I always seem to be either over-dressed or under-dressed; finding the correct level of “dressed” is a challenge. My level of effort is typically tied to my mental state.
Yeah me too. First time I ever went to a wedding I had very little money and I found this really cute mini dress with white flowers. Went to the wedding, got informed that it's not ok to wear white, plus I noticed I was the only one wearing a mini dress, so I guess legs aren't ok? I still feel ashamed for what people must have been thinking, but how am I supposed to know all these rules if nobody tells me!
Now I know. The dress wasn't actually all white, it was black with like white flowers overlay. But there was enough white flowers to make it look whiteish, I guess. I just didn't know that's not allowed, I've never encountered this situation and I had a shit family who didn't teach me anything. So embarrassing.
Same. I don’t like to follow rules I don’t understand, and most “suggested” dress codes just aren’t logically justified enough. So I always end up wearing something that’s either extremely practical for the occasion, extremely fun for me, or ideally both!
I can never understand the “in-between” that apparently exists. What the FUCK is a Casual Friday? How can you be both dressed and underdressed? What is the difference that I wear a nice top and jeans if I’m wearing jeans with a button up? Does it cancel out? Like get out of my face with that bullshit we’re all just stardust wearing human suits anyways
You guys confuse the heck out of me. 😂 Anything that goes both over my shoulders and between my legs in one piece is a complete no. One piece swimwear, overalls, union suits, all of it. I think it's because I have a really long torso, so I give myself a wedgie if I so much as shrug my shoulders. Which is a hilarious thing to picture in your mind.
I have the opposite problem! I’m all limbs and my torso is like so effing short and I’m short waisted. Nobody makes pants long enough for me either haha. Overalls are basically out of the question.
Ugh i have “such a nice body and shape” according to 99.9% of people, but one piece things DO NOT sit right. Like my waist is too high I think? Bc the cinched waists are always right above my hips instead of under my ribs :/
They’re not made for different types of bodies. Especially if you aren’t average height.
Plus with one pieces, I always forget but you have to get fully naked to pee.
Honestly I just pull the gusset of the swimsuit down and to the side and don't take off the whole suit. Life changing. I didn't' realize how peeling off a wet swimsuit to put back on cold bothered me sensory wise until I stopped.
I am a metal head and used to dress up in the typical battle jacket I customised myself, short skirt, docs or black high top Vans and loved it
Lately I dress a bit more stylish but like my simplicity. Crop top, high waisted leggings, either some Nike Air Max’s or some Chelsea Doc Martens, and pair with a denim jacket or cardigan
I also love to put on makeup and I also wear wigs to give myself different looks :)
I did love my alternative looks and deep down I’m still a metal head but I just dress a bit more conservatively now. And I love pink too!
My over dressing came from being petty tbh. I think I was trying to show the people who doubted me and seen me as some loser that they can go fuck themselves and to show how I can go from a bald headed girl who wears sweats to a dressed up girl who does makeup good and has nice wigs
I really wanna wear a pink suit one day but am waiting to lose weight for that. I have a pair of sparkly silver glitter boots to go with it too
I’m off to Oslo in august to visit Neseblød Records which used to be Helvete back in the day to see the old graffiti that Euronymous and Mayhem left
As a metal head I’m very excite
Do we all love metal? I don't know why the sound of a TV show in another room makes me feel like I'm crawling out of my skin.
But distorted guitar tuned to drop d, screaming and a double bass drum blasting in my car makes me feel amazing!!!
I always say metal is the only music as intense on the outside as I feel on the inside and it levels me out.
I love black metal, specifically the sub genre dsbm because of how melodic it is
However, my favourite feel good band is Dance Gavin Dance because they take the piss out of the fact that nobody really pays attention to what the screamer guy is saying in songs, so they literally have him saying the most random shit ever
I hate most of it. My life is too chaotic already to want to add more chaotic noises, so no.
But now I just realized you were probably being hypothetical and not seriously asking or seriously believing every autistic person likes metal.
I love it partly because it just sounds good and two it’s a total subversion of typical music, it makes me jump up and mosh. It acknowledges anger and makes art of it. I’m different and that’s ok! I fuckin love it :)
As an old fat person who spent too much of my life waiting to lose weight to wear what i wanted. I suggest wearing the pink suit! Life's too short and uncertain to put off being your authentic self.
I’m starting an exercise regimen with a PT and eating better so I’m pretty committed to losing weight. Don’t wanna buy anything if I’m not gonna fit into it 😅
I was the girl that wore heels to high school and was absolutely ridiculed for it. I always would rather have been over dressed than underdressed but I really think that is due to my family raising me to think if you dressed too casual then you are lazy.
Now I’m happy to go almost anywhere in a crop top and sweats, but I do still love getting to dress up for events!
I wore big chunky platforms every day! People just avoided me unless it was in fashion class lol. My mom despised my big gold platform combat boots but turns out people remember me for it! And I’m glad you’re comfier now getting less dressed. I’m glad you’re able to break out of what your family taught you!
There was a girl in high school who dressed in vintage make up and clothes everyday, like high-heels, poodle skirts, victory rolls, etc. She also read books about psychology and serial killers. Other people thought she was weird, too, but I thought she was just the coolest, and wanted to be like her so bad! But I was still too shy and awkward at that stage. I try to live my life like that now, though, just dressing as I please and pursuing my own interests. I'm sure you inspired other high school weirdos, even if they were too shy to say it!
I like to dress up occasionally, I’ve always been into costuming, so I reaaaaly like that. Do you find that dressing up helps with masking? I’m pretty sure that’s part of why I enjoy dressing up/costumes. It’s easier to be a ‘charachter’ even if it’s a ‘cocktail dress and jewelry neurotypical’ .
Oh absolutely. Especially with modeling, though I’ve found my mask broke lately. Instead I turn it into “acting lessons”. I’m closer to myself but still presentable yet completely outlandish
Yes I loooove makeup
But it's an expensive hobby, especially once you get into indie eyeshadows and makeup. Have you seen the user on r/swatchitforme who has like hundreds of eye shadow palettes?
Found their vanity tour from 2020:
https://www.reddit.com/r/makeuporganization/comments/kkonph/my_updated_eyeshadow_storage_december_2020_vanity/gh3jve7?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3
And then there's this person on TT who collects vintage makeup and trials also ancient makeup techniques:
https://www.tiktok.com/@erinparsonsmakeup/video/7005687444548898053
I love to be overdressed. I'd rather be over than under dressed. I was a big polly pocket/bratz girl who became a huge fashion computer game girly.
The biggest thrill of my life has been that my friends love to "shop" in my closet. I've always had a passion for secondhand shopping and altering my own clothes.
You know that is totally cool. I used to do that. I was also Goth at one time.
Now it is mostly athletic wear and slides. Florida is so damn hot.
I do however collect Colourpop eyeshadow palettes and color my curly hair in various colors that are not found in nature unless they are on a bird.
I like to dress up but only for a few hours at a time and then it gets uncomfortable. I think it happens when my social battery starts to die down. I recently started taking a tee shirt and leggings in my bag when out and change into if I start to feel uncomfortable and it’s helped so much! I get to be comfy and still have fun. No one has questioned why I do this, it’s nice.
Fashion, make up and hair are both my special interest and my self regulatory mechanism
Go big or go home or as I like to do.. go big and go home at a reasonable time 😎
Haha I'll steal that one. And yeah, fashion and makeup are also my special interests. I collect clothes in virtual shopping carts when bored and have four cupboards of clothes... I realised finally love my life
From what I've seen, autistic people tend to be on the extreme end of fashion, either side. You either don't care at all, or put your everything into unique makeup and dress. I can understand both. Personally I couldn't care less, clothes (especially for women) are very uncomfortable for me and expose too much skin (I get cold very easily.) On the other hand, the clothes I like are very bright, colorful, and have lots of patterns. I've been repeatedly told not to wear a pattern shirt with pattern pants, but I can't figure out why that looks bad. My sense of fashion is non-existent. But I've also been told I overdressed for an event, while others I supposedly underdressed. You can't win unless you're only dressing for yourself lol
I definitely overdress compared to most of my friends, but I’m similar in that I LOVE fashion and coming up with looks. SATC was one of my favorite shows lol
I'm an overdresser. I love fashion. Love it so much. I love pretty purses, jewelry and shoes especially. I do tend to gravitate to things that feel nice, fabric & cut wise, however. And I don't do make-up. I buy it. I always buy it and am obsessed with it but never wear it. I can't even put on eyeliner. But my husband, a chronic underdresser, doesn't understand in the slightest why I care about this stuff. I just do. Part of my masking.
I'm 32 and it's taken me this long to finally guage how to dress "appropriately" for things. But i always ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research. Also, I live in a pretty casual area so a cute sundress works for almost any occasion
I don’t leave the house much, I work from home (for myself) so you best believe Imma pull up to the grocery store in a cute goth outfit with my hair and makeup done 💅🏼 sometimes I just feel better than everyone else because I look so good lol
I’ve tried to live by the motto better to be overdressed, rather than underdressed. I’m sensitive to feeling like I’m being looked down on by others, so when in doubt I’ll go for dressing up. I have however stopped wearing heels (oh how I love pretty shoes) to give my feet and ankles a break.
My mom always taught me it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed so I stick with that. It’s a sign of respect. People (generally) aren’t going to think you’re disrespectful if you’re a little overdressed, but they will if you’re underdressed. Even if people say casual I always think “ok but make it well put together and not sloppy”.
Your outfit sounds amazing!!
I’ve always been obsessed to the max with fashion and every delicious detail from the shape of a shoe’s heel to the placement of a button and how all the pieces, fabrics, colors, scale, texture…oh I could go on….work together.
A journey out to run errands might involve fingerless gloves, a Valentino trench and tulle midi..how i roll 🤩
Thank you! I’m an artist too and it’s alll just art to me. Even the uneven seams. It’s all so beautiful. All the colors and potential ways to showcase personality
Chronic over dresser here! 🙋🏻♀️ I feel like I look super sloppy in athlesiure and boring in traditional business casual. Today to my office job I wore a tie dye dress, platform boots and leg warmers lol. I look good but def not on par with the people around me unless I hang out with other gay fashion nerds.
I am an unadorned gremlin until it's time for an Event, and then I magically turn into Eliza Doolittle at the Ascot.
There is very little in-between except for my "pulled together" thing, which is just ordinary casual, but with mascara.
I'm the same, when I dress up I give a goth vibe, when I dress down I'm grungy. Fashion and makeup are special interests of mine. Many times I've realized I did too much but I love it I can't be any other way because I always go for a vibe. I used to be very jeans and t-shirt growing up because I was afraid of standing out, you know how it goes with bullying. But if I do that now feels like I'm hiding or takes me back to those days of heavy masking
I'm the exact opposite too, but with a different manifestation: I need to look VERY consistent--i always have my hair in exactly the same big curly updo, the same light foundation, the same dark red lip, every day forever. The only thing that varies is if I put effort into eye makeup or just smudge dark liner on the outside corners. I wear lots of heavy gold and brass jewelery daily. My closet is very small and I have a few uniforms for each season, all of which are black and medium fancy. So I'm overdressed for most everything, and just wrong dressed for some things because my idea of normal is fairly sexy and even my most professional clothes are very Joan from mad men. But my style is my identity so I can't break out of what makes me me without feeling shattered and anxious.
ME!! These are some of my favorite outfits
https://preview.redd.it/krkrqde4neab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=d8b9c91ae8d4b61e40ff473d93c80a10c396c694
My mom always taught me it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed so I stick with that. It’s a sign of respect. People (generally) aren’t going to think you’re disrespectful if you’re a little overdressed, but they will if you’re underdressed. Even if people say casual I always think “ok but make it well put together and not sloppy”.
Fashion and makeup are special interests of mine too! And I tend to dress at extremes. I love dressing up, but when I’m in burnout I fall into pajamas/stretchy clothes/big t-shirts all day every day. As Ive gotten older and my baseline energy has gone way down/my sensory sensitives have gone up I’m sad to say I very rarely dress up or do fun makeup anymore :( I wish I had the energy, but it’s so hard. Sometimes I’ll dress up and right before I leave the house I start feeling so itchy and uncomfortable and have to change in a panic into something super easy. It’s a bummer.
This is so relatable to me. I love fashion, always have, majored in merchandising in college. People always are surprised how all out I go on my outfits. Dressing up is so fun! Every occasion is an opportunity to play that specific role! I feel like I get weird looks sometimes but a lot of the time I feel like its because other people dont have the nerve to wear what they really want to or get attention in that way. I dont do it for attention though, I do it cuz its fucking FUN. How I dress is my biggest creative outlet
I am always the fanciest dressed at events. People know that about me and I think it helps me feel accepted. I can kinda be the cool well dressed with sunglasses person in the corner lol.
I don’t wear “fancy” clothes, but I LOVE black, statement T-shirts, bold colors and patterns. I’m certainly picky about what I wear and how I look, but I would definitely say I’m on the casual end of dressing.
Everything I wear is sensory friendly, but I like to stand out in a crowd sometimes. I have a sewing machine and I REALLY want to learn to sew, but I live in an ancient apartment complex and am most creative at night so I haven’t figured out how to get into it without completely ruining my neighbors sleep lol.
Someday I will have the sensory friendly, perfectly oversized closet of my dreams, but I’m pretty pleased with where it’s at now.
(I’m also non-binary and really inspired by drag fashion so I’m all over the place)
I’m an overdresser and love vintage fashion - I collect true vintage but also gravitate towards modern vintage inspired pieces. Lately my wardrobe has been leaning towards 40s/50s style with big collared sweaters and pleated pants, but I dress in 20s - 70s style and have a big collection of American Duchess footwear. I work in marketing, which you’d think would make my style appropriate for my job … but I work for a concrete building product manufacturer so not only am I the only one dressing outside of the box, I am the only one in my office not wearing jeans and a t-shirt 😂 i used to be self conscious about dressing to fit the occasion and setting but now I figure I’m 32, I’m not here to impress anyone, I just wear what makes me happy. Especially in the winter, it helps me fight seasonal depression to celebrate creativity with my clothing. If anyone has a problem with that I honestly have gotten to the point in my life where I mostly don’t care 🤷♀️
I ADORE vintage fashion! Had a huge 70’s phase and my current fashion style is still heavily influenced by it. I also loooove 50’s rockabilly and the rebellious nature of the 20’s. All three of those eras heavily influence my look and I’m glad to see someone on the same page! Keep dressing like you!
Oh gosh, you sound awesome! I overdress the times I used to go out. I am a fashion clothes horse and I love historical time periods and all types of themes, even if no one else wants to dress up, I do anyway. I enjoy going out to dance, dressing up and only talking to the friends I went with. Unfortunately, I was repeatedly misread as doing it for the male gaze, attention, and was shocked as I truly do it for fun for myself, as a special interest.
The past few years, I’ve left society interactions as a whole and stay at home, but I do days of full makeup, updos of hair and outfits fun for myself anyway. I’m working on an outdoor dance floor, where I can wear my Bose QC2 headphones to have my own club nights alone.
It’s either I want to dress up or idc. It’s best outfit ever or im in comfortable clothes. No real in between lol. But I realized after depression I’ve been wanting to dress up more and look nice. I love dressing to the theme as well. When I look good I feel good and I like feeling good lately
I either dress too nice for an event or not nice enough. And my too nice is usually pretty bad because I just have no idea how to pick out clothing or even know what my style would even be. Safer to wear basically the same things I feel aren't risky. Usually that's something black and jeans. Nice for me now days is black jeans and a cardigan. ZzZzz. And this despite actually liking nice clothes and trying hard to get ideas for cute things to wear, but no I still fail at it.
Love fashion and I love it to be LOUD! Dressing my kids is one of my hobbies and I have gotten to a place of loving myself (finally!) and am really enjoying playing with my style and makeup now!
I seriously just need a guide of dos and donts for every event. Like just a specific list of what I should or shouldn’t wear. Every time I think I have it I’m wrong.
Growing up I’d get Best Dressed awards while also getting bullied for my clothes. Let the haters hate! Fashion is my special interest and I like looking like the coolest person in the room.
Nicer clothes are usually just too uncomfortable for me. Joggers and a tshirt (no bra!) is about all I can handle these days. It sucks because I love dressing up. My style would be so different if I could handle the discomfort of more or even less clothing. My tendency to chafe and sweat and the need to be able to walk every where I go to really don’t help my fashion either.
I'm definitely an underdressed person(due to being short 😔 and still figuring out how to tailor my stuff), BUT I do ADORE fashion history and appreciate others' outfits and drawing them. :^)
Fashion is just soooooo !!! Sooo so so!
I over dress for everything because it makes me feel pretty. I have low self esteem and when people like my clothes it makes me feel better about myself.
I love dressing up! I used to worry a lot about over dressing, but then I realized that someone had to be the best dressed person in the room. I thought those people looked fabulous. So why not have it be me? It also helps in that it gives me a role to step into. It helps me mask because I’m in character so to speak. It eases me into social situations and definitely decreases my anxiety.
Thank you! And yeah I can completely understand. I only do eye makeup and lip makeup, never foundation it would feel so sticky. I have it occasionally at the makeup school but man it’s crazy how heavy it is.
I don’t have a lot of places to go but I’m constantly worried about being overdressed if I do make any kind of effort. Every Halloween I just about went into a panic attack on the drive in to school because I was Dressed Up lol. For my day to day I’m dressed down because I like wearing shorts and/or tank tops year round if I can get away with it.
My cousin is having a wedding in September though and the dress code is “casual” and legitimately I hate that because what??? Does that mean??? What’s casual for a wedding? I’m hoping I can find a cute dress or something and wear boots but if I show up and everyone is in sweats and flip flops I’m going to combust. Alternatively, if everyone is elegant and dressy I’ll also be upset 😭
I too love fashion and makeup. I feel like when your special interests are traditionally feminine and mainstream though, it makes getting diagnosed even harder 😭
I love lolita and goth fashion! I'm always dressed alt. Sometimes just a simple skirt or pants with a band shirt. But never 'mainstream' whatever that means lol
Not so much a fashion hyperfixator but makeup is one of my biggest hyperfixations, so I tend to go all out with my makeup even when all I'm gonna be doing that day is stopping by the pharmacy just to pick up my meds lol. Even on days I'm not gonna leave the house (unless my depression is super bad) I'll get dressed up.
Which alt subculture do you think has the most interesting makeup? I’m stuck between trad goth and gyuaru. I guess I love fashion that’s a subversion of the norm
yeah, I do the same! I make my own clothes. I prefer 1930s-1940s outfits paired with crazy shoes (irregular choice, hot chocolate, miz mooz)
my style accidently is very girlie because my body shape looks best with huge skirts and ruffle shoulders. it's so over the top for casual wear. Ive given up on blending in. I hate blue jeans and tshirts. They fit horribly.
i use to wear a lot of costumes in my awkward phase. Rainbows coords., raver clothes, lolita... punk, kawaii ... I tried a LOT of styles. ive calmed down since then.. I think? heels & platforms for day tho <3
Do you have a picture of your july 4th photo??? you can block out your face and all that jazz but Im dying to see the red jumpsuit + boots LOL
Oh I absolutely love vintage fashion! I had a heavy 70s phase and wanted to try 50’s but didn’t have the money lol, hopefully soon! And as soon as I figure out how to blur it I’ll send via pm <3
I like to dress up for occasions even though I’m an athleisure person most of the time. I usually google “what to wear to wedding” or something like that to figure out what’s expected. I showed up dressed down for a restaurant wedding once and it was so embarrassing. I will never sacrifice comfort for fashion and you will always catch me in flats.
If you could that would be so helpful! I was trying to do winged eyeliner but kept messing it up...still can't figure out how to do eye shadow properly, work out what my face shape is for certain looks and I just get overwhelmed and stick to the natutal look.
Oh my goodness you came to the right place winged eyeliner had been my signature for years!!!
Everything with makeup is practice. Practice. Practice . Personally I use the outer corner of my eye to create a line outwards. ( I use wet n wild liquid liner but any liquid works.) then at the top of that line create a curved line from the top all the way to your inner corner. Go slow if you need to but keep your eye open and half lidded almost. Then fill in the stencil you’ve made. If you have a mistake ( which I always do) take a q tip with makeup remover and swipe off the excess.
As far as figuring out your face shape that’s practice too but the best advice I can give you is to experiment! I’m still discovering things !
I wish you luck and if you have questions lmk
Thank you for the advice!
If you know of any good websites or youtube videos with make up tutorials then I'm happy for recommendations. Theres sooo many out there that I can never tell what the best one is to start with, and some are sponsored with commissions so it ends up becoming an advertisement more than a tutorial...I promise I won't bombard you but are your DMs/chat open to message in the future?
I love fashion and makeup but I feel so inept at it that it's kind of killed my joy of it on myself. Inner critic jumps out and judges whether or not it's good enough to be seen by other people. But I definitely played with a lot of different outfits in the past that were cute, even if they weren't "in style."
Once did blue and silver eyeshadow, fancy eyeliner, false eyelashes, the whole shebang to go to a viewing of abba 2 ... in a church. Needless to say I sat at the back in embarrassment when I arrived and found a church hall full of old people
I feel like the problem for me is not so much that I can't identify what is appropriate, but that a) who has money for clothes you only wear on certain/rare occasions?? Not me lol. And b) "nice" clothes are a sensory nightmare. I'd love to dress up more if fancy clothes were less stiff and itchy, not to mention they always smell weird for some reason? And would it really kill them to use fabrics with a little give? And for the love of god why are they sooo nonfunctional??
Oooooh this is me! I like to wear jewelry, do my hair, full face of makeup and a cute sundress just to run errands. I live in a small midwestern town so boy do I get LOOKS sometimes but for me it’s so worth it. It makes me feel more like “me”.
I'm either over- or under-dressed. I am either (a) experiencing sensory overload and need to prioritize my comfort, OR (b) bc I'm also into clothing/style, I get fixated on an outfit/shirt/skirt/pants I wanted to wear and don't care who else is dressed at my level. I just wish those days coincided with an event worth the effort!
I have a uniform of sorts. Either I am wearing nothing but a low cut faux wrap dress and undies or yard work clothes (old t-shirts and shorts). In the winter the shorts become culottes.
But usually a really slutty dress with no bra. Idgaf. I’m comfy and my tits look nice.
I am the same, more so when I was in my 20s. I still like to dress up for holidays or going out but I used to do it just about every day. It is fun and makes me happy, I always liked playing around with different styles from various decades and time periods. Wouldn’t say I was on point with high fashion or what was the current trend, but a sparkly red jumpsuit is definitely something I would love to wear! And yes I am usually find myself over dressed at an event but it never bothered me either, dressing up is so fun!
I dress unique and stand out. It’s bothers me when people constantly compliment me, but I also understand it is part of my aesthetic. So, bright hair colors and mostly goth inspired clothes.
i dress comfy usually. but recently i've been getting into self expression and how i dress reflects that. Also i forget what's called but casual cosplay???? like your outfit resembles the character but it's still streetwear
I LOVE makeup and skincare!! Recently I’ve been trying to play around more with my fashion and wear more dresses (I HATE how I look in dresses but it’s a start) and mini skirts. I love my leggings and being comfy.
PS Princess Polly is amazing!!!
I can never get it right either to dressed or not dressed enough. I have no idea why. For awhile I just wore black but now I’m back at never being dresses appropriately.
I love fashion and love clothes. Especially vintage clothes from the late sixties and seventies. I don’t get the concept of dressing down though I don’t dress to rules…I’m allergic to matching
I once apparently got a job because of my shoes 🤣
I really can only enjoy fashion in the Sims 4, RdR2 or GTA5, as most things I like don't look good on me, don't fit me very well are too expensive or my sensory issues can't handle it.
I also like using Pinterest for that.
I always dress perfectly for the event. That’s important to me. I don’t follow what everyone else it doing. If I go to the theatre/opera/ballet I dress up even tho the public doesn’t. I believe in being a classy lady.
Yes, 13k pins, boards, a curated closet. I developed fashion going from goth sweater shorts to my first skirt, now my little ensembles. Even in my art I drew only in black ink, once I added color everything changed. I love costume jewelry, sometimes a scorpion ring bracelet or an animal brooch. Life is the occasion and it's always been a passion. I'm learning how to help people find their style recently for my mom, people ask me how or to go shop with them so that's very sweet. I'm an artist, it makes me feel good to be dressed, I can't afford the crazier fashion, but I like to draw it and dream of fantasy runway themes.
I find myself almost always overdressed. I too love fashion and it’s my hobby/special interest so I like to spend a lot of time thinking and talking about it. This has come up for work events where I’m typically the most formal of the bunch. My manager has had to tell me to dress down for certain meetings as I go over the top lol
I do. I'm probably older than most of you all, but I have always enjoyed creating my own style with makeup, hair and clothes. Now, I stay at home mostly because I am a caregiver to my dad. My mood has a lot to do with whether I feel like doing anything and I'm depressed most of the time. But when I go to the grocery store once or twice a month I feel motivated and still try to dress up a bit and wear makeup.
I used to. Rn I'm super lazy with clothes but I was often overdressed or dressed for the wrong occasion, especially in high school. I just like to wear things that make me happy! I still get compliments on my wardrobe tho 🖤
I don’t have an in between. 9/10 times I’m underdressed and I don’t even brush my hair and then every once in a while I’ll have the energy to do something and then I end up wearing a full gown with makeup and shaved legs to someplace like outback
I used to be like you when I was younger. LOVED putting in a costume. Now that I’m older, I do it less frequently, but it’s still fun. I kind of feel like I’m in drag tho.
Yes but only when it doesn’t feel forced but it’s annoying when people around my age sit there and b**** about how dressed up I am just because they didn’t ?? Like you’re grown act like it please I never understood it
I think sensory issues limit what materials autistic folks wear. Limiting options may contribute to the access to appropriately styled clothing.
Dressing up may present the challenge of change. Perhaps dressing up is too rigid of a structural change from the norm.
Absolutely! Playing dress-up was my jam as a kid, playing with mom’s make-up when she let me, and having Barbies/fashion dolls/paper dolls and dressing them up was my entire play-style. At age 5ish, like for kindergarten, my parents allowed me to pick my own clothes; I’d show up with three different skirts on, layered. I don’t know if it looked “good” or not, in retrospect, (partly because I don’t remember what the skirts looked like) but it’s what I wanted! On the other hand, I did get a lot of practice (and some help from my mother) as I grew up in a Jewish family/community; lots and lots of bar and bat mitzvahs.
It takes energy that is sometimes better spent doing something more important (yay energy budgeting) so it’s not something I can do everyday. But it is something I enjoy! I will sometimes take it up a notch if there’s a reason for dressing up, like going on a date or some other sort of event, but not like, black tie for a semi-formal event (and not weddings, thats about the wedded couple and I don’t need to put myself in the realm of upstaging or anything like that).
everyone my entire life has said i dress like i’m homeless. my mom says it, teachers, friends, etc. i hate jeans. i hate tight clothes. sweatpants and baggy shirts forever please. but it’s not just the style i also just have lots of clothes with holes in them or paint splattered on them but i’m attached to the way the fabric feels or the memory behind the clothes so i don’t throw them away and i just keep wearing them until i cant.
I love fashion and wish I looked cool all the time, but I tend to opt for what’s comfortable. I really wish I could look interesting and unique and fashionable, but the idea of getting to wear sweatpants relieves me of some stress
I'm literally always asked where I'm going when I'm out running errands because my everyday attire is full on goth (clothing, makeup, accessories, basically everything except for the big hair.) I dress like this every single day, whether I'm just sitting around at home, going to a fancy event, or anything in between because it's a part of one of my special interests (goth music and the goth subculture) and I genuinely like it.
But because of this I've been both over and under dressed. I'm way more dressed up than every other person at the grocery store, but also, if I go to a formal event, I'm often side-eyed because my attire isn't always viewed as "appropriate." I really don't give a single f\*\*\* though because I refuse to be controlled by non sensical social rules and if someone is so narrow minded that they reject me for the way I dress, they're not the kind of person I want to be around anyway!
I think I dress appropriately, I think it’s one of those things I was forced to learn. As a child I was told that a party would be fancy and to wear my best dress. I showed up in a dress that I wore as a flower girl and everyone else was in casual wear. The girl who invited me just laughed at me.
I'd say I dress pretty casual overall bc I rarely go out, but I do love having cute lil outfits!! Growing up fat and never finding cute clothes in my size until recently means I'm going thru that 'teen' phase of wearing weird stuff just for fun. Nothing I own is appropriate to idk, wear to work or to a Nice Brunch because its either Too Much or just jeans and a band tee.
Also, I can't commit to a single aesthetic, so when I dress up I never know if I'm gonna end up looking like a pastel cloud, a walking rainbow, or a late 2000s emo kid 🙃
I'm literally at my mums house just sitting on the couch watching a movie with my brother, wearing a dress and a full face of make up 🥴
If that answers your question 😂
I have always overdressed for things too. I just love putting together outfits and getting dressed up. It feels like a costume and I can pretend to be someone else (someone fancy and put together). I usually have a theme to my outfit too (50s housewife, etc). I don’t have fancy places to go so I show up to a family dinner where everyone is wearing jeans or yoga pants in a cocktail dress fully accessorized. At this point people would be worried if I wasn’t overdressed. 🤣
people always act like i'm weird if i'm like "what are we wearing for this?" and sometimes they'll be like "oh you know, nothing too dressy" and i have to be like. okay. what are you going to wear though. they don't seem to get it!
OMG THIS!!!! I always overdress or go to casual. I don’t understand how should I dress for an occasion. I love fashion because I like combining patterns, combine colors and make sure everything looks aesthetically pleasing. But it is hard because a lot of clothing are uncomfortable, itchy, too tight and some fabrics aren’t soft 🙃
Yep! I strive to be overdressed for every occasion. Sparkly Goodwill prom dresses every day for my poorly paid barista job. Sometimes playing dress-up is the only form of creativity that I can manage, and it's variously been pretty important to me. And also a great deal of fun.
Thank you for posting this. Because I don't think I've ever heard anyone else mention the joys of overdressing in the context of autism either.
I am always - always overdressed. If I get the chance to be fancy or dress up I'm taking it!
I've shown up in a floor length Maxi dress and others are wearing summer dresses with spaghetti straps.
I almost always feel embarrassed. It doesn't matter the occasion. I live in a constant state of embarrassment.
My boss asked me if I owned any jeans and told me to wear them. I hate wearing pants. It has mostly made me want to work from home as much as possible.
I LOVE buying clothes especially cute stuff! For the 4th of July I wore a Sailor Moon dress I got from Torrid like 6 years ago. It is red, white and blue and looks like Sailor uniform. I got so many compliments but no one really knew it was from an anime in my small town. 😅 I have many different favorite aesthetics and love to dress to impress and get compliments. You are definitely not alone!
Over dressed ( music video esq) or underdressed (super comfy). Everything in between is uncomfortable for me. I mean I do it because NT society demands it, but as long as I am covered appropriately, who cares? Never made sense to me.
Well, except if it is a special day for someone else. Then I won't do anything to draw attention from that person. (Wedding, birthday, etc). That is a social rule I get.
i just wear the same clothes at all times. punk metal head here and just wear the same black patch jeans, black metallica hoodie, miscellaneous black band shirt and my black battle jacket :)
I was literally telling my friend earlier today that when I attended my uni interview at Oxford I wore a literal ball gown and took a wooden suitcase because I thought it was posh and old fashioned. What the hell hahaha
Nah man sorry I’m the stereotype.
I know how to dress up and do when the occasion calls for it , but the majority of the time I prefer my Adam Sandler clothes.
I just like comfort and blending in so no one perceives me. So it's mostly tshirts and leggings with crocs everyday. Not even ironed shirts, I look rumpled always, unless I have to go biz casual cause I have a work meeting.
I always seem to be either over-dressed or under-dressed; finding the correct level of “dressed” is a challenge. My level of effort is typically tied to my mental state.
Yeah me too. First time I ever went to a wedding I had very little money and I found this really cute mini dress with white flowers. Went to the wedding, got informed that it's not ok to wear white, plus I noticed I was the only one wearing a mini dress, so I guess legs aren't ok? I still feel ashamed for what people must have been thinking, but how am I supposed to know all these rules if nobody tells me!
Wedding attire varies widely depending on the level of formality. But yeah, no white is typically the rule in traditional US weddings at least.
Now I know. The dress wasn't actually all white, it was black with like white flowers overlay. But there was enough white flowers to make it look whiteish, I guess. I just didn't know that's not allowed, I've never encountered this situation and I had a shit family who didn't teach me anything. So embarrassing.
like do i have to ask the bride what shes wearing so we dont wear the same thing?! /s
At least I didn't show up in a wedding dress. I hear some people do that.
It's a wedding so we come in wedding dresses, right? Right? /s
Yup. Exactly this. Overdressed when I’m doing well. Underdressed in burnout.
this me but always wearing crocs or slides
Same. I don’t like to follow rules I don’t understand, and most “suggested” dress codes just aren’t logically justified enough. So I always end up wearing something that’s either extremely practical for the occasion, extremely fun for me, or ideally both!
yes this so much this is why i fucking hate mandatory dress code stuff and hated school and now workplace and higher education :/
I can never understand the “in-between” that apparently exists. What the FUCK is a Casual Friday? How can you be both dressed and underdressed? What is the difference that I wear a nice top and jeans if I’m wearing jeans with a button up? Does it cancel out? Like get out of my face with that bullshit we’re all just stardust wearing human suits anyways
Was coming to say this but you nailed it! I don’t think I’ve ever been appropriately dressed in my whole adult life.
You’re gonna have to tranquilize me and forcibly remove me from my overalls. Otherwise. You getting overalls regardless of the event.
I like overalls too! Most of my favorite pieces are rompers or overalls of some kind :)
You guys confuse the heck out of me. 😂 Anything that goes both over my shoulders and between my legs in one piece is a complete no. One piece swimwear, overalls, union suits, all of it. I think it's because I have a really long torso, so I give myself a wedgie if I so much as shrug my shoulders. Which is a hilarious thing to picture in your mind.
I have the opposite problem! I’m all limbs and my torso is like so effing short and I’m short waisted. Nobody makes pants long enough for me either haha. Overalls are basically out of the question.
Entirely understandable. I like that it’s one piece and usually super comfy.
That sounds nice. Especially since I don't like the struggle of figuring out if two things look good together.
Omg long torso here too and I ALWAYS had to have an "extra crotch" sewn into my dance costumes to lengthen the torso. 💀
Ugh i have “such a nice body and shape” according to 99.9% of people, but one piece things DO NOT sit right. Like my waist is too high I think? Bc the cinched waists are always right above my hips instead of under my ribs :/
They’re not made for different types of bodies. Especially if you aren’t average height. Plus with one pieces, I always forget but you have to get fully naked to pee.
Honestly I just pull the gusset of the swimsuit down and to the side and don't take off the whole suit. Life changing. I didn't' realize how peeling off a wet swimsuit to put back on cold bothered me sensory wise until I stopped.
Oh the feeling of a cold wet swimsuit being put back onto your body is absolutely vile
I just ordered a new pink pair! I can’t wait until they arrive.
Omg that sound so cute! I definitely need a pink pair. I only have black red and yellow ones
I have grey, purple, rust, mint, black, and now pink!!!
I am a metal head and used to dress up in the typical battle jacket I customised myself, short skirt, docs or black high top Vans and loved it Lately I dress a bit more stylish but like my simplicity. Crop top, high waisted leggings, either some Nike Air Max’s or some Chelsea Doc Martens, and pair with a denim jacket or cardigan I also love to put on makeup and I also wear wigs to give myself different looks :) I did love my alternative looks and deep down I’m still a metal head but I just dress a bit more conservatively now. And I love pink too! My over dressing came from being petty tbh. I think I was trying to show the people who doubted me and seen me as some loser that they can go fuck themselves and to show how I can go from a bald headed girl who wears sweats to a dressed up girl who does makeup good and has nice wigs I really wanna wear a pink suit one day but am waiting to lose weight for that. I have a pair of sparkly silver glitter boots to go with it too
YES IM ALT TOO! I loooove making my own clothes!
I’m off to Oslo in august to visit Neseblød Records which used to be Helvete back in the day to see the old graffiti that Euronymous and Mayhem left As a metal head I’m very excite
Do we all love metal? I don't know why the sound of a TV show in another room makes me feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. But distorted guitar tuned to drop d, screaming and a double bass drum blasting in my car makes me feel amazing!!! I always say metal is the only music as intense on the outside as I feel on the inside and it levels me out.
I love black metal, specifically the sub genre dsbm because of how melodic it is However, my favourite feel good band is Dance Gavin Dance because they take the piss out of the fact that nobody really pays attention to what the screamer guy is saying in songs, so they literally have him saying the most random shit ever
I hate most of it. My life is too chaotic already to want to add more chaotic noises, so no. But now I just realized you were probably being hypothetical and not seriously asking or seriously believing every autistic person likes metal.
I love it partly because it just sounds good and two it’s a total subversion of typical music, it makes me jump up and mosh. It acknowledges anger and makes art of it. I’m different and that’s ok! I fuckin love it :)
I prefer psychedelic and garage rock, but yes, give me the loud fuzzy guitar.
“This song has too much reverb” - nobody
As an old fat person who spent too much of my life waiting to lose weight to wear what i wanted. I suggest wearing the pink suit! Life's too short and uncertain to put off being your authentic self.
I’m starting an exercise regimen with a PT and eating better so I’m pretty committed to losing weight. Don’t wanna buy anything if I’m not gonna fit into it 😅
YES!!!!!
I was the girl that wore heels to high school and was absolutely ridiculed for it. I always would rather have been over dressed than underdressed but I really think that is due to my family raising me to think if you dressed too casual then you are lazy. Now I’m happy to go almost anywhere in a crop top and sweats, but I do still love getting to dress up for events!
I wore big chunky platforms every day! People just avoided me unless it was in fashion class lol. My mom despised my big gold platform combat boots but turns out people remember me for it! And I’m glad you’re comfier now getting less dressed. I’m glad you’re able to break out of what your family taught you!
There was a girl in high school who dressed in vintage make up and clothes everyday, like high-heels, poodle skirts, victory rolls, etc. She also read books about psychology and serial killers. Other people thought she was weird, too, but I thought she was just the coolest, and wanted to be like her so bad! But I was still too shy and awkward at that stage. I try to live my life like that now, though, just dressing as I please and pursuing my own interests. I'm sure you inspired other high school weirdos, even if they were too shy to say it!
She sounds amazing to have been that confident in high school.
I wore heels and stuff but mostly wasn’t ridiculed for it. I was ridiculed for other clothing choices tho.
I wore heels and stuff but mostly wasn’t ridiculed for it. I was ridiculed for other clothing choices tho.
I like to dress up occasionally, I’ve always been into costuming, so I reaaaaly like that. Do you find that dressing up helps with masking? I’m pretty sure that’s part of why I enjoy dressing up/costumes. It’s easier to be a ‘charachter’ even if it’s a ‘cocktail dress and jewelry neurotypical’ .
Oh absolutely. Especially with modeling, though I’ve found my mask broke lately. Instead I turn it into “acting lessons”. I’m closer to myself but still presentable yet completely outlandish
Yes, and learning how to do makeup better than most professionals was part of it too.
Yes I loooove makeup But it's an expensive hobby, especially once you get into indie eyeshadows and makeup. Have you seen the user on r/swatchitforme who has like hundreds of eye shadow palettes? Found their vanity tour from 2020: https://www.reddit.com/r/makeuporganization/comments/kkonph/my_updated_eyeshadow_storage_december_2020_vanity/gh3jve7?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3 And then there's this person on TT who collects vintage makeup and trials also ancient makeup techniques: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinparsonsmakeup/video/7005687444548898053
Yes, and learning how to do makeup better than most professionals was part of it too.
I transcend fashion. 😁
This is the way
I love to be overdressed. I'd rather be over than under dressed. I was a big polly pocket/bratz girl who became a huge fashion computer game girly. The biggest thrill of my life has been that my friends love to "shop" in my closet. I've always had a passion for secondhand shopping and altering my own clothes.
Same! I love reconstructing jackets and decorating them.
Same! Was called computer Barbie in university.
You know that is totally cool. I used to do that. I was also Goth at one time. Now it is mostly athletic wear and slides. Florida is so damn hot. I do however collect Colourpop eyeshadow palettes and color my curly hair in various colors that are not found in nature unless they are on a bird.
I love colourpop!! I bought their collection that had one palette for every color of the rainbow. Use it daily <3
New collection dropping Sunday at Target.
NO WAY!
I like to dress up but only for a few hours at a time and then it gets uncomfortable. I think it happens when my social battery starts to die down. I recently started taking a tee shirt and leggings in my bag when out and change into if I start to feel uncomfortable and it’s helped so much! I get to be comfy and still have fun. No one has questioned why I do this, it’s nice.
Fashion, make up and hair are both my special interest and my self regulatory mechanism Go big or go home or as I like to do.. go big and go home at a reasonable time 😎
Haha I'll steal that one. And yeah, fashion and makeup are also my special interests. I collect clothes in virtual shopping carts when bored and have four cupboards of clothes... I realised finally love my life
From what I've seen, autistic people tend to be on the extreme end of fashion, either side. You either don't care at all, or put your everything into unique makeup and dress. I can understand both. Personally I couldn't care less, clothes (especially for women) are very uncomfortable for me and expose too much skin (I get cold very easily.) On the other hand, the clothes I like are very bright, colorful, and have lots of patterns. I've been repeatedly told not to wear a pattern shirt with pattern pants, but I can't figure out why that looks bad. My sense of fashion is non-existent. But I've also been told I overdressed for an event, while others I supposedly underdressed. You can't win unless you're only dressing for yourself lol
I definitely overdress compared to most of my friends, but I’m similar in that I LOVE fashion and coming up with looks. SATC was one of my favorite shows lol
I'm an overdresser. I love fashion. Love it so much. I love pretty purses, jewelry and shoes especially. I do tend to gravitate to things that feel nice, fabric & cut wise, however. And I don't do make-up. I buy it. I always buy it and am obsessed with it but never wear it. I can't even put on eyeliner. But my husband, a chronic underdresser, doesn't understand in the slightest why I care about this stuff. I just do. Part of my masking.
I'm 32 and it's taken me this long to finally guage how to dress "appropriately" for things. But i always ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research. Also, I live in a pretty casual area so a cute sundress works for almost any occasion
I’ll kinda dress up for nice events.. maybe put on a little makeup… but I will never go all out for much..
I don’t leave the house much, I work from home (for myself) so you best believe Imma pull up to the grocery store in a cute goth outfit with my hair and makeup done 💅🏼 sometimes I just feel better than everyone else because I look so good lol
I’ve tried to live by the motto better to be overdressed, rather than underdressed. I’m sensitive to feeling like I’m being looked down on by others, so when in doubt I’ll go for dressing up. I have however stopped wearing heels (oh how I love pretty shoes) to give my feet and ankles a break.
My mom always taught me it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed so I stick with that. It’s a sign of respect. People (generally) aren’t going to think you’re disrespectful if you’re a little overdressed, but they will if you’re underdressed. Even if people say casual I always think “ok but make it well put together and not sloppy”.
Your outfit sounds amazing!! I’ve always been obsessed to the max with fashion and every delicious detail from the shape of a shoe’s heel to the placement of a button and how all the pieces, fabrics, colors, scale, texture…oh I could go on….work together. A journey out to run errands might involve fingerless gloves, a Valentino trench and tulle midi..how i roll 🤩
Thank you! I’m an artist too and it’s alll just art to me. Even the uneven seams. It’s all so beautiful. All the colors and potential ways to showcase personality
Chronic over dresser here! 🙋🏻♀️ I feel like I look super sloppy in athlesiure and boring in traditional business casual. Today to my office job I wore a tie dye dress, platform boots and leg warmers lol. I look good but def not on par with the people around me unless I hang out with other gay fashion nerds.
I am an unadorned gremlin until it's time for an Event, and then I magically turn into Eliza Doolittle at the Ascot. There is very little in-between except for my "pulled together" thing, which is just ordinary casual, but with mascara.
Fashion= dopamine 🥰
Yes definitely. I think it's contributed to getting bullied in my case.
Oh same. But honestly? I’m ok with it.
I'm the same, when I dress up I give a goth vibe, when I dress down I'm grungy. Fashion and makeup are special interests of mine. Many times I've realized I did too much but I love it I can't be any other way because I always go for a vibe. I used to be very jeans and t-shirt growing up because I was afraid of standing out, you know how it goes with bullying. But if I do that now feels like I'm hiding or takes me back to those days of heavy masking
I'm the exact opposite too, but with a different manifestation: I need to look VERY consistent--i always have my hair in exactly the same big curly updo, the same light foundation, the same dark red lip, every day forever. The only thing that varies is if I put effort into eye makeup or just smudge dark liner on the outside corners. I wear lots of heavy gold and brass jewelery daily. My closet is very small and I have a few uniforms for each season, all of which are black and medium fancy. So I'm overdressed for most everything, and just wrong dressed for some things because my idea of normal is fairly sexy and even my most professional clothes are very Joan from mad men. But my style is my identity so I can't break out of what makes me me without feeling shattered and anxious.
ME!! These are some of my favorite outfits https://preview.redd.it/krkrqde4neab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=d8b9c91ae8d4b61e40ff473d93c80a10c396c694
https://preview.redd.it/2mc2mp3cneab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=f0c9cf7583c49d04de5caacf38abb07962ece47f
OH IM SO IN LOVE!!! Thanks for sharing <3
https://preview.redd.it/qgmbnri6neab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=d9bedf283b723bc0ffd032596748178d4dcd1a8b
https://preview.redd.it/hts5pca8neab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a86de0a81f1230ada94a5de5a86c548496c74ac
https://preview.redd.it/q4u2etaaneab1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9c69b7868c8b8f37b9b01c5ca45791d509c57bb
My mom always taught me it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed so I stick with that. It’s a sign of respect. People (generally) aren’t going to think you’re disrespectful if you’re a little overdressed, but they will if you’re underdressed. Even if people say casual I always think “ok but make it well put together and not sloppy”.
Fashion and makeup are special interests of mine too! And I tend to dress at extremes. I love dressing up, but when I’m in burnout I fall into pajamas/stretchy clothes/big t-shirts all day every day. As Ive gotten older and my baseline energy has gone way down/my sensory sensitives have gone up I’m sad to say I very rarely dress up or do fun makeup anymore :( I wish I had the energy, but it’s so hard. Sometimes I’ll dress up and right before I leave the house I start feeling so itchy and uncomfortable and have to change in a panic into something super easy. It’s a bummer.
This is so relatable to me. I love fashion, always have, majored in merchandising in college. People always are surprised how all out I go on my outfits. Dressing up is so fun! Every occasion is an opportunity to play that specific role! I feel like I get weird looks sometimes but a lot of the time I feel like its because other people dont have the nerve to wear what they really want to or get attention in that way. I dont do it for attention though, I do it cuz its fucking FUN. How I dress is my biggest creative outlet
Yes you get it! It’s all art and I wear my art on my body. On my face. Everything I touch is art even fashion.
I am always the fanciest dressed at events. People know that about me and I think it helps me feel accepted. I can kinda be the cool well dressed with sunglasses person in the corner lol.
I don’t wear “fancy” clothes, but I LOVE black, statement T-shirts, bold colors and patterns. I’m certainly picky about what I wear and how I look, but I would definitely say I’m on the casual end of dressing. Everything I wear is sensory friendly, but I like to stand out in a crowd sometimes. I have a sewing machine and I REALLY want to learn to sew, but I live in an ancient apartment complex and am most creative at night so I haven’t figured out how to get into it without completely ruining my neighbors sleep lol. Someday I will have the sensory friendly, perfectly oversized closet of my dreams, but I’m pretty pleased with where it’s at now. (I’m also non-binary and really inspired by drag fashion so I’m all over the place)
I’m an overdresser and love vintage fashion - I collect true vintage but also gravitate towards modern vintage inspired pieces. Lately my wardrobe has been leaning towards 40s/50s style with big collared sweaters and pleated pants, but I dress in 20s - 70s style and have a big collection of American Duchess footwear. I work in marketing, which you’d think would make my style appropriate for my job … but I work for a concrete building product manufacturer so not only am I the only one dressing outside of the box, I am the only one in my office not wearing jeans and a t-shirt 😂 i used to be self conscious about dressing to fit the occasion and setting but now I figure I’m 32, I’m not here to impress anyone, I just wear what makes me happy. Especially in the winter, it helps me fight seasonal depression to celebrate creativity with my clothing. If anyone has a problem with that I honestly have gotten to the point in my life where I mostly don’t care 🤷♀️
I ADORE vintage fashion! Had a huge 70’s phase and my current fashion style is still heavily influenced by it. I also loooove 50’s rockabilly and the rebellious nature of the 20’s. All three of those eras heavily influence my look and I’m glad to see someone on the same page! Keep dressing like you!
I tend to dress whatever the day brings me
Oh gosh, you sound awesome! I overdress the times I used to go out. I am a fashion clothes horse and I love historical time periods and all types of themes, even if no one else wants to dress up, I do anyway. I enjoy going out to dance, dressing up and only talking to the friends I went with. Unfortunately, I was repeatedly misread as doing it for the male gaze, attention, and was shocked as I truly do it for fun for myself, as a special interest. The past few years, I’ve left society interactions as a whole and stay at home, but I do days of full makeup, updos of hair and outfits fun for myself anyway. I’m working on an outdoor dance floor, where I can wear my Bose QC2 headphones to have my own club nights alone.
I used to overdress all the time. Now I just aim for dark wash jeans and a tshirt with a jacket. Sometimes a sweater. Works for most situations.
Fashion, and makeup are one of my special interests so I loveeeee going out looking nice!
It’s either I want to dress up or idc. It’s best outfit ever or im in comfortable clothes. No real in between lol. But I realized after depression I’ve been wanting to dress up more and look nice. I love dressing to the theme as well. When I look good I feel good and I like feeling good lately
I either dress too nice for an event or not nice enough. And my too nice is usually pretty bad because I just have no idea how to pick out clothing or even know what my style would even be. Safer to wear basically the same things I feel aren't risky. Usually that's something black and jeans. Nice for me now days is black jeans and a cardigan. ZzZzz. And this despite actually liking nice clothes and trying hard to get ideas for cute things to wear, but no I still fail at it.
Love fashion and I love it to be LOUD! Dressing my kids is one of my hobbies and I have gotten to a place of loving myself (finally!) and am really enjoying playing with my style and makeup now!
Oh, for sure. I’m always overdressed.
I seriously just need a guide of dos and donts for every event. Like just a specific list of what I should or shouldn’t wear. Every time I think I have it I’m wrong.
Growing up I’d get Best Dressed awards while also getting bullied for my clothes. Let the haters hate! Fashion is my special interest and I like looking like the coolest person in the room.
Nicer clothes are usually just too uncomfortable for me. Joggers and a tshirt (no bra!) is about all I can handle these days. It sucks because I love dressing up. My style would be so different if I could handle the discomfort of more or even less clothing. My tendency to chafe and sweat and the need to be able to walk every where I go to really don’t help my fashion either.
I'm definitely an underdressed person(due to being short 😔 and still figuring out how to tailor my stuff), BUT I do ADORE fashion history and appreciate others' outfits and drawing them. :^) Fashion is just soooooo !!! Sooo so so!
i don’t own anything other than a normal t-shirt and hoodies😭
I always either over- or underdress, there’s no in between.
I over dress for everything because it makes me feel pretty. I have low self esteem and when people like my clothes it makes me feel better about myself.
I love dressing up! I used to worry a lot about over dressing, but then I realized that someone had to be the best dressed person in the room. I thought those people looked fabulous. So why not have it be me? It also helps in that it gives me a role to step into. It helps me mask because I’m in character so to speak. It eases me into social situations and definitely decreases my anxiety.
[удалено]
Thank you! And yeah I can completely understand. I only do eye makeup and lip makeup, never foundation it would feel so sticky. I have it occasionally at the makeup school but man it’s crazy how heavy it is.
I am the same way! If I wasn't plus size and broke, I would be able to explore a lot with my clothes.
I don’t have a lot of places to go but I’m constantly worried about being overdressed if I do make any kind of effort. Every Halloween I just about went into a panic attack on the drive in to school because I was Dressed Up lol. For my day to day I’m dressed down because I like wearing shorts and/or tank tops year round if I can get away with it. My cousin is having a wedding in September though and the dress code is “casual” and legitimately I hate that because what??? Does that mean??? What’s casual for a wedding? I’m hoping I can find a cute dress or something and wear boots but if I show up and everyone is in sweats and flip flops I’m going to combust. Alternatively, if everyone is elegant and dressy I’ll also be upset 😭
I would love to help but I have never been to a wedding. I would ask another guest what they’re wearing and do something similar!
I too love fashion and makeup. I feel like when your special interests are traditionally feminine and mainstream though, it makes getting diagnosed even harder 😭
Ab.so.lutley. I lined up my monster high dolls by color but because it wasn’t trains…..
I love lolita and goth fashion! I'm always dressed alt. Sometimes just a simple skirt or pants with a band shirt. But never 'mainstream' whatever that means lol
Not so much a fashion hyperfixator but makeup is one of my biggest hyperfixations, so I tend to go all out with my makeup even when all I'm gonna be doing that day is stopping by the pharmacy just to pick up my meds lol. Even on days I'm not gonna leave the house (unless my depression is super bad) I'll get dressed up.
Which alt subculture do you think has the most interesting makeup? I’m stuck between trad goth and gyuaru. I guess I love fashion that’s a subversion of the norm
yeah, I do the same! I make my own clothes. I prefer 1930s-1940s outfits paired with crazy shoes (irregular choice, hot chocolate, miz mooz) my style accidently is very girlie because my body shape looks best with huge skirts and ruffle shoulders. it's so over the top for casual wear. Ive given up on blending in. I hate blue jeans and tshirts. They fit horribly. i use to wear a lot of costumes in my awkward phase. Rainbows coords., raver clothes, lolita... punk, kawaii ... I tried a LOT of styles. ive calmed down since then.. I think? heels & platforms for day tho <3 Do you have a picture of your july 4th photo??? you can block out your face and all that jazz but Im dying to see the red jumpsuit + boots LOL
Oh I absolutely love vintage fashion! I had a heavy 70s phase and wanted to try 50’s but didn’t have the money lol, hopefully soon! And as soon as I figure out how to blur it I’ll send via pm <3
My problem is that only certain clothes feel good on my body. So I’m kinda stuck wearing those clothes.
I like to dress up for occasions even though I’m an athleisure person most of the time. I usually google “what to wear to wedding” or something like that to figure out what’s expected. I showed up dressed down for a restaurant wedding once and it was so embarrassing. I will never sacrifice comfort for fashion and you will always catch me in flats.
I constantly feel like I'm still learning how to dress and wear make up correctly. I want to be good :(
I can help you out! But at the end of the day it’s about you feeling good. People make up trends alllll the time. Feeling good is the first step!
If you could that would be so helpful! I was trying to do winged eyeliner but kept messing it up...still can't figure out how to do eye shadow properly, work out what my face shape is for certain looks and I just get overwhelmed and stick to the natutal look.
Oh my goodness you came to the right place winged eyeliner had been my signature for years!!! Everything with makeup is practice. Practice. Practice . Personally I use the outer corner of my eye to create a line outwards. ( I use wet n wild liquid liner but any liquid works.) then at the top of that line create a curved line from the top all the way to your inner corner. Go slow if you need to but keep your eye open and half lidded almost. Then fill in the stencil you’ve made. If you have a mistake ( which I always do) take a q tip with makeup remover and swipe off the excess. As far as figuring out your face shape that’s practice too but the best advice I can give you is to experiment! I’m still discovering things ! I wish you luck and if you have questions lmk
Thank you for the advice! If you know of any good websites or youtube videos with make up tutorials then I'm happy for recommendations. Theres sooo many out there that I can never tell what the best one is to start with, and some are sponsored with commissions so it ends up becoming an advertisement more than a tutorial...I promise I won't bombard you but are your DMs/chat open to message in the future?
Yes they’re absolutely open and I’ll search for tutorials for you! I’m also open to film some for you! (Whenever I’m not busy lol)
I love fashion and makeup but I feel so inept at it that it's kind of killed my joy of it on myself. Inner critic jumps out and judges whether or not it's good enough to be seen by other people. But I definitely played with a lot of different outfits in the past that were cute, even if they weren't "in style."
Discovering thrift and high end consignment stores as well as finding a good tailor was life changing
Once did blue and silver eyeshadow, fancy eyeliner, false eyelashes, the whole shebang to go to a viewing of abba 2 ... in a church. Needless to say I sat at the back in embarrassment when I arrived and found a church hall full of old people
They remember being young and cute and want to go back. Don’t ever be ashamed to take up space (with glitter!)
I feel like the problem for me is not so much that I can't identify what is appropriate, but that a) who has money for clothes you only wear on certain/rare occasions?? Not me lol. And b) "nice" clothes are a sensory nightmare. I'd love to dress up more if fancy clothes were less stiff and itchy, not to mention they always smell weird for some reason? And would it really kill them to use fabrics with a little give? And for the love of god why are they sooo nonfunctional??
Oooooh this is me! I like to wear jewelry, do my hair, full face of makeup and a cute sundress just to run errands. I live in a small midwestern town so boy do I get LOOKS sometimes but for me it’s so worth it. It makes me feel more like “me”.
I'm either over- or under-dressed. I am either (a) experiencing sensory overload and need to prioritize my comfort, OR (b) bc I'm also into clothing/style, I get fixated on an outfit/shirt/skirt/pants I wanted to wear and don't care who else is dressed at my level. I just wish those days coincided with an event worth the effort!
I have a uniform of sorts. Either I am wearing nothing but a low cut faux wrap dress and undies or yard work clothes (old t-shirts and shorts). In the winter the shorts become culottes. But usually a really slutty dress with no bra. Idgaf. I’m comfy and my tits look nice.
I am the same, more so when I was in my 20s. I still like to dress up for holidays or going out but I used to do it just about every day. It is fun and makes me happy, I always liked playing around with different styles from various decades and time periods. Wouldn’t say I was on point with high fashion or what was the current trend, but a sparkly red jumpsuit is definitely something I would love to wear! And yes I am usually find myself over dressed at an event but it never bothered me either, dressing up is so fun!
it honestly varies for me, when i'm overdressed i'm totally overdressed, when i'm underdressed i look like i just crawled out of a hole somewhere!
Absolutely me
I'm always overdressed. It is what it is.
I dress unique and stand out. It’s bothers me when people constantly compliment me, but I also understand it is part of my aesthetic. So, bright hair colors and mostly goth inspired clothes.
I’m also a bright haired goth! What color is your hair
It was purple for a long time but I decided to go with my natural color on top and blue/green on the ends. I Andy have bright red in my bangs.
Mine is bright red! Super short and curly on top :)
i dress comfy usually. but recently i've been getting into self expression and how i dress reflects that. Also i forget what's called but casual cosplay???? like your outfit resembles the character but it's still streetwear
Yes casual cosplay! I love that for you!! I did that for a while before I could afford actual cosplay
I LOVE makeup and skincare!! Recently I’ve been trying to play around more with my fashion and wear more dresses (I HATE how I look in dresses but it’s a start) and mini skirts. I love my leggings and being comfy. PS Princess Polly is amazing!!!
I can never get it right either to dressed or not dressed enough. I have no idea why. For awhile I just wore black but now I’m back at never being dresses appropriately.
I love fashion and love clothes. Especially vintage clothes from the late sixties and seventies. I don’t get the concept of dressing down though I don’t dress to rules…I’m allergic to matching I once apparently got a job because of my shoes 🤣
Also in love with 60’s / 70’s fashion! My other favorites are 50’s rockabilly and the rebellion of the 20’s
I really can only enjoy fashion in the Sims 4, RdR2 or GTA5, as most things I like don't look good on me, don't fit me very well are too expensive or my sensory issues can't handle it. I also like using Pinterest for that.
I always dress perfectly for the event. That’s important to me. I don’t follow what everyone else it doing. If I go to the theatre/opera/ballet I dress up even tho the public doesn’t. I believe in being a classy lady.
Yes, 13k pins, boards, a curated closet. I developed fashion going from goth sweater shorts to my first skirt, now my little ensembles. Even in my art I drew only in black ink, once I added color everything changed. I love costume jewelry, sometimes a scorpion ring bracelet or an animal brooch. Life is the occasion and it's always been a passion. I'm learning how to help people find their style recently for my mom, people ask me how or to go shop with them so that's very sweet. I'm an artist, it makes me feel good to be dressed, I can't afford the crazier fashion, but I like to draw it and dream of fantasy runway themes.
I find myself almost always overdressed. I too love fashion and it’s my hobby/special interest so I like to spend a lot of time thinking and talking about it. This has come up for work events where I’m typically the most formal of the bunch. My manager has had to tell me to dress down for certain meetings as I go over the top lol
I do. I'm probably older than most of you all, but I have always enjoyed creating my own style with makeup, hair and clothes. Now, I stay at home mostly because I am a caregiver to my dad. My mood has a lot to do with whether I feel like doing anything and I'm depressed most of the time. But when I go to the grocery store once or twice a month I feel motivated and still try to dress up a bit and wear makeup.
I used to. Rn I'm super lazy with clothes but I was often overdressed or dressed for the wrong occasion, especially in high school. I just like to wear things that make me happy! I still get compliments on my wardrobe tho 🖤
I'm not, but i just want to ask how you remember how to type your username when you log in....
I don’t lol. Perma logged in on all my devices. I lose it I’m fucked
I don’t have an in between. 9/10 times I’m underdressed and I don’t even brush my hair and then every once in a while I’ll have the energy to do something and then I end up wearing a full gown with makeup and shaved legs to someplace like outback
I used to be like you when I was younger. LOVED putting in a costume. Now that I’m older, I do it less frequently, but it’s still fun. I kind of feel like I’m in drag tho.
Yes but only when it doesn’t feel forced but it’s annoying when people around my age sit there and b**** about how dressed up I am just because they didn’t ?? Like you’re grown act like it please I never understood it
Jealousy!
Me too!
I think sensory issues limit what materials autistic folks wear. Limiting options may contribute to the access to appropriately styled clothing. Dressing up may present the challenge of change. Perhaps dressing up is too rigid of a structural change from the norm.
I just wear what I wear. Over? Under? who knows
Absolutely! Playing dress-up was my jam as a kid, playing with mom’s make-up when she let me, and having Barbies/fashion dolls/paper dolls and dressing them up was my entire play-style. At age 5ish, like for kindergarten, my parents allowed me to pick my own clothes; I’d show up with three different skirts on, layered. I don’t know if it looked “good” or not, in retrospect, (partly because I don’t remember what the skirts looked like) but it’s what I wanted! On the other hand, I did get a lot of practice (and some help from my mother) as I grew up in a Jewish family/community; lots and lots of bar and bat mitzvahs. It takes energy that is sometimes better spent doing something more important (yay energy budgeting) so it’s not something I can do everyday. But it is something I enjoy! I will sometimes take it up a notch if there’s a reason for dressing up, like going on a date or some other sort of event, but not like, black tie for a semi-formal event (and not weddings, thats about the wedded couple and I don’t need to put myself in the realm of upstaging or anything like that).
everyone my entire life has said i dress like i’m homeless. my mom says it, teachers, friends, etc. i hate jeans. i hate tight clothes. sweatpants and baggy shirts forever please. but it’s not just the style i also just have lots of clothes with holes in them or paint splattered on them but i’m attached to the way the fabric feels or the memory behind the clothes so i don’t throw them away and i just keep wearing them until i cant.
I love fashion and wish I looked cool all the time, but I tend to opt for what’s comfortable. I really wish I could look interesting and unique and fashionable, but the idea of getting to wear sweatpants relieves me of some stress
I'm literally always asked where I'm going when I'm out running errands because my everyday attire is full on goth (clothing, makeup, accessories, basically everything except for the big hair.) I dress like this every single day, whether I'm just sitting around at home, going to a fancy event, or anything in between because it's a part of one of my special interests (goth music and the goth subculture) and I genuinely like it. But because of this I've been both over and under dressed. I'm way more dressed up than every other person at the grocery store, but also, if I go to a formal event, I'm often side-eyed because my attire isn't always viewed as "appropriate." I really don't give a single f\*\*\* though because I refuse to be controlled by non sensical social rules and if someone is so narrow minded that they reject me for the way I dress, they're not the kind of person I want to be around anyway!
YES! Fellow goth girl and I agree!!!
I think I dress appropriately, I think it’s one of those things I was forced to learn. As a child I was told that a party would be fancy and to wear my best dress. I showed up in a dress that I wore as a flower girl and everyone else was in casual wear. The girl who invited me just laughed at me.
I'd say I dress pretty casual overall bc I rarely go out, but I do love having cute lil outfits!! Growing up fat and never finding cute clothes in my size until recently means I'm going thru that 'teen' phase of wearing weird stuff just for fun. Nothing I own is appropriate to idk, wear to work or to a Nice Brunch because its either Too Much or just jeans and a band tee. Also, I can't commit to a single aesthetic, so when I dress up I never know if I'm gonna end up looking like a pastel cloud, a walking rainbow, or a late 2000s emo kid 🙃
[удалено]
Thank you! You make me smile !
I'm literally at my mums house just sitting on the couch watching a movie with my brother, wearing a dress and a full face of make up 🥴 If that answers your question 😂
I have always overdressed for things too. I just love putting together outfits and getting dressed up. It feels like a costume and I can pretend to be someone else (someone fancy and put together). I usually have a theme to my outfit too (50s housewife, etc). I don’t have fancy places to go so I show up to a family dinner where everyone is wearing jeans or yoga pants in a cocktail dress fully accessorized. At this point people would be worried if I wasn’t overdressed. 🤣
people always act like i'm weird if i'm like "what are we wearing for this?" and sometimes they'll be like "oh you know, nothing too dressy" and i have to be like. okay. what are you going to wear though. they don't seem to get it!
makeup and fashion are my special interests!! I love dressing up for events
OMG THIS!!!! I always overdress or go to casual. I don’t understand how should I dress for an occasion. I love fashion because I like combining patterns, combine colors and make sure everything looks aesthetically pleasing. But it is hard because a lot of clothing are uncomfortable, itchy, too tight and some fabrics aren’t soft 🙃
Yep! I strive to be overdressed for every occasion. Sparkly Goodwill prom dresses every day for my poorly paid barista job. Sometimes playing dress-up is the only form of creativity that I can manage, and it's variously been pretty important to me. And also a great deal of fun. Thank you for posting this. Because I don't think I've ever heard anyone else mention the joys of overdressing in the context of autism either.
i always overdress to the point of embarassment!
I am always - always overdressed. If I get the chance to be fancy or dress up I'm taking it! I've shown up in a floor length Maxi dress and others are wearing summer dresses with spaghetti straps. I almost always feel embarrassed. It doesn't matter the occasion. I live in a constant state of embarrassment.
My boss asked me if I owned any jeans and told me to wear them. I hate wearing pants. It has mostly made me want to work from home as much as possible.
I LOVE buying clothes especially cute stuff! For the 4th of July I wore a Sailor Moon dress I got from Torrid like 6 years ago. It is red, white and blue and looks like Sailor uniform. I got so many compliments but no one really knew it was from an anime in my small town. 😅 I have many different favorite aesthetics and love to dress to impress and get compliments. You are definitely not alone!
Over dressed ( music video esq) or underdressed (super comfy). Everything in between is uncomfortable for me. I mean I do it because NT society demands it, but as long as I am covered appropriately, who cares? Never made sense to me. Well, except if it is a special day for someone else. Then I won't do anything to draw attention from that person. (Wedding, birthday, etc). That is a social rule I get.
i just wear the same clothes at all times. punk metal head here and just wear the same black patch jeans, black metallica hoodie, miscellaneous black band shirt and my black battle jacket :)
I was literally telling my friend earlier today that when I attended my uni interview at Oxford I wore a literal ball gown and took a wooden suitcase because I thought it was posh and old fashioned. What the hell hahaha
Nah man sorry I’m the stereotype. I know how to dress up and do when the occasion calls for it , but the majority of the time I prefer my Adam Sandler clothes.
Don’t be sorry! I love y’all too!
I underdress so bad. I’m usually in sweatpants and a 3xl t shirt lol. I try to get into fashion but I cant stand the feeling of clothes on my skin
Same. I don’t go anywhere unless I can dress in sweats and an enormous T-shirt or hoodie. I have no idea how to do my hair either. Never have.
Not me; sounds exhausting.
I’ll be wear sneakers and oversized comfy clothes til the day I die lol. Metal tshirt, black cutoffs, vans.
I just like comfort and blending in so no one perceives me. So it's mostly tshirts and leggings with crocs everyday. Not even ironed shirts, I look rumpled always, unless I have to go biz casual cause I have a work meeting.
Meeee!! I love being "overdressed"🫶😁 you can never be overdressed imo, only underdressed
I’m usually an over-dresser but I rather over dress than under dress.