As one does

Nov 21, 2015 22:23

While I was getting dressed for tonight's event I realized that I couldn't wear the fancy dress I intended to wear because I wore it to the symphony last month ( Read more... )

small town life, culture

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Comments 14

elenbarathi November 22 2015, 04:16:11 UTC
If you go to more than two dressy-dress events in a season, you need more than two dressy dresses for that season. You can get away with 'rotating' three dresses, especially with different accessories, but alternating between just two doesn't quite work. So, yeah, you need to buy a third dress. I'd suggest something not too 'seasonal'; something you could still wear in March. (And buy your husband a silk tie to match it. ^^)

Oh wow, those 'planets' are exquisite! Congratulations on winning one; that's extremely cool!

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crazyburro November 22 2015, 04:23:41 UTC
Why does one need more fancy dresses than it takes to cover cleaning time between events?

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elenbarathi November 22 2015, 05:05:47 UTC
Because one does. If you don't grok it, that's fine - the whole premise is irrational, like all manifestations of human vanity and social competition. Feel free to walk away from all that, and go to the symphony in your every-day clothes; the music will be the same regardless of what you wear to listen to it.

Irrational though it undoubtedly is, there is a definite Social Code regarding how often women of certain societal classes may wear the same dress among the same company. It is important to observe that code if one wishes to hold status in those classes. There are things that are done, and things that are not done. Alternating between just two dressy dresses for all dressy-dress occasions in a season is not done.

Things used to be worse, y'know. In the 19th century, ladies didn't wear a ballgown more than twice, lest it be (*gasp!*) 'recognized', but on the other hand, to wear a ballgown only once was considered extravagant. Women nowadays are getting off fairly lightly by comparison ( ... )

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coercedbynutmeg November 22 2015, 04:45:07 UTC
Unless they are *strange* fancy dresses, or you are performing, two is plenty. If one of the fancy dresses is neon green and royal blue, a third one might be desired, but if you have red/champagne/navy/black, two is fine. Even the Queen of England rewears dresses.

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elenbarathi November 22 2015, 05:22:18 UTC
It's been a tradition since Victoria's time for the Queen to conspicuously underdress every other woman in the room. Because she can.

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gwendally November 22 2015, 13:17:55 UTC
Ah, thanks. You nailed it. My immediate reaction was that I don't have her ability to get away with it. But your answer is better.

Besides, she honestly isn't doing it with two dresses.

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crazyburro November 22 2015, 20:16:06 UTC
and she has dressers to manager her dresses. She only needs to address them...

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girl_on_a_stick November 22 2015, 04:55:25 UTC
elenbarathi November 22 2015, 05:19:39 UTC
Some of those are quite nice!

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pondhopper November 22 2015, 16:19:32 UTC
Josh Simpson! I have three of his inhabited planets. One I got for myself and two were gifts and I love those gorgeous little spheres.

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froggoddess November 23 2015, 02:11:08 UTC
How many people do you run into that you know at the symphony? I suspect you need a third dress.

I loathe shopping but realized this summer that a slight shift in my role at work has meant MUCH more driving east for regular state-level meetings, and I did not own enough work-appropriate summer blouses to get through a season's worth of meetings without, um, wearing the same fancy shirt every damn time. Now I have to somehow remember what I wore the last time I went out there... Also I probably need some more winter tops too now. Ugh.

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gwendally November 23 2015, 13:21:19 UTC
It occurs to me that my fancy contra-dancing skirt (very colorful, very twirly) would work with a holiday blouse/sweater for the Holiday Concert. Saved by contradance (which I never ever get to, so that skirt is still quite fresh.)

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froggoddess November 23 2015, 14:11:34 UTC
YESSSSSSSS!!

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