A Lasses Wear Thread

[Livingston]

And that, Alan, is why I quit buying my wife clothes!

oooooohhhh...... this one is way too easy. I think I'd better let it slide.

[TatterDel]

Part of the problem is that a lot of us guys like to (or would like to) dress our women up in stuff they'd never wear in a million years, I think. At least, that's the deal in my household.

Actually my husband usually has excellent taste in clothing for me. The best times I ever had cloths shopping is when he goes with me because I hate to cloths shop (yes I'm serious!).

The problem now is that the cloths I like or would like to wear aren't really for my age and body type. I don't feel that big but unless everyone's cameras adds 40-50 pounds... then it's me.

And by the way, as for that yellow tartan runway piece... that is not a mini skirt... that is a micro-mini skirt. It is very attractive for those who can carry off that much bright yellow (the model could).

Thanks to all the guys posting images of real women... your ladies are grand! Brag all you want. I know some of the ladies are as petite as those models but I'd rather see them then the models. They are more real! There is also less drooling when someone posts their wife or sweetheart.
Which is more to the point of this thread.

"What can we, do we, shall we ladies wear?"

just my two bits worth...

[Scratchy's Lass]

Alan H. said: It's time for me to kind of bow out and let you lasses (and the lads that admire them) take over.

Wish I had seen and jumped in here sooner, darnit - certainly is time I contributed to this thread ;) (Between college and scholarship applications for kiddo, and tax returns..... haven't been back to Xmarks in too many days -prior to tonight. )

Ok, not in any well organized order....



I like the bustier-esque top, but wouldn't be comfortable w/the low of a neckline in an every-day type situation. I do like the way the bottom edge in the back is angled and extends below the waist. Being just a smidgen over 5' tall, I hate the feeling like my hips go up to my ear-lobes LOL - and so prefer tops that extend lower than what may be the current fashion at any given modern time.

Cynthia said:
I do mind tops that are short waisted and poorly constructed and make me tug at them constantly.

EXACTLY! Short-waisted for me is the pitz! Hate it!

re "some nice sturdy corsets"
"Try looking for Vollers corsets on ebay"
Corsets, being too restrictive and such. 18th vs. 19th cen. styles. Like wearing a back brace w/bust support.

Actually, I will often wear my Renfaire 'wench' "bodice" when my back is 'out'. Helps the muscle spasms and shooting pain. I've even worn it while driving up to Flag because my back was *horribly* "out" at the time and I couldn't stand the drive otherwise. I actually do like the snugness of a tighter-laced "bodice" over a less restrictive type.



While I LOVE this entire outfit, I'd be worried about two things (1) for non-Renfaire type scenarios, the amount of bustline that's exposed, and (2) ruining the fabric as is dragged on the ground!

Re images posted by J.B. Simpson:

Oh my! The Rihanna one where she's seated? I.MUST.HAVE.THOSE.SHOES!


I can't tell from the photo - is she wearing black high-heeled pumps and stripper stockings, or is she wearing boots?

Posted by TatterDel:
I know some of the ladies are as petite as those models but I'd rather see them then the models. They are more real!

I hear that! I haven't been as "petite" as those dang models since I was in the 8th grade and weighed 100 lbs. or less! (and never was even remotely as tall). And at 6 mos. away from age 50, I sure as heck don't have my body shape from the 8th grade *snarfle*

'Hate plaid'?

Nope, not me. Actually, I feel larger in a plain, lighter colored skirt than I would in a plaid/tartan one. Now, black, otoh..... I do own a lot of black (Slimming, you know ;)

m

[Scratchy's Lass]

Oh, I do like this except for it to be longer. I like the lower-rise waist..... much more comfy, I find, than something up around my belly-button waist or where ever my "true waist" is.

Thoughts on skirt hemline length:
For me, as I feel (and hate) being "vertically challenged", I wonder whether pleating on a shorter shirt would make me feel bigger in the hips (blech!) - but below-the-knee-plus, I think pleating would be nice to try.



It probably counter-intuitive for my height, this is actually the length of skirt I have always leaned toward - and I'm nowhere near as tall as the model in the scotweb image. For some wierd reason, a hemline right at or just below the knee makes me feel like my legs are even shorter than they are! Maybe the longer length seems more subsconsciously comfy for my height because I feel like I'm hiding how short short my legs REALLY are ...shhh...

Pic posted by Alan H.

PERFECT length w/boots. Perfect!

Re flat shoes
Confession: Must.Have.Platform.Shoes.Will.Not.Wear.Flats (unless it's just kick-around shoes.....but for any time I care what I or my feet look like? Platforms, all the way!!!! )

How about this one??

Nah...... but I WANT.THE.BOOTS!

The F-H.C.A.G. often wears boots with her tartan skirts.

B.O.O.T.S !!!!!

Re Macman & his wife in her NYC tartan mini

Hum....... leggings w/a shorter tartan skirt/mini...... hum........ I may have to experiment w/that, altho my tartan skirt is the unpleated, A-line style and comes below my knees (as I would ordinarily prefer). I could always just hold it up higher in front of me and look in the mirror while wearing some leggings.....hum....

Post by Cynthia:
I mean, yeah... we lasses WISH our lads ran around bare-chested with swords and kilts and long flowing hair...

*I know what you mean...... My Kilted Half refuses to..er ...... let his hair grow

My sweetie recently told me that sometimes he wished I would cut my knee length (actually it's almost calf-length, now) hair back to about waist so I'd wear it down more.

Knee/calf-length!? Oh goodness NEVER, EVER, EVER "cut" it!

Re Sashes
I've been wanting a tartan sash for quite a while.... but it always seems the budget gets horribly in the way, especially w/kiddo starting college in June for 6-odd wks., and then as a regular full-time freshman come August.

Look on ebay for tartan skirts

Good idea. Um........ Honey, what IS your charge card number?

Other, idle thoughts:
Weight fluctuations; Az summer heat/weather

Posted by Alan H.
I think she's being silly...but...

GOSH, that tartan and skirt remind me of something -



Oh my, how I did ramble...... please pardon my fixation on footware by the way...
m

[Scratchy's Lass]

My personal favorite I keep trying to get my wife to buy:
http://www.heritageofscotland.com/Ta...44,product.php

That would rock - but I don't have the body for it
m

[Cynthia]

TatterDel: Thanks for pointing that out. I kept meaning to mention that I've always had the understanding that those were micro-mini skirts as well. Mini skirts are just above the knee.... micro-mini's leave very little to the imagination

My sweetie also has similar tastes in clothing to mine. In fact, he's probably more conservative than I am in many ways

Scratchy's Lass: Your replies had me cracking up!! You picked the very outfit to mention the short-waisted thing that had me thinking the same thing when I replied. It's cute to see on someone, but I guarantee the minute I had to wear it especially as I'm sitting down and actually moving around I'd be tugging at it! With me, I am tall but I also prefer form-hugging LONG tops because if I wear anything short it makes me look like I'm all legs (aside from the discomfort of continually trying to tug my shirts down). When I wear something that clings a bit and comes down to my hips, I just look more balanced and it's more flattering to my figure. I also know what you mean about some skirt lengths. I can't really wear too-short things because I'm still in the process of losing weight and can't stand my thighs. I don't think I could wear too many shorter skirts (definitely never a micro-mini), but at the same time I tend to prefer ankle-length skirts (hard to find for me, sadly) if I go for anything lower than the knee.

And yup, the bustled gown isn't everyday wear. Speaking as someone who has a bustle gown (with a real bustle under it and not just fabric looped up to give a bustling effect), this is definitely pretty but not something I would really have. I'd go a little farther and actually do a little nicer version with a slightly longer train and a dust ruffle underneath to help protect the fabric. The model does look lovely and it's a very neat effect. I really do wish they had included a little more "oomph" to the outfit to really put it over the top.

And as for showing too much. If you're comfortable doing it (I have my limits) and you're not wearing something too revealing at an inappropriate time or location, go for it. The thing is... I am really never going to wear something too revealing. I just don't feel up to doing it even if I had the perfect figure (I still think a lady can flaunt what she's got without showing it all, I'm a firm believer in only showing enough... to me that's a lot more flirtatious and hubby agrees), and honestly I am never really out some place where the more revealing outfits would be appropriate *shrugs*

Oh yes... and the yellow tartan runway outfit with the black micro-mini? I keep staring at the boots, too. I'd rather have those

I do like the red tartan billie skirt (I think they're called?) with the black sleeveless top. Not too fond of the hat, but the rest of it is very cute (I'd probably want it a little longer too, but I might be willing to at least try a skirt that length... I haven't seen myself in a skirt that short in so long, I'm not sure if I'd like it or not especially until I lost a little more weight in my thighs). I think I'd definitely wear hose, though.

Oh, and don't worry! I don't intend on cutting my hair

Speaking of which! What are some of the ladies' favorite ways to wear your hair? I might try a long braid, but they fuzz out quickly on me due to friction. I need to get used to pinning crown braids (I don't braid them, I tried that a few times and let's just say it was maddening... I just wrap my braids around my head and pin them, but they don't stay very well for me at the moment). I think crown braids would look cute. Any sort of bun with a nice hair accessory. Then there's my favorite way of wearing it down, just clipping the top bit back behind my head with a small hair slide or clip and letting the rest drape down (I think this would look good with a mini-skirt look and boots, too).

I'm trying to cover some of the recent comments, but I'm afraid I am a little out of it and skipping around here and there. I'm sure I've missed something, so I might come back later and reply again

This is really turning out to be a fun thread! Thanks to the ladies (and yes, the gents!) for keeping it going!

[davedove]

Part of the problem is that a lot of us guys like to (or would like to) dress our women up in stuff they'd never wear in a million years, I think. At least, that's the deal in my household.

Based on what I have observed, both from personal experience and observing people I know, it is basically a difference in the genders. While men and women can generally agree on what makes a woman attractive, what they focus on is different. Men tend to focus on particular things, like legs, etc., while women tend to go for a more balanced look. Thus, men think an outfit is attractive because it shows off the various parts and women think an outfit is attractive because it "fits" the woman wearing it.

This is all very unscientific and only my own ovservations, so your experience may be different.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Based on what I have observed, both from personal experience and observing people I know, it is basically a difference in the genders. While men and women can generally agree on what makes a woman attractive, what they focus on is different. Men tend to focus on particular things, like legs, etc., while women tend to go for a more balanced look. Thus, men think an outfit is attractive because it shows off the various parts and women think an outfit is attractive because it "fits" the woman wearing it.

This is all very unscientific and only my own ovservations, so your experience may be different.

I know some fun ladies who are also willing to sacrifice a wee bit of comfort to simply look their best for a few hours. Now, are men willing to indulge in the same "wee sacrificing" ? Well , as a matter of fact, I also know a few...

Basically, I think it's all a matter of time and circumstances. You don't go dancing and formal dining dressed up in the same fashion (ladies and gents alike).

Common sense !

[Cynthia]

Oh yeah, I'll be uncomfortable for a few hours to wear a fun outfit every once in a while, but again, sometimes I just don't think certain things look good.

It's hard to explain. Aside from things like "it shows too much leg" or "too skimpy".... sometimes I just think the actual cut, color, fabric, and construction of an outfit looks bad. It's like some guys hate cheap kilt hose, shoes that don't fit right or are uncomfortable, the fabric of the kilt is wrong, or the drape and fit of the kilt isn't right. The same holds true for women. When I'm talking about being uncomfortable, I mean that it's the garment itself isn't fitting right on me, period. Not that I'm wearing a corset, or heels, or showing a little leg or cleavage. It's that I just can't stand the style, fabric, color, or construction of the garment. Now, I do have "issues" with my image and I can't really help that. Honestly, I've gotten much better over the years with having more confidence, but there are still things I can improve and things that I just flat out don't show off to the general public. So I just don't see myself wearing a micro-mini skirt. But if I could find just the right mini skirt outfit that complements me, especially once I've lost a little more weight and feel a bit better about myself? Sure.

Now, would I be a little more playful and wear something that shows more than usual? Yes, if I liked the outfit and it worked with my body type. I'm guessing certain colors would not look good on me, tartan or not, and so even if a guy absolutely adores an outfit and wishes I would wear it... simply put, if it's not to my tastes, I won't.

I guess the other thing is that -- and I'm sure I could be wrong, since I'm new to all this -- I'm wanting something that gives me the feeling of traditional clothing similar to kilts, and not fashion wear. Since I don't wear a kilt and kilt hose, I want the next best thing. I'm not my husband's tartan accessory. I want to embrace my heritage and wear things that have meaning to me. That's why some of us gals are ignoring the skimpy or runway fashion photos.

Regardless of some of our personal image issues (or not), we have different body types and we are used to dressing a certain way for them. Just because a dress looks hot on a model, doesn't mean it's for every girl out there. And I'm not necessarily talking about models being skinny. There are TONS of different skin tones, body shapes, heights, and not to mention even proportions (two people with the same height who have slightly different leg lengths or torso lengths, etc).

Hopefully I'm not babbling... just explaining the issue a little from my side at least Hey, it can't hurt to show your lady an outfit and say "I think it looks nice". Maybe even point out why or discuss it with her. Maybe there's a compromise, or she might even find an outfit that you both like even better ;)

[Ancienne Alliance]

I'm wanting something that gives me the feeling of traditional clothing similar to kilts, and not fashion wear. Since I don't wear a kilt and kilt hose, I want the next best thing. I'm not my husband's tartan accessory. I want to embrace my heritage and wear things that have meaning to me. That's why some of us gals are ignoring the skimpy or runway fashion photos.

Right on !

There is a lot of creating to be done. It's all in our (your) hands !
On another thread I was mentionning the fact that even for men (!!!) we have to invent new jacket lines etc. Inspired by the tradition, of course ! But new stuff ! Mind you, the younger ones didn't wait and went straight on wearing Doc Martin's etc. and that's my point : Not seeking only for comfort ,but personal style as well ...adapted to each individual's figure (but that seemed so obvious to me).