sick to the back teeth of uncomfortable, impractical clothes

Natural fibres. Not linen. Linen is scratchy. Why is it so hard? Everything has fucking Lycra or elastane whatever. Even knickers. Men's clothes don't.

I hear you. I've started buying more men's clothes - especially their jeans, which actually have decent sized pockets! I don't like carrying a bag if I can avoid it - room for phone, small purse, keys and a lipbalm is all I need.

I like wearing nice clothes but am not bothered about brands etc. After lots of help from the wise women in S&B for a bra intervention, I now have some good bras (am a GG so they are a necessity!) which has helped my neck, shoulder and back pain.

I have bought some men's shoes as well, but I am a size 6.5 so it can be tricky finding them small enough. I do find they are more comfortable and tend to last better than the ones made for women. I haven't worn high heels for over 2 years now - I sent the last bag of them off to the charity shop a few months back.

One of the best things that I have really enjoyed about getting closer to 40 is that I find myself thinking that wearing clothes and shoes which are uncomfortable or restrict your movement, seems a bit bonkers really!

I gave up bras years ago. Used to have small boobs but they're fairly large now I'm breastfeeding. Still way more comfortable without one.

I mostly wear trainers, or boots when it's really cold.

Then jeans / leggings and some comfortable tops.

Are you wearing the right size? I never feel uncomfortable in my clothes. My bras fit me properly and cause no discomfort, my jeans fit me and have some stretch and again no discomfort, as do trousers, skirts, dresses, tops and shirts.

I don't use pockets because I like carrying a bag, I'm comfortable with a bag.

I've no need to wear oversized men's clothes to make me comfortable. In fact it would make me uncomfortable as I'd look like a twat.

My shoes are also comfy, or I wouldn't wear them. I find it very odd all your clothes made you uncomfortable and they sound illfitting the way you've described them.

It's not just work either. There's a thread on here right now from a woman who thinks her 14 year old daughter doesn't dress well enough and so lays out her clothes every morning. Apparently the daughter is happy in leggings and a hoodie...

I bloody love clothes and I still manage to be comfortable.

I'm afraid I have to echo Floisme on this! Possibly because clothes are something I actually enjoy spending time and money on - I'm not generally aware of a compromise between comfort and looking as I wish to look.

It's true that it's quicker and easier to find simple shapes and decent quality fabrics in the men's section. Or in the wardrobes of male family menbers. But you can still find their equivalents made 'for' women - just not, usually, for £6.99 on the High Street.

Also, for me comfort doesn't necessarily mean 'loose', or 'floppy' or anything approaching scruffy. Lots of things I love - long tight sleeves, the stiffest silk or velvet, unexpected slits or laser-cut lace - aren't sold in most men's shops, but they can be amazingly comfortable as well as making one look fabulous.

I'm not sure why anyone is policing the op's feminism here. It's all well and good to think 'Oh yawn, just wear what you want like I do' but many women are still compelled to wear clothes at work for which there is no male equivalent: abovethelaw.com/2018/07/high-heels-at-work-required-a-follow-up/

You're right OP, lots of women's clothing is crap, rubbish fabrics, skimpy cut and designed to be disposable once the current 'fashion' has been worn a few times. It's sad really that many women still buy this soon-to-be-binned rubbish and prioritise appearance over comfort and functionality. I can't be arsed with any of this trend nonsense, and won't wear anything which is not comfy and practical. You don't have to look like a slob, just choose more carefully, look at cut and fabric content, and pay a bit more for decent quality. I don't have a lot to spend on clothes (nor would I if I had the cash!) but it's possible to look good in a comfortable, practical way. The French fashion thread I think ties in nicely with this topic.

I can't and won't wear heels anymore. Never wore them much anyway as found them so uncomfortable.
Nowadays in London on the way to work, most women of all ages and ethnicities wear flat shoes, boots or trainers. It may be harder to look smart if you need to be office-y but it can be done. Heels look a bit old school tbh.

Also found I'm wearing my DP and DS clothes more and more (dunno how happy about that they are! ), as they are more comfortable.

I agree with what a PP
said though about some younger women feeling they need to look ultra glam/ feminine, especially when going out out.

My pet hate though is a seeing a woman in daytime walking in a park alongside her date; he's all comfy in trainers and a sweat top, she can barely walk in stilettos and shivering in a little too. Not judging, just find it sad. Also Meghan M, please buy some trainers, especially when playing netball!!

I wear comfy clothes. My coat is a men's (longer in the body so no cold bum), men's walking trousers (more pockets than the women's ones), sensible shoes (Thankyou plantir fasciitis) and granny style comfy underwear.
But then I am almost 60 and therefore invisible plus I don't work in an office so can please my self.

Women should, like men, be able to dress in practical comfortable shoes and clothes without worrying if they are "attractive" or fashionable enough.

I've been meaning to start a thread about women's shoes for a while. I've been invited to a wedding next weekend and there really is hardly anything in the shops that would be considered smart enough which I would consider comfortable enough. The "smart" shoes almost all have vertiginous heels and ridiculously pointed toes. The fact that retailers don't stock half sizes also means the chance of finding a suitable shoe are non-existent.

I've actually decided to wear some shoes to the wedding which I bought in 1991 when better quality ones were more available.

Dear Chancellor if you're looking for something to tax, I would suggest high pointy shoes - hopefully that would nudge retailers to stock something more foot shaped.

What is going on in my stupid head?

Not your stupid head. The stupid society you live in.

Bin the bra. I did this years ago and it's wonderful.

I've fucked off almost everything uncomfortable in the last few years.

Hardly ever wear bras. Almost always wear leggings or maxi dresses. I only wear boots or flip flops. I'm currently at work in leggings and an XL mens tesco wooly jumper as a dress, with brown flat boots.

The older i've got the less I give a shit about what anyone thinks.

I do, however, almost always wear mascara. I much prefer how I look with it on and feel 100% better about my appearance with mascara on.

I’m surprised she couldn’t find jeans with a pocket that would take a phone, I’ve never found any issue with that. Something larger, like a purse, would be tricky but even the skinniest of jeans can accommodate a phone

My daughter went shopping for jeans the other day and I watched her test every single style in New Look (so about ten, nearly all marked "skinny" in some way) for proper pockets - just something that would fit her phone, really. She gave up in the end.

I threw away my last pair of heels four years ago and have never looked back. I have some fancy sandals for summer parties, but they're worn so infrequently they're in better shape than the marriage I originally bought them to celebrate

I think people who try and follow fashions will be the ones who struggle.

You're probably right. Apart from a brief daliance as a goth in the mid-90s, I never followed any fashion.
Unless it was the "woman of action outdoorsy" look, which although it probably didn't show off my figure, managed to snag me a DH!

Incoming why are comfortable women's jeans even termed 'boyfriend' jeans though? Even the name suggests that they're appropriate for men, and that women are crossing into male territory by wearing them.

Girls' shoes in particular make me so angry. They're patent, glittery, open to the elements, have completely unnecessary heels. Meanwhile, boys shoes are sturdy, closed, practical and warm. Girls' are for decoration, boys' are for action.

On the adult side, I've recently decided that the criteria for clothes is no longer 'what makes me look thinnest'. It's disturbing how difficult it is to put this into practice every day when I open the wardrobe though. I definitely feel conditioned into making myself look 'less' every day just to go out into the world.

I think the problem is that if, as a woman, you dress for comfort you risk being considered frumpy or not concerned about your appearance, and in many situations not being taken seriously. As a young woman, that may inhibit your desirability, because even the wokest of woke young men have been socialised (as women have) to consider certain styles of dress attractive.

Dress codes for women in business are still much more impractical than those for men, even though this may be changing. It's still hard (though not impossible) to find comfortable flat shoes to wear with skirts that look conventionally 'smart'.

Bold fail, sorry

I never understand these posts.
Sure, it's sometimes hard to find exactly what you want but that's the same for everybody.

I think people who try and follow fashions will be the ones who struggle. Like you say, if you want comfortable clothes, they arent hard to find.

I have large breasts and frankly, without a bra to strap them down, they get in my way

I wear a bra for comfort because I am large of nork and they are saggy. If I dont I get really sore and sweaty underneath. I dont wear underwire or anything though, I get the comfy "granny" bras from M&S.

Same with knickers. I wear M&S ones that go right up to my bellybutton.

Clothes wise, I wear mainly leggings with loose tops/dresses preferably with pockets. Shoes or boots are flat.

I find it easy to get comfortable clothes that are not from the mans section. I do shop in charity shops though and dont follow fashions whatsoever.

I never understand these posts.
Sure, it's sometimes hard to find exactly what you want but that's the same for everybody.
I shop mostly at Go Outdoors or similar.
Never had a problem finding comfortable clothes or clothes with pockets.
If you can't find what you want in the places you usually look, go somewhere else.

I bloody love clothes and I still manage to be comfortable.
Maybe I’m lucky in that I don’t have to dress in a corporate way for work.
I wear some men’s clothes because I like them but I don’t agree that they’re always more comfortable as they’re made for a different shaped body.
Pockets - yes.