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Dresses? Yay or nay?

TJ

Hi everyone! I'm new here (as in I legit just created my account) and I decided to make my very first forum to be about something I don't quite find cute but others may have different opinions. So I went with dresses. I'm more of a tomboy myself and I don't often find myself wearing dresses. I'd love feedback and some different opinions that may or may not change my thoughts on dresses.

Thank you all very much!
~TJ

Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Hi TJ!

Idk if it’ll change your mind or not, but I think of myself as a tomboy and I wear dresses and skirts a lot. In the winter I wear them with boots or flats like these and fleece-lined tights, or maybe sweater tights. In the summer, bare legs and sandals—but only sandals that I can run in—they have to stay on my feet and not have spindly heels. The red boots are some of my highest heels.

I don’t wear skirts that have yards of fabric or that are tight. I have to be a little careful about how I sit (if it’s short) and climbing a fence can be awkward, but the last time I climbed a fence taller than me was before the pandemic. The trade off is that they are really comfortable! I’m pretty fidgety, and with pants or jeans I often have to make some kind of adjustment, like a leg got twisted or something.

by Stagiaire Fash

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TJ

FashIntern

Thank you so much for the feedback and those shoes are very cute!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi TJ! I am definitely not a tomboy, I am quite dressy. But even then, I have a large number of dresses which I don’t wear enough ( I am trying to wear all my clothing items and shoes at least 30 times #30 wears). This is partly because I prefer wearing pants at work 3 days a week and also prefer wearing pants on days off!
I have very much sworn off buying dresses even though I get tempted. I last bought one 2 years ago to be a mother of the bride and think I have worn it all of 3 times since buying it so I am happy I got it on sale!

Bijou

Veteran

Hi TJ - I am a big YAY for dresses and skirts, but then I don't think of myself as a tomboy. In fact, I would describe my style as quite formal with a feminine edge, which is why I like wearing dresses and tailored clothing. Boots are my favourite footwear and these are the boots that I am wearing at the moment with my dresses and skirts to toughen things up a bit and also ease of walking.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Bijou, how can you be a black belt & not a tomboy?

April

Veteran

Interesting points here. I so love the "one and done" aspect of dresses that I find myself accumulating more of them lately.

TJ, what about non-girly dresses like this one that's on its way to me? If it fits well, I'm planning to wear with sneakers.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I love dresses- especially in the summer heat. They are so much cooler than fabric around your legs. I also love the ease that April mentioned- nothing to coordinate, just a single piece.

Anonymous

Yay from me! I definitely have my tomboy aspects in personality, but generally avoid them in my style. Our summers are long, hot, and humid, so I only wear skirts and dresses 6 months of the year. But- I usually wear skirts and tops for daily wear, and save the dresses for formal workwear and events like weddings. I like simple sheath and wrap styles most, and go for classy/ sophisticated not "cute."

rachylou

Veteran

I like skirts/dresses when it’s hot because I also feel they’re cooler (and offer more protection from hot benches!). The other thing is, I find them easier to fit. I’ll even wear them camping and hiking.

Irina

Veteran

Well, I will be the one with “no” to dresses
I don’t wear them, have only a couple to wear over pants/jeans. I don’t have anything against dresses, I just find shopping for dresses is extremely frustrating. Maybe I have too many requirements for it - natural fabrics, no print, in my colors, midi length, relaxed without being too oversized. Fit is always is a huge issue for petite me. I know that even if find one, it will have to be extensively altered. Every year I look for a summer dress but haven’t found something I can see myself wearing.

slim cat

Veteran

Mostly separates - a few dresses that rarely worn ( tee-shirt dress, silk sleeveless from BR, maxi dress for vacation - worn 2-3 times lol ).
Dresses are too difficult to find ( need print, natural fabrication, drop waist or just fluid fit, in my colors - plus the need to wear it somewhere ).

Anonymous

Repeating what Irina said almost word for word except that I own absolutely none.

Bijou is a black belt? Did I miss something?

nuancedream

Veteran

I prefer wearing dresses and skirts, especially in the summer. The one and done aspect of throwing on a dress is very appealing. My footwear and accessories toughen up my dresses and skirts. That's my tomboy element.

TJ

Hi everyone! - Thank you all for the feeback! It was very helpful to see what others think of dresses and I have to say, my opinion on dresses isn't quite the same. Although I will not be wearing dresses everyday, I might start wearing dresses sometimes. But only if I can run in them due to the fact that I'm very sporty.

Again, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that replied!

~ TJ

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I like maxi dresses but don't wear them as much since moving to a densely populated city (read: gross sidewalks) with typhoons (strong winds = oops!). The key to avoiding soggy hems though has been to wear dresses at the new popular length just above your shoes (read: doesn't drag on the floor)

That said, I will gladly wear dresses on dry days because of the 'one & done' aspect - especially on days when I need to get dressed & look 'polished' for work without melting into a puddle on my subtropical, humid commute. They feel much nicer around the legs, since the billowing generates airflow (I will never understand how others can wear jeans & denim in the summer, being encased in stiff fabric with buttons & zips, but to each their own )

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@TJ It sounds like these would be right up your alley - a moisture wicking sports dress with shorts attached (& a phone pocket!), so you can run around without fear of 'gust of wind' accidents:

https://www.outdoorvoices.com/.....9052550222

TJ

Hello Zaeobi,
I understand your point and thank you so much for replying. But I do have to say, I am one of those people that wears jeans and denim in the summer time. It's just who I am. I prefer jeans and big hoodies to skirts and dresses. Again though, thank you for the feeback and I will gladly take your words into consideration this summer.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I totally get that lol, it seems most of this forum also does the same Nothing wrong with that if it works for you, I just meant I can't stand the feeling on my skin (I'm a bit sensitive to fabric texture).

Doesn't seem to phase other folk living here though, so it's more my own hang up, don't mind me

Linda Welsh

Hi,
I agree with NuanceDream! You can toughen up the dresses with your shoes and even a bag. I have this very flowy blue and white stripped dress that I wear with white western styled ankle boots and a white studded belt!

Cheers!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome, TJ.

Some of my clients don't wear dresses either. Or they wear tunics and leggings.

I echo those who mentioned that you can toughen up a dress with the right support act. Combat boots, hi-tops and denim are a go-to. You can also wear a hard edged dress.

I LOVE to wear dresses in warm weather! But like you, do not like to feel constricted. I lead an urban walking lifestyle, walk fast, and am on foot each day - with doggies and errands in tow. My dresses MUST move when I move. So I keep them roomy, flared, voluminous, and swooshy. Nothing too structured. I also wear them with fashion sneakers, loafers or flats. No heels!

cat2

Veteran

What about Nike or Adidas dresses? Very sporty and they look like they should be worn with sneakers and a zip front hoodie. Nice and cool for summer.

TJ

Hi cat2! Thank you for the idea! I actually own a very cute Adidas dress. It even has a hood and I can run in it. It looks great with my high top adidas shoes and I'm starting to enjoy the style even more.

Sal

Veteran

I think you can look awesome in dresses or never wearing a dress.

They suit my lifestyle especially in summer.

This black loose dress is good belted or unbelted - and gets a fair bit of wear to work.

cat2

Veteran

Sounds like a good start! Lacoste has short dresses that look like longish polo shirts that also have a sporty vibe.

DonnaF

Veteran

I’m not girly AT ALL but I’ve taken to wearing dresses mostly with cropped jeans or pants underneath. I am the queen of denim dresses and sweater dresses and to a lesser extent, T-shirt dresses. Can you tell I’m all about comfort?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hi and welcome! No need to wear dresses if you prefer jeans, but there are some great suggestions here if you want to try. I do wear dresses especially in the hottest weather, but generally prefer jeans for day to day.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Welcome! No need to wear dresses if you don't want to! I love them in the summer, when they offer the best ventilation in the heat. But I walk everywhere so I need to be able to move freely in them. No tight or constricting clothes.

Bijou

Veteran

@Fashintern - I kick butt, but like to do so gracefully!

Gigi

Veteran

When I was younger, I used to be very uncomfortable in dresses, but that probably had a lot to do with the fact that when I was young, dresses were always worn with a slip and pantyhose, and dressy shoes, which was NOT comfortable!

Even in my late thirties, I wasn't a big dress wearer, but I was converted after realizing that in hot weather, dresses are the best way for me to stay cool. By learning what styles I felt good in, and by buying styles that were more casual and could be worn with comfy shoes, I became a dress lover. (I've got one on now, in fact!)

Dresses come in all sorts of styles. Maybe you haven't found a style that matches your personality yet?

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