Why women's clothing is useless...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

No, wait, folks, I didn’t mean that women shouldn’t be clothed when appropriate!

*To start out - I would like this thread to remain separate from other threads currently debating the “appropriateness” of wearing clothing specifically created for your gender. *

I’m kind of wondering what guys would do if they were forced to dress in some of the garbage that gets passed off as clothing for women. And, why is women’s clothing so darn cheaply built?

For instance, for blue jeans: What would you do if you were confronted with front pockets that only went down 3.5"? How about back pockets so small you can’t put a cell phone in them? (OK, matt_mcl you can carry your bag, but what about everybody else?)

Much of women’s/girl’s clothing these days is designed to show a little belly - how many of you guys would feel comfy with that? I know that in Minnesota, that is a downright scary proposition for much of the year! Even the stuff that isn’t supposed to show skin usually doesn’t have enough fabric to tuck in if you care to reach for anything. I’m much too old for hip-huggers. Too round for stretch pants. Capri pants? Why freeze your ankles?

Sorel finally started making womens boots rated as warm as the men’s are - time to finally trade in the old pair I’ve had that are way too big! Women’s coats are often fit too tight to put layers on underneath - I usually have to buy somethng much too big for my arms.

Seems like the seams and buttons on womens clothing are just put together badly, too - they fall apart in a few washings. The only retailer I’ve found whose women’s clothing seems just as sturdy is Land’s End, but I worry about that continuing as the company keeps getting sold.

And work clothes - hey, compare Carhartt’s men’s bibs with the selection of women’s bibs That is just depressing. And, Carhartt just came up with that pair recently!

Sigh. And women’s clothing, as badly designed and constructed as it is, seems to be more expensive, also.

Anyone have some good places to find some well designed, well built clothing for females?

2

So true! On one of the most recent pairs of pants that I bought – from Sears, I might add, which is supposed to be a clothing store of decent quality, right? – the button fell off, within 24 hours after purchase. What kind of cheap nonsense is that?

Another complaint I have about women’s clothing and shoes – why are the sizes so subjective? (At least they are in America, I don’t know about other countries.) When trying on pants, I usually have to grab up to three different pairs of the same style, in different sizes, just to see which one will fit. There’s no way to tell before putting them on, since unlike men’s sizes, women’s sizes don’t have any consistent measurements to use for guidelines.

I wish I had a helpful suggestion of a place to shop, but if I did, I’d be checking that store out myself.

3

Most women’s clothing is built cheaply because it can be - most of us replace it far oftener than most men replace theirs, due to fashion changes.

My husband spends $60 on a shirt that will be more or less fashionable for the next 5 years. I spend $30 on something that will be unwearable in two. 'Bout the same, really.

Land’s End is the exception, of course. Their stuff is built to last because their reputation and clientèle expects it. It’s also rarely fashionable, so the same turtleneck you wear this year will be fine for the next 5 years or so.

4

If I understand you, your argument is “women’s clothes change styles. A woman will not wear something that has gone out of style. Clothes made now will be out of style in two years. Workmanship only has to be good enough to last for two years.”

So, where is that written? Every time I stumble on one of those Fall Fashion Previews where they say something like “periwinkle and aubergine will be the hot colors this season”, I scratch my head. Who gets to decide that? Nobody asked me what colors I’d like everyone to wear. It’s a treadmill. You can’t someday achieve fashion and then relax, you have to keep running just to stay where you are.

So step off the treadmill. Buy a $60 shirt and wear it for five years; just know in advance that for the last three years someone in Milan will be disappointed.
Of course, if any of you looked at my wardrobe, you’d probably laugh yourselves silly.

5

I’m a hippie chick who shops mostly thrift stores, so I left the treadmill behind years ago. The folks in Milan care not a whit, and continue to design to the far greater number of women who prefer quick-changing fashion and inexpensive prices over long lasting, well-made more expensive timeless garments.

IOW, they put out cheap crap 'cause people buy it. My observation is that not-crap is mostly carried by places whose clothing lines aren’t fashionable.

6

I didn’t read the OP yet but I came in to whine about my own clothing issue today. If I am looking in the larger sizes why the fuck do you make them extra clingy??? What sense does this make to anyone! You think I want close-fitting tops…GARRRRRRRRRRRRRR. :mad:

7

I would just like to put in a plug here for CHICO’s. Also available on-line. Not overly expensive, the clothes are well made, classic, and they hold up for years.

And they usually have pockets! (a particular pet peeve of mine, since I hate carrying a purse. Or sometimes I wouldn’t mind having a purse as an accessory, but I don’t ever want one as a necessity.)

8

Chicos largest size is a 14/16. Hmpf.

9

Well, I just checked out Chicos, and while the clothing might work for someone of my years, the prices are a bit beyond me. Maybe if I start another inside/office type job again, I will venture to one of their stores!

Of course, when I want to spend big bucks on clothing, I tend to look more toward Coldwater Creek or REI… or art fairs. I do love wearable art.

10

amelioration, didn’t you know that Sears was bought by KMart a few years ago?

I do quite a bit of shopping for myself in the men’s department. Right now I’m wearing a thermal henley from the men’s department. The sleeves are long enough and my belly is covered.

Thank Og.

11

I want to know who the hell made the decision that women don’t want to wear steel-toed shoes. Why did I have to visit 15 different shoe stores before I finally found one that had some women’s steel-toed shoes? Why did I only find 3 options at that store, while men had over 30? Hell, even the boys shoes came in more options than the womens. Doesn’t anyone think that it’s more logical that a woman will have more need for steel-toed shoes than a little boy? And why is it that 2 of the options that store had, only came in sizes 5-5.5 and 7-11? Is there some nationwide ban on women with size 6-6.5 feet working in factories? Why did the one option that came in my size, happen to be the ugliest pair of shoes I’ve ever seen in my life, not to mention one of the most expensive? I spent over $130 on that pair of shoes.

I finally found steel toed shoes for women with small feet, at Wal-Mart. They only cost $30. BUT, they are the most god awful uncomfortable things I’ve ever worn. My 5" stiletto, beaded fuck me shoes are more comfortable than my steel toed shoes from Wal-Mart.

Now, granted I live in North Butfuck New York, and the only large cities within 2 hours of me are in a different state, and a different country. But, I went to shoe stores in 3 DIFFERENT STATES! I went to stores in Vermont - friggen farm county. You’d think they would have some work shoes for women. I went to stores in Western MA, in a mall with around 10 different shoe stores. Whenever I asked about steel-toed shoes for women, I got a blank stare, and in some cases, a nervous giggle. A couple people told me that no one makes them. That they just DON’T EXIST.

One of these days, I’m going to raise the $2300 I need to take my medical transcription course. When that day comes, I’m going to throw out all my jeans, t-shirts, and work shoes. I’m going to pull out all the PJ’s. I’m only going to put on real clothes when I have to go somewhere with a dress code - like a wedding. I will work and shop in my pj’s and slippers. Know why? BECAUSE THEY FIT DAMMIT!

12

I can’t find any women’s blouses that don’t have the dreaded cap sleeve. You know, it looks like a short sleeve shirt, but the seam on the underside is so short it’s practically non-existent, causing your “sleeve” to be jammed up in your armpit at all times? Fuck that. I’d rather buy no blouse at all than that uncomfortable shit.

And why must it be ubiquitous? I walk into a store and every garment is either no sleeves, long sleeves, or cap sleeves. I guess if it didn’t suck ass, we wouldn’t know it was a women’s blouse, now would we?

13

TIP: Everything is half-off on Coldwater Creek’s web site through Thursday. I just bought a gorgeous $99 jacket on the Outlet site for $11.51.

14

They have a few at the Red Wing Shoes site, or are those the ones you already found?

15

How far are you from Canada?

Seriously, check out Marks Work Wearhouse. The selection online sucks, but in store they have a decent selection of steel toes for women. Not as many as for the men, I noticed that one myself, HUGE selection for men and only a small section for women but there were a number of different styles and some of which were actually comfortable. I paid about $70 for mine.

My issues are mainly with length and the damn thin jeans/clothing. I prefer to NOT look like a sausage TYVM. I also totally agree with the cheapness, I like to keep clothes for awhile if they work for me. Fashion be damned. I want them to last longer than a couple washes damnit!

16

I have no first-hand experience with their women’s clothing, but my husband has ordered from Duluth Trading Co. and they appear to have a nice selection of women’s stuff. Their copy on the women’s pages is of the tone, “we haven’t forgotten the gals!” so they might be worth a try for durable women’s workwear.

17

Holy frijole! I just nabbed over $500 worth of stuff for $131, including shipping and tax! Thanks for the heads up, Ellen Cherry! I’m not normally a big Coldwater Creek fan, but there were some great steals in there I can’t pass up, and Grandma will be so happy to see me in “something nice” at Christmas dinner. :stuck_out_tongue:

18

Whee! I’m so glad! Their sales are really hard to pass up.

19

[Superficial]Yeah…but they’re so cuuuuuuute.[/Superficial]

20

From the border? About 25 minutes, if there’s heavy traffic. Luckily, the factory I currently work in doesn’t require steel toed boots. The previous one did. I still have the $130 boots and the $30 shoes, just in case. It sucks when they say you have to have steel toes before you can start but you spend 2 weeks trying to find the damn things. It never even occured to me to go to Canada for them. I just moved up here this past spring so I haven’t gotten it into my head yet that in many ways, Canada is more convenient than most of New York.