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

[wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool]

I notice it more and more as I get older and I certainly used to wear ridiculous clothes myself when I was younger, but I don't think the same applies to menswear.
I look around on the street, on the train etc. And notice that a majority of women's body shapes do not suit the way women's clothing is designed to be tight and body hugging, stretchy, bright, cut out, cut up, decorative and ornamented. Heels, make up and dyed and teased hair add to an overall slightly comic effect. The women have to fit the clothes not the other way round. A minority of women look goodish in this get up and a minority wear t shirt and trousers and flats, as the men do.
Menswear in comparison is mostly practical shirts, trousers, jumpers, flat shoes. I started buying jumpers and socks and occasionally shirts from the menswear section a while ago. They are so much nicer.

[SylviaPoe]

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

[SylviaPoe]

Dd - autocorrect!

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

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.

[Fraying]

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.

[Missymoo100]

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.

[SweetGrapes]

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.

[Naughtysausage]

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.

[RebelFreddyVSRogueJason]

@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!

[Mxyzptlk]

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.

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

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

[Naughtysausage]

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

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

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.

[TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain]

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.

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

'Cos is not expensive'.

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

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

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

Very feminine clothing is not ridiculous. You might not like it and you are free not to like it but can we please cut out this sneering language?

I dress in a very feminine way. It does not make me ridiculous.

[wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool]

Just revisiting this thread, it's run on hasn't it? Very interesting. As my final offering I have two words: cold shoulder.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I'm not getting your "cold shoulder" point - whether literally or metaphorically.

[RebelRogue]

@LassWiTheDelicateAir i assume OP refers to the trend of tops with no shoulders thing. Summer clothes i kinda get, but it goes further to jumpers, long sleeved tops, knitted dresses ,even coats.

[0hCrepe]

I pity men more with such little choice. So many of them jump at the chance to dress up for fun the deprived souls. In the past they could be quite fancy but now the range is so limited.
There's such a huge range for women you can find anything really. I guess you're saying some women are a bit thick and can't think rationally for themselves.
I love wearing clothes I think look beautiful and fwiw hate the look of bulky pockets though I do tend to use them when they're there. I'm always comfortable.
My husband's pockets on the other hand are completely useless. As soon as he sits down there's the familiar clunk as his phone slips onto the floor and the jangle of change running between the sofa cushions.

[wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool]

Wow! Firstly Lass, no that's not at all about you, it's about jumpers with no shoulders! Thanks Rebel yes that's exactly what I mean.

Secondly Crepe I don't share your enthusiasm for choice, being perhaps more suspicious of neo-liberalism. And I absolutely don't think women are thick, what a horrible thing to say! I do think they are presented with a range of options that are typically a bit shit, deeply impractical and often badly made. I've worn all sort of clothes in my life it's just an observation as I've got older and less interested in fashion and more interested in other things than women's wear, often even clothes that are supposed to be practical like jackets and trousers, has a layer of absurdity to it that menswear doesn't have. This is cultural, gendered, and this is the feminist chat board. Hope that clears things up for you? No animosity on my part but I did find that comment quite insulting. It's hard sometimes with text because you can't hear the tone of voice.

[wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool]

Rebel I haven't seen a cold shoulder coat, where did you see such a thing?

[RebelRogue]

Ok,not exactly winter coats, but what’s the bloody point?

[wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool]

Thanks for the pics rebel. Those are really bizarre! The first pic top left is pretty much a winter coat.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

wrappedupinmyselflikeaspool

Oh calm down
. I had no idea what you were on about. I don't follow the vagaries of fashion which apparently you do.

[OlennasWimple]

Ah, see Cos stuff hangs on me like a sack. Definitely not flattering to me