When trying to dress provocatively, where do you draw the line between looking classy and elegant as opposed to trashy?

Question

What are the biggest factors? Is it mostly about how much skin you show, or how you show it? Or does it all come down to how you hold yourself? Do any of these stand out as being one or the other? Let me know!

Brainsbeforebeauty · Accepted Answer

None of those would I describe as elegant or classy.. Sometimes showing less is more or show just a hint... Leave something to the imagination. Don't have to show so much skin or body parts to look sexy...

Alyssa11 · Accepted Answer

I don't care if I look trashy given the right occasion lol. I am not going to look trashy on a trip to the supermarket but I will at a party and I don't care. I love my body.

Screenwriter · Answer

The only time to dress provocatively is when you're going to a Halloween party as a sexy witch/nurse/school girl.

There's no need to "advertise" your body if you're with a date. In addition, there's no need to advertise your body if you want to be taken seriously: meaning, not as a sex object.

Showing LESS is always more tasteful and more careful. And It IS about HOW MUCH you show and WHAT you show.

A scoop top that shows a tad of cleavage is OK. But anything cut so the sides of your boobs and ALL of your cleavage is too much and. trashy. The same goes for a naked back and cheek cleavage. A modest slit that's 5 or 6 inches above the knee is always fine. But watch holes or any kind of cut that show too much skin, as shown in the featured photos.

The beach is the place to be semi naked on the regular. Clothing may be creative and fun, but err on the side of caution. Keep extremely revealing clothing on the beach or in the bedroom for the most part. Occasionally a party or club outfit is OK.

Shizunk · Answer

It all depends entirely on context. Elegant and excessively provocative are not mutually exclusive. For me the main idea is the "not safe for work" label. If you draw enough attention that I have trouble focusing on work, it's too much. All of the above cross that line. Outside of work or some very formal environments, you can go much further without being inappropriate.
I personally prefer much less revealing clothing most of the time, but I also wouldn't automatically judge any of the above dresses as deeply problematic in most settings.

If your behaviour is restrained and classy, you can get away with more. A woman who makes obscene gestures and talks loudly about sex so that even people who are not part of the conversation can hear will be labeled trashy regardless of clothing and will retain that label even if she dresses more conservative next time. When a woman misjudges the line and spends a day in clothing that is a bit too revealing, I will forget it by the time she shows up the next day in a more modest outfit.

The second picture is the least formal and really only fit for a beach. first and third are generally fine, even at work I wouldn't be upset too much. Last two are unusual enough for me to think the woman specifically picked that outfit to provoke, which makes them look inappropriate regardless of the amount of skin being revealed.

Wraith_Cemetery · Answer

None of those examples are elegant. When showing skin it is much more elegant to show just one area and cover the rest. Showing all of it all at once is trashy and where I draw the line. If you want cleavage then you just show that and not other areas. If you want a lot of leg then you pick that and not show a lot of cleavage. The example below is classy and elegant. Just the thigh and arms are showing.

erandal · Answer

I have always tried to walk that fine line between being suggestive and showing too much skin, just enough cleavage, not too much leg, the amount that will let a man know what is underneath, but not too much so that nothing is left to the imagination.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

Well it’s EXTREMELY a subjective! Ask five different people, you’ll get five different answers! I’ll tell you this, of the pictures you posted all look very nice, except the last two… they look trashy (to me). I’m sure others will disagree, and they’re welcome to. That’s why I said it’s extremely subjective!

Lliam · Answer

I'll list the outfits in order
1. I love it. Super elegant.
2. Kind of risque, but very classy. I freaking love it.
3. Very elegant, I love the V-neck and undergarment. But the slit in the side might go too high, making it risque.
4 and 5. I don't care for that much.

purplepoppy · Answer

Trashy doesn't work. It's about ringing the dinner bell not the alarm bell.

Smashingdoozy · Answer

If you're going for sexy elegant you go the first 3 if you're going traahy you go the 4th and if you're wanting sexy and mildly trasby you go the last one.

hahahmm · Answer

1. Don't be an attention whore. Wear clothes that fit, not clothes that are too tight. Don't show any skin at all is the easiest way to avoid looking trashy -- but once you really master the idea of looking classy you would be able to do stuff like show cleavage while looking classy. See point #2.

2. Think of looking trashy.. like being a junk food addict. And if you look at too much trashy images it's like stuffing your face with junk food. So right now you probably have a lot of junk food in you. Start going out of your way to look at images that are known to be of women looking classy. Look at images of average women from before the 2000s. Look at all kinds of different years too, not just one year/era. Eventually your mind will then automatically be able to identify classy looks from the trashy looks. Or you could hang out in a social circle where the women aren't desperate attention whores or influence followers and it will have the same affect on your mind.

Caroline91 · Answer

If you can't move without some private body part showing or falling out, it doesn't make it to the definition of Classy. Ever. All of those outfits look like they are made from good fabrics; there just needs to be more of it in the right places. @brainsbeforebeauty provides some really nice examples of classy-sexy. Thanks, girl for doing that!

chrissykerdock · Answer

showing your legs is fine but showing other parts of your body is questionable... i love to wear a shortskirt and always have since i was 13 and generally felt comfortable wearing them because it's only legs right... i think there's confusion... not many girls wear the shown outfits in public... maybe at a club.

ilistengood · Answer

Alll of the above, and someti. es it's the smallest thing, I took my neighbor out for dinner she's young, pretty, it wasn't a hook up or wasn't supposed to be, she wore jeans and a sleeveless white blouse, now any one who feels it's neccesdary to comment on this don't we were on the deck the sun was going down and she stretched he'd I just happened to catch her at full stretch, her left underarm was silk smooth and defined, I had one of those instant reactions to it it was so erotic , it changed the whole feel of being together
.

Cherry234 · Answer

I like the third dress. The first dress would be better if it wasn't cut down so low (bring it up a few inches and it would be better) but it is a nice design. The others are trashy and ones I wouldn't wear. I think the third dress is the most elegant in my opinion

humpbackjack · Answer

They all look way hot and depending on the event they would be appropriate enough for most nicer events and a couple like the first dress especially would be appropriate enough for any really nice event but I’d take you anywhere you wanted to go in any of them

Dinklex3 · Answer

I never dress provocative.
But what i view as provocative may differ from others.
The pictures above, i don't see as provocative at all. I see them as cute outfits.
If i want to be provocative, I'm topless with my panties & on top of you.

Anonymous · Answer

I think the biggest factors which differentiate looking classy & elegant instead of looking trashy, are:

1. The “appropriateness” of what you are wearing to your age and to the type/place/audience of the event you are attending.
- If a woman is younger or if the event she is attending is a “fun” or “casual” outing (somewhere on the beach, etc.) and not a formal or family event, then she can get away with wearing something shorter and/or tighter or more revealing.

2. Showing exposed “private skin areas” (butt, boobs/nipples, and crotch/genitals) or parts of these areas are almost always deemed to be “trashy” when you’re going for a “classy” or “elegant” look…

Wearing something that shows a hint of (or mildly highlights) your body/curves is ok, but revealing or blatantly drawing attention to your bodily assets is NOT ok when trying to achieve a “classy” or “elegant” look.

Ashalia · Answer

The brown is the least trashy. Try looking good and less skinnage. Honestly guys like to imagine unzipping that hot red dress off you rather than seeing what's under already displayed.

H8INCHES · Answer

Daringly Elegant, very nice! Trashy trying to be elegant Slutty Club Dress; LOVE IT on her! Trashy ; stupid design Trashy and mistake to make, or buy

Summeroflove · Answer

The line is trying to get sexual attention. Only you know the intent behind what your wearing as I cannot read your mind.

But, showing too much of your breasts, ass, etc. It’s obvious what someone is doing. People can pretend that’s not the reason all day long. It’s mostly because they don’t get the attention from the type of people they want the attention from.

Anonymous · Answer

Slutty Slutty Slutty and Trashy

pickedcrisps · Answer

Less skin the better but it varies depending on context.

Backless dresses aren't because it's slutty but it just looks weird like a woman is missing half their dress and still paid full price. Get it.

So I feel like the line is crossed when skin becomes excessive rather than stylish with a purpose for being classy. Not just plain uh as you say.

WonderingManII · Answer

These two look pretty provocative to me.

Universaldance · Answer

I find 1,2,3 are less revealing and even though the style and colors look great they still err on the side of give me your attention more than leaving it to mystery

Its fine if my lady wears something like this but she's just going to receive comments all over the spectrum and I will not be fighting creeps and traditional boomers all night long

Id have to get her a turtle neck at some point😏

ohshee · Answer

Each one of the above looks those women pulled it off they all look good given the right dress for the right time and place. From head to toe they are 1 the whole package as 1 trashy look comes when one thing is off. shoes hair color jewelry makeup.

t-8900 · Answer

If we went on a first date together and you wore any of these except maybe the 1st and 3rd one it would be our last date. The last 2 just look like call girls and ironically wear even less then they do. I like my woman to carry herself with class when out and about. She can dress for indoors with me, alone. That's fine and it's sexy. But to me this conveys the wrong message. Not the image of a proper lady aka someone with discipline and restraint; which are the types of women i am interested in.

nice-girl · Answer

I don't wear a short dress or skirt and show cleavage at the same time. That looks like being naked and trashy in my opinion.

Makeushiver · Answer

I think that it is mostly the result of who is wearing the provocative attire. Some women seem to be able to wear very revealing clothing and look good in it. Some women seem to be overwhelmed in anything that's slight;y revealing. I think you could wear a trash bag & look great in it

elizamichale1 · Answer

2nd, 4th and 5th are more of my kind of styles but i do dress like the first one sometimes   N well i try to dress slutty hehe

snackthatsmilesback · Answer

It's just your status and if it looks fancy. This is one of those trashy if you're poor classy if you're rich things.

Obviously individual people will be less (or not) hypocritical, but in general it is portrayed as high fashion when celebs and such in designer clothes dress provocatively, and cheap when people lower class in regular clothes do it.

That's what I've seen anyway.

PenkWing · Answer

The line between classy and trashy is money. It has nothing to do with the looks or the demeanor or the dress. Money is not an attractiveness factor for me. All looks that are based on a show of expensive design, or an imitation of such, tend to feel icky to me. People with some creativity and personality pull off amazing outfits with little investment. Provocative clothing that doesn’t feel personal is just a performance of some ideal of what is supposed to be good.

Lisia · Answer

I'd call the first 2 classy. I don't like the 3rd and 4th tbh. And the last one is just really provocative and sexy but not classy in my opinion.

Pyrofox · Answer

Its more how you wear it for me. Are you purposely just a cheap eye candy or are you actually trying to entertain on the date or relationship. PICK ONE and own it. Don't try to swap between them XD.

Miristheiss · Answer

All 5 of those are slut outfits.
The top one is the closest to being classy except for the back. If it didn't expose her entire back and almost dive as low as her butt crack it might have been ok. It looks great from the front.

Only the lowest quality women would wear any of this stuff.

These are escort, Adult Movie Awards show type of outfits.

Grond21 · Answer

I think it's a ratio between revealing and classy. If it's very revealing but not classy, it's trashy. If it's classy but not revealing, then it's often old school. The sweet spot is when you mix the two.

To make it more complicated and also more intriguing, is when it's very feminine. Because if it's feminine enough that can make up for a lack of classiness or sexiness

CourtneyJane · Answer

I'd rock 1, 2, and 5. 3 and 4 don't appeal to me for some reason. As long as it looks good on me and I don't get arrested for wearing it, then it's okay in my book. Where did you find Dress #2 at?

EssenceOfLight · Answer

When I go with my better half clubbing and most guys in this club want to kill me and rape her, I know she overstepped the line. Red, white and fishy glitter dresses cause definitely this effect. It's more about visibility than about showing lot of skin

Swordnen · Answer

Elegant is when women show power, her majestic attitude... dress can be anything, which doesn't define her as egoistic, selfish, slutty.
In terms of what?
Indian saree is majestic, formal are powerful...

I would not say any of the images are majestic, they are super sexxy but exactly, they make us lust not bow...

MCheetah · Answer

Sideboob and underboob is borderline trashy, to me.
Exposed hips is almost trashy.
Seeing their butt cheeks is 100% trashy.

To answer your question though, the general rule is, "Less clothing = more trashy."

FilmGuy93 · Answer

It's just the amount of skin you're showing and how tastefully you've covered the skin you aren't showing.

Kaneki05 · Answer

I don't have a conservative mind so none are trashy to me.

kqueen · Answer

It mostly has to do with whether or not you're skinny and pretty. If you're both, it's considered classy. If you're either not skinny or not pretty it's considered trashy.

doopayo · Answer

The last one is obviously photoshopped.. I mean what in the anatomically impossible is going on? Where is her rib cage, lmaoo

RobT312 · Answer

For me, 1, 2, 3 are classy, sexy and provocative. 4 and 5 get a little slutty. I love black on women, it’s elegant, but these cross the line a little

Catlover1999 · Answer

The last two are trashy/ slutty looking.

jshm2 · Answer

You can't do both. You're either "classy" or "provocative and trashy".

It's about looking good without appearing you've went out from your usual to look good. Hence why some girls can never pull off the look.

Brutallyhonestgal · Answer

The line lays where subtilty is absolete.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

You just have to look at yourself and say if I met a girl wearing this what would I think of her. To me I love it all especially what they don't wear panties under it

20yearsolder · Answer

The only thing that looks classy and elegant to me is the very first picture, the rest of it looks a little trashy

BCA6010 · Answer

#3 is the only one I'd consider "classy." #1 is questionable and could probably be passable if it weren't such an ugly color, but the rest are trashy.

AviatorTom · Answer

Maybe I'm missing something. Aren't "provocative" and "classy" exact opposites?

Rachelspiks · Answer

Well, since I never dress "provocatively", I haven't got a clue. Sorry.

This_Is_My_Opinion8 · Answer

On the context.
If you go to work with a fancy dress with a huge cleavage. That is wrong.
If you go to the shopping mall with a g-string. That is wrong.
But swap swap the situations above to fancy dinner and beach and you are good.

es20490446e · Answer

Clothes that show your figure, not your skin, should work the best on attracting a committed man.

Lilirem · Answer

I like the first one more, it is sexier. And i believe it is about how much skin you show at the same time with how do you show it

tallblondejohm · Answer

Wow accidently sent video of two guys cumming on ur face. Wow that would be a little embarrassing.. I will say That's hot as hell cumming on ur face

Gramkabir · Answer

It depends on how wear it and how you are holding up while you wear it. You might wear a slutty dress but with your attitude and style might show it classy. There's nothing wrong to be hot or slutty in public but all depends on you how you manage it.

Anonymous · Answer

If I am showing legs that I won't show shoulders. If I am showing shoulder than I won't show let's that's how you do it. Just don't show everything

soe11 · Answer

First one is elegant, but rest are not trashy too, depending on occasion and function can be wear. Last two black my girlfriend's mom wear too.

Andres77 · Answer

Do you want your father's approval or just don't care? THAT is the line between elegant and classy and trashy.

Djaay · Answer

It's all in you're kindness towards others , your character that's openly warm and bubbly with all others around you and how you carry yourself throughout anywhere you may be.

When trying to dress provocatively, where do you draw the line between looking classy and elegant as opposed to trashy?

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Trashy or attractive dress design? What do you think?

When trying to dress provocatively, where do you draw the line between looking classy and elegant as opposed to trashy?

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