How can anyone take us seriously in these dimity florals and huge shoulder ruffles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post some photos, please? I'm not sure what you all are talking about.

https://tnuck.com/products/lemon-blanca-midi-dress

https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/the-peregrine-square-neck-midi-dress?category=dresses-midi&color=030&type=STANDARD&quantity=1

https://www.hillhousehome.com/collections/nap-dress-shop/products/the-ellie-nap-dress-farmers-market?variant=41363556728875

You’d want to be “taken seriously” in an office environment, a professional conference, an interview, a meeting at your kid’s school. These dresses are for wedding guests, parties, fun events, vacation, going out, date nights … I agree women’s professional office wear kind of sucks these days, but Anthro and Hill House were never selling clothes for the office.

Agreed. I don’t wear office clothes to country clubs/garden parties and vice versa. Is it really so hard to figure out?

There has been a bleed over and it’s getting harder to find officewear that isn’t aping this horrible prairie trad wife style.

Eh it’s just the trend now. It kind of reminds me how the last time we had a really conservative “moment” in politics - I would say that was the George W. Bush years from his election in 2000 until Hurricane Katrina - everything was super short, midriff-bearing, Playboy Bunny, Girls Next Door, Pussycat Dolls, Paris and Nicole “That’s hot” etc.

The Obama, liberal, recession years from 2007-2012 were a lot more buttoned up in comparison in terms of the fashion. That’s when we had scene fashion for kids which was all jeans and tees, the hipster flannel area, a lot of classic prep, and “business casual at the club.” Some of the party hipsters were out there barely dressed in their American Apparel clothes but it wasn’t an overly groomed, in your face male gaze sexy style in comparison to just a few years earlier.

The floral prairie dresses will pass in a year or two and then we’ll be on to the next crazy thing, when everyone starts to cringe at the staged trad wife content.

[Anonymous]

The floral prairie dresses come back every Trump Admin. Frankly I'm bored of it and will be breaking out my latex and leather this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Puffy/voluminous sleeves can also be tough to layer with. When will this trend die?

+1
Bring back flares and tight tops!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Georgia but haven’t lived there in over 15 years. Went to a wedding in Savannah last week and these are ALL the women there wear. Smocked square top, big sleeves, tiered skirts. I never see these here, it was jarring. I’m 5’1 so I can’t wear them or I’ll look like I’m trying to be a preschooler.

That's what i said above; i'm in florida and these ugly dresses are everywhere. But not amongst the super trendy. It's the most basic UMC housewife outfit here. Women who were wearing Lululemon leggings 4 years ago (but not to the gym, just around town) are now just wearing floral dresses.

Well, now it’s here in the DMV and spreading like crabs during Senior Week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post some photos, please? I'm not sure what you all are talking about.

https://tnuck.com/products/lemon-blanca-midi-dress

https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/the-peregrine-square-neck-midi-dress?category=dresses-midi&color=030&type=STANDARD&quantity=1

https://www.hillhousehome.com/collections/nap-dress-shop/products/the-ellie-nap-dress-farmers-market?variant=41363556728875

You’d want to be “taken seriously” in an office environment, a professional conference, an interview, a meeting at your kid’s school. These dresses are for wedding guests, parties, fun events, vacation, going out, date nights … I agree women’s professional office wear kind of sucks these days, but Anthro and Hill House were never selling clothes for the office.

Agreed. I don’t wear office clothes to country clubs/garden parties and vice versa. Is it really so hard to figure out?

There has been a bleed over and it’s getting harder to find officewear that isn’t aping this horrible prairie trad wife style.

Eh it’s just the trend now. It kind of reminds me how the last time we had a really conservative “moment” in politics - I would say that was the George W. Bush years from his election in 2000 until Hurricane Katrina - everything was super short, midriff-bearing, Playboy Bunny, Girls Next Door, Pussycat Dolls, Paris and Nicole “That’s hot” etc.

The Obama, liberal, recession years from 2007-2012 were a lot more buttoned up in comparison in terms of the fashion. That’s when we had scene fashion for kids which was all jeans and tees, the hipster flannel area, a lot of classic prep, and “business casual at the club.” Some of the party hipsters were out there barely dressed in their American Apparel clothes but it wasn’t an overly groomed, in your face male gaze sexy style in comparison to just a few years earlier.

The floral prairie dresses will pass in a year or two and then we’ll be on to the next crazy thing, when everyone starts to cringe at the staged trad wife content.

I think we’ll see the Gilead Commander’s Wife look like Ivanka at the travesty of an inauguration. Or maybe full skirts and shirtwaists ala June Cleaver. Both would be less visually offensive than the three-tiered shoulder ruffles and migraine inducing florals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here you go, OP: https://www.reiss.com/us/en/shop/gender-women-productaffiliation-suitsandtailoring-0?p=5#325.9375


This is my go to for work clothing. I too hate those dresses you mention--but also they aren't really intended for the office.

Are you transgender? Those are manly

What, are you an imbecile?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m talk and long dresses look amazing on me. I’m dreading when they go out of style.

I have huge boobs and they look awful
On me. I can’t wait for the trend to be over. I’m so jealous of women who can wear these and look good.

Anybody who is size 10 or bigger look awful in these floral thingies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any job where productivity can be improved by wearing a suit or a sheath dress instead of a jeans and tee shirt. You won't perform any magic in heels or dress shoes which can't be performed in sneakers or loafers.

This thread isn’t about any of those articles of clothing. It’s about women’s work clothing morphing into something that is suitable for the SAHM on her way to meet friends after daycare drop off.

It used to be that you would buy both a work wardrobe and one for your personal life. I was a child in the 80s so I don’t think women should dress like men in the workplace, but all of tops are suddenly maximalist in a suspiciously trad wifey way. Why does work blouse need lace panels, ruffle sleeves, AND a big bow?

Are women in Britain and Western Europe dressing this way for work?

You are right on the mark.

Nobody in Madrid or Paris office areas looks like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Instead of trying to look professional, focus on being more professional.

Yes, start with your outfit and behave accordingly.

If you dress like you are about to churn butter, I won't be able to imagine you delivering your closing argument in court.

Haha, you win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is dumb.

No one is claiming sundresses are for the office.

Plenty of women work from home or don't work (i.e. SAHMs) and can wear sundresses whenever we want. The PP who is a lawyer who likes the Tuckernuck lemon dress never said she would wear it to work. Presumably she also has a life outside of her office!

OP seems to want more office clothing in stores. There are plenty of stores that sell traditional, not ruffled, work clothing. She is free to head over to Brooks Brothers whenever she likes.

I think that’s op’s point. More than just highest end stores should offer something for the non trad wives customer.

Or for older women. I have the money, but not much to buy from the stores on Main Streets or malls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post some photos, please? I'm not sure what you all are talking about.

https://tnuck.com/products/lemon-blanca-midi-dress

https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/the-peregrine-square-neck-midi-dress?category=dresses-midi&color=030&type=STANDARD&quantity=1

https://www.hillhousehome.com/collections/nap-dress-shop/products/the-ellie-nap-dress-farmers-market?variant=41363556728875

These are all dresses I put my kids in as preschoolers for birthdays and holidays.

Same! I have no desire to dress that way as an adult.

Wear whatever you like, but you've got to realize that this separation between kid and adult clothing is only in your own head. Floral prints and frills don't have to be for kids only, and in many parts of the world, there was never that restriction. You are imposing a layer of discrimination here that is unwarranted.

Surely any rational-thinking person in 2025 supports MORE freedom for women, not less?

Are we seeing this backlash from a few posters just because feminine clothing has been engulfed by MAGA overtones? Maybe fight against that association, hmm?

Or is it the cold-shoulder look all over again, and just because one style is popular, you feel the need to look cool and rebel against the style of the day? Well, maybe you can wrap you mind around the fact that some people were waiting for that style for ever and are happy they can find clothes now.
Don't forget that YOUR preferred style has been, is, or will be maligned, and YOU will look uncool for wearing it at some point.

So stop tearing down other women for no rational reason.

Sadly it is not only in your head. Most of the people look awful on the street for this and other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love dressing like that. I'm wealthy and educated, and above all, I don't have weird American hang-ups about what constitutes femininity in 2025.

Before it was a style in the US, I had to spend hours online looking for stuff sold in Japan. Or go to Japan (and see my cousins).

You don't need to wear only what you find in stores. Some decades will be harder than others to find what YOU like to wear, but a little persistence pays off!

I just don’t buy that women have to be infantilized to look feminine.

PP you replied to. YOU think florals and ruffles are baby-ish. Why would an age group have ownership of a style of dress? Do you understand that this reasoning is flawed at the most basic level?

I strongly reject any strictures on dress for anyone. It's just another way for society to force people into submission. I just want to wear what I like. And I like little flowers and pastels.

You must be the sort of person who posts means comments about older women wearing bikinis or short shorts or other revealing clothing. I'm 45 and I wear all those things. BECAUSE I WANT TO.

I'm sorry you have such a straightjacketed brain.

Well, maybe the PP you responded to has a straight jacketed brain - in which case so fo billions of other people. You ARE being judged for dressing like a baby. If you are ok with that, then so am I. It's not like I'll have to work with you while you churn your butter or stay hidden in your home tending to your man. You do you. I'll dress professionally in the professional domain and like a grown educated woman while in casual wear. I'll never wear curtains and doilies.

You aren't better than other women because of whatever your job is.

FWIW, my kids think churning butter is fun.

They also drool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more thought — I often watch Mexican TV shows and the Mexican businesswomen in the TV shows have awesome outfits that are both feminine but look like real power clothes. I’m sure they are super expensive but I would love to see mid price versions of a lot of those outfits.

Also, a few years dated but the Jane Fonda on Frankie and Grace had awesome fitted floral button downs that were here signature look. I loved them so much I googled and found a story saying basically the designer made them by hand specially for the character as she couldn’t find anything quite right from stores.

So there are ways to do feminine and florals and pretty colors without just adding a bunch of flounces to a shapeless floral dress..

It is the cheapest way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are clown clothes. Wear them anywhere but for a Sunday stroll or grocery pick up and many of us, men included, are side eyeing you.

I remember a decade or so ago the post tried to start a local style section and they featured an early 30s woman in exactly one of these kinds of dresses. The comments were comedy gold and I think the section faded away.

These little girl dresses are always the first idea fashionistas come up with as an antidote to the mythical DC drone wardrobe. The assumption is we are all awful at fashion. It isn't quite true and it isn't really different from other large cities. Walk through Manhattan or London at rush you will see a sea of black particularly in Fall and Winter.

Face it, these are dresses you shouldn't wear anywhere that matters.

Why should I care that people in Manhattan and London are wearing all black in fall and winter. That sounds depressing to me. And irrelevant to summer in DC.

So why are you on the FASHION thread if you truly don't give a damn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are clown clothes. Wear them anywhere but for a Sunday stroll or grocery pick up and many of us, men included, are side eyeing you.

I remember a decade or so ago the post tried to start a local style section and they featured an early 30s woman in exactly one of these kinds of dresses. The comments were comedy gold and I think the section faded away.

These little girl dresses are always the first idea fashionistas come up with as an antidote to the mythical DC drone wardrobe. The assumption is we are all awful at fashion. It isn't quite true and it isn't really different from other large cities. Walk through Manhattan or London at rush you will see a sea of black particularly in Fall and Winter.

Face it, these are dresses you shouldn't wear anywhere that matters.

Why should I care that people in Manhattan and London are wearing all black in fall and winter. That sounds depressing to me. And irrelevant to summer in DC.

So why are you on the FASHION thread if you truly don't give a damn?

The secretly *do* care, very much so.