Julia Roberts: How a Feminine Shirtdress Strengthens Her Character

Costume Designer Albert Wolsky has costumed a ton of films and has no doubt earned his rank as one of the top designers in the business.  Yet I can't quite wrap my head around why he chose an unending collection of shirtdresses for Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne.  I'm assuming that for one thing he was trying to show that she was in a rut--existing, rather than living, life.  Same dress, different color, day in and day out, no need to think in the morning about mixing or matching separates, just put on your "robe" and heels and go?  Aside from the rut, was Wolsky's shirtdress statement that Americans naturally view female professors and teachers as stereotypical, regimented, dress-wearing women which Roberts' character embodied throughout the film until her revelation of desired and necessary freedom surfaces toward the end of the film?  Side note:  I would have to say I don't recall ever seeing a teacher or professor wear a shirtdress to work, and I have been a teacher for many years.  I myself own...one.

Interestingly, where did this shirtdress stereotype evolve from? The 1950s, a time of heightened popularity for the little 'ol shirtdress, a time of devoted feminine housewives in heels and cinched waists (Jerry:  "not that there's anything wrong with that").  My theory, though, is that ultimately Wolsky decided to costume Roberts in her ultra feminine dresses to demonstrate that her husband was even more undeserving of her than we indeed initially thought-- here her husband has a beautiful wife, who on top of being feminine and gorgeous works hard every day to pay their bills, and yet such beauty is still not enough for him.  He therefore chooses to drown himself in hyper-feminine caricatured online images filled with surrealism that have become all too common on the web.  This is a man who responds to fantasy more than to reality, which is one of the most destructive character flaws a human being can have, especially when pretending to take on the role of a devoted spouse.  The audience therefore develops additional empathy for Roberts' character.  Without Roberts' such outward femininity, the audience perhaps might not feel so sorry for Roberts' character, and without audience empathy, her relationship with Larry Crowne could come across as self-indulgent rather than the result of an honest escape from unfortunately an unchangeable and immoral husband.