The Way Women Dress on TV

I notice with interest that the female "Strictly" professionals - who round off Morning Live with an excellent 'work out' based on dance moves - wear clothes, (on the ML show) so tight they seem sprayed on, sometimes with a bit of midriff or cleavage showing; whilst the males' clothes are really baggy and 'floor to ceiling'. What is that all about? Things are a bit more 'egalitarian' on the parent show, however

Turned off Bethany Hughes , got fed up with jiggling boobs!! Would have been interested ?n the programme.

I remember her cruising down the Nile, leaning her very generous cleavage over the ships rail and waving to the farmers working at the shoreline

It's the need to look like a fabulous and beautiful glamour-puss at all times which is very unrealistic. Almost no-one looks like that in real life.

I agree with the comments about Bettany Hughes. She’s an attractive woman with an ample bosom who never thinks she might cause offence in a Muslim country. She should be reminded to respect the customs of whichever country she’s visiting. I remember her cruising down the Nile, leaning her very generous cleavage over the ships rail and waving to the farmers working at the shoreline. It made me blush for her. She’s an intelligent woman so why doesn’t she think?
I feel it’s the same attitude presented by a lot of women these days, I’ll wear what I want never mind if it’s appropriate.
When I worked in the very easy going travel industry we wore a uniform in the shops and smart business wear in the offices. One old boss didn’t even allow trousers on the female staff. Imagine the entitled squawking if that happened today.

Glorianny I just wasn't that body aware to think that way, it was more wanting to keep up with the other girls.

If I look back at photos I realise I was never beautiful but attractive just enough to not fret and had/have a body shape that fits "what's in".

I loved 70's dresses, skirts, trousers much more - colourful, comfortable, hippy, fun, much more. Also a feminist, the idea of forcing myself into wobbly heels and tight waists and loads of make up - hours on my hair - the need to somehow put myself out there to "get a man" by what I wore seemed - well, why should I? No one was in my friendship circles.

There are some really interesting articles about choice feminism, they sometimes get a bit mired in identity politics for my liking, but they are quite good at analysing how and why we make the choices we do.

I'm trying to think about why I shortened my skirts in the 60's. Because I do remember before the mini. Was it men who made me? I don't think so. I saw them in magazines and some of my friends were doing it. But the main reason (and I suspect it's exactly the same for girls today) was because I could and my legs looked great.

Totally agree with you.

Hetty58

I feel miffed - because I'm dead jealous (having very little to display).

I feel comfortably average, as I have neither too little or too much.

I try to imagine having a large heaving bosom up in from of me and ...fail...

It's a far cry from my first office job in 1969. A woman was sent home to change because she wore a trouser suit!

No you not alone my youngest daughter inlaw just said something similar when I was there other day. Can’t remember what program was but she said couldn’t she find a shorter skirt for tv. If they don’t have everything on show they can’t smile because face it too stiff with trying to make themselves look younger but unfortunately I think it makes them look unnatural and old and not how everyone else looks so out of touch

In the mid 70 s part of my job meant me sitting in a magistrates court a couple of times a week. I was told I coukd not wear trousers and something mumbled about seeing a crotch which apparently should on no account ever be seen....

I feel miffed - because I'm dead jealous (having very little to display).

icanhandthemback

VioletSky 🤣🤣🤣

We certainly don't need men to make us feel uncomfortable about the way we dress, women seem to manage so much better. I find it incredible how many are so judgemental about a woman's body and her choice as to how much to display. Concentrate on your own dress and don't worry about the next woman.

This - I was so relieved to read this and find out it isn't just me, who was reading this and thinking OMG some of you sound like our parents, grandparents did we rolled our eyes at once.

To the one poster on the first page who said "they have no sympathy with those wearing low cleavage and getting unwanted attention" I'm astounded and shocked. That is so misogynist

I think the OP was referring to TV programmes rather than what women wear every day. Last night I was watching an American crime series, the women were wearing skin tight trousers, low cut tops and very high heels - the men were mostly in suits or jeans and loose fitting tops! These clothes are chosen, not by the actors, but by the wardrobe department. I often wonder if the actors are asked their opinion on the clothes they are expected to wear.

VioletSky 🤣🤣🤣

We certainly don't need men to make us feel uncomfortable about the way we dress, women seem to manage so much better. I find it incredible how many are so judgemental about a woman's body and her choice as to how much to display. Concentrate on your own dress and don't worry about the next woman.

I have no boobage to speak of, so the problem does not affect me, However in the late seventies, when trouser suits were coming in, I did some supply teaching at a church school in a cathedral city wearing my elegant trouser outfit. I was taken aside by the head, clad in a floor length cassock to be told, "we dont wear trousers here". Only God knows what he thought of mini skirts.

I would actually love to relive the 60s as I was too young to remember

I'm currently stuck somewhere in the victoriana era

I have my ankles out

This is not going down well

I dropped a tissue, I now appear to be betrothed and my future MIL is running around shouting about sins and shame on the family. There had been much fainting and hysterics

VioletSky

Hello

Can anyone help me?

I appear to have accidentally time travelled back to the 1950s

Oooh, can I come with you? I'd love to live through the 60s and 70s again.

Personally, I think there's work clothes and going-out clothes.

The lines seem to be blurred now.

VioletSky

Hello

Can anyone help me?

I appear to have accidentally time travelled back to the 1950s

What - the days of Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield and Sabrina?

Bosoms and stilettos.
White stilettos!

I remember it well.

That was before mini skirts and thigh high boots, of course.

We didn't all wear pinnies in our teens.

FannyCornforth

Do you mean the historian Bettany Hughes op? She’s extremely voluptuous
I don’t like to see a lot of boobage. I’d feel really uncomfortable myself showing any cleavage at all.

I've only watched her programme once, couldn't believe how she was dressed, she's an attractive woman but looked an absolute mess.
I watched it for a while to see if her clothes would improve, I'm surprised stylists don't advise her. I couldnt watch her anymore!

Forced is a funny word though as is choice. It might be useful to ask why the girls in Gloriannys story are making those choices and the men werent. It might be that the choices 'given' to men and those 'given' to women are very different. The pressure placed on young women by social media, and worse porn is increasing.

Farzanah

I think it’s refreshing watching Scandi tv detective films where the women generally look like ordinary women, and are not “glammed up”.

Absolutely what I think Farzanah! Each time, that's what hits me, like those are "real".

In reply to a post on the last page, in saying "who decides about the glamming up" and me mentioning the days when women didn't have the choice

my response is I have no problem at all women (or men) deciding they want to glam up as long as its not forced on them, ie obliged to wear high heels or a dress code they don't want to.