Do women dress up for men or themselves?

[msmoby]

I was going to put this in ask a  " 'Russian' woman " - but guys can't help themselves and jump in - so I'm asking in a general section

One school of thought:

Women dress to attract men - particularly FSUW

t'other

Women dress up to please themselves, first.



I'm in the second school of thought -  based on most FSU W taking care of their appearance - even when going shopping - taking the kids to school. going out for a girls night out

[Steveboy]

I was going to put this in ask a  " 'Russian' woman " - but guys can't help themselves and jump in - so I'm asking in a general section

One school of thought:

Women dress to attract men - particularly FSUW

t'other

Women dress up to please themselves, first.



I'm in the second school of thought -  based on most FSU W taking care of their appearance - even when going shopping - taking the kids to school. going out for a girls night out

My wife wears her heels even in the bath so Im not sure about the answer to that...

[msmoby]

My wife wears her heels even in the bath so Im not sure about the answer to that...

Hmm, must bear that in mind for a photo-session ....

[Poldark]

Women dress up to please themselves, first.

If you've ever spoken to a woman about this, they'll all say they dress for themselves or to show that they're prettier/better than other ladies (competition), it's rarely about the man but all about themselves, not that I complain.

[Steveboy]

My wife says it is a sign of the Face of her man...

[Contrarian]

For the average FSU woman it's a competition to look hot. For the average American woman it's a competition to look the opposite and then a competition to complain about any guy bold enough to want better. 

[TomT]

Equity theory posits that people seek balance in relationships and feel uncomfortable when their costs and benefits are out of balance. This theory applies to social relationships as well as to employment-related relationships. Since attractiveness is a quality that is highly valued by men, it is natural that women who seek to obtain or retain the best possible balanced relationship would try to increase their equity by making themselves as attractive as possible, irrespective of their culture.

Equity theory has been criticized as being too simplistic but the question of who women dress up for is more simplistic. When men answer such a question, they often reveal more about their attitudes toward women than about the attitudes of the women themselves. In any case, there is no practical value to overanalysis; she attracts you or she doesn't. 

[Contrarian]

Equity theory posits

Blah blah blah blah......



In any case, there is no practical value to overanalysis; she attracts you or she doesn't.

       

[Lord of the Dance]

It seems a logical answer to this question could be 'both.' No one wants to look unattractive, but I imagine that younger women are more concerned about how they appear to the opposite sex, whereas older ladies (presumably married) are probably more concerned with their appearances for personal reasons.

[2tallbill]

Women dress up for men, OTHER WOMEN and themselves.

Women aren't all the same, different women do stuff for different reasons
and the same women do things for different reasons. More than a few women
will dress like a harlot when they are ovulating AND on the way to a party and
totally different during their periods on their way to work.

It's different strokes for different folks and different strokes for the same folks.

[TomT]

Obnoxious deviants on skateboards would like to think so.

[Manny]

In many ways this is psychology 101.

My wife says it is a sign of the Face of her man...

Indeed. She has a point. Shabby blokes attract shabby women.

What does a fat, slovenly woman in a tracksuit say about the guy? It tells the world that this is the best he can do, so he is of little value to anyone else on any level if he can't even snag a decent looking or groomed woman.

One bloke has Waynetta Slob on his arm, one has Melania. Which bloke will you think has his shit together?

[redroo]

women dress to impress, or rather intimidate, other women.
men are an after thought

[Fashionista]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

[TomT]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

It appears that you might be in support of an application of equity theory that I hadn't considered.

[andrewfi]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

I'd buy that, but I have always thought that it was one of the more obvious cultural observations that one might make.

Practical application and empirical support:
Last night we went to the ballet, decided to dress properly for the occasion as is the custom here. So, we have decent suit for myself and LBD for the lady. Afterwards we decided that beer, buffalo wings and spare ribs were the order of the day so we hied off to a brewpub popular with tourists in the old town. Place was as busy as usual on a Saturday night. Guess who got served first whenever required?

But isn't that normal? A prejudice that most of us hold and, sometimes, take advantage of?

[AvHdB]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

I'd buy that, but I have always thought that it was one of the more obvious cultural observations that one might make.

Practical application and empirical support:
Last night we went to the ballet, decided to dress properly for the occasion as is the custom here. So, we have decent suit for myself and LBD for the lady. Afterwards we decided that beer, buffalo wings and spare ribs were the order of the day so we hied off to a brewpub popular with tourists in the old town. Place was as busy as usual on a Saturday night. Guess who got served first whenever required?

But isn't that normal? A prejudice that most of us hold and, sometimes, take advantage of?

Curious did you get as the busboy, a tip?

[Fashionista]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

It appears that you might be in support of an application of equity theory that I hadn't considered.

I don't know what equity theory is

[Fashionista]

Guys . It's a societal pressure thing. If you look/dress poorly, you are more likely to be mistreated, you are not in control. Simple. 

I'd buy that, but I have always thought that it was one of the more obvious cultural observations that one might make.

It might be obvious, but it is truer than thinking that dressing up comes with specifically thinking about men or women or about oneself. In Russia it is very important what anyone thinks about you, it's a very judgmental culture, and fitting in is more important than in the West. It's practically unheard of having a complete stranger in the street saying something judgmental about you in the West, but could easily happen in Russia.

[andrewfi]

Avhdb, please hold back from the pissed posting. OK, I get it, there's no hope for you. You are what you are, but you are becoming like the drunken uncle at family events. You can't stop him from being there but you just wish he could control himself.

[msmoby]

Avhdb, please hold back from the pissed posting. OK, I get it, there's no hope for you. You are what you are, but you are becoming like the drunken uncle at family events. You can't stop him from being there but you just wish he could control himself.

Strange, I had the same thought as AvHdB and was - as was probably the case with AvHdB, sober, too

Poor andrewfi - doesn't handle incoming that well ...

Is a Little Black Dress appropriate for Ballet ?....

[TomT]

I don't know what equity theory is

If people don't get as much from a relationship as they give to it, there are usually consequences.

[Tom Cat]

What ever the reasons, I'm just glad they do.

Why Russian women wear stiletto heels

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/326339-why-russian-women-wear-stiletto

[rosco]

Avhdb, please hold back from the pissed posting. OK, I get it, there's no hope for you. You are what you are, but you are becoming like the drunken uncle at family events. You can't stop him from being there but you just wish he could control himself.

Strange, I had the same thought as AvHdB and was - as was probably the case with AvHdB, sober, too

Poor andrewfi - doesn't handle incoming that well ...

Is a Little Black Dress appropriate for Ballet ?....

You’re living proof that evolution can go in reverse.

[AvHdB]

Avhdb, please hold back from the pissed posting. OK, I get it, there's no hope for you. You are what you are, but you are becoming like the drunken uncle at family events. You can't stop him from being there but you just wish he could control himself.

Strange, I had the same thought as AvHdB and was - as was probably the case with AvHdB, sober, too

Poor andrewfi - doesn't handle incoming that well ...

Is a Little Black Dress appropriate for Ballet ?....

You’re living proof that evolution can go in reverse.