Ladies, please help poor EUOL

[Mistress of Darkness]

They make you feel pretty. I'm not sure how your protagonist is going to feel about it, but despite occasional discomforts (that you get used to anyway) wearing a dress is fun.

I've also heard it said that they have a strange effect on guys. I know my husband always seems more complimentary when I'm wearing a skirt.

And, umm, skirts twirl. Which is sometimes fun to do when no one is watching.

/me blushes.

[stacer]

Depending on the skirt. That's why you have to get the full skirts, because straight skirts don't twirl. And it's nothing to blush about--I do it all the time!  

Another thing, if you're going to have skirts as full as a wedding dress, is that they're going to rustle a LOT. They're going to be downright noisy compared with pants. Especially when you twirl.

[stacer]

I've also heard it said that they have a strange effect on guys. I know my husband always seems more complimentary when I'm wearing a skirt.

You know, I've been told that--to get more dates, wear skirts more often. They do make me feel more feminine, and you move in a different way when wearing a skirt. Your movement is more restricted, and you have to sit more gracefully (no crossing legs like a man, or sitting with your legs apart, etc.). That said, I think it's also kind of annoying how much more complimentary guys get when you wear a skirt, as if you don't look as good wearing pants--do guys somehow like that girls' movement is restricted, that they somehow diminish themselves physically?

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

I think it has to do with the facts that people our age had moms who almost always wore skirts or dresses, and we had to treat them nice....

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I think you're reading far too much into it, Stacer. Nothing offensive.

I can think of some cruder reasons why dresses/skirts are seen as more attractive, but I think the best reason is that they're different. Guys don't wear them, so you're definitely set apart from guys. It also definitely has to do with the forbidden

[EUOL]

Or with the fact that it's simply more formal.  I think men look better in suits, and women look better in dresses.

In addition, while they undoubtedly feel restrictive, I don't think men see them that way.  I think dress and I think 'flowy, free, unrestrictive.'  Men are the ones who, in our culture, are supposed to be reserved and stiff.  Have you ever tried to run in a three-piece dress suit or a tux?  

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

like wearing a straight jacket

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

really, tailored mens clothes hug the body like a glove.

[stacer]

 I think dress and I think 'flowy, free, unrestrictive.'  

I suppose that's true, depending on how many yards of fabric you've got in the dress. Plus, all that loose fabric tends to tangle.

Have you ever tried to run in a three-piece dress suit or a tux?  

Actually, no. And I can't imagine it would be that great. But try running in a hoop skirt with 15 layers and I doubt you'd get as far as you could in a tux. But point taken.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

youd think so but sudden movements in a properly fitted tux are a no-no. An all out run wouldn't be all that fun either but yeah we'd win....

cause we're better than girls.

[fuzzyoctopus]

I think the other girls have covered most of it.  The only thing I can think is that if you never had worn a dress before you'd notice how breezy it is.  I don't know what kind of underwear your society enforces on its women, but if she's just wearing a dress after being used to pants she's going to feel a little exposed.

Unless the evil wizard has invented pantyhose already.


Oh- and I almost never read the writing group section because when it started I said I didn't want to be part of the writing group,  as I had no time.  So I just figured that this was all writing group stuff.

[Brenna]

Dresses being "flowy, free, unrestrictive" depends a lot on the material.  If it's a stretchy material, it'll be a lot more comfortable to move around in than say, taffeta, or other stiffer materials. Also, ease of movement depends on the style and length of the dress. My wedding dress is fairly comfortable, but it touches the ground.  It is VERY DIFFICULT to walk up or down stairs and not step on the hem, potentially tripping me up, even when holding the hem up a bit.

Full skirts allow more range of motion than a tight skirt, but then you have to contend with the yards of fabric swirling about you, tripping you up, especially if they are heavy fabrics.  Light fabrics (like those used in ballroom dance gowns) are fairly easy to run/dance/walk in freely.

Your character will have to be careful if there are multiple layers at the bottom of the dress--if the dress is a little too long, then she could accidently step on a layer and rip it--not fun.

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

Dresses make me feel like an elegant person. As if I'm flowing as freely as a river, and as tough as a steel crate. I especially likes skirts more because they show more of my leg.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

really? because that's not anything remotely like what they do for your appearance, Gemm.

[fuzzyoctopus]

My wedding dress is fairly comfortable, but it touches the ground.  It is VERY DIFFICULT to walk up or down stairs and not step on the hem, potentially tripping me up, even when holding the hem up a bit.  

Not being used to long long flowy dresses, I constantly tripped over my wedding dress.  I was giddy enough that I didn't really care, but I felt quite clumsy.