Girls dress to impress themselves

[cuberdrift]

Is it true if I say that the vast majority of young women who dress up in "girl" clothes (i.e. nice skirts, heels, make-up or whatever), are trying to impress themselves mainly?

Okay, maybe I'll have to first make the distinction that I'm talking about those girls who dress up in a "girl" way, i.e. in clothes that aren't necessarily the most comfortable for the situation.

An example would be a girl of around 20-22 years of age wearing make-up in an everyday, casual situation.

Now I'm not a woman, so I don't usually wear make-up, but my guess would be that wearing make-up isn't as comfortable as when not wearing make-up. Therefore, my theory would be that the girl who does this is trying to impress...someone.

But who?

As a male guy, I would generally be more attracted to a girl who wears make-up than one who doesn't, so I might think that she's trying to attract me.

However, I have now come to believe that this isn't the case. Women dress up like women because it makes them feel good, self-esteem-wise. Society promotes the idea that "beautiful women" are of high value; the more beautiful a girl's appearance is, the more people will look up to her.

So girls will try to look beautiful because PEOPLE will look up to them; NOT REALLY because GUYS will like them. This is the way society seems to market the idea.

It's also possible that girls dress up attractively to win the acceptance of other girls. This, I think, is much more likely than girls trying to attract males.

So, to sum it all up:

1.) Most girls who dress attractively do so to raise their own self-esteem;
2.) They may also do it to impress other girls, though it's mainly for themselves;
3.) Comparably few girls dress up nicely to attract the attention of males.

So, am I correct here? What are your thoughts? I'd love to know.

Regards,
cuberdrift

[visitor]

um you left out the need to dress because of professional dress code and apperances standards.

[outin]

The things you boys contemplate about 

I guess I don't really count as a girl, but when it comes to make-up it's something that becomes a habit. One feels a bit naked without it. I have no problem not wearing any on my free time, but would not go to work without. Takes me only about 5 minutes in the morning to put it on though. And it's only uncomfortable if overdone

I'd say in most western societies being beautiful is not necessarily the best thing if you want to be taken seriously or "looked up to"... it's better to look smart. That's why I wear glasses and not contacts, they make me look older and wiser...I think

[Bob]

Why not both, all, etc.?

[debussychopin]

I like to look sinister

[unholeee]

no. because if she dresses up more 'hot' guys will notice her.

[chomaninoff1]

I think it is different for every woman. Personally, I wear make up and dress nicely for my self-esteem. If I look beautiful, then I feel great and act more confident. There is definitely a palpable difference in how I feel and act when wearing makeup vs not wearing any. I think that looking attractive to others is an added bonus, but is it not my main reason for taking care of myself.

What I think should be made clear, though, is that (most) women don't wear makeup and get dressed up because they want to be hit on or get approached by men. I'm sure some do, but from what I gather from other women and my own reasoning is that make up is mainly used to either feel confident, or as an artistic outlet. As visitor mentioned, many women are forced to wear makeup and wear high heels in professional environments to "look presentable."

[visitor]

[cuberdrift]

I think it is different for every woman. Personally, I wear make up and dress nicely for my self-esteem. If I look beautiful, then I feel great and act more confident. There is definitely a palpable difference in how I feel and act when wearing makeup vs not wearing any. I think that looking attractive to others is an added bonus, but is it not my main reason for taking care of myself.

What I think should be made clear, though, is that (most) women don't wear makeup and get dressed up because they want to be hit on or get approached by men. I'm sure some do, but from what I gather from other women and my own reasoning is that make up is mainly used to either feel confident, or as an artistic outlet. As visitor mentioned, many women are forced to wear makeup and wear high heels in professional environments to "look presentable."

That's indeed my theory.

So that means, most women, even if they are ABSOLUTELY SURE they're not going to encounter any male person at all during the place they dress up for, will dress up nicely to feel good?

@visitor ewww