men and women's clothing styles - a thought

[pinkytoe]

Ridiculous thought of the day - It occurred to me today that men have it a lot simpler in the clothing department. Why is it that women have tops with about six different sleeve lengths - sleeveless, cap, short, elbow, 3/4 and long. Ditto pants - multiple lengths and silhouettes. Men have only two sleeve lengths on tops and wouldn't be caught dead in capri length pants. Why is this?

[iris lilies]

Because women spend enormous resources on their attire and if things weren't always changing up, if there wasn't a lot of choice, there would be less to contemplate/shop for/write about in fashion magazines.

[ToomuchStuff]

Look at kids.
Generally, who plays "dress up"? Who thinks things are "pretty" and who has other descriptive factors? Now realize marketers find what human nature they can market to.
Men like to look presentable, but generally don't give a CENSORED BY TOS. Woman, want stuff that flatters their shape/size/features, etc.

Just my $.02

[freshstart]

men have it easy, they need to know waist and inseam measurement, sleeve and collar measurements and they could be set, most clothes seem to fit.

a woman's sz 8, means nothing if you have never tried the brand. Our sizes are all over the place. Our prices and quality are all over the place. Why anyone thinks shopping for clothes is good ol' recreational fun, is beyond me.

I used to stick to the deeply discounted Talbot's outlet, I knew how their clothes fit me, but they are an hour away now and I don't need work clothes. I also know how Lands' End fits me. I use a variety of discounts thru my Discover card, wait for clearance to go on sale and I am good to go. I did need some hanging around but looking presentable clothes and scored on Kohl's clearance but the quality is not there. But the prices with all their coupons and promotions combined with a sale have been great. I ordered 3 shirts, one they told me was out of stock, so they would ship to my home as a way to make it better and then they took off none of my coupons and promotions so I got 2 shirts delivered for $2.75! I tried on a different top from there, the sleeve was not sewn properly and I couldn't fix it, I called to return, the lady said, "keep it and we will credit you the cost." What? How are you people making any money? I even told her the shirt was not ok for work but ok for other times and she still gave me all that back. So I am down to two stores that I roughly know my size and both can be cheap if you hit it right. 2 is plenty in my book, lol.

there should be standard sizes for women's clothing. Do what they want in variety of styles, I don't care, just make it so I can try it on once and it fits. and stores that size 0-4, WTH does that mean, S,M, L, XL? I walk out if they do stuff like that.

[kib]

I think playing dress-up is a way of trying on roles, it's not necessarily priming for a life of fashion slavery. But as we grow up, we're marketed and boxed-in to no end. Basically, a woman wearing fashion that's five years old screams, "I'm poor, I have no taste at all, or I am thumbing my nose at my culture". None of which is particularly helpful for getting ahead in business or social life, especially for younger women.

... personally, I wear my zip-off travel pants from the thrift store with pride, because ... I'm frugal, I have no taste at all, and I'd rather be practical than fashionable - I'm thumbing my nose at my culture all over the place. :~)

[Gardenarian]

I think women have it easier when it comes to clothing, because we can choose to dress in feminine or masculine styles with impunity. Most men don't feel comfortable in skirts (though quite a few Ashland men wear those new khaki kilts.)

Many of my clothes are intended for boys or men.

[lessisbest]

I don't have a clothing issue, but we once attended a small, strict, fundamental Baptist Church. One of the first things they did was to take me aside and explain why (brainwashed) woman shouldn't wear pants. I looked at the pastor and said, if anything, men should be wearing dresses - robes - like they did during the Biblical times and like they wear in the middle east today. They never brought up the pants issue again.....

My sister and I have wide feet and we occasionally purchase boy's shoes/boots and also boy's socks. We also found them less-expensive.

[JaneV2.0]

I think fashion is an art form and have the utmost admiration for those who can put together a stunning wardrobe from a combination of off-the-rack, thrifted, vintage, and otherwise unique pieces. But as a squat oldster, I stick to innocuous mix and match, which I hope renders me even more invisible than I already am.

[freshstart]

Sometimes it is fun to play dress up, try to change your outward appearance to match your personality. I liked the look of Chico's, Earth mama with flair and giant stone jewelry. I was in there alone with the salesperson so she really tried to help me. Shirts were below my knees. Dresses were longer than my entire height. I looked like a kid playing dress up, not one thing in there was flattering, not even the giant stone medallion that came to my navel. And I am in no real way an Earth Mama to begin with. But I love it on others who impressively come out of there looking beautiful.

[freshstart]

I think fashion is an art form and have the utmost admiration for those who can put together a stunning wardrobe from a combination of off-the-rack, thrifted, vintage, and otherwise unique pieces. But as a squat oldster, I stick to innocuous mix and match, which I hope renders me even more invisible than I already am.

ITA. I've upped the playing field on mix and match. I've gone to work twice in two different shoes. My closet was dark so I never noticed until I got to work. And then everyone knew, lol.

[Zoe Girl]

many days i love getting dressed, i don't spend a lot and get sooo frustrated when i go shopping. i have a friend who lost weight and i got good stuff, goodwill and then i try to shop but many times my mom gives me things and about half of them work out well. i think women's bodies have a wider variety of shapes and then we also have some different external standards for professionalism. However the school i work at tends to be casual and the principal wears cool converse a lot with nice jeans. i don't often get the chance but i do get to wear some skirts and maybe a dress now and then.

my big problem is that i get a vision of an outfit and then i want to create it and it doesn't exist! i have done some sewing but the last sewing project was interrupted by moving back in May and i have not finished it. so it is more possible to find what there is without having a predetermined idea in mind but i still have the outfits in my mind that i would love. however i refuse to dress too boring, just depressing. i am sure i look boring at times (mostly my super comfy clothes) but if i think i am dressing like i am 70 then it is depressing. i am happy that my generation (gen X) is still dressing pretty good and can pull off fun clothes much older.