Fashion

[etherial]

A near-death-experience on Monday reminded me of something I've always found strange. People find clothes uncomfortable. Now, I'm not just talking about women, for whom the fashion industry is one of their most visible enemies, constantly creating clothes that fit absolutely no one, and expectations of size and scale that are inhumanly cruel, but the consensus at the time was that a significant majority of people, everyday, wear clothes that they find uncomfortable.

This I don't get. My closet is full - overfull, in fact - with clothes that I find comfortable. Clothes that I don't exactly find joyous to wear, but am perfectly happy wearing day-in, day-out, everything in my wardrobe is something I'd feel perfectly fine wearing around the house just 'cause, even the stuff that I don't because it really needs to be dry-cleaned.

I mean, I do have some shirts that don't fit quite right, but they look really nice, and the tiny discomfort of wearing a shirt that doesn't fit quite right is outweighed by the fact that these shirts look really good. So tell me, people of the world, what clothes do you wear - rarely or regularly - that you find uncomfortable? What do you do as an alternative when you're lounging around the house? How and why do you put up with this crap?

Comments

[kadath.livejournal.com]

The Air Force uniform wasn't exactly an exercise in comfort (while it wasn't exactly uncomfortable, either), but the reasons for putting up with that one should be obvious.

Besides that, I own/ed a few pairs of uncomfortable shoes. In one case, they used to be comfortable, and just stopped being so after I didn't wear them for a while, so I tossed 'em. In another case, they were comfortable in the store, but not for long periods of wear, so I'm holding on to them until I can find a pair of cream dress shoes that aren't uncomfortable. In yet another case, it's pair of high-heeled boots that aren't worth the pain for the look they provide, so they're just sitting in the closet gathering dust until I find someone who wants them. The shoes that go with the bridesmaid's dress for Ren's wedding aren't particularly comfortable, either, but I demanded a wide, low heel, so they're basically wearable, and I would consider wearing them with the dress again for the color match if I have a semi-formal event to attend.

There is no reason to wear uncomfortable clothing unless you are a fetishist or trading comfort for some degree of social obligation--and even then, I'm not willing to trade away much in the way of comfort.

The exception to the comfort rule: the break-in period on good boots.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

I had a hard time finding knee-length platform boots that didn't involve a Heel From Hell (you know, if it's already high enough for a plastic fish to fit in the sole, I don't need a longer heel on top of that). I did manage to find a pair at Hubba Hubba where the portion that my foot rests on is flat and therefore they're pretty comfortable (and hence I acquired my Boots What Make Me Tall).

Oh, I do have some skirts that are more restricting than I'd like, but they're not uncomfortable, they're dangerous. I discovered this when I made what I thought was a simply leap to a bus from a curb, but I almost managed to miss the bus and fall on my face or my laptop because my leg was stopped short by the skirt. If I knew how to sew I'd put a slit in it (the slit is easy, the hem is not), but as it is I'm thinking of getting rid of it.

[kadath.livejournal.com]

Oh, that reminds me...costuming for LARPs. I will wear uncomfortable clothing if it fits the character or if I desperately need a piece that I can't find in a more comfortable size/style to complete a costume. (Your comment reminded me because I think I still have a too-tight skirt in my closet somewhere that I wore as a priggish Tremere.)

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

Actually, whenever I wear clothing that's not normal for me or whatever's left on laundry day[1] I perceive it as costuming. That's includes dressing up for formal events and getting into clubbing outfits to go to Manray (or the current equivalent), as well as whatever I wear to LARPs, cons, or the ren fair. They all occupy that same sort of not-reality space in my head, for whatever reason.

[1] I'm 27 and I still behave like a college student. *hangs head in shame*