to put on a dress!

tarzy

Veteran

I don't wear dresses. Ever. When I want to "dress up," I wear black pants with a great top. I realize I'm in the minority, but it works for me!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

As a frock gal, I wear dresses at Xmas time - and as much as possible during the year too.

Debbie

Veteran

I love dresses and do feel more dressed up in them.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I run super cold, so I don't wear dresses at all in the wintertime.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Tarzy - what about that fab dress we all raved about? I think you need MORE dresses!

Louise

Veteran

I'm with Angie, dresses/ tunics are my go to outfit 90% of the time anyway so celebrations give me an excuse to get out the dressier ones x

Queen Mum

Veteran

I wish my family dressed up more for Christmas. I might wear my new sweater dress and leggings, but otherwise I'll don a chic jeans outfit.

Gaylene

Veteran

Is there room on the no-dress bench, Tarzy? The only dress I own is a summer T-shirt thing that I wear on the deck when the temperature is over 100F. Not really my first choice for a festive event.

And why would dress lovers insist that I "need" a dress? I feel much sexier and more feminine in my skinny, silky pants with a high heel and great jewelry than I ever would in a dress.

Beth

Veteran

Christmas is the perfect time to pull out all the dressy frocks! Count me in the dress camp:)

MsMaven

Veteran

Pants for me, although I did wear a dress on occasion when we lived in So Cal. Dresses are just too tough to find, although I do see hopeful signs that is changing. What is the point of a dress if you have to wear tights, a cami, and a cardi or jacket over it? Or worse, some Spanx-like underwear.

The holidays are the time I pull out my chunky knit sweaters and wool pants.

Isabel

Veteran

I think more than what is more appropriate, I LOVE the fact that it conjures up memories for you of a tradition going back to your childhood. So I vote dress !!!

Bianca

Veteran

Thanks for all the great feedback ladies! Again, I certainly do wear dressy pants and satin or sequin tops for the holidays and I do love opening up gifts in my pj's....but I love the excuse to put on a dress!!! I think I'm also going to try to own more dresses for 2011. Angie and the rest of the ladies have provided me with great ways to dress up or down a frock!

Kristine

Veteran

I wear dresses and skirts throughout the year, but usually not during the holidays. My family is casual so I would feel overdressed. Plus we take our shoes off at the door which would leave me in stocking feet. I go with dark jeans or dress pants, maybe a dressy jacket.

taylor

Veteran

I will likely wear a dress or dressy skirt too:)

Bianca

Veteran

I do have family too that stick w/jeans on Christmas...but then I usually try to do a more causal dress. Full respect to those who prefer pants! Certainly I'm not imposing dresses on anyone! Also I think I am more dressed up on Christmas Eve/Day because we also go to church and want to but on my bests!

LeahJanes

Definitely dresses. When I was a kid, I would always get treated to a new Christmas dress every year. I don't buy a new one every year now but I always make sure I wear one of my nice ones.

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Pants, pants, pants!

If I go home for the holidays there is a lot going on. How can you get down on the floor and play with the kids and dogs or put stuff together wearing a dress? This year we are staying home, I'm hoping the weather clears enough to get in a ride and that means pants too.

That right there is the main reason why I rarely wear dresses. I feel like the only thing you can do is sit there and try and be ladylike--not something I have ever managed.

AJ

Veteran

Well I usually wear dresses to church on Sundays. On Christmas day it's very casual with my family and relatives and we like to play various games that might require gathering around on the floor. Plus, I want to eat all the good food and wearing a nice dress hinders my being a bit pig-ish! Hee-hee!

Sandi

I'd prefer to wear a dress, but I'm usually on the floor with the kids handing out Christmas gifts. So pants are almost a necessity. I'll likely do a sweater dress and leggings as a compromise.

Barbara

Veteran

If I'm the hostess, I'll wear a dress. I have a gorgeous dark green velvet empire waist dress with ruched 3/4 sleeves. It's lightweight and looks equally nice with leggings or tights for a less dressy style.

For parties at friends' houses, I'll wear a pretty cashmere sweater with black skinnies or go dressier and don a pair of high-waisted gray midweight tweed pants and cropped red ballet wrap sweater. It depends on the venue.

Velma

Veteran

Every year, we host an informal open house on Christmas afternoon for friends and acquaintances--the morning is spent opening gifts and playing with our little girl. So I need to aim for both comfortable and pretty!

Like Barbara, I have a comfy velvet dress (mine is scoopneck, long-sleeved, and bottle green) that I keep around for this time of year. It's not a high-fashion item by any means, but it gets tons of compliments, my husband loves it, and it is very soft and comfortable. I think I'll wear it with tall boots (either cognac or black) and a scarf or shawl this year.

Happy holidays, everyone.

Bianca

Veteran

I like that some of you are down on the ground playing with the kids and do not want to feel uncomfortable in a dress...hence the sweater dress/leggings compromise! I guess I do pjs in the morning when we pass out the gifts and play with the kids and then get dressed for the days festivity. Which ever you decide for yourself, have a Merry Christmas!!!!

Lisa

Veteran

I wear a dress when not the host and a nice top and trousers or jeans when hosting.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I like something with a roomier waist to accommodate rather large portions of food. If i wear trousers I may need to undo the button a loose dress is so much easier.