I wasn't going to respond to this topic but, having read all the posts and, in particular, today's responses from "sometimes_miss/Lexi" I'll add just a few sentences.
Yes, age does come into it. I grew up in those long-ago days when, as others have remarked, skirts/dresses/slips/girdles/nylons, etc were just about universally worn and, yes again, women's roles and activities were generally different from those of today. Those clothing items have been very largely rejected by most women, partly because they found it easier to widen and deepen their roles and activities when not wearing those things.
Back in those now-distant times I admired both the clothes and the women wearing them and very often wondered what it would be like to do the things they did while wearing those clothes. I found out by, in a very limited way, putting on the clothes. I can say without doubt that my admiration for the women around me increased as a result. I never got round to the make-up or the hair styling - too much effort - but finding out how it felt to go about even basic activities (only around the house and garden) wearing those clothes confirmed my view that women were harder-working and made more effort than ever I did. Although I regret the passing of those "old days" from the clothing point of view, I most certainly understand why women's preferences in clothing have changed so much and in no way regret women's changed roles.
