"girls wear dresses"...

this, we are told as youngsters, is what separates the sexes...and we believe it...until the discovery of more subtle and meaningful differences...but we grow up and learn that women wear dresses, too...

flowery, church-appropriate affairs that inspire us to look sweet or elegant...short, sophisticated cocktail shifts that make us feel like smoking even if we don't...strappy sundresses or comfy wool tunics...a cake-like wedding gown...a casual shirt-dress...dresses make many different statements and save the time it takes to mix and match separates...

jewelry can be used to adapt a simple dress to various occasions...and a dress under a jacket can look suit-like yet sexy on its own...prefect for taking day to evening...

and as anyone who's seen the seven-year itch can attest, dresses are quintessentially feminine...even when you're not standing on a subway grate...your hem aflutter...