Usage
In Europe and America, dresses are worn by females of all ages as an alternative to a separate skirt and blouse or trousers.
Dresses however can be cooler and less confining than many trouser styles, and are therefore commonly worn in warmer weather.
In most varieties of formal dress codes in Western cultures, a dress of an appropriate style is mandatory for women. They are also very popular for special occasions such as proms or weddings. For such occasions they remain the de facto standard attire for most women.
Dresses can be worn for a number of sports - most notably tennis, netball and figure skating. Their traditional status as formal wear has carried on into ballroom dancing, where they are the costume worn by most female participants.
Read more about this topic: Dress
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