Homecoming dresses are so short!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, I kind of love that girls are comfortable wearing short dresses. At the age I was way too self-conscious and am glad that wasn't the fashion then.

On the other hand, it seems performative when teens wear them now. And aren't they freezing?

They're learning to dress for men.

This right here.

The girls aren’t all comfortable. You see lots of them tugging at their dresses and tugging down their hem lines, adjusting their boobs, etc.

But they have heard the message loud and clear - they need to dress a certain way to get attention. They see it in the media and in schools.

Yeah I feel like it's definitely this. Maybe the range of 'acceptable' women's bodies is broader now than it was in the late 90s/early 00s eras of Kate Moss Heroin Chic and then Dirrrty Xtina/Britney, but the message about the importance of 'looking hot' is just as omnipresent and damaging. Saw plenty of girls out for dinner in tiny HoCo dresses standing awkwardly, holding arms or bags across their bodies, and constantly hiking down skirts. Parents, it's okay to say no sometimes. Your child might even be looking for you to give them an out to NOT dress like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, I kind of love that girls are comfortable wearing short dresses. At the age I was way too self-conscious and am glad that wasn't the fashion then.

On the other hand, it seems performative when teens wear them now. And aren't they freezing?

They're learning to dress for men.

Please. Straight men do not determine trends in skirt lengths. Women dress to impress each other, in styles largely determined by gay men.

Not true. But even if it was, you're basically agreeing with the PP. Whether you think the styles are determined by what gay men or straight men like to see - you're still admitting that these girls are learning to dress for men.

Either way, the girls aren't dressing for THEMSELVES. They should be wearing what they are ACTUALLY comfortable in, and many of them are clearly not comfortable in these dresses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, I kind of love that girls are comfortable wearing short dresses. At the age I was way too self-conscious and am glad that wasn't the fashion then.

On the other hand, it seems performative when teens wear them now. And aren't they freezing?

They're learning to dress for men.

This right here.

The girls aren’t all comfortable. You see lots of them tugging at their dresses and tugging down their hem lines, adjusting their boobs, etc.

But they have heard the message loud and clear - they need to dress a certain way to get attention. They see it in the media and in schools.

Yeah I feel like it's definitely this. Maybe the range of 'acceptable' women's bodies is broader now than it was in the late 90s/early 00s eras of Kate Moss Heroin Chic and then Dirrrty Xtina/Britney, but the message about the importance of 'looking hot' is just as omnipresent and damaging. Saw plenty of girls out for dinner in tiny HoCo dresses standing awkwardly, holding arms or bags across their bodies, and constantly hiking down skirts. Parents, it's okay to say no sometimes. Your child might even be looking for you to give them an out to NOT dress like this.

Yes to all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, I kind of love that girls are comfortable wearing short dresses. At the age I was way too self-conscious and am glad that wasn't the fashion then.

On the other hand, it seems performative when teens wear them now. And aren't they freezing?

They're learning to dress for men.

Please. Straight men do not determine trends in skirt lengths. Women dress to impress each other, in styles largely determined by gay men.

Not true. But even if it was, you're basically agreeing with the PP. Whether you think the styles are determined by what gay men or straight men like to see - you're still admitting that these girls are learning to dress for men.

Either way, the girls aren't dressing for THEMSELVES. They should be wearing what they are ACTUALLY comfortable in, and many of them are clearly not comfortable in these dresses.

My daughter doesn’t dress a like this, so I have no dog in this fight. But why are you assuming they aren’t dressing for themselves? Why do you think you know better than them what they’re comfortable in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of elementary age kids here, so I’m not in the homecoming/high school world yet. But seeing pics of friends and family’s daughters in their homecoming dresses and I’m just shocked at the short (dare I say slutty looking) dresses on all of the girls.

I am not a prude and not religious, etc - generally not a judgy person - but I am feeling like an old person with my reaction to these revealing dresses on young girls.

Am I alone?! Asking anonymously because I know I’ll sound judgy if I ask my friends who are parents of these girls. Dreading my daughter entering this scene and not sure how I’ll deal!

Just curious for thoughts on this topic.

You are not alone with this! My facebook feed is crazy I'm literally shocked at how short and see through some of these dresses are!!!! Insane parents and even protective father let their girls out in dresses like that. Even catholic families on my feed let their girls out like that! Its pretty shocking.

[Anonymous]

For those of you with younger kids, by the time you get to this point in your kid's life, it's all about picking your battles. They are likely to be wearing this dress for 3-4 hours max. In a dimly lit area once they get to the dance. Most of the kids go in groups and just hang out with each other. It's not that big of a deal when you are focused on "no drinking, no driving with anyone who is drinking, no driving anyone who has alcohol or drugs on their person, no taking drugs, no smoking, focus on your grades, be a good friend, don't criticize other people for their choices, etc., etc., etc." By 17, I don't give a flying fig what DD wears to homecoming. (I just wanted her to friggin' pick one of the 5 dresses we had at home so I could return the others."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with younger kids, by the time you get to this point in your kid's life, it's all about picking your battles. They are likely to be wearing this dress for 3-4 hours max. In a dimly lit area once they get to the dance. Most of the kids go in groups and just hang out with each other. It's not that big of a deal when you are focused on "no drinking, no driving with anyone who is drinking, no driving anyone who has alcohol or drugs on their person, no taking drugs, no smoking, focus on your grades, be a good friend, don't criticize other people for their choices, etc., etc., etc." By 17, I don't give a flying fig what DD wears to homecoming. (I just wanted her to friggin' pick one of the 5 dresses we had at home so I could return the others."

I have a 16 year old and I do still care. Everyone is different, and I do pick my battles. This is one I'm willing to set limits with. YMMV and glad it works for you and your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of elementary age kids here, so I’m not in the homecoming/high school world yet. But seeing pics of friends and family’s daughters in their homecoming dresses and I’m just shocked at the short (dare I say slutty looking) dresses on all of the girls.

I am not a prude and not religious, etc - generally not a judgy person - but I am feeling like an old person with my reaction to these revealing dresses on young girls.

Am I alone?! Asking anonymously because I know I’ll sound judgy if I ask my friends who are parents of these girls. Dreading my daughter entering this scene and not sure how I’ll deal!

Just curious for thoughts on this topic.

All the dresses are this short on Insta. Its normal.

What’s the problem?

[Anonymous]

As a 46 year old woman who always dressed pretty conservatively as a teen (body image issues due to an overly critical mom), I wish I could go back and tell my young self to wear all the too short, too tight, tacky, trendy, ugly, whatever thing was in fashion. Not to impress any boy, just to be young and free and having a good time.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who claims teenage girls are dressing like this to impress their friends clearly doesn't remember what it was like being a teenager girl. It's for the boys. Always. If you want to tell yourself otherwise, that's fine, but it doesn't make it true.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read all the responses, but it is very difficult to find a dress that fits their style that is not in the realm of too short.
We found some that the skirt actually has built-in shorts, which is wonderful.
DD is 5’ 9” and these skirts are short on girls much smaller. I hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a 46 year old woman who always dressed pretty conservatively as a teen (body image issues due to an overly critical mom), I wish I could go back and tell my young self to wear all the too short, too tight, tacky, trendy, ugly, whatever thing was in fashion. Not to impress any boy, just to be young and free and having a good time.

Imagine thinking you have to wear something that is too tight and uncomfortable to be free and to have a good time.

That is so disheartening and sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do the girls sit down? Seriously---the dress is super short to begin with. Then when they sit, it rides up even more. Is their butt still covered by the dress when the sit?

I can understand wearing shorts underneath but again, aren't the dresses too short so that the undershorts show below the dress?

Maybe the dresses are longer than I think.

It's not. And you can see genitals.

No you can’t

Op, yes, the dresses are short. But not ALL of them are. My dd is wearing a mid calf length dress, as is one of her friends. There are options besides the super short dresses. But a pp is right, you’ll be used to whatever is popular once your kids are that age.

You can when they sit down.

Not if they’re wearing underwear or bike shorts

[Anonymous]

It's not shorter than what my mom wore in 1972.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a 46 year old woman who always dressed pretty conservatively as a teen (body image issues due to an overly critical mom), I wish I could go back and tell my young self to wear all the too short, too tight, tacky, trendy, ugly, whatever thing was in fashion. Not to impress any boy, just to be young and free and having a good time.

Imagine thinking you have to wear something that is too tight and uncomfortable to be free and to have a good time.

That is so disheartening and sad.

+1