# What's wrong with polyester? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982 "2004-12-09T19:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/21 "2004-12-12T00:43:34Z")
I think polyester just feels terrible. It looks and feels cheap and plasticy. I’m sure there are exceptions, but I’m not going to go looking. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/22 "2004-12-12T02:32:16Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Same here. I have polyester trousers on now because they look smooth and look like gray flannel. > > But for tops, no polyester. It doesn’t breathe and then I don’t smell so fresh after not too long. I don’t know if this is just a male/female difference, but I’m 180 degrees opposite. I won’t touch polyester pants under any circumstances. They look cheap, they’re uncomfortable, and they wrinkle (and _stay_ wrinkled) at the slightest provocation. But for dress shirts, I _prefer_ a cotton/poly blend. All-cotton shirts are too heavy. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/23 "2004-12-12T08:50:59Z")
Polyester has come a long way since the horrible double-knits of the 1970’s. Finer grades of polyester are just as comfortable as wool-and a lot easier to maintain! Regaeding men’s shirts: my vote is for cotton-polyester! You can wear these shirts all day, with nary a wrinkle-while a 100% cotton shirt will look like you’ve slept in it. I was reading that polyester and other synthetics are a lot cheaper than cotton these days, because cotton farming is getting very expensive. One other blend I like is cotton-nylon: I find this belnd to be comfo0rtable, breathable, and wrinkle free. Of course, 100% silk is the best (but very expensive). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/24 "2004-12-12T14:50:02Z")
I have a couple of beautiful black polyester shirts, but they attract lint like nobody’s business, especially when they’re just out of the dryer. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/25 "2004-12-12T18:28:55Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I think polyester has the misfortune of being associated with some of the worst fashion-eras in our history. Think of the polyester leisure suits seen in 70’s TV shows and it isn’t to hard to see why it gets such a crappy reputation. (from “Boogie Nights”) “That’s a nice shirt.” [dirk diggler]Yeah, thanks, it’s imported Italian nylon.[/dirk diggler] ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/26 "2004-12-12T18:50:43Z")
Polyester used properly, in things like fuzzy sweatshirts and sports- and house- wear; it’s the best material anyone has come up with so far. But, to my knowledge, there just is no way to make a polyester men’s business suit worth more the $50. There ain’t nothin’ worse than a cheap suit. If you’ve worn one, you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982/27 "2004-12-12T19:00:53Z")
Polyester garments are spun from the bones of lepers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-polyester/278982.md?page=1)