Jeans and trousers have long been the staple of most womens clothing in their wardrobes.Perhaps this is a reaction to the many, many years when women were restricted in movement and lifestyle by being forced, by fashion and society, into wearing skirts and dresses.
There are tales of the famous female explorer and Arabist Gertrude Bell, who climbed many of Europe’s most challenging peaks in a skirt – due to the demands of society – only to change into trousers when she was out of sight of the masses.
Now, the world of womens clothing has changed and women are free to wear anything they want – but are jeans and trousers really the most comfortable option?
On close inspection, the low-rise jean can be seen as less comfortable than it might pretend to be, and certainly less practical. Jeans are a tough, durable material but they can cause chafing to sensitive skin and are restrictive around the tummy and thighs. Trousers can make the wearer suffer from the same issues.This is where womens dreses are a revelation, and it could be argued that the benefits afforded by wearing womens dresses are being foolishly ignored by many women.
With dresses there is little or no restriction – depending on the style of course. And the great benefit of dresses is that there is so much choice, and with the incorporation of leggings and tights, they can be worn with as much freedom and devil-may-care attitude that you can muster up.
Dresses can be worn casually, thrown over a t-shirt and leggings for a model-off-duty look, or without layers in the summer (and a bit of fake tan).Smart dresses will take you from the office to the wine bar, and smocks will take you from home to the school run looking like you’ve made just the right amount of effort.Women don’t have to relinquish their right to wear dresses to hold onto their independence, because wearing a dress can make you feel free too.