# Some thoughts on dressing nicely **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087 "2010-09-26T12:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/21 "2010-09-26T23:03:15Z")
I wear nylons _maybe_ once a year. I can survive the unpleasantness of normal pharmacy/wal-mart bought ones. I wear them for 2 reasons. 1. My legs are ugly. I am so pale I practically glow. My veins give my glowie skin a bluish tint. I don’t like to look down and see my legs below a dress so I imagine other people don’t either. 2. I don’t like when my thighs rub together. 3. I need the control top. I can wear Spanx for the last 2 but they wont help to cover my legs. So, nylons are the way to go. I can deal with it on the rare occasions that I can’t get out of wearing a dress. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to whine about it though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/22 "2010-09-26T23:04:26Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > If I lost 30 pounds or so, I’d totally get into wearing vintage 50’s styles. I’m pretty hourglassy and I bet I’d look great. Meanwhile I don’t, but I do wear pantyhose fairly frequently. Also meant to add: this makes me kind of sad :(. I hate to hear people say, “If only I lost 20/30/40/whatever lbs…” because every style has elements that work at every single size. If you love the look- wear it! I wear all kinds of things that fat girls traditionally aren’t supposed to wear, but get tons of compliments. The only thing I do differently is exude confidence. If you love what you’re wearing, everybody around you is going to see that :). It depends how big you are (meaning what I would suggest depends), but I’d love to suggest some great vintage looks if you give me your specs! **Edit to Add:** **congodwarf** , Walmart nylons, tights, and leggings are miserable-- they get all misshapen and painful for me, too! I’m also cheap though, I wont pay $30 for tights (who does that???)-- just keep an eye out for sales, because places like Avenue will often have nylons and such on sale for $5! Spanx does make nylons, but they are a bit costly. I do see them at outlet malls sometimes, though! Torrid also sometimes has them on sale. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/23 "2010-09-26T23:04:39Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > That said, if there’s any side boob . . . that dress don’t fit, homie. 😛 There should never, ever be side boob visible. Well, by side boob, I meant the inside. As in, \*maximum \*cleavage extending to the bottom of the boob, not appropriate for Sesame Street, much less a hospital. With a good bra, my boobs don’t touch (for the first few hours, anyhow), so there’s a Victoria’s Secret worthy view of inside side boob. Nothing hanging out underneath my armpits! 'Member, these were bought as vavavoom! dresses, not office wear. I’m trying to adapt and not spend money on a whole new wardrobe. 😉 ETA: Only one of the dresses is \*that \*revealing, anyhow. It may not be possible to use it, even with a burqa underneath! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/24 "2010-09-26T23:11:55Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > That said, if there’s any side boob . . . that dress don’t fit, homie. 😛 There should never, ever be side boob visible. > > Well, by side boob, I meant the inside. As in, \*maximum \*cleavage extending to the bottom of the boob, not appropriate for Sesame Street, much less a hospital. With a good bra, my boobs don’t touch (for the first few hours, anyhow), so there’s a Victoria’s Secret worthy view of inside side boob. Nothing hanging out underneath my armpits! > > 'Member, these were bought as vavavoom! dresses, not office wear. I’m trying to adapt and not spend money on a whole new wardrobe. 😉 > > ETA: Only one of the dresses is \*that \*revealing, anyhow. It may not be possible to use it, even with a burqa underneath! Oooh! I thought you meant side boob like this: http ://wrestlewithjimmy.net/Images/Lindsay%20Lohan/lohan\_side\_boob\_nip\_slip.jpg NSFW in that slight nipple sort of way, so I broke the link. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/25 "2010-09-26T23:24:41Z")
I second the reccomendation for cheap camisole tops - the Old Navy ones really are great if you have more than an A cup, because they don’t have the built-in bra that doesn’t even work for you. I use them under cardigans and go for a sort of 50’s look, but I’m sure you could use them under a wrap dress. I wouldn’t go too high with the neckline because then it kind of looks like maybe you’re Pentacostal or something - just high enough that when you give me my flu shot you don’t also give me a $50 view, you know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/26 "2010-09-27T00:19:42Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > As someone who’s put on 70 lbs since high school, I knw where you’re coming from. > > I strongly suspect that our national trend away from dressing up is due mostly to how bulgy, blobby, sweaty, and chafed we feel when doing it. Ha! So true! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/27 "2010-09-27T00:23:29Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Really though: unless your legs are super unpleasant looking due to huge scars, bruising, or veins- why wear pantyhose at all? They make spray foundation now you can spray on your legs even! That stuff is great. Well, for one thing I find that the pantyhose smooth me out a bit and make things fall better. Also, I am very lazy about shaving (I lived in Europe for a year as a teen and never recovered!) and usually on a Sunday morning I don’t have time to neaten things up enough to get the kids dressed and make it to church by 9. Yes, I know I shouldn’t be so self-conscious about my weight. The trouble with 50’s styles is, you pretty much have to sew them yourself if you’re the size I am (even if I lost weight, I’m just Amazonian next to your typical 1956 woman), and vintage patterns mostly come in a size 32-36 bust. I’m a 40, and so I would have to learn to size everything up–which I could do, that would be an excellent thing to do, but it just seems like such a big job, ya know? It just seems like too much work right now, and I have no sewing time right now anyway (for delightful reasons, but something has to give). Anyway I look pretty good in the clothes I’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/28 "2010-09-27T00:37:02Z")
I’m gonna be the voice of dissent. I love dressing up! I look much better when I put forth some effort, and I feel confident when I know I look good. I’m also fond of having a sense of occasion. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/29 "2010-09-27T00:37:43Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > If I lost 30 pounds or so, I’d totally get into wearing vintage 50’s styles. I’m pretty hourglassy and I bet I’d look great. Meanwhile I don’t, but I do wear pantyhose fairly frequently. Actually, you might be surprised how good you look in those styles right now. I’m also carrying 30 extra pounds (but starting to lose it!) with an hourglass figure, and a few weeks ago I stopped by Lord and Taylor’s fancy dress section just for the fun of it to see what kind of styles looked best on me. Believe it or not, it was a '60s-style fitted sheath dress that seemed to celebrate my shape, rather than the looser A-line dresses that I had first tried on. It’s not genuine vintage, but close enough until I can wear the real thing. (Although most unfortunately for someone with short stumpy legs, I prefer the look of the 1930s, which I could never pull off even at a size 6.) > [@wheresmymind](#): > > On the subject of heels: While at a conference a few years ago I noticed quite a few women who clearly didn’t wear heels often, based on their walk; they sort of teetered at times, and just didn’t look comfortable in them (can’t say I blame them). Mostly grad students like me who have few excuses to get dressed up. It was subtle but I figured if I could see it, anyone probably could. I’ve since noticed the same thing at weddings, etc. I assumed if these ladies have such a visible “tell” when they dress up, I probably did as well: maybe fidgeting with my jacket, sporting a sloppily tied tie, etc. To this end I started randomly wearing a tie and jacket to the lab (which is not at all required, I used to rock my PJ’s to work occasionally) maybe every two weeks, with the hope that I might look more comfortable/natural when I do get dressed up for a formal/professional type event. Aside from everyone at work asking me if I had an interview or court date coming up, I’m not sure if it’s worked or not… I really like the way you think – I think I’ll wear my fancier clothes more often so that I won’t have a “tell” when I need to wear them on purpose. I’m finally (at 32) starting to get the hang of heels (turns out, the trick is to walk like a lady, swinging your hips) but could definitely use more practice. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/30 "2010-09-27T01:08:06Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > Really though: unless your legs are super unpleasant looking due to huge scars, bruising, or veins- why wear pantyhose at all? They make spray foundation now you can spray on your legs even! That stuff is great. > > Yes, I know I shouldn’t be so self-conscious about my weight. The trouble with 50’s styles is, you pretty much have to sew them yourself if you’re the size I am (even if I lost weight, I’m just Amazonian next to your typical 1956 woman), and vintage patterns mostly come in a size 32-36 bust. I’m a 40, and so I would have to learn to size everything up–which I could do, that would be an excellent thing to do, but it just seems like such a big job, ya know? It just seems like too much work right now, and I have no sewing time right now anyway (for delightful reasons, but something has to give). Anyway I look pretty good in the clothes I’ve got. _shrug_ My bust size is 42 and I love the vintage pin up look (of course, I don’t sew my own clothes). Depending on your measurements [this company’s 2x would probably be fine.](http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/dress6.html) I’ve heard that a lot of their stretchy stuff is cut rather generously, too. Also, if you have a Facebook (well, even if you don’t, I think the photos are public), [here](http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=156946&id=33674555823) are their plus size models rocking that look. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/31 "2010-09-27T01:43:37Z")
I don’t mind stockings and hose - I like different patterns and in cold weather they keep my legs warm. I also love dressing up, although buying clothes in Korea can be stressful if you’re anything above a size 0 and an A cup. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087/32 "2010-09-27T04:07:10Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I’m gonna be the voice of dissent. I love dressing up! I look much better when I put forth some effort, and I feel confident when I know I look good. I’m also fond of having a sense of occasion. I like it too! I’ve just gotten a new job, and although there’s no need to wear shirts and ties, I went out and bought a bunch of cute new ones just for fun. I’ll probably get over it in a while, but hey. (It’s also autumn and I can get away with this stuff again without the heat.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-thoughts-on-dressing-nicely/555087.md?page=1)