Regardless of colour, do you think women's clothes are designed to make women look ridiculous?

'Cos is not expensive'.

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/New/Knitted_dress_with_frills/32993034-84365869.1#c-22755

There is a ridiculousness to very feminine clothing - it's one of the reasons why drag queens remain popular and drag kings aren't much of a thing.

I've also heard very little aimed at men about dressing for your body type, other than DH being told that pinstripe trousers can make your arse look big, apparently. Men's bodies do vary quite a lot.

And don't get me started on shoes. I have small feet with high arches and insteps, not much flexibility in the sole and short toes. I've also had ankle injuries and have a low tolerance of discomfort. The main problem I have with "attractive" and smart shoes is that they don't stay on. Anything slip-on doesn't come far enough up the top of my foot to stay in place. Even with a strap, my toes aren't usually secure. I need a wide-ish toe box that covers my toes, a good fastening across the instep, and no narrow heels at all - even a kitten heel sets me wobbling, although a chunky heel can be ok.

I'm not big on clothes, and I hate shopping, but everything I own has pockets and I wouldn't buy anything without.
But then my style is basically the Go Outdoors catalogue, including shoes, and apart from sizes, DH wears the same.
Dressing smart presents more of a problem, but I still find sturdy, flat shoes, trousers with pockets although there is less choice.
I do think plenty of clothes look ridiculous, but nobody's forcing anybody to wear anything they think looks ridiculous. There's a lot of choice out there.

@RebelFreddyVSRogueJason you've got me there, there is no sensible reason for tiny or pretend pockets.

rebel

Tiny pockets drive me mad

My phase 8 jeans have lovely big pockets

My next ones i can get maybe up to the knuckle in

Sometimes 'pretend pockets' are actually real pockets that have been stitched closed so the garment looks better hanging up.
It's always worth checking that.

@Naughtysausage but why is it mostly women’s clothes that they don’t bother with? Or worse they either make the pretend pockets or stupidly tiny ones?
And then they add pockets on knickers!

I've recently had to start wearing work trousers, and aside from there not being a lot of choice in the screwfix catalog, they're wonderful. Not tight, not figure hugging and pockets! It's not what I want to wear everyday - I actually like a bit of Lycra in my trousers when chasing a toddler round, it keeps them with me iyswim.

I'm also putting it out there, that sewing patterns often come with pockets on all sorts. But adding pockets does actually add some time in, so I can imagine that as a manufacturer, if margins were tight, I wouldn't bother.

Clothes are weird. The men are all in a uniform - not much left to individual choice.
And women are dressed as a christmas tree with colourful clothes and baubles (jewellery).
Massive generalisation and there are loads of exception to this but I have been seeing/thinking this more and more.

I couldn't disagree more, I much prefer women's clothes to mens! I never look at men's clothes and think yeah, I wish I could have some of those dull, muted tone, baggy, shapeless garments, damn the patriarchy! Think men have very little choice when it comes to clothes, women have much more variety to choose from and get the better end of the deal. I don't feel we are forced to dress up, I usually wear jeans and t-shirt for comfort but it's nice to be able to dress up at times. I also like makeup... it stops me looking like the living dead on a morning.

I spent my student years in docs, jeans and t-shirts. Now I am in my 40s I'm more likely to wear dresses, leggings and boots.

Partly because my shape has changed and I find dresses more comfortable.

Partly because I realised I was wearing the 'smart feminist girl' uniform of trousers and t-shirts - as though I could only be taken seriously if I dressed like a man Even though docs weren't particularly comfy for my feet because I have a high instep and trousers don't fit that well because I have a small waist and big hips

I have lots of clothes with pockets and am much more likely to wear something with pockets than carry a bag.

For those seeking pockets, COS tend to have decent sized pockets in their dresses

COS isn't expensive. Very flattering and very wearable. I have several COS dresses. I think they all have pockets.

Dd - autocorrect!

My clothes are cheap, flattering and comfortable. The same for dad, who dresses even more cheaply.

Lass - I should have added a corollary: Women's clothes are either comfortable or flattering - there's very few garments that genuinely do both unless they are expensive

cos is just an expensive version of crappy hennes

Some jeans are okay on men, as long as they fit properly.

Women's clothes are either comfortable or flattering - there's very few garments that genuinely do both

I could not agree less. That is the sort of hyperbole I am referring to. I don't possess any clothes which are not comfortable. Perhaps I'm being vain assuming that they are flattering but I get lots of compliments about them.

Most men in the UK do not dress well or carry out basic grooming or exercise, and look dishevelled, shapeless in their baggy clothes, unwell and unattractive

Very many women look gorgeous

I would not quite go far as that but think very few men dress well. The horrible ubiquity of jeans.

I had some similar thoughts today about women's clothing. I saw a woman wearing a pair of very unflattering leggings: they were nearly flesh coloured but sheer so you could see her black knickers through them. She wasn't slim, but these leggings made her look huge and both showed her underwear and made her look as if she wasn't wearing anything. I'm pretty certain that wasn't the look she was after.

Then of course I felt bad for thinking that she looked terrible, as I am a good liberal lefty and didn't want to body shame. But then I started thinking about comparable men's clothes, and really couldn't come up with anything other than cycle shorts (which are worn for sports only, not as casual clothes in the way that leggings have escaped the gym and made it into every day wear). Women's clothes are either comfortable or flattering - there's very few garments that genuinely do both

For those seeking pockets, COS tend to have decent sized pockets in their dresses.

I wear cycling kit and some cycling kit manufacturers are guilty of the "shrink it and pink it" crime. My winter jacket has one less rear pocket than my husband's equivalent. Having said that, there are some good companies out there. I'll recommend some if anyone is interested

On shoes, I won't buy anything I can't run for a bus in or cycle on my commute bike with flat pedals.

I dress like a bloke most of the time. I agree more of the clothing men
wear is fit for purpose. It's about practicality for the situation and your actual body shape. There are some occasions where men's clothes are a bit odd (very hot days when some men have to wear a suit designed for winter) but women seem to get the totally impractical option more often.

No, I buy clothes to flatter my shape, in colours that suit me. Some women’s clothes are ridiculous (or would look ridiculous on me), but so are some men’s clothes.

I bought a primark mans jumper last year

Lovely

Washes well, hasn't lost shape

Might buy a marks cashmillion one to try as primark doesn't seem to do v necks anymore

I disagree OP. Most men in the UK do not dress well or carry out basic grooming or exercise, and look dishevelled, shapeless in their baggy clothes, unwell and unattractive.

Very many women look gorgeous.