Anonymous wrote:I used to have to churn butter when I was a kid. It takes a lot of work when you have to do it manually like I did. Not fun when you have to do it regularly.

Did you wear the prairie dress? If so, you are ahead of your time.

Pp with the tweeds and silks please post!

The problem is that all stores jump too much on tends. at some point we were all complaining about cold shoulder and random holes. Or there were years you couldn’t find jeans without rips. Now we’re drowning in ruffles and tiers which I also hate. Or that slouchy beige potato sack look which is even worse. Or sometimes you get potato sack with flounces.

Quince has nice basics but I’m not loving their color palate this year — nothing flattering for me. Old stalwarts like brooks brothers, Ann Taylor, j crew have less and less professional stuff every year. I want basic, flattering, nice colors or prints, that won’t be out of style in 2 or even 5 years. I’m so mad about menopause as I had lots of great classics from the 90s that no longer fit.

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.

I'm not better because of my job. I'm better because I'm a grown up and dress and act accordingly. And sure, churning butter is fun once and a while, especially when you normally buy it.

I used to have to churn butter when I was a kid. It takes a lot of work when you have to do it manually like I did. Not fun when you have to do it regularly.

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.

How often do they churn it? Weekly like in Little House on the Prairie?

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.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Actually there are numerous studies on this both in schools and in the workplace. People do perform better when they are dressed nicer.

And, sadly, women who wear makeup also do better.

Yep! Can never circumnavigate human psychology.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where Op is shopping. I'd having literally zero issues finding well cut clothing, in some nice tweeds and silk twills for fall/winter. Maybe she needs to step up her fashion game or whatever.

Do spill where to find nice tweeds and silk twills.

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.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where Op is shopping. I'd having literally zero issues finding well cut clothing, in some nice tweeds and silk twills for fall/winter. Maybe she needs to step up her fashion game or whatever.

+1

OP, stop going to Anthropologie if you don't like twee.

I don't know where Op is shopping. I'd having literally zero issues finding well cut clothing, in some nice tweeds and silk twills for fall/winter. Maybe she needs to step up her fashion game or whatever.

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.

Plenty of not high end stores DO offer non-frilly clothes.

There are two reigning styles right now- Trad wife and the Gen Z beige 'old money' aesthetic. Basically any stores catering to the latter will have clothes more palatable to OPs taste. Off the top of my head Quince, Everlane, Ann Taylor/Loft, Banana Republic, Aritzia, JCrew, Uniqlo, and Zara will all have more traditional office clothing. I'm sure there are a million other options.

I think OPs point is that she doesn't like the frilly look, associates it with toddlers or SAHMs (who she probably feels are beneath her), and wants a return to 2012 when women wore business casual to go clubbing. Only a minority of women post COVID are working full time in an office that requires wearing a suit or similar outfit. Stores will sell what makes them money and right now that seems to be floral midi dresses, not grey sheath dresses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hard time taking my male colleagues seriously when they are wearing an archaic “costume” that hasn’t changed since 1920 or so. I don’t understand why men’s fashions don’t evolve. The blazer, the tie.

Men's fashions change, just like women's. Ties are out right now, and the cut of blazers and slacks changes, and shoes. A man's suit from 20 years ago would look as dated as a woman's suit from 20 years ago.

That sounds depressing. Minor changes in uniforms.

I'm with the other PP. I think worrying only about details like if 2 button or 3 button coats are in this year or whether or not pleats look dated would be lovely. Men's fashion doesn't change in the essentials, even if a 2000s suit would look subtly off.