I seldom see civilian women in dresses or skirts. At the mall last week, I saw one woman in a skirt – all the others were in pants. However, there were still racks of dresses for sale in Macy’s. Don’t know who’s buying them because nobody was wearing them. Maybe they should move those racks to the men’s department because it seems that “men” like us are more likely to wear dresses than cisgender women.
Despite what civilian women are wearing or not wearing, I still dress up when I go out. In addition to the dress, I am fully coiffured and wear heels, hosiery, handbag, jewelry, bra, girdle, full makeup, etc. – just like when Mom used to go out. (She taught her “daughter” well.)
People notice. But what’s wrong with being noticed? Being noticed may result in compliments and what girl doesn’t like to receive unsolicited compliments.
I’ve received compliments from complete strangers while out and about. My favorite occurred one day while I was looking through the racks at JCPenney.
A middle-aged woman (same age as me) approached and asked, “Can I ask you a question?”
I had no idea what she was going to ask (“What time is it?” “Where did you buy your shoes?” “Are you a transvestite?”). I girded my loins, smiled and agreed to answer her question.
“You're dressed fashionably, so I'd like your opinion about a pair of slacks I was thinking about buying.”
Wow! I did not see that coming!
I did not like the slacks that she had picked out and suggested something with a bolder pattern. She admitted that she really did not like her pick and liked my suggestion better.
I pointed out a skirt with a pattern similar to what I had in mind and her eyes lit up as she said, “I saw slacks with that pattern. Now I just have to find them again! Thank-you for your help.”
It does not get much better than that! But how ironic: a “man” wearing a dress helping a woman shop for slacks!
I admit I have a few bifurcated garments in milady’s wardrobe. But I seldom wear them. Maybe when I attend a very casual affair like a cook-out or a softball game. Otherwise, I’m in a dress.
After all, they don’t call it “cross-trousering,” do they?
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| Wearing A.L.C. |
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| Mariusz Ostrowski femulating Shazza on Polish television’s Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo. Click here to view this femulation on YouTube. |
'racks of dresses for sale'
ReplyDeleteThe same could be said about heels'.
There is no shortage of heels of all shapes and colors so who buys them then and when/where do they wear them.
And Stana that is a beautiful picture in your side bar. A dress to die for..!
Pamela
About a month ago, I was in New York's Penn Station waiting for a train, and did a bit of peoplewatching . It was a regular work day, and although technically still winter, not particularly cold - a light jacket would suffice . Of the hundreds of women who passed by, I counted a grand total of 8 who were wearing a dress or skirt. Yes, it was certainly an unscientific study, and many of the women likely chose slacks as a comfortable garment for traveling, but still the numbers indicate a trend .
ReplyDeleteI fear that dresses will soon become a garment worn only by genetic women on special occasions, and by transgender women as often as possible .
I, as a genetic man, wear dresses all the time. I don't consider myself transgender woman. There are plenty of times when I'm the only one around wearing a dress.
DeleteJohn (preferred pronouns: he, him, his)
My fear as well Brenda
DeleteHi Angie, I was at a work convention this week in Atlantic City and noted something similar. Many of the men were wearing suits, a blazer with no tie, or a shirt and tie. Very few women were wearing dresses or even skirts. There were, however, plenty of women in pants and blazers...and very few of them were wearing heels. It's like the business uniform for *everyone* has shifted to pants, shirts, and coats. How drab!! Imagine if business wear had shifted the other direction and we were all wearing skirts, heels, and hose? So fabulous!!
DeleteHi Stana, what a great compliment and something to remember.
ReplyDeleteI was in a Macy’s yesterday, contemplating the same thing and noted that almost half the dresses looked like prom, or very formal gowns. Many of the rest were still a right bit fancy and suitable for a wedding, graduation, cocktail party, etc.
what I did not see were a lot of dresses I would wear to work.
I sort of conclude that women do wear dresses to these occasions and then likely never wear it again. Women’s dresses seem to be a once and done sort of deal.
Perhaps not too much different for males too. How many suit stores do we see, but it is not often I encounter a bloke in a full suit either.
I find dresses to be right comfortable and will continue wearing them, and hopefully getting compliments. It takes thought and effort to dress up, and I think others notice, but still will not make the effort if not required.
Norah
I agree every time I go to Macys shopping for women’s clothing I’m amazed at the amount of dresses on display and often wonder why more ladies are not seen wearing them. It’s a mystery for sure thank goodness girls like us have a tremendous selection of cute dresses. Jill
ReplyDeleteAs a child of the 1950's and 1960's I never saw but one women wearing pants in my neighborhood. She was treated as an outcast. Even young girls had to transition from wearing shorts to wearing dresses at a certain age. I do not own any pants. It's dresses only for me with heels and hosiery and all the proper undergarments. The only place I see many women wearing dresses it is at Costco after Sunday church services. It appears there are some denominations that seem to dictate dresses at church. Other than that, it seems the only other place is at weddings and graduation proms. So sad!
ReplyDeleteagree with all the comments & Stana 100%.To add to what Jiill wrote-another benefit for me is being tall so maxi dresses in my size usually end up on clearance as too much work to shorten of cannot be shortened.
ReplyDeletealso receive many compliments from women and bite my tongue from avoiding saying "so why don't you glam up?" -emily
I was out in a major UK city today and there were a lot of women wearing skirts and dresses
ReplyDeleteI travel to the UK on a regular basis and yes they did not get the "No Pantyhose" memo that seems to have taken over the US. Also Poland where women wear dresses, hose and heels all the time. Paula G
DeleteMy lady friend and I went into the city from out in the rural sticks for routine medical testing and to shop at an Aldi's. Next door was a Kohl's and I said we were going to go in, walk around and get our steps in for the day. She doesn't look at shopping as fun, but I like to peruse the goods, both women's and men's. She also doesn't know about my other self Angel yet.
ReplyDeleteI found a maxi dress that I said would look gorgeous on her when we visited wineries. She tried it on, liked it, and I said that I would buy it for her.
We then we went off to find some pantyhose for her. Being nowhere to be found, we asked an associate where the pantyhose were kept. The associate said that they don't stock pantyhose anymore and haven't carried it in years. What a surprise. I guess women and crossdressers buy it online now. Does anyone have anything to add to the pantyhose quandary?
Angel Amore
Hi Angel, oh how I miss the days when you could (and I did) go into any store and buy hosiery! There's still plenty of hosiery available online if having it delivered to your house is an option. I need to buy it in person, and there are fewer and fewer sellers as the days go by. Department stores, big box stores, even pharmacies. In years past, I would go to Nordstrom or Macy's and buy hosiery of any color or pattern my heart desired. Now if I happen to see a pair of L'eggs Sheer Energy (my new go-to hose) in my size, I grab them up before they're gone!
DeleteAngel dear, I too have noted many stores that lack hosiery or have a limited selection.
DeleteWalmart (at least in New England) seems to have at least some options for run of the mill pantyhose in the L'eggs and Hanes variety.
JC Penny, if you can find one, still seems to have quite a selection, and even stocks thigh highs!
Norah
I remember that decades ago the local mall had a store that only sold hosiery and nothing else. It was also located at the main intersection of the two aisles of the mall. The space eventually was taken over by Starbucks which has since vacated the space. I can remember as a pre-school kid accompanying my mother to a hosiery shop where she bought traditional stockings that came in a box; plastic packaging not invented yet.
DeleteI have never presented in trousers or elephant pants. To me femininity is wearing a dress or skirt in heels. I found an interesting pant suit on the racks with leopard print accents. I was tempted but the ugly brown reminded me of the 80s. It was a time when L'Eggs were everywhere and a good thing so I figure it might be an excuse to wear knee highs instead. I left it and tried to find a dress instead and found a nice blue one which later turned out to be too small. I need to use the fitting rooms. Brenda
ReplyDeleteOne observation is that women love crossing and uncrossing their legs when wearing skirts.I learned to mimic this early on realized Its natural for me to do this without thinking.
Once I wore a masculine Halloween costume that included tights. I caught myself always keeping my knees together when I sat down in it.
DeleteOnce I was in a store in the section where they sell fancy dresses. This was the store where other stores of this company send their clothing that did not sell in the desired season. I was looking at the fancy, party dresses. A woman was shopping nearby. Eventually, two men arrived. They were shopping. The saw me and greeted me.
ReplyDeleteIt is not common for men to greet me when I am out as a man in a dress/skirt. Eventually, they approached me and asked me for advice. They were a gay couple. They were attending a New Year's party that was either costume themed, or drag themed. They were shopping for dresses for themselves, but they were inexperienced.
So, I tried to give them what help that I could. I talked about shoulder size vs. hip size and how some dresses will not fit in both. I told them about what size numbers fit me and in what places. I told them about how some dresses have waistlines that will not fall correctly on taller people. We had a whole discussion about finding dresses that look right and feel right on a man.
All the while, the 20-ish year old girl shopped nearby soaking this all in. Occasionally, she would look up from what she was doing and look at us.
Most uncommon shopping day for me, I am sure. Probably it was the most uncommon shopping day for all of us!! :D
Joey
Link to my blog post about the event: https://joeypress.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/christmas-shopping-outing-2017-part-3/
I love the photo at the top of this article! And I love imagining scenarios... just like this...where the gender assigned to clothes is opposite of today's norms.
ReplyDeleteMacy's online has literally thousands of dresses. I also wonder who's buying them.
ReplyDeleteWhile everyone here is lamenting that women rarely wear dresses or skirts these days, it needs to be pointed out that one reason for this may be because of men themselves.
ReplyDeleteYou may have heard of the term “upskirting” which is a type of voyeurism in which the offender will take a photo of a woman’s private area with his cell phone without her knowledge or permission. Women are, of course, aware of what these creeps are doing and the easiest way to avoid being a victim is, of course, to wear pants.
A few years ago, some creep was going around to different teen and college hangout establishments and would sneak up behind his skirt-wearing victim and reach underneath and grab her between the legs. One of the college women who worked with us, upon hearing about this pervert, simply said, “Well, I guess from now on I’m only wearing pants whenever I go out.” Yes, the perpetrator was eventually caught by the police.
We had another pervert who would roam through the library until he found a student wearing a skirt at a study carrel. He would sit at the carrel opposite of her’s and “accidentally” drop his pen near where she was sitting. While picking up his pen, he would look up her skirt while she studied. He was eventually arrested and served w/ a permanent restraining order from setting foot ANYWHERE on University property.
Women have to put up with a lot of crap from men and upskirting is just another example. So, please consider this the next time you’re about to complain about today’s woman generally eschewing the skirt or dress.