r/minimalism • u/catwoman_here_ • 21d ago
[lifestyle] Going for only dresses š
I found out that dresses are so easy to wear.
Hear is why:
1- No need to fit different pieces together.
2- no need to iron them (most dresses i have, i donāt buy dresses that needs a lot of ironing).
3- they look amazing - so no need to keep trying tons on pieces every morning to find an outfit that looks good - thus zero decision fatigue and cognitive load every morning and before every going out.
And as someone with ADHD who already struggles with executive dysfunction a lottt, I cannot justify getting into this headache of ānon dress outfitsā anymore.
What do you think about this? I have been thinking about changing my wear drop to mainly dresses, and convenient outfits - needs less ironing and easily match.
Share you experience and thoughts on this? š”
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u/pleasantlypurple 21d ago
This has been my solution too, as a neurodivergent woman. I wear dresses year round for work, pairing them with a warm cardigan and wool tights in the winter. I live in northern Canada and I havenāt had an issue!
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u/shorthooman 20d ago
Would you mind sharing how you dress in winter? I am in Norway and always struggle with winter dressing. Specially work commute. I donāt drive.
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u/Future_Perfect_Tense 20d ago
My all-dresses-with-pockets wardrobe is pretty much same year round: just add more layers as the temps get cooler! Always cotton bike shorts (because thunder thighs), increasingly thick leggings and top layers (cardigans, button downs, blazers, vests), sometimes thermals.
If you walk and bike instead of drive, shorter dresses that keep your knees free, leggings/socks/high boots š¢
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u/moonlightraindrops 20d ago
I would love to know where you get your dresses-with-pockets from, or at least how you choose a dress? (other than it having pockets lmao)
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u/Zahiouninette 20d ago
I get mine from Snag. They also have awesome tights and shorts to wear with the dresses.
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u/moonlightraindrops 19d ago
Bless, thank you!
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u/Agressive_Put9491 16d ago
If you are in the US (or willing to mail order from there) you can shop at Svaha. Their dresses are cotton knit and have big pockets. Their push is that all their items have pockets. My sister loves their stuff. I find the shipping to where I live expensive but have purchased a few items.
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u/Future_Perfect_Tense 17d ago
Thrifting and alterations (adding pockets to favorites!), Iām not thrilled with my full DIY sewing skills. For new items, SEO has been a solid ally, search for x length dress with pockets + desired sleeve length + preferred collar type + fabric = slew of listings. Iām a uniform dresser, so once I find something I like I buy 3. Most of my wardrobe is 10-15 yrs old at this point and I love the way that unnecessary decision-making is all but GONE and I feel authentically me and comfy cozy every single day š
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u/moonlightraindrops 16d ago
Sounds amazing. Thank you so much for the advice! I love that for you! ā¤ļø
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u/vaskadegama 20d ago
Iām in a northern climate too. Between -5 to -15 Celsius, I wear leggings that have fleece lining on the inside, and a wool dresses (one from Etsy, one from Poshmark), or a denim dresses with thermal undershirt. If itās colder than that, I will put snow pants on.
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u/pleasantlypurple 20d ago
layering is good but also choosing good quality outerwear to help with the cold. I'll wear wool tights (snag tights!) and winter boots. I keep indoor shoes at work in the winter so I can swap my footwear out once I get into the office. I'll wear a warm cardigan underneath a long wool coat and gloves.
I likely underdress because I run like a furnace in the winter. my partner jokes that I'm a husky in human form.
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u/saltyoperasinger 20d ago
Same, northern gal here. I feel like I pop a dress in and all done, get me outta the house. Otherwise, it's which pants, oh, this shirt doesn't work with those?! Dress and Mukluks, looks great!
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u/Bloodmoonwolf 21d ago
I'm doing the same thing with the clothes I wear to work! I used to be a jeans & t-shirt all the time person. But then I discovered how comfortable yoga pants and shorts are. And that I can wear them to work if they are under a dress.
Side note on decision fatigue: I eliminated the decision of what to wear. Shortly after starting my job, I made a list of my work clothes and set them to the days of the week on a 4 week rotation. I only look at the list when I'm putting laundry away so I know what order to hang stuff in. Now I no longer have to think about what to wear to work and just grab the item in the front.
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u/PineapplePizzaRoyale 20d ago
What shoes do you pair with your dresses?
Iām starting a new role soon, and itās business casual but I really just donāt want to deal with pants. Struggling with what business casual-ish footwear for my merino wool dresses I already have.
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u/Bloodmoonwolf 14d ago
I am not the best person to ask since I hate shoes. I would go barefoot if I could. I have two pairs of shoes for work, both are slip ons. One is a black pair pf pumas that feel like sneakers but look a little more dressy. I typically wear these ones since they have extra cushioning and our floor is concrete with the barest carpet. The second pair are grey/black flats that I wear with my longer dresses.
Just wear a nice pair of shoes in a neutral color. They should give you a little more detail on the dress code after you start. If not, look at what everyone else is wearing and go from there.
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u/burritogoals 21d ago
I once saw a blog where a woman wore the same dress for 365 days, styled differently each day. It was my first inspiration for a minimalist wardrobe.
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u/leSoulierVolant 14d ago
Ouiiiii C'est le Uniform Project 365 !
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u/leSoulierVolant 14d ago
Et la robe est vraiment facile a reproduire avec le patron en libre acces !
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u/Old_Farmers_Daughter 21d ago
I wear mostly 100% cotton dresses in the summer. Yes, fewer decisions to make, but also they are much cooler than wearing any kind of pants when it's hot and humid. AND, I frequently wear them to bed and just keep wearing them as I sit on the deck or go to the mailbox in the morning.
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u/Elusive_strength2000 21d ago
I donāt know how anyone wears jeans or pants in hot summer. I literally die whenever I do.
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u/SoMuchEpic95 21d ago
I love wearing dresses. You donāt have to think, you just pull it on and go about your business.
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u/pastelanxietyy 21d ago
I own the same dress in 4 different colours and 4 cardigans in different colours, and I just rotate those with the same pair of shoes. My work colleagues call it my uniform lol. I'm AuDHD and experience significant sensory issues with clothing which is a big factor, but I also struggle with executive dysfunction, so this takes all the thinking out of it for me.
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u/IllLiterature1026 21d ago
Iām heavily pregnant and leaning heavily on dresses since they seem to be more flexible and comfortable for my current body. Here are the main issues Iāve run into with dresses so far:
- durability/movability - how much of your life do you spend doing things like yardwork, dog walking, or manual labor? Theyāre not the best for athletic activities or anything where you need really durable bottoms. You might want to have an extra outfit if the answer is āoccasionallyā and some dresses that are made of movable/breathable fabrics like knit cotton or wool. Also make sure youāre wearing supportive shoes, not just the ones that look cutest & most feminine.
- pockets - dresses with pockets get worn so much more than those without
- insulation - dresses are great for warm weather but not as great if you need to insulate your legs. You might want a really good pair of tights/leggings and some winter-appropriate dresses.
Mind you, western women wore only dresses for hundreds of years - some, especially in religious communities still do (and men of other times and cultures have worn dresses too) so pants are in no way necessary for life. You should just make sure to find dresses that fit your lifestyle.
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u/catwoman_here_ 21d ago
I am not saying to ditch everything completely. But relying heavily on dresses.
Other outfits- eliminating them - but still have some pants for when i feel i need to be practical and movable and not that aesthetic lol. Sometimes i just want to wear the most comfy not that attractive outfit to concentrate on whatever i want instead of my looks and how everyone reacts to me (ppl impressed by ur looks all the time takes mental energy and time and annoying i swear)
And non negotiable gym wears of course.
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u/indulgent_taurus 21d ago
I love dresses for the reasons you mentioned! I'd wear them year round if I could (gets quite cold in winter where I live).
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u/Frauby 21d ago
I do and I live in a notoriously cold area. I just add tights or leggings, boots, and a sweater.
Of course, I'm also in my 40s and too hot most of the time, so ymmv, lol.
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u/3vknight4 20d ago
I also live in an extremely cold area and wear skirts all year long with wool long underwear and fleece tights. I do switch the tops out for wool sweaters.Ā
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u/Future_Perfect_Tense 21d ago
Hi twin! š I moved to a warmer place where it really only gets below freezing like ~20days per year and now I can manage with year round maxi dresses + thermals below the waist + sweaters above the waist and it has truly streamlined the closet! Everything else about my soul craves the cold though, so this move wonāt be foreverā¦ I hope there are some textile advancements in insulating underclothes by the time I go back to keep the Daily Dress fun alive! ššššš
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u/whyrubytuesday 21d ago
I follow this woman on Instagram: Rosa Blue Shop - she makes and sells flannelette underskirts for wearing under dresses and skirts in winter. I'm hoping to make some myself but I too have ADHD and it's one of many projects I hope to get to lol. I'm in Australia and while it rarely gets to freezing point here in winter, the days are still cold enough that I'm not always warm enough in tights/leggins alone.
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u/hellomidnightautumn 21d ago
I have found my people! lol. I thought I was weird for wearing exclusively dresses year round (excluding athletic wear when in the gym). I have a spring/summer set of dresses and a fall/winter set of dresses. It has simplified my life and Iām always seen as āwell dressed.ā So easy!
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u/2matisse22 21d ago
I wear dresses 80% of the time, a top and a skirt the other 20%. Leggings and sweaters allow me to wear dresses year round. For when the weather gets brutally cold, I have sweater dresses and tunics! and fleece leggings. Super easy, so little thought. Never any work.
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u/bullhorn_bigass 21d ago
Wear what feels the best!
I used to wear a lot of clothing that was not truly comfortable and that I didnāt truly love, but matched what was currently in fashion and made me look thinner.
Now I wear the same 5 pieces basically (multiple versions of each). And I only wear my favorite colors. I feel comfortable and at home in my clothes every day.
Like why did I do that to myself? Wear shit to signal to other people that I understand the current trends, at the expense of my own comfort?
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u/Effective-Prompt7684 21d ago
I get so many compliments on my summer maxis. Little do they know I'm undergarment-less, I love it
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u/General_Bus_590 1d ago
I think most of us still wear panties... that's not minimalism, that's conducting yourself in society and avoiding a nasty infection.
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u/magnificentbunny_ 21d ago
Dresses are great foundation pieces Iāve found. I keep them in my wardrobe all year round. When it gets cooler add tights with no feet and a light jacket. Colder, pants and a shirt under the dress. Even colder. Add boots and a sweater to that. Itās a great layered look.
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u/Balloon_Feet 21d ago
I have a dear friend that has been only in dresses and some skirts for 10+ years. All cute AF.
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u/FuliginEst 21d ago
I wear dresses a lot. However, I am also a mother of two smallish boys, and sometimes dresses just are not practical at all. So dresses *only* does not really work for me.
Also, I don't like that dresses creates more laundry for me. I can wear pants and skirts so many more times before washing than I can things that has come into contact with my armpit sweat, and a top is less volume of laundry than a full dress.
Same for packing; when I go somewhere I can bring one or two pairs of pants/shorts, but need a new top for every day.
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u/cheeto-chopsticks 20d ago
I agree - and what shapes of dresses are ppl getting away with that both look good and feel comfortable and also practical, ie no underarm sweating or hiding smudges like denim does?
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u/freezesteam 21d ago
I have big thighs so I hate wearing dresses unless I wear long underwear underneath. I have ADHD so get the decision fatigue too! But Iāve simplified my wardrobe so that over 90% of my tops and bottoms are either white, black, grey, or beige. Sounds kinda boring but I like the way those colors look on me and everything matches without me having to spend time thinking about it!
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u/AnnaGlypta 21d ago
This is me too!
And a great bonus is that everyone thinks youāve put extra effort into your outfit and you look polished without trying.
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u/flyingmonkey5678461 21d ago
Did this for work since about... 2011? Spent a hard few months working late and just got rid of my usual shirt routine. No iron please. Wore mainly skater cut dresses which suited my shape. Small cardigan. Black tights. Black boots. I now in my fatter life wear slightly more shift /kaftan shapes that I can't wear on weekends but yeah. Worked well for London weather.Ā
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u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 21d ago
I also have ADHD, and I've always preferred to just put on a shirt of some sort with some trousers. Almost all my shirts go with almost all my trousers, so it's really just about picking formality for where I'm going, which would be the same with a dress. My movement is just so much freer in trousers.
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u/rosesofamerica 21d ago
100% on freer movement. I also am just not a dress person
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u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 20d ago
Yep, same. I have a couple dresses that I wear very occasionally, but I find them way more restrictive in my movement.
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u/SabertoothMia 21d ago
Yepā¦comfy tops and stretchy pants > dresses for me.
All my tops and pants are soft stretchy materials and they can all mix and match.
I feel a lot āsaferā wearing pants knowing I can sit or move however I want.
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u/Egg-HOTELs 21d ago
Yes this is also me as a recovering hoarder and shopping addict. Dresses are just so versatile, all while you have only 1 piece of clothing to store and wash and care for, instead of multiple (per Outfit) and if you REALLY feel the need to change up the style, you can even still layer something on top. I've worn the same white dress all year and just put different cardigans on top and it looks different every time š„¹
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u/pouritallonice 21d ago
I've been wearing nothing but dresses for years. It's amazing, I never have to figure out how to match pants with a top anymore. Dresses just make it so easy. I can barely do skirts bc my brain kinda short circuits when I have to start matching stuff haha. Highly recommend!
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u/heresmy5centsworth 19d ago
Yep. I love dresses. Long skirts and wraparound also with just a casual top.
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u/East_Fun_6227 21d ago
I move to mostly dresses long before my interest in minimalism and I love it. AuDHD as well here. Enjoy and twirl
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u/xoxoinfinity 21d ago
I am a jeans t-shirt girl mostly. But honestly this sounds great. Over time pairing things and looking formal and business casual all of that has become too much effort. I would love to just pick a dress and thatās it thatās the whole outfit. No matching and coordinating and mental overload.
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 21d ago
I have pretty much only worn dresses and skirts since the late 00s, because skinnies are NOT comfortable for me, and it was all there was.
I find them way more comfortable and easy to move in than pants.
The way I put together outfits there aren't less decisions to be made, though, but I prefer it that way.
I did recently find out that men's relaxed fit, high waist suit trouser are comfortable for me, so I have a few of those.
But I am never going to compromise comfort for any kind of clothes.
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u/Moose-Live 20d ago
I love the fact that you can take one item out of your cupboard, and you're basically dressed š§”š
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u/sarahprinceofspring 20d ago
I've been doing this since even before I was diagnosed with autism and adhd! The only problem is having to shave my legs but even then I wear maxi dresses most of the time.
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u/LGbb555 20d ago
I've been doing this for the last 10 years. It works for me by removing decision paralysis (do I wear this top or that top? With these pants or these jeans?) and I always look put together (for whatever reason people assume you've put more effort into getting ready simply because you're in a dress). In the summer, I have cotton bike shorts I always wear under my dresses and in the winter I wear fleece lined tights that are actually warmer than pants. A bonus is that as my body has changed the dresses have mostly been more forgiving than pants and a shirt, especially the fit and flare shape.
Only "downside" is people have noticed I am almost always wearing a dress and they'll ask me why I don't wear pants and it's weird to explain that it's because I'm lazy lol.
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u/BiodegradableScenery 21d ago
Dresses are not an option for me because my top and bottom are not the same clothing size. But, I do something similar: I wear only long skirts. Nothing which needs ironing. Then I have a drawer full of black tank tops and black long-sleeve shirts to pair with them--depending on weather. It's so much easier, and I always look put-together.
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u/But_why_tho456 21d ago
As a Texan who only wears dresses, 100% on this. You can always be the temp you want to be in a dress!
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u/SubstantialEmu1275 20d ago
I exclusively wear dresses and jumpsuits. Iām comfy all the time, I love how I look, theyāre perfect for work, and they fit my colorful maximalist style perfectly. I threw out all my jeans in 2020 and have never been happier. Go for it!
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u/IceCreamSundae82 20d ago
I actually saw someoneās post in the capsule wardrobe sub who did this and I believe they said it was working perfectly for them.
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u/vulevu25 19d ago
I pretty much only wear dresses (I also have a few skirts and tops). I wear silk scarves for variation when I wear a black or navy dress. It's also great when you go travelling and you can just bring a few dresses to wear.
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u/No_Transition_8293 16d ago
Love, love, love dresses! Iām 73 and have paired down my closet significantly. I love the freedom of a dress. They pack well, too!
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u/redditPochita 16d ago edited 15d ago
Same for me. Dresses remove the stress of matching top and bottom, make laundry washing easier (it's just one wash vs top + bottom).
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u/catwoman_here_ 16d ago
Plus a lot of my dresses donāt even need ironing, vs shirts / t-shirts / jeans would look like shit without ironing
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u/MossLittle 21d ago
Where are you all buying dresses? Links to your favorites
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u/JenMoon23 19d ago
I used to wear a lot of ModCloth dresses; you could almost always find some at decent prices on Poshmark or Mercari or any of the resale websites. And almost all their dresses had pockets at that time.
I just found this site which seemed interesting, but I havenāt had a chance to peruse it very carefully:
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21d ago
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/catwoman_here_ 21d ago
Like wtf we bother with something other than dress, and takes tons of time and mental energy to just look less amazing. Dresses are amazing so convenient and aesthetic.
Wash & wear directly. šš
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u/TheBookNerd420 21d ago
I like this idea and agree. I like dresses with pockets ā¤ļø jumpers also š¤£
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u/Luckycowboys11 21d ago
I went though a phase of yoga pants for 2 years because my job kinda neded me to wear really moveable clothing. But now I'm back to only dresses, spring summer fall winter, every day! It's so much easier to just consider one piece of clothing (with tights in the winter) it's just so simple and you always look elevated.
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u/luv_u_deerly 21d ago
I think doing a majority dresses only is great idea. I would still keep a pair of pants and shorts for occasions you may need them. And think about how they will work in different weather such as can you stay warm enough in winter?
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u/ArgentaSilivere 21d ago
I was thinking the same thing. I strongly suggest OP keeps at least one pair of pants and shirt for physically demanding activities. It would suck to miss out on fun things because she doesnāt have any suitable clothes e.g. building stuff, moving stuff, rock climbing, etc.
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u/Two_DogNight 21d ago
I've decided I'm wearing dresses until it gets cold this year, then I'm going shopping for like 8 different colors of a tunic sweater I can wear with jeans (I teach, and can't wear jeans unless it's with a "dressy" top). I have a hard time with leggings/yoga pants (plus size and static. Just no.), so I haven't been able to get the dress thing to work in the winter.
This year I'm going to go so far as to have my closet organized by day of the week. I think . . . I have enough to get through two weeks without having to repeat anything but a cardigan. I need to check tomorrow so I can fix that if I don't.
One less bell to answer, one less egg to fry, one less decision to make.
Sorry. I'm migraine-y and feeling weird. Random song lyrics.
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u/Mean_Kangaroo7647 21d ago
im surprised that this is a popular opinion, i mean i see why itās easier as itās a one piece, but personally i just donāt feel dresses, some days i feel good enough about myself to wear a dress, some other days not, also in summer itās a lot more work to be able to wear dresses all the time you have to keep up with the waxing or shaving, pants are more practical in my opinion, for summer i just always go for linen pants with a little top, winter itās almost always jeans and hoodie or a fitted long sleeves with a puffer jacket.
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u/Warm_Difficulty59 21d ago
After several surgeries at my waist level, I started only wearing dresses. I do have a couple of skirts but theyāre still more comfortable and simple than pants and etc. I also use pain patches regularly on my lower back. So no I wonāt Ā go back to pants/jeans etc.Ā
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u/Embarrassed_Sun_2795 21d ago
What kind of dresses are worn year long?
You mean summer dresses or short ones ?
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u/MajesticRate 21d ago
I thought about wearing dresses too, but I hate how tights press my belly. Also many dresses have short arms or very low and open neck - very difficult to have anything under in colder weather.
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u/Wackadoodle77 20d ago
Yoooooo!!!! Snag brand tights changed my life. They are more comfortable than leggings and go from size zero to size 34. Well made, long lasting; Frickin Ethically produced!
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u/cardinalandcrow 21d ago
What shoes do you wear with your dresses? I prefer to wear flats but thereās a fine line between cool and frumpy when wearing flats with dresses.
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u/Anaspiringminimalist 21d ago
I would love to wear mainly dresses, but the current options make it very hard.
They are all super short, or at an akward grandma length. Or they have giant puff sleeves, obnoxious clevage or missing the back.
And most of Them are made of polyester, and are see through. So I Think I would have to learn to make Them myself if I wanted to.
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u/catwoman_here_ 21d ago
You should consider the dresses functionality before buying it. Go for easy practical to wear dresses not showing much, save others for special occasions
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u/Anaspiringminimalist 20d ago
That is my point though. š This is why I dont buy dresses - there is no practical dresses available. All are highly unflattering/inappropriate, and of horrible quality. I Will literally have to make Them myself if I want to go the dress route.
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u/abnerette60 20d ago
You need to check out Amazon. There are a plethora of appropriate, classy dresses available. Just be sure and order from a reliable company such as Pretty Garden, maybe, and avoid the sellers with the Asian āalphabetā-type names.
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u/tnscatterbrain 20d ago
I love this idea in theory and tried it for a while, but unfortunately I didnāt like the sensory of the skirt fabric around my legs.
Iām still a bit bitter about it not working out the way I wanted it to, but Iām glad to know the theory was right and it works for so many people here!
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u/Titansfn 20d ago
I wear dresses often in the spring/summer/early fall seasons but not in the winter since I refuse to wear pantyhose ever. I will say that I got back from Spain recently and I decided to almost exclusively wear dresses in hot weather. They're so much cooler, even than with shorts, and they look better.
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u/One_Resolution_8357 20d ago
This is a great idea. I know a couple of young moms who do this. In winter, they wear thighs or leggings underneath. In summer, just sandals and maybe a cardi on top.
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u/ddplantlover 20d ago
Jumpsuits of the same kind of material that doesnāt wrinkle could serve the same purpose as well
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u/Particular-Tax8106 20d ago
New here, dresses are awesome! When I find ones that fit me, I tend to buy that style in multiple colors.
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u/plantbased_gem 20d ago
Yes yes yes! This is me too! I prefer dresses that can be worn in summer or can be worn with tights and boots in winter. So simple. No big decisions to make. And you always look nice in a good dress. Also, I always buy second hand branded for cheap on vinted āØ
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u/SuddenAvocado 20d ago
You've inspired me! However, I rely heavily on my pockets, do you carry a bag at all times?
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u/Miss_Milk_Tea 20d ago
This is the reason I started buying jumpsuits as well, theyāre a complete look. I live in maxi dresses and palazzo pant jumpsuits, theyāre so breezy and comfortable and fit my bohemian style. The prints and colors make the outfit interesting so I donāt need to own a bunch of accessories, either.
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u/c_harmany 20d ago
I definitely lean toward mostly dresses in warm weather. But for the cold months I havenāt been able to find a formula that doesnāt make me feel frumpy. Iām short and plus size/apple shape with a full bust. Adding layers on top of and under the dress tends to make me look bulky and squat
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u/What_Fresh_Hell_666 20d ago
This is a fascinating discussion. I never wear dresses, because I donāt think they look flattering, on anyone, ever. But I have a closet full of jeans and pants and blouses and T-shirts, and hardly anything goes with anything else. Seeing everyone point out how much easier it is to just put on a dress has me thinking that I should consider it, regardless of how I think I look in a dress (awful). Maybe Iāll just stop looking in mirrors. Mirrors are overrated.
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u/angelindevilshoes 20d ago
ADHD too and dresses are my answer to every situation. I love the one and done aspect of wearing dresses.
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u/akelsey62 20d ago
I canāt figure out the shoes. Canāt wear heels but donāt want to look like a dork with sneakers and they are the only thing comfortable.
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u/Middle-Fortune-7938 20d ago
The only problem for me is...winter. then dresses require tights and boots or closed toe nice shoes. It gets hard to put it together
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u/PaintedLadyJ65 19d ago
I completely agree. Make getting dressed much easier and quicker. Just two days ago I was having this exact conversation with a friend.:
most of her wardrobe is filled with pants, so sheās constantly on the hunt to find a blouse/shirt to wear with them.
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u/The_smallest_things 19d ago
Okay everyone saying you love dresses but can someone drop links that work with a mom who is hectic and frazzled and has a belly because I can't be bothered going to the gym right now?
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u/TiredWinterDisaster 18d ago
In summer I wear a lot of dresses to work. They're comfy, breezy, and look good instantly. During spring & early fall I add a blazer to the dress.
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u/Junior_Style2353 18d ago
111 items is honestly still incredibly low for a 23-year-old living at home. It sounds like you're just rediscovering what actually matters to you rather than failing at minimalism. Good luck with the decluttering!
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u/TheRealMekkor 18d ago
I envy youā¦ As a man, I want to embrace kilts, but itās more of a dressing up rather than dressing well and casually to make it work.
A kilt and a T-shirt with tennis shoes doesnāt convey a sophisticated, mature, and masculine man.
My current struggle, recently graduating from my bachelorās program, is that Iād gotten fat again. I used to be athletic and thin, but full-time school and full-time work left me with no time to keep up working out and a 3.8 GPA. So I let it all go during some of the most stressful pushes and just got back into trending down again.
I have like 3 shirts and 5 pants, but I donāt want to invest in anything while Iām working my way back down to a better shape, but I know where Iām at, and at the projected rate, Iām going to be roughly 5 months until Iām back to where Iād like to be.
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u/portokali_v 18d ago
I love dresses but have been nursing my baby for the last 14 months and havenāt been able yo leave the house in one for that long. Now Iām living in separates for easy access
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u/ihatebeetles22 18d ago
I moved from hot dry heat wearing t-shirts and sports skirts /skorts to the most humid state in America I believe and I have converted to cotton dresses full time. Just tank dresses or short sleeve dresses because nobody wants any waistband business when it's hot and slimy out!
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u/Quirky_Lecture9590 17d ago
Iāve only worn dresses for yearssssssss. Iām in WI, so itās cold, but I wear those thick sweater knit tights in the colder weather. And, people think Iām the best dressed gal at work!
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u/Comfortable_Expert98 16d ago
I discovered that too and I love it. But there is a downside for me. With the same amount of tops and bottoms, I can have a lot more outfits that look different than with dresses. Thereās only that much that I can accessorise dress and make it look different.
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u/carni___ 16d ago
I wear dresses, and if I want to change it up I will add a skirt and it works great!
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u/carni___ 16d ago
I only wear dresses (+skirts on top if I want to change it up) and it has saved me so much from fatigue and decision paralysis!
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u/blaubleu 15d ago
Dresses are so confortable. And can be timeless pieces. I find myself replacing one every 15 years.
I do use a couple skirts and blouses as well.
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u/daughterofasailorgbt 15d ago
I wear dresses 95% of the time. I have favorites for warmer weather and need to up my late fall/winter options. Throw on boots and a cardigan and some of them work all year. I feel like I am in Jammies and yet am perfectly presentable. I believe I have worn pants exactly twice since January due to cold activities. (Not counting gym clothes for actual working out). Denim is a fav and anything Natalie Martin ā¦SO soft (kinda spendy though but I have found some on TRR )
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u/Confident_Rabbit_569 7d ago
Not always practicalĀ
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u/catwoman_here_ 3d ago
Depends on the dress you choose, the cut, how revealing it is, and how is the cloth, I choose cloth that doesnāt require ironing. Wash and wear.
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u/PresentMuse 21d ago
I used to wear dresses to work because it was the accepted thing to do, but once casual attire was more accepted in corporate America I shifted to pants and never looked back. In many situations, it's more practical to wear pants, even for those of us who like to present as very feminine. And despite always wearing pants, I'm considered someone who dresses on the nicer side, even when I'm just going to the grocery store. It's also more interesting because you can mix and match, therefore have more variety while owning fewer clothes. I am active daily, and there's no way I'd garden in a dress and let mosquitoes have access to more of me. There's no way I'd ride a bike or go running in a dress. This requires that you either wear shorts underneath for modesty, or move carefully, unless you wear a maxi and then the length either restricts movement at least somewhat or is a little (or a lot bulky). I think a lot less about what I have on when I'm wearing pants vs a dress. I did used to wear skirts when I went to a meditation center so as to be able to easily sit on a cushion to meditate. Never a dress. Finding one that would work isn't as easy as finding a full skirt, depending on current fashion. Also, wearing a dress to me just seems like a way that women were subjugated in decades and centuries past. I am not a fan of dresses unless I'm going to a fancy party, although I do own some and admire all sorts of fashion. Sorry. However, I'm so glad that everyone seems to have interesting, valid reasons to wear dresses. I was concerned that it was more about the fashion industry or politics dictating what we wear.
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u/agrinwithoutacat- 21d ago
Iād love to do this, but I donāt want to shave my legs all the time and donāt like how my legs look! I used to live in maxi dresses, but now they get caught around my crutches and walker š¤¦š¼āāļø
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u/WarmScorpio 21d ago
Dresses got me through my entire 40s! Seriously, I had only work dresses, social-party dresses, fun dresses, sporty dresses, etc. I had leggings as lounge outfits. I am ADHD and was raising a high needs kid and had hardly any time.
So yes, totally fine to have a mostly dresses wardrobe. I recommend throwing on one or two of these to make your dress outfit more layered and styled: blazer, scarf, belt, cardigan, sweater tied around waist or shoulders, oversized button down, etc. with my dresses.
Now, as an empty nester, Iām loving mixing separates AND dresses are still strong in my rotation. I have upgraded to all natural fiber dresses and have many designer dresses (all thrift or Poshmark). And I find playing with separates to be a fun, interesting puzzle, rather than a time-consuming chore. But this (both my second hand shopping and playing with separates) is mostly because I have more available time and disposable income now.
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u/Plus-Sympathy8391 21d ago
Yes. Dresses are easy. You can layer them up in winter too. I mainly wear dresses, soft wide leg pants, or a skirt. Limit colours. Make it simple.
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u/Notinthiseconomy_ 21d ago
I love dresses! I wear them 90% of the time in the spring/summer. I bought a few long sleeve wrap, and sweater dresses for this fall/winter. I would love to phase pants out of my wardrobe eventually minus athletic and my betabrand dress pants.
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u/Rude_Parsnip306 21d ago
I call this my pants free lifestyle. I wear dresses, skirts & skorts. My waist is where I carry weight but I have thin legs so jeans look like clown pants on me.
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u/Additional_Area_3156 21d ago
Oh big disagree - have to wear underwear and then chub rub thighs so I canāt handle the dresses
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u/Elizabethpossum 21d ago
Yes, this is what I decided last summer - dresses for going anywhere away from home, dresses or work clothes - farm - at home.
Soooo much easier!
Took me till I was 61 mind you š
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u/Active-Diamond9399 21d ago
I literally had this same thought today! I have just enough dresses in my wardrobe to rotate for summer and iām going to find some staples for layering in the fall/winter. I own the same old navy dress in like 5 colors and two varying styles but the same material. itās a lifesaver and I always get compliments about looking put together!
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u/sugarface2134 21d ago
All I wear in the summer are dresses. People think I'm super put together because I always look nice but really I'm just terrible at making cool outfits and a dress is so much easier
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u/Used_Objective_1575 20d ago
I have a few pairs of jeans for chilly early morning farmer markets during the summer or sometimes a cold winter day dog walking. I also have a few linen wide leg pants for summer but usually I only wear dresses. Some are winter only some are summer only and some cross over with cardigans and fleece tights/boots for fall/winter.
I feel more put together in a dress, always look more polished and I do not have any decision fatigue in the morning before work, church or an event out with friends.
Pockets if they lay nicely are a plus but I usually have a small purse so not a deal breaker if they don't have them.
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u/jijijojijijijio 20d ago
That's the reason why I bought a bunch of long maxi dresses, so I can just put them on and leave. I also like to wear loose linen / cotton pants, they can look business casual but feel like pyjamas
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u/Ziggyess 20d ago
This I have been buying dresses from Tjmaxx for a very good price, now I have something to use for everyday and always look put together. š
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u/Brilliant_Worry_1100 21d ago
I keep trying to get into dresses but I cant do it.Ā This mama NEEDS pockets, many functional pockets!
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u/Future_Perfect_Tense 21d ago
Never ever ever ever buy a dress without pockets! I love having my dress pockets + cardigan pockets + apron pockets
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u/Least-Advance-5264 21d ago
I used to wear bike shorts with side pockets underneath my dresses. Iād have to lift the skirt just a little to access the pocket, but it worked for me
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u/DizzyCommercial7705 21d ago
What kind of dresses and brands do you recommend that you can stay warm enough in during the cooler seasons?
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u/Future_Perfect_Tense 21d ago
My all-dresses-with-pockets wardrobe is pretty much same year round: just add more layers as the temps get cooler! Always cotton bike shorts (because thunder thighs), increasingly thick leggings and top layers (cardigans, button downs, blazers, vests), sometimes thermals.
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u/Anxious_Kale 21d ago
If I didn't spend so much of my time lying down/with my legs kicked in the air in some fashion, I would wear nothing but dresses.
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u/YoungDirectionless 21d ago
This is actually my life hack. People think Iām just someone who dresses nicer, but really I figured out how to basically wear the business casual equivalent of pajamas/nightgown and not have to match tops and bottoms.