I just watched a movie this morning with Munchkin #2 - "Impromptu". We watched it because it starred Hugh Grant, but he wasn't really on screen a lot. But, it introduced me to the writer 'George Sand'. 'George' was actually not her real name. Her real names were Lucile Aurore Dupin and Baroness Dudevant. She was from 'high society' but divorced her husband and wore men's clothing in public. By 'donning trousers', she was able to roam more freely and hang out in places not considered suitable for a woman - or at least a 'proper woman'. Cool. {BTW for anybody who cares - I am not encouraging cross dressing in places where it is illegal. I am not encouraging 'cross dressing' ,simply saying that I understand the whole shunning dresses thing.}
As a kid, I always had to wear a dress or skirt to our family's preferred place of prayer. It was just not really appropriate to wear trousers/slacks/pants. (As a university student, I wore a very nice blazer and blue jeans one time to this place on a trip home, and ladies asked me if I had left all my dresses in my dormitory.) My mother and I would spend a lot of time combing sale racks for appropriate yet affordable clothes for me to wear there each week. My favorite was made by Gunne Sax. It was a slate blue with a plunging neckline, simple collar, tea length, princess waist and like 40 buttons all down the front. It was cotton, washable and very very comfortable. I wore it for my high school graduation photos, and I'm wearing it in the portrait that was drawn of myself and the husband when we got married as a gift from my Aunt J. I was raised around and in dresses. By university, I was changing my attitude towards them.
But, totally awesome amazing dress aside, I now tend to prefer trousers/pants/jeans. I feel more able to 'be me' in blue jeans. If I do wear a dress or skirt, it is usually paired with a nice pair of boots. Munchkin #2 only owns a couple, and she never wears them.
For me, I have times that I tend to think of dresses as froofy and silly. We women spend way too much time trying to find ones we like, that we can afford, and that fit. I recently had a big party/event to attend with the husband. I wore black trousers, comfortable high heels that are now so old only my bad glue job is holding them together, and a fancy sequined covered top. I had a blast at the event. No worries about straps slipping off shoulders, no worries about bending over and showing parts I don't ever want to show. I just danced and danced.
I tend to feel more free, stronger when I'm wearing blue jeans. I have no idea why. But I do know that I would have been very interested in meeting 'George Sand' if I had a time machine.
Peace.
As a kid, I always had to wear a dress or skirt to our family's preferred place of prayer. It was just not really appropriate to wear trousers/slacks/pants. (As a university student, I wore a very nice blazer and blue jeans one time to this place on a trip home, and ladies asked me if I had left all my dresses in my dormitory.) My mother and I would spend a lot of time combing sale racks for appropriate yet affordable clothes for me to wear there each week. My favorite was made by Gunne Sax. It was a slate blue with a plunging neckline, simple collar, tea length, princess waist and like 40 buttons all down the front. It was cotton, washable and very very comfortable. I wore it for my high school graduation photos, and I'm wearing it in the portrait that was drawn of myself and the husband when we got married as a gift from my Aunt J. I was raised around and in dresses. By university, I was changing my attitude towards them.
But, totally awesome amazing dress aside, I now tend to prefer trousers/pants/jeans. I feel more able to 'be me' in blue jeans. If I do wear a dress or skirt, it is usually paired with a nice pair of boots. Munchkin #2 only owns a couple, and she never wears them.
For me, I have times that I tend to think of dresses as froofy and silly. We women spend way too much time trying to find ones we like, that we can afford, and that fit. I recently had a big party/event to attend with the husband. I wore black trousers, comfortable high heels that are now so old only my bad glue job is holding them together, and a fancy sequined covered top. I had a blast at the event. No worries about straps slipping off shoulders, no worries about bending over and showing parts I don't ever want to show. I just danced and danced.
I tend to feel more free, stronger when I'm wearing blue jeans. I have no idea why. But I do know that I would have been very interested in meeting 'George Sand' if I had a time machine.
Peace.
