To not really get why people don’t like clothes?

[keeponwishing]

I’m not talking about specifically liking fashion or following certain trends.

I mean in general, clothes are a personal choice. They can express who you are, there’s do much choice out there. Why people say they don’t care what they wear?

Because they sound totally impractical for walking the dog/doing my job/lounging on the sofa/sleeping which are the four main activities in my life. I wear leggings, T shirts and hoodies because they are the most comfortable things. Like some other posters, I can get easily irritated by particular fabrics, labels, anything restricting or anything that’s a weird shape, eg I feel like I would keep seeing shoulder pads in my peripheral vision and that would occupy my attention too much. If it’s relevant, I don’t think I’m autistic, but I’m waiting to be assessed for ADHD so I might be ND.

I'm not sure how you've jumped to me thinking you're shallow, I haven't said that at all. I've said you appear to place more emphasis on clothing when making a visual assessment of someone than others. I'm basing that on an earlier post where you implied that you would assess someone's approachability based on what they're wearing. For me, clothing wouldn't factor into someone's approachability (I would mostly go on facial expression and body language), but that doesn't mean that I'm right and you're wrong. It just means our thought processes are different, that's all. We're not robots.

I don't think that anyone is denying that (some) people make assumptions.

We just

1. don't care about strangers assumptions
2. question how good information it gives them

Actually, the more people allow themselves to ignore the whole concept and dress for practicality and comfort instead of sharing their mood, personality, class and profession by clothes, the less information will those who insist on making those assumptions get.

If I wear zero jewellery (because I find it annoying), but don't look poor enough that you would assume I can't afford a pair of silver earrings, you have no clue what price point I'd find relevant for everyday wear if I were to wear them.

Some people use clothes to express who they are.

Most people wear clothes because they'd be a bit chilly / sunburnt / soggy if they didn't.

I don't give a shit about clothes. I wear what's comfy and my clothes express nothing about me other than I like wearing what's comfy.

If people want to assume something about me based on that, they can, but I'm not intending to express anything.

If I want to express something to someone, I'll use my words.

I deliberately chose silk jersey.

Its soft, smooth, stretchy warm and comfortable. The shoulder pads are neither here nor there. They don’t weigh anything. So it’s no different really than a t shirt of sweatshirt in terms of comfort or warmth. It’s just not fashionable

Loon pants not suitable for walking dog, but some 1970’s tight shiny disco trousers would be. Made from same stuff as leggings but not fashionable. So would you wear those?

It’s an endlessly fascinating subject as attested by the number of posts here. We all have to take a position because we all have choices. The history of clothing is so interesting. We are no longer proscribed by nationality, class, availability of clothing.

It’s a shame that fashion is so controlled by marketing and money making. There are basic shapes that work to enhance human bodies and are practical but fashion has to change to encourage consumption.

Anyone else get annoyed by that blue jumper scene in Devil wears Prada. The fashionista pronouncing that the clueless heroine only wears a blue jumper because the fashion industry exists. No love. It’s a practical item in the world’s favourite colour. Don’t over complicate it. Blue jumpers would exist without Vogue and designers.

The colours I really like don’t suit me, so I spend that time and money on art instead!

*Cerulean blue 😉

This wasn't specifically aimed at me, but I'll answer anyway.

I don't like the feeling of silk on my skin so I wouldn't wear anything made of it (autism) I also would never wear shoulder pads because again, they don't feel right one me and clothes need to fit a certain way or I find it distracting to the point of getting irritable and even upset (again, autism).

I wouldn't wear disco trousers because they're not practical to me - I need tight-fitting clothes for comfort and so I can pull my socks up over them without having lots of bunched up fabric on my ankles. I also don't like bright patterns or colours so that would be out of the question.

I'm very, very particular about clothes feeling "right" and I can own something for years, try it on and find it intolerable. I'm sure that's hard for NT people to understand but it's the best way I can explain it.

Disco trousers are tight fitting.

Think Olivia Newton John in those black trousers at the end of Grease.

And we could swap the silk for a fabric of your choice, but cut in that 80’s style. Just have huge puffy sleeves instead.

I can’t be bothered with it.

I always feel I’ve missed the mark even when ive tried

In this scenario do I already own these items, are they given to me or do I have to buy them?

I wouldn't buy them because ive already got a wardrobe full of clothes and i dont like spending money

If i already own them then obviously I would wear them because otherwise why would I have bought them?

If they are given to me I'd probably snip out the shoulder pads because I hate how they feel, they're weird. They dont move properly with you when you move. I don't know what loon pants are but I'm fine with velvet. I've got a pair of brown velvet trousers.

Nope. I can't wear puffy sleeves - again, sensory issues.

Those trousers are satin (I googled) which again, is a huge no for me. I wear stretchy, cotton leggings. That's it. That's all I have in my wardrobe after years of forcing myself into trousers that physically made me itch and hurt.

I think if you have no experience of autism you can't say "Oh, just wear x" or "swap it for Y and you'd be fine".

I spent years forcing myself to wear things because I knew people would judge me otherwise, and at 36, I can't be arsed anymore. People probably think I'm lazy and scruffy and don't care, but I just need to be comfortable.

Quite difficult to source I imagine. Can’t pick them up in Tesco alongside the weekly shop.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

One of the reasons I wouldn’t wear that is because it would be making a statement, and inviting attention, and I don’t actually want people to be paying my clothes particular attention. If you think that proves your point that everyone who buys widely available comfortable staples then usually throws jeans and a hoodie on in the morning is in denial that they’re ‘projecting their identity’ and it’s all very important then… well, I disagree! That’s like saying that because a mohawk is one possible haircut, anyone who has a yearly trim of their ponytail length hair is projecting fascinating things about themselves by not choosing to shave the sides for a mohawk every morning.

They honestly dont sound any worse than what's already in my wardrobe 🤣

That purple thing with white dots is a straight, ankle length polka dot skirt that I have had for at least 15 years. Probably more.

Exactly, it's not some weird "gotcha" that people wouldn't wear obscure, difficult to source clothes from 50 years ago.

I’m starting to think some people genuinely can’t understand the difference between ‘doesn’t want to project a particular image’ and ‘wants to project not wanting to project a particular image’. I mean, there are people who enjoy eating sardines, there are people whose hobbies involve leaping into icy water, there are people with a fetish for being pissed on - humans are fairly diverse in what we enjoy and don’t enjoy. Is it that incomprehensible that some people aren’t thinking about their projected image, while others, apparently, are taking masters degrees in the subject?

I have never conformed to fashion trends and fads. Too much cheap, poorly made and designed "single use" clothes in the shops. This week I bought a fabulous jacket in a charity shop. It is a great addition to my wardrobe. Friends have given up trying to get me to wear more fashionable clothes and I don't care. I'm not overly bothered about clothes, I just know what I like.

Just too much effort. Fashion changes so often, bodies change, lots of different occasions. Lots of work. And for what? What other people think? I just can't really be bothered. It's hard enough to keep clean and appropriately dressed, which is my basic. I love jewelery though. But just for me.

I dunno, I think they do understand - it just makes them feel better if they think we all judge others the way they do.

Also, if they make the effort to dress to make an impression on others, maybe they don't like the idea that others don't.

I wear clothes that are practical, comfortable and warm. I do not care what anyone thinks of them, their first impressions or anything - I have no interest whatsoever in what people think of me.

I think I became disinterested during lockdown - though a lot has changed in my life over the last five years which probably contributed as well.

I've become much more interested in being comfortable, and less inclined to make much effort beyond cleanliness and clothes being reasonably well fitting.

For me it's about sensory issues so prefer certain materials, length and comfort level. I would prefer to wear a kaftan all the time, work clothes especially i find inhibiting. Xx

I don’t know what silk jersey is but it sounds possibly too warm and I like to keep my armpits well aired. The only long-sleeved tops I wear are hoodies, over the top of short sleeved tops or vests. I don’t wear long-sleeved tops directly next to my skin. I can’t explain it any further than to say that I don’t like the way it feels and my armpits immediately start sweating the moment there is fabric touching them.

As for disco trousers, I expect you’ll think I’m being deliberately difficult but I don’t really know what those are either. You can’t expect someone who isn’t interested in clothes to know what obscure or out of date fashions are called. If they are made from leggings material, then yes I’d probably wear them unless they had sequins or glitter because I don’t like the feel of those. I also wouldn’t generally wear anything very brightly coloured (except for gym leggings because lots of those are colourful).