What do skirts/dresses "say"?

[Elizabeth]

Hi girls,

I guess there is another way to look at this. I have not heard anyone talk speciifically about the power of femininity itself. "I am woman hear me roar". I totally don't beleive that just because a woman has a skirt on she is saying that she is submissive and needs protection.

Some are real man eaters, and enjoy the sexual power they have over men. There is no power like that of the classily dressed, confident woman. To be honest, I have found it to be extremely intimidating at times. I have had occassion to meet women, not just in the workplace, but mostly in the workplace, that are very good at thier job. The accentuate this with extremely feminine, and to be honest, provactive clothing.

The woman who confidently adorns her sexuality, while being the best at what she does, is indeed a formidable creature. She need not be a super model, or beautiful, just confident. Confidence has it's own sensuality.

I know this is not politically correct, but I have seen men turn into bubbling idiots, men who are supposed to be professional, in the pressence of the confident, femininely dressed woman.




I submit to you that the women in these pictures do not sceam out "Protect me!!!!!!". They scream out, "watch me, this is how it's done"

And that is one girl's opinion.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[Bernice]

Hi all,

Generally speaking, women's clothing:

- is made from delicate fabrics requiring special care
- reveals the wearer's body in such a way that range of movement is reduced
- comes in a riot of "decorative" colours
- hobbles or handicaps the wearer in some way, restricting movement

CJ, I won't disagree generally, but I love my skirts to be very full, and while I cannot do the splits, the skirt is NOT the reason why. The only limitation on my movement might be out of modesty, especially if it were windy.

Also, I note that denim has made its way to skirts and dresses. Very rugged.

Hugs,

Bernice

[Terri(SO)]

Hi Elizabeth,
You said...
"The woman who confidently adorns her sexuality, while being the best at what she does, is indeed a formidable creature. She need not be a super model, or beautiful, just confident. Confidence has it's own sensuality. "

Exactly! That's what I was trying to say. I want it to be clear I'm a woman and that I know my s*#t. I am sexual but I more than that.
T.

[SilverLady(SO)]

Elizabeth & Terri - -

Oh, I sooooo agree with your statements!!

In a nutshell, what I was trying to say in my original post is that just because I happen to wear a skirt or dress (and it doesn't really matter what kind of clothes I am wearing) - don't ever let the clothes fool you!! I know exactly who I am, what I am capable of, very comfortable in my own sexuality, and I have confidence in all those things and so much more!!



- SL

[TracyQ]

Then I stand corrected!

[Elizabeth]

Hi Tracy,

If you and I were standing on train tracks at night and you were a mile in front of a train on those tracks and I were a mile behind the train and that train had a light on the front, a light in the middle and a light on the rear, and those lights were all on the same switch?

If someone turned on the light switch and instantly turned it back off you would see three flashes of light. You would see the light on the front, then the light on the middle than the light on the back turn on and then off in rapid succession. They would not all blink on and off at the same time because the light from the front of the train gets to you before the light on the middle of the train and lastly you see the light from the back of the train that takes even longer to get to you.

I on the other hand see the light on the back of the train first, I see the middle light at the same time you do and I see the light on the front of the train last. We both witnessed the same exact event, yet we both seen something different and if we describe what we seen, we would both be right.

We can see things differently without anyone being right or wrong. Our discussions here are sometimes like that. You opinions do not need to be corrected, they are your opinions after all.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[Virginia]

Are we going to the ultimate basic conception of our existence?? Pro-creaton of the species. Is that not one of the basic tenants of our existence. Women seek the best male with which to pro-create . It is well documented in the "animal kingdom" is it not! The old adage, "The guy chasest the girl until she catches him!"
Humans have carried this basic tenent to sometimes unattainable heights with all the immenities now associated with pro-creation, wealth, looks, car, job, etc. Yet women still look at the herd and try and cull out what they feel will be the best of the herd! Now that is GIRLPOWER! How do they do that? That is attract the attention of their "assumed prize" from the herd!? Well for us CD'ers - Can we say, "been there done that?" Who caught who! Therefore it follows that clothing is simply a "trap" used by either sex to enhance the opportunity to pro-create! BUT ---------BUT it would appear that the final POWER is in the "hands" if you will of the GG!! She determines what it will take for her to obtain acceptance by the member of the herd that she selects. Is he into "brains" "looks" "feminity" what will she need to do to meet his "requirements." Most, if not all GG's know that most males have to pull their zipper down just to think, so that aspect aside, she has a built in feminity aspect that comes with the territory. That being a feminine scent, structure. voice, general appearance. Now she turns to her "bag of tricks" to bring him home!!! Skirts, dresses, slacks, shorts just tricks form her bag of goodies! We won't even go into the aftermath!!!
Just one girl's opinion! Nice thread!
Virginia

[Kendra Lynn]

Hello all: Well, I recently bought a few mini-skirts from GAP and was surprised at how good they looked AND how comfortable they were-- easy to walk in, yes! Of course they were not skin tight.
As to the rest of this thread-- I've thought about this a lot. I definitely enjoy seeing GG's in dresses and skirts (although not narrow ones) And my preppie/hippie drag blend has up to now favored skirts and dresses. But... a few weeks ago I bought a pair of OLD NAVY women's jeans ("at waist") at a consignment shop. They fit well and looked good. Since then I've purchased a few more pairs of women's pants and shorts. I do feel safer and less conspicuous (hope that spelling is correct) when in "pants drag." Judging from the few times I've done it, I also seem to "blend in" more and do not receive as many odd looks. And that is important, since I do not drive and have to contend with the general public (tourists, teenagers, young men, children) on "METRO" and just walking in public.
Are women (and CD's) wearing dresses and skirts perceived to be more "submissive?" I'd like to think not, but then why is the masculine styled "power suit" for women so common?
The other poster is right-- women's pants don't have good pockets-- no matter what I'm wearing when "dressed," my wallet and keys generally wind up in a backpack pouch or pocket-- unless I'm wearing a jacket or coat with secure pockets-- and those DO exist (I have several).
By the way, I am curious-- are there other non-drivers on this forum? If so, how do you cope with being "out and about?"
That's it for now.
Peace'n'Luv-- Kendra Lynn

[Stephanie W]

Kendra

The other poster is right-- women's pants don't have good pockets-- no matter what I'm wearing when "dressed," my wallet and keys generally wind up in a backpack pouch or pocket-- unless I'm wearing a jacket or coat with secure pockets--

With most women carrying purses, pockets are a little redundant, save for stylish reasons, so it's really no big surprise as to why they would be shallow.

Stephanie

[Kendra Lynn]

Stephanie: That makes sense.
But I ride public transit in an urban area and am always conscious of "safety" even when "in drab."
So, yes, the women's clothes are cute, but if I'm out "en femme" in warmer weather, the wallet goes in the backpack. I assume it's harder for a potential thief to yank a backpack off when it's strapped on, than a shoulder bag which is loose.
And yes the hot and humid summer weather has begun here in the D.C. area, so "dressing" opportunities over the next two months, will, unfortunately, be limited.
Now I'll go back to the CD review I've been struggling with.
Peace-- Kendra Lynn.

[Anne]

A couple years ago, it would take you a long time to find a women from 20-50 in a skirt or dress out & about (save Sunday morning). Sad time.

Now - I just attended an elementary graduation and skirts & dresses were well over 50%, probably 75%ish. And these women were not projecting submissive. Maybe a bit of fashion but not too much as most non-upper-class women with children are not fashionistas.

It is nice to see skirts and dresses come back into everyday life. It benefits everyone. It allows women more freedom of expression. And quite possibly it lessens the stigma if men were to somehow break the male taboo of having a hemline.

[Darth_Wolfenbarg]

Oh I get it. This is a trick question. Skirts and dresses obviously can't say anything!

[Aileen]

I've noticed that when a women is in a dress and heels, men all say, "Let me help you with that." They assume she can't do anything on her own. And you know, skirts and high heels do limit your mobility and get in the way.

[Darth_Wolfenbarg]

I've noticed that when a women is in a dress and heels, men all say, "Let me help you with that." They assume she can't do anything on her own. And you know, skirts and high heels do limit your mobility and get in the way.

Actually it just makes them more noticable. I'm less likely to notice people in jeans doing something than I am to see somebody wearing a skirt. Unless of course it is about holding open doors or somebody dropping something... odd I guess....

[Robyn Katie]

For some while I've thought skirts do speak volumes. But what are they saying?

Are they a covert message from the patriarchy?:

"You, in that skirt, are vulnerable. You haven't the protection of closed fabric at the bottom of your body. On the contrary, your sexual center is bared and accessible from beneath. You get no protection from a rude hand, or an eye, or the wind."

And, by implication:

"Better watch yourself, behave, keep yourself to yourself and not act up, because you're opened up, right to your panties, and you're on sufferance."

As a a feminist I detest that, even though as a skirt-wearer I happen to feel a certain excitement from it.

Do women feel that instinctively, even if they don't think of it consciously? I've never had any indication that they do. GGs please comment!

But even if it's not conscious, it may be there somewhere in the backbrain. Women, as they've moved into the public sphere, have adopted trousers, shorts, skorts -- all of which might be felt as being stronger, safer, more protected than the skirt's ever-present aperture.

Even if women don't consciously perceive it this way, I wonder if men in gender-based power positions do. I think of how hard the male hierarchy fought back during the 60s and 70s against allowing women to wear pants in the workplace. (Example: Boston City Hall 1970 -- it was a big event when Kevin White, the Mayor, rather grudgingly permitted city workers to wear trousers after a long period of agitation.)

This would seem to indicate that skirts are a big deal, at least for the kind of men who are trying to keep women "in line" and keep them from "wearing the pants." But for unstated reasons. What's going on here? Something major. But I've never seen anyone articulate why.

(And then there are priests, men in skirts ... what's up with that? Was it a conscious design to make it obvious and certain that this was not a person to be engaged in combat, but a class apart, weak, but spiritual?)

Clearly this stuff goes deep into the instincts. Wish we knew more about how, how much, and why.

Love, Robyn Katie