Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith

Coping with Women's Clothes

This article lists a number of stupid things about women's clothes.

I don't wear most of the shit like this, with the exception of liking some thin clothes for summer wear and layering.  I layer in winter because my house heats unevenly, and it's more convenient to take off or put on a layer than to hike back to the bedroom and change everything.

So here's what you can do about the nonsense that is modern fashion:

1) First, ignore all the stores that focus on fashion.  That will cut out about 80-90% of places you'd waste your time, depending on where you live.  In fact, forget about fashion: when you find something you like, buy several so you'll have it after it goes out of fashion.

2) Now look for stores that cater to women who need practical clothes.  Farm stores are awesome for this.  So are some outdoor recreation stores.  Some stores that cater to mothers are good too.  Some bargain stores have clothes that are built to last.

3) Don't forget to check the men's section.  Their clothes are more sensible.  If you have smallish boobs, you can probably wear men's shirts.  If you have smallish hips, you can probably wear men's pants.  If you are big and tall, sheesh, you'll probably have an easier time finding stuff in the men's section because it is just made bigger in general.  If you have an hourglass figure, don't despair: men's clothing usually has more ease and if you're willing to try on different things, you can probably find something that fits.  Among the awesome things in the men's section are roomy flannel shirts, one-shape-fits-most t-shirts, plain socks, and boxer briefs that keep the thighs from rubbing together.

4) Shop thrift stores.  Little fashion makes it down that far because the people who donate to charities are less likely to buy that stuff to begin with, and the more destructible garments rarely survive that long.  Most of the stuff that does is durable, just somebody outgrew it in one direction or another.  This is a great place to find comfortable t-shirts and sweaters.  Bottoms are more of a gamble.  Some places have a good selection of skirts, though.

5) Learn to sew.  You can make your own clothes, or you can fix small stupid things like a too-long hem or loose buttons. Having a pattern for some basic stuff, like a pair of nice simple shorts, is really handy.  If you are determined to have professional clothes that are not stupid, making your own is cheaper than hiring a seamstress, and some of the patterns are doable.  Look at fashion comparison charts too -- once you've seen a dozen or so variations of necklines, sleeve shapes, etc. you can pick the ones you like best and use those.

6) You always have the option of telling the fashion manufacturers why you don't buy their crap, or when you find a good supplier, why you stick to them like glue.  If enough people complain about a product field, it tends to change.


Tags: activism, gender studies, networking
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  • 98 comments
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dianavilliers

Re: Well...

dianavilliers

January 23 2012, 00:47:11 UTC 9 years ago Edited:  January 23 2012, 00:48:30 UTC

Plush sized? Spare me.

As a professional woman who keeps abreast of feminist issues, I am keenly aware that, rightly or wrongly, my appearance affects my earning ability. My ability to support myself in my old age depends on not only my performance in my job, but on my avoiding looking frumpy or odd as well.
Being my sex isn't just a matter of trying to attract a partner, and Ren-Faire bodices, or my preferred era, late-Victorian corsets, are not a workable solution.

If I were to sew a professional wardrobe, which is something I am fully capable of - say a couple of pairs of pants, half a dozen tops and a jacket, that would probably take 48 hours. At 8 hours/day that's 3 weekends (full time professional, remember), if I don't have to do any household maintenance, grocery shopping, socialising...

I know you're just trying to be helpful in your own way, but really, you've managed to devalue both the time and labour of women and our femininity in this piece.
dichroic

Re: Well...

dichroic

January 23 2012, 09:30:08 UTC 9 years ago

Actually I'm kind of amazed how fast that is - 48 hours for all of that sounds like blazing speed to me. I'm a knitter, not a sew-er, so to me that's one sweater.
dianavilliers

Re: Well...

dianavilliers

January 23 2012, 09:32:51 UTC 9 years ago

I was estimating 8 hours each for pants and jacket, and 4 for the tops. Depending on the complexity and whether I'd made the pattern before, I may have underestimated.
dichroic

Re: Well...

dichroic

January 23 2012, 09:54:41 UTC 9 years ago

One thing I was wondering (my only sewing experience is hand-sewing): is it even practical to make one's own t-shirts? I wear fine jersey ones all the time, even when relatively dressed up. For work I wear them with a cardigan or shrug or scarf. (Here I do; in the US I'd be more likely to skip the shrug or scarf in warm weather, but I'm in the Netherlands and Dutch women are the queens of layering, thanks to the climate. I feel like I'm underdressed here if I walk around in just a top and pants or skirt.)
dianavilliers

Re: Well...

dianavilliers

January 23 2012, 09:58:48 UTC 9 years ago

I don't have a lot of (good) experience sewing stretch fabric. I think it would probably be easier if I had an overlocker, and that it would be possible to make ones own t's, but it's not something I've done.
aldersprig

Re: Well...

aldersprig

January 25 2012, 00:11:34 UTC 9 years ago

It's possible even on a non-serger, but takes some practice. It helps to have a machine with a "stretch material" setting but you really need the universal needles (ask at the fabric store) which won't run the fabric.

I don't know at all about hand-sewing, but I have an entire floor-length dress made from jersey.