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Too much revealed
By Meg | September 13, 2007
I’m only in my mid-20’s so I don’t consider myself “old” by any means, but I have noticed that my tastes are changing as I mature a bit and I’m starting to understand the advice of “the older and wiser.” I used to think that older people were prudes or just too conservative when it came to style, especially when it came to revealing clothes. Granted, I do still think that some people are just prudes, but looking around I’ve realized that showing too much skin is not sexy. It’s not even stylishly rebellious. It’s simply unflattering.
I have nothing personal against skin - or even nudity. I have no problem with nudists (though not necessarily with nudity everywhere, I’ll admit). What I do have a problem is when women, especially younger girls, seem to think that the more skin they show, the sexier they are. I live in a college town where women seem to compete with each other on how much skin they can show. I’m not a mind reader, but it says to me that they are desperate for male attention. I’m sure not all are, but that’s the message, nonetheless. That’s also the message the guys I talk to get.
Again, one of the problems I see in this is that it is unflattering. Remember when everyone was seemingly competing to wear lower and lower rise pants? The result was a lot of muffin tops - not to mention plumber’s crack (it’s not “butt cleavage” below the slightest hint). Short shorts brought the return of wedgies and thunder thighs, and now I seem to be surrounded by girls in midriffs letting their stomachs hang out. Cleavage, too, can get out of hand - or out of bra, I should say (see my post on The Worst Dressed Place on Earth for more gory details). Flapping boobs is not attractive.
Can some women wear revealing styles well? Well, some can better than others. Let’s face it, skinnier women can get away with more (or less, that is). Yet, most of the women I see wearing these skin showing outfits are heavier set. I’m not offended by someone carrying some extra weight and I’m happy if they can be comfortable with themselves, but they aren’t doing themselves any favors by wearing unflattering clothes. Even slender girls can’t get away with some outfits, though. Take Britney Spears’ recent VMA outfit, for example.
The way to look sexy and not skanky is to wear clothes that are flattering - not just to reveal skin for it’s own sake. Buy clothes that fit your shape well, and they’ll show it off without you needing to bare all.
Tags: Fashion, Impressions, Modesty, Style
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September 13th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Agreed. Women should dress for their shape and body type, and cover it up a bit….. Unless you’re in a music video, on a fashion catwalk or on TV, showing too much skin is inappropriate, and does NOT translate into a good everyday wardrobe.
Women just look desperate to me when they wear too much makeup, too little clothing and don’t leave anything to the imagination.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Great post. Miss Janey has observed that unless you’re very young, and VERY toned, too much skin showing tends to look cheap- even then it’s risky. Palm Springs, CA is a perfect place to to glimpse older women dressed too young/too scantily. Many appear to be of over-tanned, under-clad gold-diggers looking for husbands. The thing is, the clothes are obviously pricey- they was just cut too low & too short. Our teenaged cousins thought they were prostitutes. Its a shame. A bit more fabric and they would have been fabulous.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Welcome Miss Janey!
You’re so right. While many associate revealing clothes with young women, older women can be just as guilty. Then it’s really sad because they should definitely know better. Your cousins know better the message those women are sending than the women themselves. Those kinds of outfits say that they’re looking to sell themselves, but not for the long haul - and men definitely pick up on that.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Hi Fabulously Broke!
Yes, there definitely is a difference between fashion in the media and in-person, everyday styles that work.
That said, I’ve seen more than enough women cross the line of t.v. as well. I was watching a little ‘debate’ on Britney Spears’ getup at the VMA show and they said that she turned down the outfit provided by MTV because it wasn’t sexy enough according to her. The outfit she chose was plenty revealing… but probably one of the least sexy outfits that she has performed in.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Meg: Good point.. :) I think it all depends on the body type then. hahaa..
Miss Janey: I agree with you as well. For me, it’s just purely economical. Why pay $100 for a top that barely covers your body? You might as well buy a scrap of cloth.. j/k It’s a shame that they’re only out golddigging.. I used to say that the girls I used to go with, were only there to get their MRS degree.. (geddit? :P *teehee*)
October 18th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Showing too much skin is not so much desperate as HO-like. You look as if you are selling your wares. Ask yourself if you really want to be mistaken for a hooker. Now there is a time to show skin. It’s called formal wear. But not many of us go to such swanky, highly glamorous affairs.
But even in cases as those it can get out of hand. Remember J-Lo’s dress circa 1999? I don’t think you have to have a super, perfect body to tastefully show a little skin. God knows I don’t and I’m slender. But I know I have nice legs, arms and a beautiful décolletage, which I am only to happy to flaunt in the right situations. The office is not the right situation. Being a grown up woman means distinguishing those times when you can be a little tarty from those times when you can’t. I’m 40 btw.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Welcome Elle!
Unfortunately, I do remember that dress.
You’re right that we are allowed to show a bit more skin with formal wear. Maybe it’s because it’s usually balanced by longer skirts. Balance is always so important; if you show cleavage, show less leg, or vice versa.
Well said about what it means to be a grown woman. So many gals my age seem to think nothing about social norms and expectations when it comes to style. Maybe we’ve been told too often not to care what others think and to be ourselves. Sounds good — until you later realize that there are people out there that you do want to impress and that “being yourself” doesn’t mean being the same “yourself” all the time.