Why do we make the effort to look nice? Not everyone does. Some people just throw clothes on. Others, however, have a spark that ignites the desire to dress well. We care about the clothes we wear; we consider how best to present them, and we make endless choices to arrive at our peak appearance.
Why is that? What motivates us?
I'm sure the reasons are different for everyone. For me, there are three motivations. First, it's fun. I enjoy the creative exercise involved and view fashion as art. Second, I like sharing my creations with friends whose feedback helps me learn what worked and what didn't. Third, dressing up brings me closer to the female identity I have inside.
How about you? Why do you dress up?
I like dressing up being it makes me feel good. Wearing a great outfit and a pair of heels gives me an extra pep in my step! I also like to dress up for the fun and experimentation factor. Heather
ReplyDeleteI agree with your reasons, and they are pretty much the same reasons why I do. I feel better when I like an outfit I have put together. Even if all I am doing that day is going to work, and it might be boring or hard, at least I managed to look good that day. I also like reminding people that I am a female. It sounds strange, I know, but being a feminist while also being very feminine is hard for some people to digest at times.
ReplyDeleteI like dressing up because it makes me feel good and at the moment I'm quite down so dressing for the day gives me a focus, something that makes me feel like its worth it to get dressed in the morning
ReplyDeleteI agree with Heather - it makes me feel good. I am almost always overdressed for my job - but it makes each day a little more fun and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the creative exercise. Unlike a painting that might takes weeks to complete or a song that might take days to finish, dressing up lets you see the end result of your creativity daily (or as many times a day that you desire!)
ReplyDeleteI've always loved dressing up, as you say, it's nice to put things together- like art! ANd also, I am one of those people to whom it makes a real difference to their appearance- I look really scruffy in normal everyday clothes but when I dress up,it makes a whole lot of difference!x
ReplyDeleteCute socks!
ReplyDeleteI dress up to express my mood. Those with discerning eyes can tell when I'm feeling crummy because I wear simple, non-accessorized, plain outfits. For me, it's about self-expression: This is how I feel today, this is who I am (or at least, how I choose to represent myself) today.
LOVE the socks!! great photo too!
ReplyDeleteI dress up for me. When I have clothes on that look and feel great so do I. It lifts my spirits. Just in the same way if I am wearing something frumpy I feel frumpy- its a bit of a mindset thing but hey-- whatever works!!
I like trying to show off who I am that day. =)
ReplyDeleteSelf-expression, and something very like what Megan Mae said. Also, I just feel better if I'm polished and put-together, even if it's only MY personal definition of polished and put-together.
ReplyDeleteI love the whole creative process behind my outfits. I also love being able to reconstruct/sew and make them personal to me. I typically like dressing modernly vintage so the hunt for nice vintage items is so exciting, and quite the adrenaline rush. It makes me feel confident, and I like the aspect of coming up with different personas for what I'm feeling that day. If I want to feel like Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road at the beach then I'll wear a tie front shirt with high waist white shorts. If I want to be more daringly sexy, like Marilyn in The Seven Year Itch, I'll dawn a tight dress with a sweat heart neckline. Sometimes I want to look like a beatnik on the way to a coffee shop.
ReplyDeleteMy love of clothes came from my grandmother, who used to sew costumes, and being in theatre. Putting on the costumes was one of my favorite parts, and I completely felt fun and confident so I decided to bring that into my every day life by dressing in unique and vintage clothes.
Today? Today I dressed up because I needed some extra love.
ReplyDeleteI love dressing up, but I find with Moto commuting to work it is a monumental effort with having to wear riding gear, lugging the big bag with clothes, make-up, curling iron and I get weary by the nd of the work week. So I admit I am a ame duck dresser while at work. I usually wear slacks & blouse/sweater combination, but I do bring accessories to make me feel pretty. I wish I had more to rage at work because I ould bring more items from home and change it up a bit more. Love the socks BTW
ReplyDeleteI love dressing up and I started doing it... because I can. The thought of me dressing nicely and not just throwing next clean tee and a pair of jeans came ones and never left. I have to admit I sometimes just 'throw' without thinking back and later on all I do is realizing I'm standing next to mirrow and choosing the right accessory. What I wanted to say is that ones I've started dressing up for no real reason 'just because I can' I simple couldn't and didn't stop.
ReplyDeleteCoz I just love clothes, clothes are fun.. I play with Barbie dolls too and I am 33.
ReplyDeleteThen there are people who just throw clothes on and still look awesome, my mom is one of them.
x, Lara
http://laralizard.blogspot.fi/
I'm afraid I'm one of those girls who is most comfortable in jeans and a jumper. But I do enjoy dressing up too - I'm just not very good at it and feel like a fish out of water when I do. I've bought a new top to wear to a friend's birthday do tomorrow night and will do my best to follow you and your commenter's lead by strutting my stuff with confidence!
ReplyDeleteLove those socks by the way!
self expression and creativity. and of course, for me. Xo Megan, www.TfDiaries.com
ReplyDeleteI dress the way I do because it makes me happy, sometimes I don't really think that it's dressing up, but others may think so ... it's also fun! Colourful, textures, and knitwear, especially laces are my favourites! Happy weekend. /Madison xo
ReplyDeletepersonal style and creativity
ReplyDeletehttp://loving-evelyn.blogspot.ro
Oh it's one of those brain picking posts - my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of self expression and putting the best version of you out ther e-
I think all of your reasons for dressing up are ones I can relate to. Often I don't make the effort as I'm rushing to get kids off to school, though I know I still could try harder on those occasions, but it's really nice to take the time to put an outfit together that says something about you. And if I post an outfit here it is in a large part to get some feedback. I do dress according to my mood too. If I'm feeling down, chances are I'll look pretty dowdy, but when I'm feeling good I'll make a lot more effort. xx
ReplyDeleteExcellent question - and certainly one I've reflected on many a time myself over the years. I know that for me, dressing up has always been something that brought me great happiness. As a little girl, I was obsessed with wearing pretty dresses and skirts (hmmm, not much has changed there over the years! ;D), even attempting to get some of my female classmates to join me in starting a "Dress wearers only" club, but few shared my passion for frocks (or devotion to sporting them all the time) but it never really took off.
ReplyDeleteI love the art and craft of getting ready. The rituals and serenity that can come with transforming one's self from (seemingly) ordinary looking to something far more elegant/beautiful/unique whatever the case may be. One doesn't have to dress to the nines 24/7 of course, but with the gift of each new day, it always blows my mind a bit that more people don't (still) put more time and thought into dressing up. When all is said and done, I guess it boils down to the fact that I see each new day of life as a celebration of sorts, and I love to honour and rejoice in that celebration with the way I dress (up).
♥ Jessica
Wow! Great answer, Jessica. Thanks.
DeleteI love the details of clothing, the stitching and hemlines - (probably why I started sewing clothes too). The feeling when something is soft and non-scratchy and fits me well... I genuinely feel sad in things that don't fit me. I dress for happiness!
ReplyDeleteI read a great quote in a magazine recently about why you should dress up. The author said, "I'm worthy of a clean shirt and shoes that aren't flip flops." That sums up why I dress up--because I'm worth it.
ReplyDeletewhen i dress up, i feel good. period.
ReplyDeleterockoomph.blogspot.com
mobilemorsels.blogspot.com
I would have to agree with Jessica. I dress up mostly for myself. I feel happy and confident when I'm able to mix and match my clothing to something that suits my style. I would smile in front of the mirror knowing I've pulled it, and it was such a great satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm not bragging (maybe a bit), but some of my friends always say that everything I put on looks great and nice. I don't address those compliments to my sense of style, but more to my confidence. I wear weird clothes and some common ones but I always wear them with great joy and I think that brings out the confidence inside.
For me that's why I dress up :)
Nadya
eyeshadow illustrator
The Dilly Chic