It’s spring and my social media newsfeed is full of ads for summer clothing. But it’s me, and lots of it is sports related. So many beautiful bike jerseys!
But this year, there’s a new thing there, cropping up from time to time, the sporty dress. I confess that often my dress wearing ways (see biking in a dress and I hate pants) are at odds with my resistance to normative femininity. For a taste of that, go read my running skirts post.
Basically I don’t like being told how I ought to dress. And often, for women, being told how you ought to dress involves skirts and dresses. When I dipped my toes into journalism as a career, women still had to wear skirts or dresses in the parliamentary press gallery. As a young punky person I had to carry a skirt in my back pack if I planned to visit.
School uniforms were the same. I’ve blogged here before about being taught by nuns. That certainly required skirts.
I’m the kind of person who couldn’t live in a suburb with rules. You know, the kind of place that has rules against clotheslines, and wildflowers, and funny coloured house paint and leaving your garage door open. I’d move in and right away paint every wild colours, plant all the flowers, and hang up scandalous underwear in plain sight. You know the type. That’s me.
So what about the sporty dresses!
Here’s an example.
Like these skirts, which I also like and even tried on several times over the winter, I can’t decide if they are about warmth and function or butt modesty. And if the former, I’m all in, and if the latter, I’m a bit uncomfortable.
On the one hand, so cute!
On the other, I want to reject norms about women not being to be show our bodies and especially as a larger person (Fat or big?) who is mostly comfortable with her size, I like opportunities to express that. (yes, I love wearing bikinis, stretch marks, tummy rolls and all.)
Okay, I’ll keep mulling about sports dresses and butt-warming skirts, but I know one thing for sure. I love throwing axes in a skirt! (We were encouraged to wear plaid and this is the only plaid item I own.)
I think it’s skirts and dresses in rebellious contexts I like best. Prom dress rugby! Fishnets in roller derby!
Oh, also I’ll wear pants on June 11. It’s Wear the Pants Day.
What do you think of sporty skirts and dresses? Love/hate/to each their own?
I’ve never worn a sporty dress. Either it was strictly dresses or some skirts. I do like wearing cycling skirt…it’s just handy instead of always same old walking/cycling shorts.
When I travelled in Europe, to blend in terms of attire, I would recommend a skort in warm weather. It’s just looks less touristy. And oh, some of the big old cathedrals in Europe do still require you to cover up sundress top part and skirts to knees if possible. We were there last fall.
I’m with you, Sam on not being told how to dress and being a rebel with regard to any rules on how female athletes ought to look (ie, make the (male) spectator happy). BUT, sporty dresses, when designed well, are SO comfortable. I like the fact that give more freedom of movement and don’t pinch the waist in awkward places (esp for cycling). And I am no wallflower – no covering up for me – I wear dresses because I feel great wearing them and actually (as my poor husband would tell you) many are not cover ups at all, rather the opposite 😉
BTW – bikinis rock – will you blog about that soon please!!!
Prom dress rugby: this begs to become a real event!
It’s a thing. Really. See https://fitisafeministissue.com/2013/01/14/prom-dress-rugby-and-lingerie-football-whats-the-difference/
Love the sports dress. But I also love a great work skirt and great sleeveless work (gasp!)dress. Feels strong when I choose to wear Iwhat works for me. So of course, to each their own.