To think men's clothing is so practical compared to womens.

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I've been searching for a cheapo warm over the bum jacket to knock about in, and nothing suitable in women's department.

However, up in the men's department, there was the perfect jacket... zipped pockets, inside pocket and a peaked hood for the rain. So warm and cosy. NOTHING similar in the women's department. It is zipped so none of that buttons on the other side mullarkey either!

Slippers.... I wanted closed slippers with a decent sole for going outside to put the bins out etc. Women's department full of feathers, diamonds and other fluff and all, apart from (sorry) old lady velcro types were backless, so flip flop flip flop. Got a great pair of memory foam with a great sole and so warm and comfortable, yep... in the mens.

Gilets.... I love them and have several. Saw one in the men's department with exactly the same material as the women's version, BUT with zipped pockets and an inside pocket, so handy. Same price as the womens.

Now bear in mind I was buying for comfort not style or labels and I like nice girly things too, but I detest the puffer coats that make you look like Mr. Michelin. Anyway. I bought them all and am delighted with them all. Size Small fits with a bit of room, but that's ok.

This was all in Primark and the jacket, gilet and slippers cost £45 altogether, what a bargain!

I want women's items to be practical, so AIBU to think they should be?

I got a great waterproof from Regatta of all places the other week.

Big hand pockets, an inside pocket, taped seams and a peaked hood. It cost me around £75 and is waterproof to 20,000mm which surprised me as most cheap stuff isn't.

It's really comfy and doesn't look too outdoorsy either.

What is nuts is that out of all of DWs trousers/bottoms the only ones with pockets are her pyjamas!

Outdoors shops do tend to be better matched on practicality.

Being petite, "men's" is not an option. Nor is the alleged "unisex" which is men's and ignoring the existance of small women. Very annoying when I have a drawer full of extremely baggy race t-shirts that are alledgedly "small"

I buy boys or men's clothes because they are practical.

Totally agree with the petite ladies here. Men’s are generally too big, and unisex IME means man-shaped so of limited use. I do sometimes wear my teen dses cast offs though. Warm, comfy and with plenty of pockets 👍

I bought m and s jeans recently, i cant even fit my hand inside the pocket never mind my phone, im a size 18 its not like there isnt enough space to fit a bigger pocket!

This is one of the things that has driven me to fish out my sewing machine to try sewing clothes, the first 3 patterns I've lined up all have decent sized pockets

wooland dresses have pockets. And are comfy.

I hate most womenswear

It starts when they're young! DM bought, then customised a t-shirt for DD (8). Apparently all the plain girls t-shirts, non logoed, in M&S were short sleeved (it is October!) so she bought a boys one and realised that what I've been telling her for years is true. A boys age 8-9 is longer than a girls 8-9, obviously despite there being minimal difference between the sexes in pre pubescent children boys obviously require tops that actually fit without having to size up several years!

I buy quite a lot of mens clothes too, practical and often fit better (ladies jumpers are often too short in the arm and body for me).

X-small in primaek does me. Wish this was a story someone would pick up on! I buy all lounge Wear and tshirta in the male section

I've been complaining about the lack of women's pockets since I was at school, seeing the deputy head because I'd lost my dinner pass again. He commented it was odd it happened to so many more girls than boys... I pointed out we had one tiny pocket in our tunics, the boys had trouser and blazer pockets.

In later years DM didn't like carrying a handbag (or couldn't) so always wanted an inside coat pocket for her keys and purse. She took to sewing one in herself by hand - a patch pocket made from a piece of whatever material she had.

You know you can just buy mens stuff? I do all the time

I've an hour glass figure so women's clothes fit me much better, but I have men's slippers (big feet) that I love. I also like men's socks better.

Also noticed a while ago when husband shopping for a new pair of shoes that all men's shoes - even summer ones - have proper thick soles on them. Felt a bit disgruntled looking at my own summer shoes with thin soles. Started shoe shopping at Hotter and Clark's after that as they tend to have proper soles (and do wide fit).

Got a pair of M&S trousers recently with pockets but they're so shallow as to be almost useless....

Hate carrying a bag. Moan about it to DH. His response, why don't I just put phone, keys, card in pocket like he does. Show DH pockets in women's jeans. DH face .

What good timing. I'm looking for a thick winter weight tracksuit, either pure cotton or with a high percentage. I can find them in men's and boys ranges. I'm short so I'm thinking a tracksuit age 14/15 (boy) might fit?
I do sew inner pockets into my jackets and coats by the way. Very satisfying.

I remember getting my first pair of smart brogue shoes for wearing to work about 5 years ago, rather than heels/pumps. I turned up in Birmingham in the snow and walked nearly a mile to my meeting... With no trouble at all. Rather than slipping around in ruined shoes and bleeding feet. I had a Eureka moment: this is what men have every day. They put on comfortable, smart clothes of good quality, the same every day, that don't go out of fashion quickly, don't require exposing arms or legs or have tights to ladder or heels to totter around in. And get on with the job undistracted. I retired my heels and sheer tights after that.
I sew as well and have started adding/extending pockets to clothes. It's cheap stretchy clothes that aren't cut well enough for a pocket, as for fake pockets, I despair.

YANBU. I know this thread is about comfort rather than cost but I had the rage in Next the other day - men’s jeans were around £28. Women’s started at £45. It’s ridiculous

DH had himself a bit of a lightbulb moment when he discovered that the reason I’d ask him to put my phone/keys in his pocket was because my clothes just don’t have them!
Mind you, if half the fashion designers were as talented as they seem to think, they’d have no bother designing clothes that don’t end up making me look like a sack of potatoes.

@miniwolf

You know you can just buy mens stuff? I do all the time

Lucky you! (Really ) Not much use to many women who are some combination of too short and/or curvy for men's or boys clothes, unfortunately.

'Men's' clothes but in women's fittings.... has any brand effect ever really tried that?

Absolutely agree with everything that's been said here and I'd add in men's dressing gowns - actually keep you warm, well cut, long sleeves and substantial pockets, even the cheap ones.

All clothes are designed to appeal to men.

Theirs for their comfort and practicality.

Ours for what they want to see us wear.

The difference between an XS women’s turtleneck and XL boys’ is $ 6.50. The boys’ turtleneck all so has table shoulder seams which last longer. It works for basic colors. Men’s/boy’s casual shoes are much better made. My friend wears a 10 women’s so this works much better for her. LL Bean does great practical slippers for women.

I wear men’s clothes regularly. Not jeans and trousers as they wouldn’t fit me correctly but absolutely t-shirts and the likes.

I have some lovely practical slippers from tk max, they were women’s. Very hard sole although I don’t wear them outside.

I've adapted my style to the oversized look for this very reason. Mens tshirts, jumpers, cardigans and jackets all better quality and cheaper.

I also increasingly buy men’s clothes because of the quality difference.
My two top tips to add to the thread:

• SOCKS! Men’s socks last so much longer and are so much better quality material. And they are a decent length rather than ending at the ankle like women’s socks do.

• if anyone’s looking for a decent quality waterproof jacket that’s not too pricey the men’s range by Tog24 is great. I got a black waterproof jacket which I’m going to live in this winter (foldaway hood! big outer pockets! inner zipped pockets ON BOTH SIDES!) for £45 recently.