Do You Dress For Men Or Women?
Posted by: Erin Flaherty
Filed in:
style
1:10PM, Tuesday July 7th 2009
The U.K.‘s edgier counterpart to our Paris Hilton, Peaches Geldof, insists that despite her clearly provocative looks (the heels, that ink, those bedroom eyes), “it should be obvious I’m not dressing for men.” Huh. In fact, the 20-year old, who just launched a clothing line with PPQ, told the Times, “I don’t want to dress for men, I think it’s almost like a feminist thing.” It is almost like that Peaches! Meh, we’re not gonna hate on the girl just because she’s stylish, rich and, arguably, young enough to get away with making kind of ridic statements like that, but her comment did make us consider who women really end up dressing for anyway.
From the millions of teenage girls who stuff their bras to the women who undergo repeated breast surgeries in order to fill out their tops, it goes without saying that women have always acknowledged that in many ways, we get dressed each day with looking attractive to the opposite sex in mind, at least on a subconscious level. Then again, most guys we know wouldn’t know a Louboutin if a stripper kicked them in the face with one. (Ahem.) When it comes to fashion, isn’t it the women (and/or style conscious metrosexual/gay men) in our lives that we aim to please? And to present an even more evolved view and one we hope most of us have achieved, why not just dress for ourselves, period? Hell, Helena Bonham Carter clearly does. [Times Online]
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Colleen
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:14 pm: [report]
I say I dress for both. A compliment on what your wearing means a lot when it comes from a woman.
Jessica Wakeman
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:15 pm: [report]
Yes, definitely, I “dress for other women” on a day to day basis at work. But when I’m trying to impress a man, or “dress for a man,” the clothes I wear are completely different. One is stylish and cute; the other teases cleavage.
Huny14
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:21 pm: [report]
WORD Jessca! I realized I was dressing for women about a year ago when my boyfriend at the time grabbed my cardigan (a cardigan I still think is very sweet) and said “I don’t get the point”. As long as you’re looking good guys don’t mind. Only another woman cares if wearing a houndstooth shirt with houndstooth shoes is going overboard.
sadie
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:23 pm: [report]
Is there an “I dress for me” option?
sadie
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:26 pm: [report]
“Only another woman cares if wearing a houndstooth shirt with houndstooth shoes is going overboard.”
He can be super catty about clothing. I do like for him to approve of what I’m wearing but don’t care if men, on the whole, like my clothing.
You definitely haven’t met my husband
eden
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:30 pm: [report]
If I dressed for myself, I wouldn’t get dressed.
Lynn
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:33 pm: [report]
I think it depends on where I’m going and who I’m going with. First of all, the styles I like and the styles that flatter my body are, actually, more guy-friendly just because they’re fitted and tailored. But I don’t show a lot of cleavage or leg, and I keep it classy, because I don’t want anyone - man or woman- to think I’m inappropriate. I guess I strike a middle ground - I don’t have my cleavage all up in anyone’s face, and I’m not revealing a lot, but I shun a lot of the “trendier” clothing that I know would get me in the “girl’s club” just because it’s not suited for my personality or my body. I dress for “people” not genders. I want to be pretty, respectable, and well-groomed. Beyond that, it’s whatever I like. Although I do go to my BF for advice. Luckily, he likes me in “cute” stuff more than “sexy” stuff. He’s the only guy who I care about looking hot for, anyway!
likeOMGkbye
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:35 pm: [report]
@Eden- AMEN. nakie time FTW.
writergirl
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:40 pm: [report]
Clothes have to fit the occasion.
If I am going out with my husband, I chose something nicer, sexier and softer fabrics.
If I am running the parks with my son—jeans, t-shirts and sneakers are the style options of the day.
If I am showing up my son’s school—its dress pants, nice shoes, tasteful jewlery and a top.
I tend to choose v-necks no matter what the occasion, and shirts that pull over instead of button.
joyy
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 01:49 pm: [report]
I dress mostly for myself, but I guess if I had to choose one over the other, I do dress for women more than men.
Why? Well, I’m taken so it’s not like I’m trying to catch random mens’ eyes, and my bf doesn’t seem to notice what I’m wearing - except for dresses, since I don’t wear them often.
And I’m not some vapid, compliment-fishing narcissist, but I do enjoy getting compliments on how I look, and 99% of the compliments I get on my hair, jewelry, and/or clothing come from women. And if I didn’t think about how my outfit for the day might make me look to others, I’d be guilty of many, many more fashion crimes than I already am.
Ginger
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 02:07 pm: [report]
I’m not sure if I dress more for men or women, but I do know that I was positively giddy when another girl at school gave my outfit a thumbs up.
Of course, I’m a Drama major and she was one of the top upperclassmen in the costume department. When the costumers say that you look good, you know you dressed amazingly well that day.
metricula
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 02:17 pm: [report]
I guess it depends. Sometimes I’m trying to look cute for the boys and all, but it’s nice to look and feel nice.
It’s like how I like to wear sexy, adorable undies even if no one is going to see them.
And I agree, compliments on clothes or makeup mean more from girls because they usually know what they’re talking about.
Humble Bee
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 02:23 pm: [report]
I dress for me, I basically wear workout clothes everyday because when I’m done with my work, I do sit ups throughout the day. I like the gym n’ all but its easier for me to want to workout of I’m dressed for it already. I know its lazy of me, but my job doesn’t demand for me to wear professional attire even though i’m in an office. I feel comfortable that way, now fridays and weekends if i’m going out I’ll dress up, I love to wear heels, they make me feel girly and sexy. I guess I do dress up for certain people if I’m trying to ‘impress’ them, but for the most part, I try not to care.
BlueVibe
wrote on July 9 2009 @ 09:15 am: [report]
I dress for me, too. If it’s comfortable and I like the way I feel in it, I don’t care what anyone else thinks.
I definitely don’t dress for men; I often get compliments from women but I’m sure just as many pity me for looking weird.
Queen Frostine
wrote on July 9 2009 @ 09:56 am: [report]
Coming from someone who actually dresses like Helena Bonham Carter from time to time, I generally don’t think of anyone when I get dressed. I dress for the weather, the level of formality and overall comfort. I never think I’m dressing to impress guys or stand out amongst women.
MrsLovett
wrote on August 30 2009 @ 01:56 pm: [report]
I usually dress for what the weathers like or where im going..and I do dress alot like HBC, who i think is rather cool