Do we really dress to please ourselves?

My friends and I always make an effort when we go out together as you can see.

I've always worn what I wanted. I did get it wrong once when I was first going out with DH to be in 1969. We were going to a car club dance and I wore a stunning long silver lace dress from Biba. It had a low neck and flowing medieval style sleeves. His face was a picture when he saw it! All the other girls were wearing clothes they could have done an oil change in. He had no idea about clothes himself, but I was able to do a few tactful tweaks. The one thing we did agree about was that he would never be seen outside the house in jogging bottoms unless he was actually dead.

My DH has no clue what clothes I have nor when I buy anything new. He would love me to tell him what to wear but I won’t do it as I’m not his mother. He really struggles with what to wear and I find it ridiculous.

If I didn’t pick my dh clothes he would look like a clown nothing would match he has no dress sense what so ever. When we go out I choose for him. Back in the day when dressing to go out he did pay me wonderful compliments now he will say you look fine. It’s a bit deflating to be honest but I bite back by saying “have a look in the mirror you only look good because I picked your outfit”

I definitely dress to please myself, just as well as Mr C is another who couldn’t tell anyone what I left the house wearing, best not be abducted then . If I mutter when thinking of something to wear for an event, getting rarer now, his stock response is wear what you’re comfortable in and do you know I usually do.

Mr C is aware he’s not good with colours and if left to his own devices selects some shall we say unusual combinations. If it doesn’t matter I say nothing, if we’re going out ‘the look’ will have him asking for advice, if it’s important enough I’ll select clothes in advance to save time. It works for us.

I please myself what I wear, but I only buy clothes I feel comfortable in. I try to avoid wearing the same clothes in succession when I will be seen by the same people, but as have 1000 tops that is not too difficult.
If I was going to a special event in a completely new context I would struggle to know what to wear.
My husband did not like casual clothes, so no fleece, no polo shirts, no jeans. Always a plain long sleeved shirt. Casual for him was a jumper rather than a jacket, but he preferred a jacket and tie and chose matching or toning colours well.

Allira

I must read that again, a short but lovely book.

I won it at school, end of year prize 🙂

It was a school text when I was about 14. Still love it! And I’ve often thought how timelessly classic is the artful/ devious behaviour of Isabella, compared to naive Catherine. Even at 14 I knew girls at school like that!

Deedaa

I've always worn what I wanted. I did get it wrong once when I was first going out with DH to be in 1969. We were going to a car club dance and I wore a stunning long silver lace dress from Biba. It had a low neck and flowing medieval style sleeves. His face was a picture when he saw it! All the other girls were wearing clothes they could have done an oil change in. He had no idea about clothes himself, but I was able to do a few tactful tweaks. The one thing we did agree about was that he would never be seen outside the house in jogging bottoms unless he was actually dead.

I wear what I want but I’m very capable of getting it wrong too Deedaa, I don’t take myself too seriously. DH knows what he likes which isn’t always the right thing either! He doesn’t take himself too seriously. I don’t think I’d like to be married to somehow who was overly interested in how he looked …

I’d say I dress to please myself, but I do sometimes choose things according to which friend I’m going out with! I have one who favours long skirts/dresses and co-ordinating jewellery ( always, not just when going out), and another who always wears denim jeans, only varying the tops she wears with them!
The Bodach wore the same things for the 50 years we were together ( same style, not the same clothes, obviously), polo shirt, v necked jumper and chino type trousers for casual, suit, collar and tie for ‘dress’.

Dress to please yourself.
Wear something you are comfortable in.
I have a pr of light coloured jeans which fit great and I love them. They are years old and I don't care what anyone thinks.
Hubby loves a fitted blue dress I have and it does look good on but he'd have me wearing it all the time, so I occasionally wear it to please him.

I certainly do (and always have )
(The mental image does not always match the reality, alas.)

I do think we dress to please others and ourselves. If we didn't, then we would go about all the time in our 'around the house' clothes, since they are the most comfortable.

I do try to look presentable when out in public, including at work, even though it is a very casual style. But when I buy a new outfit, I don't look at it and think "my DH will like that", I buy it because I think I look nice in it.

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Since telling me I looked like Rupert Bear, forty-odd years ago, he has commented much. I think it was the check trousers and lace-up suede shoes with a yellow scarf that prompted the remark.