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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why women’s shirts are see-through?

55 replies

ethelfleda · 16/07/2019 08:12

Am I just not shopping in the right places? Nearly every single shirt I try on is flipping see-through!

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 16/07/2019 08:48

DinoEggz, a lot of Women buy them and layer them. I've bought underskirts, or a full slip to get past the flimsiness of some garments.

The lack of sleeves is annoying as well. Yet Women generally feel the cold more.

CitadelsofScience · 16/07/2019 08:51

I buy Crew Clothing or Joules shirts and they tend to a much thicker fabric. I'm not wanting see through fabrics in my 50's, not that I ever wore them when younger either.

Myriade · 16/07/2019 08:59

Flesh coloured bras are not the answer though.
The issue lies in a society that think it’s ok to put women body in display in a way that they would never dare doing with men.

After all, I should be able to wear a nice coloured, patterned bra if I want to rather than having to modify my behaviour/choice.

Btw I think the answer lies in refusing to buy that sort of product. Of women collectively were refusing to do that (and buy a beige bras to deal with the ‘issue’) companies would have no other choice than to adapt to it.

Bloodybridget · 16/07/2019 09:02

Yes I have a few shirts that are transparent. Beige bras aren't the answer, you can still see the outline of my bingo wings body.

LuaDipa · 16/07/2019 09:02

Hobbs shirts are not see through! They are a nice fit too. They are the only ones I have found that are appropriate for work.

Myriade · 16/07/2019 09:04

And btw I agree that it’s nit just shirts either.
Ive just had the same issue with a pair of trousers (that I refused to buy). A woman standing next to me was just ‘well they are white. You just need to wear beige underwear’.
Well actually NO. For one, they were so transparent that you could ever single detail of the pants I was wearing so I doubt that beige pants (that I dint own) would have made a big difference. And second, another pair of white trousers (from the same shop) didn’t have that issue so it’s not ‘all white trousers’.

I hate the fact women are now so conditioned to the transparency that they dont even question it anymore.

Sarcelle · 16/07/2019 09:18

I have been on the hunt for a perfect white shirt for years. One that does not require a vest top underneath for transparency reasons and one that does not gape at breast level.

Wearing a fleshy coloured bra is not the solution. Better quality fabric is.

VenusTiger · 16/07/2019 09:21

@FamilyOfAliens I know right... what’s with all the T-shirt posts! Lol

formerbabe · 16/07/2019 09:22

Yes all these cheap materials are so bloody thin. I've seen so many things I want to buy but don't because of this issue. I needed a new summer dress but it took me ages to get one because every single one was see through. I wear plain vests under lots of things. It's ridiculous.

sewinginscotland · 16/07/2019 09:25

The cheap fabric used to make women's clothes is one of the reasons why I started making my own! I don't want to layer my summer clothes, thank you. This disposable fashion trend is to thank. We need everyone to start being more discriminating in what they buy, otherwise manufacturers will keep churning out thin clothes with no pockets (9mo DS has pockets in his trousers, why don't I?)

Zaphodsotherhead · 16/07/2019 09:25

I guess cheap material will be thin? It's the price we pay for cheap fashion, manufacturers wanting to cut corners and turn out substandard clothing that they can stick a label on and sell for as much as people are willing to pay.

I've got a mixture of shirts, some quite thin (that I tend to wear vests underneath) and some (often linen ones) that are thicker.

Don't get me started on pockets though...

CCquavers · 16/07/2019 09:26

Men’s shirts are see through as well. It’s cheap fabric.

Other ways they make an item more affordable is by cutting the length.

Pinktinker · 16/07/2019 09:26

I don’t think it’s necessarily women’s shirts, I have seen men with the same issue (particularly when they get sweaty!). I think it’s the overall quality of the shirt, how thick the cotton is.

formerbabe · 16/07/2019 09:28

Other ways they make an item more affordable is by cutting the length

Yes, hence why crop tops are in fashion.

Coralfish · 16/07/2019 09:30

Hmmm... actually doesn't bother me, and I don't agree that it's limited to cheap fabric. Lightweight fabrics will always be translucent to some extent. DP's (not cheap!) white shirts are also see through. We both wear t-shirts/vests underneath anyway so that they don't need washing as often and therefore last longer!

isitwhatitis · 16/07/2019 09:46

Seasalt shirts aren't see through.

Stumpedasatree · 16/07/2019 09:50

This really bothers me too. Tshirts and tops especially, more than shirts. I get tiny holes in new tops all the time. It appears to be the thin low quality cotton (and I do always buy cotton) rubbing against my waist band I think, but surely they should be robust enough to withstand that. Utterly fed up, and no, it never happens to my partner's Tshirts.

dadshere · 16/07/2019 10:03

Almost all of my work blouses and shirts are transparent to some degree. None of DHs are. I struggle to buy cotton shirts, almost every retailer sells polyester/rayon blends for women. All of DHs shirts are 100% cotton. MY shirts typically cost 50% more than his and are only ever found in a sale in sizez 6 (too small) or above size 14 (too big). DH almost exclusively buys his shirts in a sale. We definitely get short changed in clothes, are clothes are always more expensive and usually poorer quality. DH pays £10 for a haircut also......

LillithsFamiliar · 16/07/2019 10:09

I think you need to buy them from a shirt shop rather than a fashion store eg Pink

Although I have got some non-see-through silk shirts from Finery London and they were much cheaper than Pink.

HopelessLayout · 16/07/2019 10:17

I've HATED this with a passion throughout my life. I wear flesh-coloured vests underneath if I want to wear a 'floaty' top.

SnugglySnerd · 16/07/2019 10:17

I have a lovely shirt from GAP that isn't see-through.
I suspect a lot of men's shirts are see-through too but its less obvious because they don't wear bras underneath. Agree it's cheap fabric that's the problem.

kateandme · 16/07/2019 10:18

me and my mum were having this conversation earlier.compared to mens the difference is huge.my brother comes in with these lovely soft touch thicker coton t-shirts that are so much nicer.there is a real difference.and the proper cotton ones smell so much more lovely too!

EndoplasmicReticulum · 16/07/2019 10:25

Yes. Ex-teacher.

Used to really struggle to find smart shirts / blouses / tops for school that weren't see-through.

SallyWD · 16/07/2019 10:30

I just wear a little camisole top underneath

TheCatThatDanced · 16/07/2019 10:35

If you want a decent shirt (e.g. for work) then somewhere like TM Lewin (even better with their sale) was perfect for when I needed corporate shirts that definitely weren't see through.

I also have a shirt/blouse from Karen Millen but probably around 2000 era and definitely not see through either, maybe it's a generation thing.

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