tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post7733539869601638602..comments2024-03-27T22:07:57.614-04:00Comments on Diary of a Sewing Fanatic: The Dress Discussion - "What's Up with Wearing A Dress Everywhere?"Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-37171590673452608892017-07-05T13:25:47.446-04:002017-07-05T13:25:47.446-04:00Dresses are so nice when it's hot! I also don&...Dresses are so nice when it's hot! I also don't read them as "dressed up" or formal necessarily--I've seen dresses that look more like nightgowns to me, definitely not formal! =) I like dresses just fine, though I don't wear that many of them (because I don't have many of them--yet!). My main complaint about dresses is that women are typically expected to modify their movement and behavior in them: think entering/exiting a vehicle, shaving legs, etc. I also don't like feeling like it's expected of me to wear skirts or dresses because of my gender (our office used to have that policy--really--until about 14 years ago, when the former bosses were finally warned that was a discrimination suit waiting to happen), but I also like the breezy, easy wardrobe choice dresses provide. So I guess I have mixed feelings about them, but when I *do* wear them, it's because I choose to, and on my terms (regardless of leg hair situation, LOL). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-84494856041852006992017-06-30T12:44:35.095-04:002017-06-30T12:44:35.095-04:00I think our excessively casual culture has skewed ...I think our excessively casual culture has skewed what we think of as dressy vs casual. Exercise clothing, leggings, and athleisure have become the norm. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679225389317500393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-84109801289227956822017-06-29T12:44:28.255-04:002017-06-29T12:44:28.255-04:00If I'm not wearing a dress, it's because I...If I'm not wearing a dress, it's because I'm working out or doing yardwork. I noticed that folks are intimidated by my consistent dress wearing.... So be it. Dresses Rule!Bootzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01664655090937726673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-4064955271338506752017-06-29T11:57:56.287-04:002017-06-29T11:57:56.287-04:00I'm in the <3 dress side here! Interesting...I'm in the <3 dress side here! Interesting because before I began sewing for myself, I would've considered myself a 'jeans' girl.... but now jeans are almost the last things I choose to wear unless I'm working outside. You are so right in that dresses can be dressed up or down and one of my fave ways to wear them is with my summer wedges or white leather Keds. Interesting conversation. :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872753120191298033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-76328778597195830972017-06-29T03:26:15.776-04:002017-06-29T03:26:15.776-04:00I love dresses, but can't tolerate pantyhose a...I love dresses, but can't tolerate pantyhose and get chafed with bare thighs. I wear a dress with leggings for comfort, but trousers and blouse to my work at a big bank. LornaJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296888105816633180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-74687962883111164352017-06-27T23:18:51.573-04:002017-06-27T23:18:51.573-04:00I was a child in the 50's and 60's when gi...I was a child in the 50's and 60's when girls and women had to wear dresses or skirts most of the time, to school, to church, downtown to shop, whenever we were out in public. If my mom wanted me to go to the corner store to pick up an item, I had to change out of slacks and put on a skirt. My junior year in high school, we had a cold snap in Portland Oregon( I think it got into the teens)and the school board announced that girls could wear pants to school and change when they got there. The ramifications of this edict was not clearly thought out by the authorities. Imagine half of the high school population trying to crowd into the girls' bathrooms to change before the first bell. I wore dresses all though college and my first few jobs. There was a feeling of freedom when women were allowed to wear pants to work. Nowadays I wear dresses as a choice when we go out for a special occasion. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02205332521684843128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-73763126309275611502017-06-27T21:21:51.113-04:002017-06-27T21:21:51.113-04:00I have worn a dress in many years. Once I left a m...I have worn a dress in many years. Once I left a more formal business world and went to a business casual environment, I also shed the dresses. But, at the same time, I also set aside skirts. It has not been until recently that I started wearing skirts again and realized how much I had missed them. I really think I've had some body image issues post-kids. But, like so many of you, I've now made about 4 Vogue 1247 skirts and just feel so awesome in them that it has given me confidence to think about a dress. Any suggestions on an easy knit--but not too 'bumpy lumpy emphasizing' for a pattern? thank you for all that you do! You've given me great confidence in sewing.Taxfylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12963492676444466018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-57647544779014925112017-06-27T19:42:25.004-04:002017-06-27T19:42:25.004-04:00Having grown up through the sixties where everyone...Having grown up through the sixties where everyone wore dresses, I got out of the habit of wearing them, but I do have a nice selection in the closet that can get pulled out, thrown on and worn in a snap. For me, casual dressing that is a step above jeans/slacks and a nice shirt is a skirt, a blouse and flats or sandals and the dresses are for more proper occasions. But that is because the dresses are a more fitted, formal style. Theresa in Tucsontheresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871779245121626075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-63576757621952135462017-06-27T18:47:06.026-04:002017-06-27T18:47:06.026-04:00I am not a big dress wearer but I love them in the...I am not a big dress wearer but I love them in the summer. It's cool, and easy to wear in the heat. I feel dressed and put together without layers, without a waistband that gets damp when I sweat. I don't see dresses as inherently 'dressy'. I made a dress to wear to a wedding last spring and made it in silk. Dressy. But I could make the same dress, a simple off the shoulder dress, in a chambray or other cotton and it's no longer a special occasion dress. Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-87500718979393025362017-06-27T16:30:33.673-04:002017-06-27T16:30:33.673-04:00I agree with you. I love to make dresses and love ...I agree with you. I love to make dresses and love to wear them for all occasions. Just one garment and I am dressed in the morning. No matching dilemmas. Give media dress over separates any dayRosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10183024549270951128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-30734584497369264242017-06-27T12:29:51.206-04:002017-06-27T12:29:51.206-04:00Since we don't cook over open fires every day ...Since we don't cook over open fires every day anymore (at least most of us do not) there is much less danger of dying because our long skirts have caught fire and trapped us in a horrible burning demise. That used to be one of the most common ways women died, after childbirth or virulent pestilence.LinBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201009126846898608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-49642721923958312572017-06-27T10:25:07.869-04:002017-06-27T10:25:07.869-04:00What's an ESP dress ?What's an ESP dress ? MaryEllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14375211955400489942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-22137302583169464262017-06-27T10:11:44.859-04:002017-06-27T10:11:44.859-04:00I have many dresses but I always feel I should be ...I have many dresses but I always feel I should be going somewhere special in them and consequently they don't get worn that often. I'm more top and skirt and the fabric around on stretch cotton at the moment is fabulous. They do pull you together though and years ago it was dress everytime for going out but this casual era seems to have changed that.Gernellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586075730028008804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-31637513484895851972017-06-27T04:35:19.546-04:002017-06-27T04:35:19.546-04:00I'm on team dress, all the way, all the time. ...I'm on team dress, all the way, all the time. In summer they're simply the lightest thing you can wear and I found already several times that in winter, good tights are WAY warmer than pants. Or skirts, but dresses I favour more, because I don't have to match clothes. Pants are ok for sitting in weird (though comfy?!) positions, but I feel less fancy. Seriously, I tend to wear pants on "lazy" days only. <br /><br />Main disadvantage on wearing dresses is that it's hard to combine with breastfeeding, but I'm done with that now, so I don't see any disadvantages anymore. (And I was too lazy to sew special dresses for that purpose only)<br /><br />As for shoes, I used to love dresses with high boots or cute sandals only. Nowaydays, I found a brand with funky shoes and I adore those. I bought ankle boots, even one's with laces, I have pumps, sandals and flats. I did walk around in Rome as wel on my Birkenstock Sandals. Yes, with a dress. I haven't really seen any shoes that do not match with a dress really... Actually, I've even seen socks again, under dresses. <br /><br />Most important is that you feel confident in your style and for me, ever since I started wearing dresses and stopped trying to fit in and hide myself, I felt a lot better about my style. And indirectly about myself as well. :)Jolienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914900690768076231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-19949303583206415772017-06-27T03:13:36.271-04:002017-06-27T03:13:36.271-04:00I suppose calling people "dressy" does i...I suppose calling people "dressy" does imply formality. Personally I'm in the separates camp more because of commitment phobia! However I'm finding dresses cooler & easier to wear on the hot & bothered days. So maybe with global warming I'll be making & wearing more dresses!overflowingstashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15541994272534658220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-18934112112305631192017-06-26T23:06:23.724-04:002017-06-26T23:06:23.724-04:00I'm in the "no dresses" camp. My leg...I'm in the "no dresses" camp. My legs and feet get cold year-round (especially in air-conditioning), so dresses don't work for me. Also,I've always been more of a tom-boy, so pants are perfect for me.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13499472677249616532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-59634797991094859202017-06-26T21:17:43.369-04:002017-06-26T21:17:43.369-04:00They are comfortable. I don't wear clothing th...They are comfortable. I don't wear clothing that needs to be pulled and tugged. So glad they inspire you!Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-25267212745345575412017-06-26T21:16:46.757-04:002017-06-26T21:16:46.757-04:00Please feel free to continue the discussion on you...Please feel free to continue the discussion on your blog - that is a good thing!Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-61448310502924508732017-06-26T20:38:09.047-04:002017-06-26T20:38:09.047-04:00Dresses change how you carry yourself, and they al...Dresses change how you carry yourself, and they also change how you navigate the world. I can't move any way I want to in a dress, unless I simply CHOOSE to, and I have to make a choice about how I will sit for reasons that are about vanity and modesty. There are many kinds of dresses in the world, but my day does change when I wear one.mimi jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09046101113822427313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-74333905677257420242017-06-26T19:35:47.807-04:002017-06-26T19:35:47.807-04:00I used to wear dresses almost exclusively. After I...I used to wear dresses almost exclusively. After I had my son I kinda quit and when I think about it I'm fairly sure that it's because he was one of those that really had little sense of propriety-he was always pulling on my skirt, flipping it up, trying to hide his head in it, or just wanting to crawl under and hang on my leg! LOL! He outgrew that of course, but I never really got back into wearing dresses-I think I'm ready to do the dress thing again, because I'm thick in the middle and fitting pants/shorts is a real pain in the backside.Schmoomomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251824918338376827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-62531162731616995432017-06-26T19:16:45.281-04:002017-06-26T19:16:45.281-04:00Early on, as a tall, long-waisted person, I learne...Early on, as a tall, long-waisted person, I learned that RTW dresses never fit. Ever. The 'waist' on them hits me mid-rib cage at best. Since I could never wear them pre-sewing, I sortof just ignored them as 'not for me' even in my sewing. I buy tops and skirts, I sew tops and skirts. In the winter it's just too cold for dresses/skirts. My office is freezing cold, and I wear long socks, boots, pants, long underwear shirts under turtlenecks under sweaters. It's awful. I like skirts, especially maxi ones, but still tend to wear jeans all the time. At home, I can never tell when the dog's gonna jump up, or I want to pull some weeds, load plants and compost bags at the plant store, etc. <br /><br />Oddly, women have done much harder physical labor in skirts (scythe a hayfield in a corset anyone?) but we now consider that sort of thing to not be compatible with skirts. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563230869151812456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-19081878772428645912017-06-26T17:50:18.434-04:002017-06-26T17:50:18.434-04:00I certainly agree with this! I wear mostly skirts...I certainly agree with this! I wear mostly skirts vs. dresses, but I love them both. I can do almost anything in skirts I can do in pants.<br />Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00989879633825496657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-81036172752540621932017-06-26T16:59:06.030-04:002017-06-26T16:59:06.030-04:00I love Dresses!!!I love Dresses!!!Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02955507540110925277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-53405845544010923552017-06-26T15:56:15.928-04:002017-06-26T15:56:15.928-04:00I also prefer dresses to trousers tho' I wear ...I also prefer dresses to trousers tho' I wear skirts in the winter b/c when it's really cold I can put my skirt in my backpack, put on my snowpants and add the skirt over my tights when I get to work.Soxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09264864517875161020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-64523744733946335392017-06-26T15:49:23.587-04:002017-06-26T15:49:23.587-04:00I wear loose, mid-thigh length shorts made of Bemb...I wear loose, mid-thigh length shorts made of Bemberg rayon; they double as a slip. They don't ride up, they are cool, and if my skirt flies up while I'm on my bike I don't flash anyone.Soxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09264864517875161020noreply@blogger.com