A question for those here who identify as male :)

[Tinkerbell-GG]

And don't forget the attraction of a man in military uniform. A huge number of women respond to that visual clue, as well.

Ah, so true. Gotta love a soldier's uniform

And Reine is right - we do tend to out dress each other and overdress in general when single and looking for a male partner. (It's what men like, after all) If you notice how women dress after marriage and kids, you'll find smart practicality will often override sexy. Not for all women, of course, as I have a friend who dresses like a hooker even when married, but I suspect that's because she marries idiots and is constantly on the lookout for a replacement, lol.

It's fun to have a night out, dressed up for drinking and dancing, but really if no men were there to notice that I looked sexy I probably wouldn't bother to dress sexy. Dinner at a girlfriend's house is a jeans event for me. It would be weird to dress sexy for that! I also think looking nice for ourselves is important too, but that's just as likely to be a tee and jeans with your hair done as a cocktail dress. Cocktail dresses are incredibly uncomfortable in my opinion, and comfort is part of what makes me personally feel good about myself.

Anyway, I forget where all this was going, lol. I think it's fascinating to hear all sides of this topic and so many points of view. I love how everyone here is happy to share their thoughts. I might not understand why you do what you do, but I do know there's many intelligent, compassionate people on this forum. Far more than I encounter in my everyday travels x

[Amanda M]

Ahh, tinkerbelle - you ARE a sad girl. How can you not like a cocktail dress?????? Especially with a cocktail!

[susan54]

In the UK,or at least in my part of the UK, the time when women really go all out with their clothes for a girls night out - dresses, make up,jewellery, the lot. This applies to married and single alike. Participating in a GNO (as me dressed up or as my alter ego Susan) is the one ambition I have yet to fulfil. I am a man who prefers the company of women anyway - most of my personal and work friends are women - but almost always as a man. I have actually been invited to participate in a GNO (yup,fully dressed) but think the fallout would not be worth it. The more feminine the company, both in behaviour and clothing, the more I enjoy it - but so far, very much as a bloke.

[Tinkerbell-GG]

Ahh, tinkerbelle - you ARE a sad girl. How can you not like a cocktail dress?????? Especially with a cocktail!

Amanda, I LOVE a cocktail...or three

[ReineD]

It's fun to have a night out, dressed up for drinking and dancing, but really if no men were there to notice that I looked sexy I probably wouldn't bother to dress sexy. Dinner at a girlfriend's house is a jeans event for me. It would be weird to dress sexy for that! I also think looking nice for ourselves is important too, but that's just as likely to be a tee and jeans with your hair done as a cocktail dress.

This is EXACTLY how I feel and how my female friends behave as well! We don't dress up when it's just the girls at someone's house. Never! But, if we go out for dinner whether there is mixed company present or not, then I think it's normal to show decorum. As much as I don't dress to impress the girls, my personal sense of pride prevents me from going to a nice restaurant in sweats and sneakers, just as I wouldn't show up at the beach in a cocktail dress. Still, putting on something nice for dinner is entirely different than women who dress to compete for men. :p