I totally agree with Eve about this. “Low-key casual elegance” is always comfortable on me and it’s perfect for either work at the office or my favorite pastimes, playing the piano and visiting the library. Jeans would be better than skirts for active lifestyles, obviously, if you do things like climbing, dirt biking, playing pickup soccer, etc. I’m more sedentary and the only active pastime I have is belly dance. I definitely think long flowing skirts work wayyyy better in belly dance than jeans. I feel perfectly comfortable sitting in a ladylike way when I’m in a skirt, and long skirts are more comfortable because you practically don’t need to think about how much you’re flashing. I also seem to be the last chick on Earth who curtsies when she’s introduced. Retro fun…
When I think of dresses and skirts I am not thinking of those ghastly oppressively tailored severe Women-Dress-for-Success shmattes. I own one navy wool business suit like that, coincidentally the only short skirt I own, and I’ve worn it exactly once. I keep it there in case I ever need it. Hope I don’t. For low-key casual elegance, all I need is a long flowing skirt and already I’m halfway done dressing up, keeping it simple. For tops I like cotton-lycra leotards and similar clingy microfiber thingies, often paired with a cute cardigan. I know leotards are sooo retro 50s-60s-70s. But then I’m a dancer and not afraid of dressing a little bohémienne. I hope I never frump out. I wear purple.
I’m sorry, but you have just violated the Necktie Whining Law*. You are hereby sentenced to three months in pantyhose, an underwire bra with a 5 lb. weight in each cup, and high heels with pointy toes.
More comfortable, my hat!
*Instituted shortly after I was required to wear a necktie as part of a service uniform over a period of several months, and upon my discovery during that time that I really didn’t think I was constantly being strangled, as is often claimed.
I used to hate skirts for this very reason. Then I found Bodyglide it make a huge difference. I absolutly love it.
Regarding getting dressed up to fly… I asked my mom about this while looking through old family photos. There were picures of her in the airport in New York in like 1962, when they ( my grandparents and mom) were going to Bermuda for the summer. I asked why is everybody all dressed up in these pics, she said because it was a big deal to fly back then. Everybody dressed up to fly men wore nice suits and women wore nice dresses or skirt and tops.
I made the “gussied up” comment, but I didn’t say there was no in between.
I have three modes of dress:
1)Around the house/just got up look= oversized t shirts, sweats or shorts
2)Off to work= khaki’s, nice cords or slacks with various casual tops
3)Not at work= jeans, t shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, depending on the weather.
My t shirts, tanks & sweatshirts are clean, they’re not covered in gaudy red-neck slogans or 'wraslin & Nascar endorsements, and my jeans are not filled with holes or dangling fringe at the hems.
It is very possible to dress down and not look like a refugee from a Jerry Springer line-up.
As for must-dress-up occasions such as funerals, anything I wear to work is as dressy as I’m going to get.
Everything’s a facade. Deciding to alter our appearances in any way to influence peoples’ perceptions of us is a facade. So what?
As for me, jeans are so very, very, very not more comfortable than skirts. Jeans that will fit over my hips are hula-hoop like at the waist, whereas many skirts actually flare out at the waist such that I am not feeling crushed to death around the thighs and hips simply in order to have clothing that is not gaping out all over the place when I sit down. So I declare that in my version of the universe skirts are more comfortable, ergo, better.
Until the deregulation of the airline industry, flying was much, much more expensive than it is now (you have to adjust for inflation to see the full effect, but I’m talking like two to five times more expensive.) Airlines weren’t engaged in a truly competitive marketplace; they could charge hideous amounts, and in fairness you got a little more in the way of creature comforts. Ordinary people simply could not afford to fly as much as they do now; flying was more tilted towards the well-to-do, with working joes flying only on special occasions. So actually, it was kind of a big deal to fly; if you weren’t upper middle class or higher, you were acutely aware of the fact that you were taking their mode of transit.
Today, airline travel is affordable, and for anything beyond a certain distance is actually your cheapest option, thanks to degregulation and competition. It’s like taking a bus. It’s essentially become mass transit, so it’s just not a big deal to be on a plane.
We’ve gotten, I think, to the point where your typical average slob is made uncomfortable not only by having to dress up, but by having to interact with others who are dressed up.
I think this because I used to occasionally test so-called “come as you are” dress conventions by showing up at a party in, say, a retro suit and vintage tie. I always got comments, not necessarily complimentary (“why don’t you relax and get rid of that tie?”).
I got the distinct feeling I was making people uncomfortable, and eventually this made me uncomfortable. So I learned to dress this way only when it would be socially appropriate. As I am a straight male in my late 30s who works mostly from home, that means practically never. My vintage tie collection is not happy about this.
Seems like in many social settings all manner of dress is expected. As in the aforementioned restaurant where guests dress up or down. Nothing is a surprise anymore.
You should pretty much dress how you feel comfortable and for some of us, it’s one way and others, another. We shouldn’t look down on those who don’t dress up but they for damned sure shouldn’t judge we who do.
Part of it is location - there’s not a single restaurant in Seattle that requires a jacket & tie. There are some that kind of frown on jeans…but it’s a laid back town. Go to the opera and a serious percentage of people will be wearing jeans. On the other hand, having such a relaxed dress code, means we have a seriou spercentage of people who go to the opera.
If you look good in those, you’re lucky. Because of my body shape, I can’t wear those “long, flowy dresses.” without looking like I got dressed in the dark with no mirrors anywhere.
Plus, the second you have to do something even remotely athletic, dresses don’t work at all.
Thigh high stockings? Ha. On me, they’re usually “knee high” (I think they’re made for really short women) and either cut off my circulation or come falling down.
I like getting dressed up from time to time - but yes, jeans are much more utile.
One reason I like Japan is that people do dress up for many occasions, including funerals and weddings. Men wear formal black suits, with a white shirt and either a black tie for funerals or a white tie for weddings.
For weddings, women will usually wear formal dresses, and occasionally kimono, and for funerals, they will wear a black kimono or an all black Western dress (usually) or pant suit, and either pearls or no jewelry. It’s something to see several hundred people all dressed in black. I think it adds to dignity of the occasion. I went back a couple of years ago for my cousin’s funeral and had thought about taking my formal black suit and black tie, but thought that people wouldn’t be able to handle it, so I took a dark gray suit. While most people had at least a sport coat, with or without a tie, there were some people in T-shirts and jeans.
I think there are times and places for both formality and informality. I wouldn’t want to be 100% formal 100% of the time. It’s great to relax and not worry about appearance at times, but I also like being dressed up and having other people dressed up for certain occasions. I see nothing wrong for having a dress code in restaurants. Likewise work.
Because I do sales, I’ve got a collection of suits. Probably four summer suits (late spring to early fall) and maybe eight winter suits. During the really hot part of the summer, I’ll wear polo shirts to work
But seriously, haven’t done the clubbing thing in years. Occasionally we go down to a local coffee house to see a band, but it sure isn’t a dressy place.
As for looking hot, I can if in the mood. As a working mom with two boys age 16 and 11 it’s not a real practical look for me unfortunately.
I’d wear a ball gown to the office if I thought I could get away with it.
The first time I went to Broadway, I was so disappointed. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, flip flops. I wanted every one to look like Arlene Francis & Kitty Carlisle. I still do my part when I go to the theatre - cocktail dress or dinner suit. I love to feel dressed.
Reminds me of when I went to London last May and saw The Mousetrap. I wore a jacket and tie. Compared to most of the audience I was overdressed. If I had known I didn’t need to bring any nice clothes I wouldn’t have bothered.
Alas, I am currently going through a shift in what is acceptable dressing in my life.
As a university student, and a busy one at that, in the winter especially I would wear sweatpants and an XXL sweatshirt (preferably one of my boyfriend’s) to school. I didn’t care how I looked - I was there to study and concentrate, and I find some clothes more high-maintenance than others.
Now that I’m a grad student, however… it’s sort of my job to be at school and I feel weird about dressing down, especially on days when I’m teaching. I’ve bought some nicer pants and shirts, but however will I deal with winter?
I’ve seen some 1940s catalogs from manufacturing plants; nearly all the machinists were wearing dress shirts and ties—maybe they did it because they knew photographs would be taken on a specific day. My maternal grandfather would NOT leave his house without wearing a suit, complete with coat and tie. He wore a vest and tie just to sit on his front porch; he would remove the tie if he worked in his garden. My first full-time job (1950s) was with Neiman-Marcus; I worked in the mail room and was required to wear a suit every day. Except for my years as a mechanic, I wore a suit and tie nearly every day during my working life. Now, I wear what I dern well please.
Betcha you’re right. I have sales literature from the Conn and Buescher band instrument plants in Elkhart, IN (1920s-'30s). Some of the guys are in shirt & tie (usually with an apron over), others just in shirtsleeves.
I also have quite a few pix taken in the [NBC television studios in the experimental days before WWII. Despite temps up to 120° and beyond (!) due to the firestorm of light needed by the early cameras, the crews always wore shirt and tie, and frequently coat and tie, at least on days when photos were to be taken.
The BBC is broadcasting a series of TV programmes about the “lost decade” of 1945-1955. This includes plenty of newsreel from that time. You would be amazed how ordinary people dressed for many informal occasions. Whether it was sitting on a beach or watching a football match, many men would be wearing jacket and ties . equally,many women just walking down the street are pictured wearing hats and quite formal dresses.
In my fantasy life, sure!