View Full Version : Dresses vs Skirts
Jenniferathome
09-22-2016, 04:30 PM
This battle rages for most cross dresser, I suppose, but I realized today as I was getting dressed to go out that if I were not a cross dresser, I am pretty sure I'd prefer skirts to dresses. Simply changing tops and shoes make for totally different outfits. Three skirts and 5 tops would go a long way to making a full wardrobe. Add a sweater or two and belts and BOOM unlimited choices....
Sure works for my wife. But, alas, I am across dresser and I think dresses will always win but it's nice to have options;-) How about you?
junetv
09-22-2016, 04:46 PM
I used to prefer skirts to dresses, because it was easier to find stuff to fit, being that my shoulders are more like a size 14 or large, but my waist or bottom was more like a medium or small depending on whether it sits on the waist or hips. But now I've found dresses that work for me and prefer them. I still can't wear a sheath dress. I prefer shift dresses,then flare or a-line dresses. But I know what you mean about the versatility and economics of skirts and blouses/tops.
ellbee
09-22-2016, 04:46 PM
Way more outfit options with skirts, which is awesome.
But a dress, well, it's a dress! With the "whole-body" thing going on, it's hard to resist. And difficult to argue with a nice one. :)
At one point years ago I had *tons* of skirts, all above the knee, in all kinds of colors & patterns. So many possibilities when putting together what to wear with what, creating different looks. I was totally addicted. :o
Currently I'm in the process of re-building my wardrobe, and it's something I've been thinking about. Obviously will be going with some of both, but at what percentage, who knows.
My eye is gravitating towards dresses as I shop around. But I also already have some tops that I wear with yoga pants/leggings, jeans, etc. So, in that sense, some skirts would make things that much easier & probably a bit less expensive.
Definitely always a tough choice, though!
Tracy Irving
09-22-2016, 04:49 PM
While I enjoy a nice skirt, my mind likes knowing the fact that I am in a dress. Add to that the fact that I have quite a few wedding dresses and ball gowns and the choice becomes quite obvious.
Jane277
09-22-2016, 04:56 PM
as much as I like my skirt, I have to admit I love my dresses
BLUE ORCHID
09-22-2016, 04:59 PM
Hi Jenn:hugs:, I have a good number of skirts and a lot if dresses ant I totally enjoy wearing both
and the combinations with skirts and tops is awesome, If I had to choose only one it would be the skirt...:daydreaming:...
Carol
09-22-2016, 05:00 PM
It's difficult to explain but I think that a dress just makes you feel that little bit more feminine. I'm not sure if it's the restriction of movement or the fact that in male mode we can also wear shirts. So a dress is completely alien from our normal attire. I vote for dress. 😃
Laurana
09-22-2016, 05:01 PM
I've tried a few dresses. Didn't like them. Skirts and tops all day :)
5 skirts plus 5 tops equals 30(?) combinations.
1 dress equals 1 option.
sara66
09-22-2016, 05:03 PM
I prefer dresses. With my shape it is hard to keep a skirt from sliding down my hips. I do agree that mixing tops & skirts can change looks quickly.
Sara
AllieSF
09-22-2016, 05:11 PM
Being old and somewhat lazy, getting older and lazier, I find that a dress is so much easier to use to "put together" an outfit. I started with skirts and tops and still buy them. However, I get out of the house so much quicker now than before when I would pre-dress a couple of nights before actually going out laboring over every detail of what I wore. I also have way too many of everything, so making a decision is that much harder!
Jenniferathome
09-22-2016, 05:14 PM
It's difficult to explain but .... a dress is completely alien from our normal attire.
I think this is it. It's somehow "more" feminine than a skirt (seems odd, but then so is cross dressing). But so much more flexibility with a skirt! I guess cross dressing is not really about being practical:heehee:
And Allie, I agree with you. A dress makes for easy getting out the door!
ellbee
09-22-2016, 05:28 PM
I dunno.
Yes, dresses can make one look & feel ultra-feminine. No doubt about that.
Then again, so can the right long-sleeve top paired with a short skirt, too. At least in my experience, anyway.
Plus you're also still able to wear that top with some really dressy feminine slacks or whatever. Because you know what? Sometimes a dress simply looks out of place for the situation/environment.
Meghan4now
09-22-2016, 05:43 PM
Since I'm a CD and not dressing on a daily basis, the skirt/top option is quite convinient. I, unlike some here, have a limited wardrobe. For several reasons. Hard to justify the expense on rarely used clothing, plus my wife gets mad if she thinks my wardrobe is too big. It's that fear of obsession or potential transition. Of course both are somewhat unrational, but she doesn't want to know.
Anyway, a dress is usually a bit nicer. It falls different and had different patterns. Dresses are just a bit more formal, and can really convey a message of elegance, grace and style. So while limiting the combinations and frankly being often a bit more challenging to put on or off, a dress is something special. And most CDS like to feel special.
Victoria92116
09-22-2016, 05:49 PM
As I have only started to jump into dressing I have found I really love dresses, BUT, I haven't tried many skirts and I really want to give them a fighting chance.
Lana Mae
09-22-2016, 05:51 PM
Well, even though I have more dresses than skirts, I prefer the skirt. More variety over all when paired with various tops and accessories. Which is what I need to start buying. Just my 2 cents! Hugs Lana Mae
CONSUELO
09-22-2016, 05:56 PM
Skirts are very convenient but few things beat the feel of a dress as it flows and swirls around your legs.
RADER
09-22-2016, 06:05 PM
You are correct, Dresses are the best, However I do have more skirts that dresses;
And like to wear a skirt more than a dress. Just a lot simpler to wear.
Rader
DIANEF
09-22-2016, 06:27 PM
I like both, but dresses just edge it for me. Mind you, can depend how I feel on the day.
Ellie Summer
09-22-2016, 06:50 PM
I agree, carol. A skirt and shirt is almost like shorts and a shirt, so a dress feels more feminine, but I also like the fact that it's so singular- just one object that takes care of covering everything. So simple, like a work of art. I do see the advantage of opening up different options when you separate the top and bottom, I just haven't tried yet. I'm all dresses and no skirts yet
Alice_2014_B
09-22-2016, 06:58 PM
I'm a "dresses and skirts only" girl.
Though I prefer dresses to skirts, I cannot argue the fact that skirts allow for more with different tops.
:)
Periwinkle
09-22-2016, 07:17 PM
Most of my skirts are fluffier and more fun to twirl around in. And they also have floral patterns that I love, so I'd have to say that they win.
Donna St. Marten
09-22-2016, 07:17 PM
A dress is to a skirt, as a suit is to a sport coat. More class.
TrishaLake
09-22-2016, 07:28 PM
266448 I prefer a dress! at all times
Alice Torn
09-22-2016, 07:30 PM
I like dresses a little more than skirts, because skirts can slip down. Sometimes i will put a matching skirt over a dress, and wear it over the lower part of the dress.
dolovewell
09-22-2016, 07:44 PM
Definately a dress girl. Only bought one skirt in my entire life and wore it once.
If not a dress, I am a blue jeans or pants girl.
redtea
09-22-2016, 09:11 PM
Neither, I don't see the appeal...At least not yet.
I'm more of a jeans shirt guy. I may try a skirt/dress in a couple years though if pink fog consumes me.
I feel like if I don't do makeup/wig I wont ever do dresses/skirts/lacy shirts/panty hose/shoes. I'm missing out, but I'm conditioned to believe that I shouldn't go further, so I don't go further.
Jenniferathome
09-22-2016, 09:16 PM
Red, you're going to have turn in your club card
PeggyNell
09-22-2016, 09:29 PM
I can't decide! It's a girl's prerogative!
NancySue
09-22-2016, 09:49 PM
Dresses definitely more feminine & girly. However, around here one rarely sees a woman in a dress. Plain is fashion around here. Even skirts are few and far between, so, while I love dresses, when I go out it's mostly unfortunately, capris or a skirt. I agree skirts do afford more combinations. With either, I love to wear hose, even though it continues to be out of style. I'm curious...how many of us also wear hose when you go out.
- - - Updated - - -
Dresses definitely more feminine & girly. However, around here one rarely sees a woman in a dress. Plain is fashion around here. Even skirts are few and far between, so, while I love dresses, when I go out it's mostly unfortunately, capris or a skirt. I agree skirts do afford more combinations. With either, I love to wear hose, even though it continues to be out of style. I'm curious...how many of us also wear hose when you go out.
AlyssaJ
09-22-2016, 10:06 PM
Wow I can't even decide. I mean I love skirts because as you mentioned they can be very versatile and create many different outfits. However, I also love a nice mini-dress or even when I'm in the right mood a long formal dress. The good news is we don't have to decide :) We can just wear both.
NancySue, to your question, I ALWAYS wear hose or stockings with skirts and dresses. My legs are my best asset and they always look best encased in a nice pair of high quality stockings or pantyhose.
GretchenJ
09-22-2016, 11:28 PM
Personally, I like dresses in the spring and summer, but in fall and winter, I really love a wool skirt with a sweater, which also hides a lot of anomalies
Leslie Langford
09-23-2016, 12:23 AM
Skirts certainly have their "plus" points as others here have already stated - more versatility, more options to mix and match, tons of variation in style, length, fit, fabric etc., and are generally easier to get into and out of - especially if one is planning a full day of shopping en femme and trying out various selections of clothing before buying.
That said, you just can't beat a dress for that full-on feminine feeling, especially when wearing a form-fitting dress that hugs the curves (real or "enhanced" ;) ) all over one's body. With dresses, there's always the on-going conundrum of side-zip vs. back zip, and which one do we prefer over the other? Certainly back zips can be challenging in their own right - especially for those among us who have developed mobility problems with age - so needing to call upon someone else to help zip us up, be it a wife, an SO, or a helpful SA can be an especially "girly" experience.
I would also add that for those among us who are - ahem! - in the plus size category, dresses can be especially flattering because of the sleek silhouette they typically provide, and that goes particularly for beltless shift or scuba dresses. There are also may visual tricks that designers can fall back on with dresses to camouflage unsightly bulges that the wearer may have and wishes to minimize, and ruching immediately springs to mind here. Conversely, fit-and-flare or peplum dresses can be very effective in emulating an hour glass figure, even when there is nothing there in principle.
On a more personal note, wearing a dress when out in public en femme triggers in me an unconscious feeling of being "all in", i.e., there is no turning back now. I really become that proverbial "man in a dress" that we so do not want to be taken for, and which provides an added incentive for us to go all out to at least try to blend in if not downright "pass". This is the (often unattainable) Holy Grail for most of us crossdressers who venture out in public, and adds that extra adrenalin rush to the already pleasurable act of everyday crossdressing.
Shayna
09-23-2016, 12:36 AM
Another vote for dresses. I think if I had natural curves I might be more inclined to skirts.
ellbee
09-23-2016, 12:49 AM
Certainly back zips can be challenging in their own right - especially for those among us who have developed mobility problems with age - so needing to call upon someone else to help zip us up, be it a wife, an SO, or a helpful SA can be an especially "girly" experience.
If no one is around to help, a thick metal paperclip tied to a shoelace can easily solve that issue.
(Just be mindful you don't accidentally make a hole/tear in the dress! :confused3: )
Rosemary+
09-23-2016, 01:11 AM
Wow, what a great thread! Thanks for asking Jennifer!
How can you pick one over the other?
I love to wear a nice dress, for comfort and looks you can't beat it, but then I love to wear a skirt with a sheer blouse, pure bliss!
They are both great wear, too hard to choose, but it's fun trying them on to find that right look
franlee
09-23-2016, 02:11 AM
I prefer dresses, they seem to be more forgiving of my shape and the materials just seem to flow no matter the color or pattern. Plus I am old school on wearing a full slip. I know you can with a skirt and blouse but they just aren't as needed and 1/2 slips aren't as sexy. In my opinion.
NatalieLM
09-23-2016, 02:23 AM
I quite like skirts but have 2 to 3 times more dresses. I find the fit of a dress to be a lot more flexible and don't mind that it is a bit looser on the bottom half. I have some skirts that are a bit bit loose and they just want to slip down and keep going until they hit the floor. While I'm sure that could be useful at times (LOL) mostly it is just not viable to wear them!
Millie.Graham
09-23-2016, 02:29 AM
Hmmm....
I love skirts because as Jennifer noted, you can pair them with different tops and get more combinations. I don't like skirts because there are some many combinations to choose from and I haven't built enough wardrobe and style skills yet and I usually end up drowning in the sea of choices. Fortunately, I have run a cross very helpful sales associates so far who have been teaching me how to navigate this uncharted territory.
But, there is just something special about a dress. I don't know what it is, as somebody else said, maybe it is because we have absolutely nothing comparable in the male wardrobe.
Right now my closet is about evenly split. I have two dresses, two skirts and three tops.
Ashley090
09-23-2016, 04:58 AM
If we talk about some everyday casual outfit then i prefer skirt. Fot like freetime event or something like that may simple short dress can be more comfi. Of course completly different category are evening dresses and ball gowns. Getting one is my dream atm. :)
josrphine
09-23-2016, 05:31 AM
I am a skirt girl, I get up in the morning and slip on a jean skirt tank top. I put on a little eye brow pencil and lip stick, ear rings and one of my wigs. If I don't my wife would not know who I was. I do have 2 very nice dress's that I will wear if we got out to a dinner were every one is dressing up. Jo
Jillian Faith
09-23-2016, 06:08 AM
This battle rages for most cross dresser, I suppose, but I realized today as I was getting dressed to go out that if I were not a cross dresser, I am pretty sure I'd prefer skirts to dresses. Simply changing tops and shoes make for totally different outfits. Three skirts and 5 tops would go a long way to making a full wardrobe. Add a sweater or two and belts and BOOM unlimited choices....
Sure works for my wife. But, alas, I am across dresser and I think dresses will always win but it's nice to have options;-) How about you?
While there is no denying the versatility of mix and matching various skirts and tops to boost your feminine wardrobe as described by Jen above. There is just something special about finding a dress that fits just right that maked me feel oh so feminine.
Krisi
09-23-2016, 06:34 AM
Most of my female clothing is blouses and skirts (and jeans and tights). I have just a few dresses. As you mentioned, blouses and skirts allow a lot more flexibility but my main reason is, it's easier to find blouses and skirts that fit than a dress. Sure the dress might "fit" but the waist is often in the wrong place or the dress is too short even for 5' 9" Krisi.
The problem then becomes matching a blouse and skirt into an outfit. Which goes with which? Dresses don't have that problem.
Lisa85
09-23-2016, 07:09 AM
5 skirts plus 5 tops equals 30(?) combinations.
3 + 2 = 6
SarahjayneA
09-23-2016, 07:19 AM
i tend to go with Dresses , although you will find a seperate skirt and top appear to fit better , this is due to the slighly different places a female waist lies , compared to a male
theirs about a 2" difference generaly , so if the dress is a close fit , it tends for the waist to sit higher , and subsequently lift the hem , so sometimes having a dress the next size up sometimes looks better
same for sleeve length too , in general theirs a 2" difference .
the only thing i hate about dresses is zipping it up , you need to be able to reach places , arms are just not meant to reach at times
so i use a paperclip on the end of a peice of string , easily clipped on and off through the zipper , and the extra length of the string makes it easier to pull
Jenny Elwood
09-23-2016, 09:09 AM
I like dresses but with my tall frame it's easier to get a good fit with skirts. :-)
stephNE
09-23-2016, 09:10 AM
I love dresses, but I'm never happy with the way they look on me. Skirts and blouses seem to suit me better. I have a lot of blouses that are bright colors and patterns. And while I have a number of skirts, I have two (black and jean-skirt) that seem to be my "go to" as they go with any top I want to wear.
Lori Kurtz
09-23-2016, 09:15 AM
I always preferred skirt/top combos to dresses, for two reasons. First, there's the fit problem. With a dress, both the top parts and the bottom parts have to fit just right, and my body didn't always conform to what the dress designer might have expected. I'm sure some GGs have that problem too. It's not just the proportions of shoulders and boobs and waist and hips, it's also the location of the waist. Also, since my preferences (or should I say fetishes) led me to be a top-heavy girl, dresses often didn't hang properly on me, and the hem would tend to be too high in the front because of my boobage. The second factor that led me away from dresses was a positive thing: the mix-and-match possibilities with skirts (or pants) and tops.
NicoleScott
09-23-2016, 09:32 AM
I like dresses. I have dresses. But separates fit better.
Shiny
09-23-2016, 09:36 AM
I love skirts and usually prefer them over dresses (which sometimes feel like extra long shirts) but with most all of my blouses being very silky materials and most all of my skirts lined in nylon or poly satin I find I spend most of the day tucking and re-tucking and tucking and re-tucking my blouse because the frictionless material won't stay put. Dresses are far easier but I still prefer blouses and skirts.
Teresa
09-23-2016, 11:16 AM
Jennifer,
Going back to the days when you had to undress in a panic, skirts and tops were easier to remove than the possibility of a jammed zip and no way to remove a dress, now I'm about 50-50. Skirts and tops/blouses have the flexibility as you say and on the whole they are warmer when the weather turns, but there's something more feminine in wearing a floaty dress or an evening dress, I guess we are lucky to have that choice .
Lily Catherine
09-23-2016, 11:36 AM
While less versatile, I prefer dresses to skirts. I admit that some days I'd rather be in bell-bottomed trousers or skinny jeans but that's another story.
I generally prefer dresses because they're a great deal easier to put on, are slightly more forgiving in shape, and lack the need to coordinate with a top. For me the main draw is the greater comfort around my waist. I would generally look for dresses I can put on by stepping into them.
carhill2mn
09-23-2016, 11:37 AM
I have long preferred skirts and blouses/tops. It was hard at first to find dresses that fit correctly. Dresses are harder for me to put on and take off. I can mix and match skirts, tops, and pants for a wide variety of outfits.
Rachael Leigh
09-23-2016, 12:10 PM
I think I'm a skirt girl, like you said Jen you can mix and match with skirts. For me it's hard to find a lot of places to wear a dress and not just stand out unless your going out to dinner, which I really don't do
Lorileah
09-23-2016, 12:11 PM
In RE: waists. It would depend on your body style Dresses
Basic Simple
fitted dress, usually cut with jewel neckline, darts,fitted set-in sleeves,natural waistline, and straight skirt.
(Also called fitted dress.) This is if your waist is just below your rib cage. This is the common cut. It may be pinched to accentuate the waist or just slightly narrower., This is the hour glass look
Empire Dress with high waistline under the bust. Good for those with tummies. Men may prefer wearing this because it takes the hourglass look out and makes it more baby doll or triangular
Elasticized waist Waist contains elastic for comfort. Good for those who don't have a cut waist but want a shape
Dress may be of any style, either with or without waistline seam.
May be belted or unbelted. This will conform to your body shape whatever you waist is. Adding a belt gives the illusion of a waist
Shirtwaist Dress with bodice styled like a tailored shirt, usually buttoned from neck to below waist, with either a straight
or full skirt. (May be called shirt dress if it does not have a waistline.)
Drop waist Dress with elongated bodice so that waistline seam falls below waist.
(Also called low-torso. Unfitted variation of soft, drapable fabric with short skirt may be called a
flapper dress)
Dresses without waist lines. Jumper., straight or slight "A" shape from armpits down
Asymmetric takes the waist away and gives a draped illusion from shoulder to opposite hem like /
So if you have a lower waist, looking at the elastic, empire, or flapper cut will fit you better. A jumper will allow you to not show waist at all
susan54
09-23-2016, 01:12 PM
When I first started cross dressing I favoured skirt and blouse and blouse but then graduated to top and skrt and then yo dresses. Now i love dresses
ReineD
09-23-2016, 01:24 PM
I prefer skirts simply because the fit is better. I'm tall for a woman (5'9) and my torso is a bit longer for most standard length dresses in my size, which results in poor fit. Even though dresses may not have a defined waist in the design, they are cut to sit a certain way on the waist and hip and standard lengths dresses are always an inch or two off on me. The overall length doesn't matter so much - I don't care if a dress that is supposed to be knee length is two inches above the knee on me - it's the way the dress fits along the torso and hip that I don't like, unless I find a brand that provides "tall" sizes. And I'm not inclined to hunt for the few brands that provide this.
Also, skirts are more casual which fits my lifestyle better.
ellbee
09-23-2016, 02:58 PM
"I'm tall for a woman (5'9)..."
Um, do you realize how many here would kill to be that "tall"? LOL
Anyway, I'm that height, as well, and I just tend to wear dresses that have some stretch to the fabric to help alleviate the issue you described. I suppose it at least kinda works for me? :strugglin
Nicolesmyth
09-23-2016, 03:30 PM
I would so love to be able to shave my legs and where sundresses with sandals. So, for that reason i'm in the dress side of the house.
Karine
09-23-2016, 04:25 PM
I like skirts because you can mix them with different tops and they're more easy to fit (especially for crossdresser: like others said larger frame & bigger shoulders)
However, dresses can be very very beautiful (almost piece of art). So when I find a nice dress that fits I can't resist.
Dresses are for me one of the most "feminine" item.
christylee_sf
09-23-2016, 04:29 PM
dresses for me :) The problem is trying to find the right ones that fit correctly, can be a hit or miss. I love the versatility with skirts, but quite frankly for some reason i can never pick the right top, so have a dress just solves that problem for me
Pumped
09-23-2016, 06:28 PM
I am a bit thick in the middle and a skirt tends to just bring that out even more. On the other hand a dress with an empire waist does a good job of hiding my extra in the middle.
sometimes_miss
09-23-2016, 06:32 PM
I like both. Preference depends on the day.
Kelly63
09-23-2016, 07:45 PM
LOve them both but wore a skirt today
266482
Nancie64
09-23-2016, 09:12 PM
With having almost 50 skirts, and only maybe 15 dresses, I guess the skirts win. I am pretty fussy when comes to dress's. Each to his own, keeps the market going.
Stephanie47
09-23-2016, 09:37 PM
It's dresses and dresses and more dresses.......140 and counting. My measurements are 42-38-40 which is not my idea of an ideal figure, but, that's what it is and it's going to stay that. Dresses work better to obscure the lack of a female figure. I wear dresses that do not have a defined waist line.....sheaths, wraps, empire waist. If I wore a skirt and top it would define my waist.
audreyinalbany
09-23-2016, 10:14 PM
hmmmmm...didn't know we had to pick...
Peggie Lee
09-23-2016, 10:34 PM
Skirts just give so many more options of how I want to look than my dresses.
NitaCD
09-24-2016, 05:20 AM
I like both but skirts just seem to work much better for me. Most dresses just seem to have fit issues that are harder to deal with. Although they both are great when the fit is right.
Cheryl T
09-24-2016, 07:57 AM
I think that many women prefer skirts and tops as most are not the exact size that a dress is cut to.
Myself, I'm bigger up top and so I prefer separates. They fit me better and also give me so much flexibility in my wardrobe. 2 tops and 2 skirts = 4 outfits. Add another top and it's 6 and so on. More for your money.
wendy
09-24-2016, 08:01 AM
I've always preferred skirts/separates. So many possibilities. I only have 3 dresses in my wardrobe, and I barely wear them.
Krisi
09-24-2016, 08:52 AM
I am a bit thick in the middle and a skirt tends to just bring that out even more. On the other hand a dress with an empire waist does a good job of hiding my extra in the middle.
Many women have that "thick" problem and their solution is to wear their blouses "out" (not tucked in to a skirt or pants). This also solves our problem of the waist being in the wrong place because the blouse hides the waistline. We need to learn to think like women.
BTW: If you find yourself changing clothes in your car somewhere, separate blouses and skirts are far easier to deal with than dresses.
MissTee
09-24-2016, 08:53 AM
I would give an edge to skirts. Love them. Have lots of nice dresses, but like the versatility of skirts.
ReineD
09-24-2016, 05:36 PM
I just tend to wear dresses that have some stretch to the fabric to help alleviate the issue you described. I suppose it at least kinda works for me? :strugglin
I'm glad this works for you. :)
Stretch used to work for me too (provided the dress was long-torso), when I was super skinny in my 40s. But, since menopause and the slight weight gain I've put on since then, I prefer to not wear clothes where the stretchy fabric hugs some bulges. :p
In any event, even stretchy dresses have defined waists and hips, if you lay them out on a flat surface. They're not cylindrical, because they're designed to fit a woman's curves. I appreciate the feedback, but it doesn't work for me.
HollyGreene
09-24-2016, 05:55 PM
I love to wear dresses, but I also have some skirts that I adore, so it's not easy to choose one over the other, but on balance I reckon dresses have the edge. I think for me, it rather depends on various things including my mood, the weather (even if I'm not going out), and what I'm going to be doing.
Sarasometimes
09-24-2016, 06:14 PM
I wear skirts more often because I usually change into my outfit in my car to some degree (can't walk out of the house all put together) so changing my jeans for a skirt is easier than trying to put on a dress in my car. I do also like to wear dresses for a few reasons, I feel more "in" a dress, often with a back zipper..., i can change the appearance of my shape with an empire waist...The drawbacks are finding a good fit and the changing difficulties.
For skirts i love scuba pencil skirts and skater skirts too.
lingerieLiz
09-25-2016, 10:19 PM
I was running an errand today in my usual fem shorts top etc. For some reason I thought about back when I was young and wore skirts most of the time. I liked straight skirts, but had some A line, and pencil skirts also. Back in the can can days was very awesome. I also had a lot of dresses so I wore what ever was appropriate.
shellybme
09-26-2016, 09:40 AM
Since I only dress sparingly I tend to try the most feminine things I can think of. Also, my wardrobe has to be quite minimalistic so I tend to gravitate towards dresses. One dress, one outfit ready to go. A skirt needs more to go along with it and unfortunately I don't have it. If I had the option of expanding I would definitely get some pencil skirts and mini-skirts. Those are super cute too.
aprilgirl
09-26-2016, 11:13 AM
I prefer skirts due to the versatility in putting together different outfits, as Jennifer and others have previously cited. It's also easier to get the right fit and drape below the waist with a skirt over dresses. I have discovered over the years that certain styles, and the weight of material of some dresses work for me, but I'm less confident in wearing them out in public.
That shared, I do have too many dresses hanging in my closet, as there is just something about a dress, which I'm sure most here can relate. I just rarely find the occasion to wear one. Fortunately, my wife borrows liberally from my side of the closet, so they get to see the light of day. Just yesterday, in getting ready to go to our local art fair, she steps out in my khaki sheath dress. I was only too happy to zip her up, and she looks a heck of a lot better in it than I do! Kim
Samantha Clark
09-26-2016, 05:59 PM
I love my dresses the most. When I window shop (online or catalogs) I zero in on the dresses. Not that I don't like skirts, mind you. in fact, I'll post my new skirt and tops in the pictures section anon.
Deane
09-26-2016, 07:24 PM
My wife tells me I look great in a skirt, but horrible in a dress. She's right, I believe it's because I'm built like a man, not a woman. Granted, I don't use forms or pads or anything, I'm just a guy in a dress or a skirt (or tonight leggings).
Georgette_USA
09-26-2016, 08:56 PM
I'm tall for a woman (5'9) and my torso is a bit longer for most standard length dresses in my size, which results in poor fit. I don't care if a dress that is supposed to be knee length is two inches above the knee on me unless I find a brand that provides "tall" sizes. And I'm not inclined to hunt for the few brands that provide this.
I only wear dresses year round, in winter will wear leggings under if cold or windy.
I am 5-11, and when younger I was the too tall to fit. Sleeves too short, pants too shorts. So I usually wore dresses, and when younger did wear the hem short.
Now as a fat woman I wear only plus sizes. Anywhere from a sz 20-24, my bust 46D is the determinate factor, depending on fabric and cut. Most all of them are around knee length on me. When I shop quite a few of the SAs are as large and as tall or taller than me. Don't know how slim you are but they have sizes down to 10/12.
Kiersten
09-27-2016, 04:27 AM
I've always been a dress girl.
CD Tammy
09-27-2016, 12:36 PM
While I prefer dresses, I seem to have more skirts and tops. I really like dresses that have the zipper up the back. It took me a while to master the hanger trick to zip that.
susancheerleader
09-27-2016, 03:01 PM
I have many skirts.
But I recently got a nice dress. I wear that more then a skirt now. I had other dresses but I guess they just weren't my style when I bought them (online) so I hardly wore them.
Btw. I ordered TWO new dresses today to pick up.
lynnstar
09-27-2016, 04:51 PM
Its rare for me to be able to wear a skirt much less a dress. Due to my wifes view on crossdressing i dont even wear panties around the house. That does'nt mean though that i dont have any! I have several skirts and blouses as well as a few shirts. The only time i wear them is when my wife is gone for a week to visit our oldest son in New Jersey and thats about once every year. I have no dresses as i prefer skirts. Easier to take on and off if need be and i like the way they feel and look on me, especially with wearing pantyhose, heels and a nice blouse.
Sarah Louise
09-27-2016, 05:19 PM
I love dresses. They're so feminine. I like skirts too and it's great that you can mix and match with tops. But for every skirt I own, I have nine dresses. I have four skirts so you can see where my preference lies!
I think I might have got a carried away over the last few months and, oh dear, I've just ordered two more dresses......:doh:
Jenniferathome
09-27-2016, 05:59 PM
"carried away"might be putting it lightly :heehee:
I think there is a little known codicile in the CD handbook that says if you own more than 15 dresses, you must get out with the normals...
GretchenJ
09-27-2016, 07:32 PM
"I think there is a little known codicile in the CD handbook that says if you own more than 15 dresses, you must get out with the normals...
I think I am in trouble lol
ReineD
09-27-2016, 07:56 PM
Now as a fat woman I wear only plus sizes. Anywhere from a sz 20-24, my bust 46D is the determinate factor, depending on fabric and cut.
Yes, I agree that what I shared does not apply to plus sizes. My mother was a plus size too.
Karmen
10-01-2016, 08:58 AM
I prefer a skirt and a top, because I have wide shoulders and dresses with sleeves don't fit well. I do have a few dresses with open shoulders.
April Showers
10-01-2016, 09:31 AM
I really prefer dresses to skirts (much more comfortable around the waist) What I really love are sweater dresses the way they hug the body and give you that great silhouette and they stretch in all the right places.
Greenie
10-01-2016, 10:24 AM
As a curvy body type I prefer dresses. I only wear hugh wasted skirts due to my hourglass type. So I like items that cinch the waste. Easier to do that with dresses and belts! :)
Scarlett398
10-01-2016, 11:55 AM
I really like wearing short skirts (skater, circle, flounce, and tight fitting minis) with black or brown opaque tights with almost knee high boots or ankle high boots. I wear snug fitting long sleeved tops (sexy turtle necks made out of light weight material with some stretch to them, scoop necks and V necks. When wearing scoop necks or V necks I'll wear a circular necklace and when I'm wearing a sexy form fitting turtle neck I'll wear a long necklace. My belt, which I'll wear up high with the top of a skirt will be a wide elastic one usually embellished in front with faux leather and the faux leather and buckle with diamonds accenting both. It's a really sexy look especially if you know how to throw the outfits together with class. And you don't overdue the makeup which I see as a common mistake among a lot of cross dressers. I want to look like a sexy but classy girl instead of a hooker or a guy in drag. The last two mentioned are simply not my style. I really love no one knowing that I'm a guy and that's one of my most exciting aspects of cross dressing.
- - - Updated - - -
I'm with you, April. I prefer skirts to dresses. They just fit better and you put mix and match so many skirts with so many tops. I like my skirts short worn with black or brown opaque tights with boots or booties. It's a really sexy look. Your photo is like I put my makeup on. Not over done and you like me look just like a girl when dressed. I've learned over the years how to tastefully put on makeup. I suggest anyone getting into cross dressing to watch videos on how to properly apply makeup. Us good products and always use really good brushes. I softens all the makeup lines in the use of eye make up. Don't you agree?
Dana44
10-01-2016, 02:13 PM
I like dresses but I have way more skirts and tops than dresses. But a dress is really great for a formal function or a nice dinner out.
CarynPB
10-01-2016, 03:50 PM
Prefer dresses here...just feel so pretty in them....also seem to be easier to hide the waistline....
suzanne
10-01-2016, 06:13 PM
Quite a complicated issue, really. I love my dresses, but it's hard to find dresses that work right with my particular shape. I have size 16 hips and size 22 shoulders, so I have much better luck finding separate pieces and then mix and match to put together an outfit. There are sometimes so many combinations it takes a while to settle on an outfit, but that's part of the fun. Throw on a dress, and boom, you're done, just find the right shoes. There's a lot to be said for that.
I like either side of this debate. The tie breaker for me is that my wife has told me she like my skirt outfits more than my dresses. Considering how hard it was to win her acceptance, I'm happy to honor her opinion and slip into a skirt. Well, most of the time!
DIANEF
10-01-2016, 08:04 PM
"carried away"might be putting it lightly :heehee:
I think there is a little known codicile in the CD handbook that says if you own more than 15 dresses, you must get out with the normals...
Oh dear, I have about 30
ShirleyN
10-27-2016, 09:30 AM
An Easy one for me this, I love dresses but prefer skirts. TBH I feel very feminine in either skirts or dresses. Personal preference skirt-wise are long ankle-length skirts. Always loved them. Still do now.
CD Tammy
10-27-2016, 11:10 AM
True story, bought a dress one day at a Goodwill that had a very solid zipper in the back. One of the best that I've ever seen. This dress was tight but I could get into it. Came to mid-thigh. Went on a business trip, made the drive dressed. Black pantyhose, red dress, and red pumps. I drove at night and enjoyed the drive very much. I stopped at a little side road to get back in drab, that's when I realized that I did not bring my metal coat hanger. I could not get that zipper down for anything. I actually wound up putting on a shirt and sweater over it. Then tucking the dress into jeans to check into the hotel. But I love dresses.
ronda
10-27-2016, 11:13 AM
I like and have both depends on my mood both are cool to wear in summer heat but put on pantyhose and they are warm in the winter
CD Tammy
10-27-2016, 11:18 AM
I am wearing the pantyhose with mine summer or winter. I might just have to go with thicker tights in the winter. Of course that cool breeze up the skirt is kind of interesting.
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