【do clothes make the woman?: gender, performance theory, and lesbian eroticism】

When Kimberley Homer donned a white polka dot dress to see Book of Mormonat the theatre,do clothes make the woman?: gender, performance theory, and lesbian eroticism she ended up hugging a woman she'd never met before who was wearing the very same dress.

"We had a drunken hug and kept laughing and saying 'NICE DRESS' to each other over and over," Kimberley tells me. "It was the theatre equivalent of bonding in the club loos."

The item of clothing that brought together Kimberley and a fellow theatregoer has been collectively dubbed the "The Dress"— Zara's £39.99 white dress with black spots. So omnipresent is the garment, the New York Timeshailed it "the $50 dress that conquered Britain."

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The dress even has its own dedicated Instagram account, with 13.5K followers, called "hot4thespot," a self-described "safe-space for *the dress.*" (Side note: taking photos of women without their permission is not a cool move. Nor is posting them to social media.)

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While some viral dress wearers say they feel a sense of solidarity with fellow owners, others say it's brought them no end of unwanted attention. Now that the garment has reached such famous heights, its wearers are divided about the visibility their sartorial choices have afforded them.

"The possibility of some random person taking a photo of me in it was probably one of the reasons why I sold it."

Mashable spoke to six owners of the dress to find out what's it like to wear a dress that's instantly recognisable.

Hannah, who prefers to use just her first name, has just sold her dress now that "it's everywhere" and because her family made fun of her every time she wore it. "The possibility of some random person taking a photo of me in it was probably one of the reasons why I sold it," she says.

When Hannah wore the dress in public, she received double takes from strangers. "I don’t think I like having a dress that is that popular," she tells me. "Like I saw five other people wearing it on a day when I was as well."

While selling the dress because of public attention might sound extreme, the ubiquity of the dress is so pronounced that owners of the dress are starting to dye it different colours in a bid to make it more unique.

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Fiona, who prefers to go by her first name only, bought the dress in April before it became super popular. "Definitely feel more conscious wearing it now than I did in the spring," says Fiona. "I'm definitely wearing it less since it became totally ubiquitous." She says she thinks people are judging her for having it.

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Holly Dedman says she definitely notices people staring at her when she's wearing it. But the best thing about wearing the dress is coming face to face with other people wearing the same dress.

"Some people literally try and hide (definitely seen that happen once). Others just smile (like it’s some secret club)," she says. "Literally had someone high five me as we walked past each other."

"Literally had someone high five me as we walked past each other."

Holly's not about to stop wearing the dress anytime soon, though. "Maybe I shouldn’t wear it but I just love it, so I couldn’t care less!"

The first time Rose Stokes wore her dress in public, there were five other women wearing it in the club she went to in Peckham, London. Another time, she was approached by a stranger in coffee shop in Clapham Junction "who was smirking and asked if I’d read about my dress."

"It feels like being part of a joke," she tells me. But, she's made her peace with the virality of her dress. "I’m kinda cool with it you know. I think a few years ago I wouldn’t have been. Therapy works," she says.

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So, you own The Dress...

For those who feel a sense of trepidation leaving the house wearing the dress, Rose has some advice. "The reason it’s popular is cos it’s great," she says. "It looks good on everyone and is very on trend, so take solace in the fact you look FUCKING GREAT.

"Anyone who wants to make you feel bad about yourself is not worth your attention. Try and squash their opinions if you can," she adds. "Joining in on the joke is a good way to deflect bullies."

Not everyone feels self-conscious wearing it, though. "It's like being a minor celeb when I wear mine," says Ruth Walker. "I see people mouthing 'it's the dress' when I'm walking through town."

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Ruth says she finds it hilarious. She also sees people slowing down so they can walk behind her and take a photo of her dress. The photo-snapping doesn't bother her, she says. "I knew what I was signing up to when I read the articles on The Dress and saw the Hot4TheSpot Instagram account."

"I see people mouthing 'it's the dress' when I'm walking through town."

Ruth isn't alone in getting comments from strangers. Jessica Hayden, who does not own the dress, says she saw a woman wearing it and she smiled at her. "She turned to her husband and said, 'Women keep smiling at me because I'm wearing The Dress.'"

Theresa, who prefers to use her first name only, says every girlfriend who's seen her wearing the dress has remarked on it immediately. "It's a nice feeling of recognition and sisterhoodness," she tells me. She describes this alliance of polka dot dress wearers as "fun girl club."

For spotty dress wearers on the brink of an existential crisis, picture your dress as your fully-paid-up membership card to "fun girl club."

To those who spot The Dress in the wild, keep your commentary kind. To those wearing The Dress, hold your head up high — you've got good taste.

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