<p>Bay</p>
<p>You are kidding, right?</p>
<p>Some people are offended by women who do not dress like [url=<a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg/400px-Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg]this[/url”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg/400px-Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg]this[/url</a>].</p>
![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg/400px-Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg]this[/url](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg/400px-Burqa_Afghanistan_01.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url){kind=link}
<p>Others are offended by women who do dress like that.</p>
<p>You can’t win.</p>
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<p>No. Why do you say that?</p>
<p>I can barely wear ballet flats. I have them under my desk at work – I usually don’t wear them outside. Boots are a little better and I’ll wear them to and from work but by the end of the day my feet are sore. I just have really difficult feet. So at the grocery store on the weekend – I’m usually wearing Birkinstocks, sneakers, or snow boots, depending on the season.</p>
<p>I think the footwear outdoor thing depends a lot on transportation as well. I live in a city. I don’t have a car. The ground is covered in slush fifty percent of the time between December and March. If I went outside in anything but (practical and waterproof) boots, my shoes would be destroyed and my feet would be soaked. If it was doorstep-car-doorstep, it might be different, but I live in a city where people walk everywhere and the best I see in the winter is boots that are cute and sturdy and waterproof.</p>
<p>I also kind of like the look of some sweats at times. I know obviously that’s individual but dressing not to offend anybody is never going to work – taste is so different. One person’s sloppy or underdressed is another person’s fun and interesting style.</p>
<p>“Ignore it all at your own peril.”?? Like what peril would that be?</p>
<p>I think very, very few people are OFFENDED by what someone else wears. They may dislike it or nor approve but I very much doubt offense is wide spread.</p>
<p>Unless of course it is intentionally offensive like GaGa’s meat dress.</p>
<p>In the context of this thread, had to laugh. D came home from PT for a sprained ankle. PT told her to wear better shoes, as given her lower body morphology, she is headed for foot problems in future due to her high arches and tight ankles. Was told to avoid flats! And she is 23. </p>
<p>Clothing, and the class issues reflected by style or the lack are very much an issue in other parts of the world. Looking at it anthropologically, we’re all transmitting class, culture, by what we wear. That we have a large, diverse society, where many things are acceptable, with varying rules and trends, depending on where and how we live, is really rather interesting. One of the amazing things about the times we are living in, is our latitude to participate, or not, and feel grateful for how free we are compared to the clothing rules of 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago.</p>
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<p>What shoes was she told to wear?</p>
<p>Something with better support. Runners, probably the sort of things that I wear that she’d rather not be caught dead in, Merrells, Keens, Chacos. There are things out there, and as she is headed to France for the year, needs to come up with something both fashionable and supportive.</p>
<p>Bay- you sound offended to me
My biggest pet peeve is pajama bottoms. I literally feel disgusted when I see people wearing these in public</p>
<p>Good one, great lakes mom! Tell me what she comes up with and I’ll buy it too.</p>
<p>romanigypsyeyes–I thought this whole thread was about people offended by sweat pants. Get with it girl–we are in peril!</p>
<p>There was a singer in my day who wore a meat dress too. “She Dances with Meat” Kim Carnes. I thought that was funny, actually.</p>
<p>Great Lakes mom- tell Dto pay attention! Those are my feet. High arches- supinator,tight ankles and loose hamstrings.</p>
<p>I alternate my shoes almost every day, I haven’t worn high heels more than occasionally for over two decades, so I don’t blame them, but I am scheduled for a knee replacement at almost 55. ( I hope she isn’t double jointed).</p>
<p>Chacos are good, especially the ones with the toe strap. They are actually very cute, my younger daughter wears them. I try to wear Vibram five fingers once a week as they are good at developing the intrinsic muscles. Also sports shoes with lots of cushioning at the forefoot, because feet with high arches don’t roll, they just slap down, which is jarring to the whole leg.</p>
<p>I don’t think Keens are that great, they are very roomy, but not a lot of support unless she bought some super feet or other insoles to go into them.
Born shoes are more stylish. I have several pairs and even a 22 yr old might find something!
;)</p>
<p>[Born</a> Womens Boots on Bornshoes.com](<a href=“http://www.bornshoes.com/ViewAll.aspx?GenderID=8&CategoryID=102&PageNo=1&SortType=P]Born”>Women's Boots | Casual Boots, Booties & Ankle Boots | Born Shoes)</p>
<p>Context matters. I do think some people are rightly <em>offended</em> by visible butt crack or pajamas and too much boob in public. Whether they are offended by people wearing sloppy sweats in class or the grocery store is a matter of taste and degree.</p>
<p>In our country, people are free to wear whatever they want, so long as it does not fall within the legal definition of obscenity, or violate a dress code for a given venue. While acknowledging that some people don’t give a rip, I think it is important for our offspring to know that others may be offended by one’s choice in dress and understand that they may be treated differently depending on their choice of clothing. </p>
<p>As much as one might want to deny it, clothing does communicate information. Proper attire = proper etiquette. Your great aunt may be shocked and hurt when you show up at her retirement home afternoon tea in your sloppy sweats, just as might your bff who hired a caterer and bought a new black dress for the cocktail party she is hosting in her home. If you refuse to acknowledge their feelings and expectations for attire, then you are no better than those who refuse to acknowledge your self-important need for comfort above decorum. Probably less so, when it takes little effort to dress the part and they made the effort to make the occasion something special.</p>
<p>When I don’t sleep nekkid, I sleep in my yoga pants.
;)</p>
<p>Great, please just don’t wear them all the next day when you are sitting next to me. 
Thanks.</p>
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<p>yoga pants that show what type of underwear you are wearing count as well dressed, apparently…</p>
<p>especially if it’s a “good” brand…</p>
<p>Bay, my elderly relatives are so happy when I visit them, I could probably wear meat.</p>
<p>EK, those are some nice shoes. She has my feet. High arches as well. We’ll see how things develop. Best wishes with the surgery!</p>
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<p>My Dad was happy for my visits, too. He also complimented me on my attire. I was glad I made him feel proud of me around is friends.</p>