LastStraw Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 What is more important to you when you choose clothes and accessories - how they look or how they feel? It will be great if you include gender and age group, I'm curious how it differs between generations. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Feel / Comfort - 100% comfortable & inexpensive clothing, please. (although I won't wear ripped clothing out in public) Age: 53 (Male) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
LurkerXX Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Well.....most often, neither is the primary concern. Function is. That does usually put more a priority on comfort, but not always. When I used to work in habitat restoration and wildlife, there were certain things that only could be so comfy ....very long and stiff snake boots for example. For the lab, it is comfort as long as it serves safety function, and the lab coat covers the rest. PPEs for volatile compounds,..I care more that they work. Off work, I like a medium level of style for town, and comfort for the trails and outdoor endeavors. I am 30s age woman. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author LastStraw Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 Ha yeah in some cases function is a priority, my lab coat is also not particularly stylish or comfortable but serves it's function lol. For street though I'm usually picking items to enhance how i look, not to feel good at - notorious example are high heels, I don't own a comfortable pair of these but yet wear them almost every day. I'm 34 F. I asked the question because I feel like younger women (under 30) have completely different mindset - e.g. show at office in sneakers etc. For men I feel like is other way round in terms of age but could be wrong on that.. Link to post Share on other sites
Cersei Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 48 female I choose clothes that make me feel warm so I guess that is comfort. I do not like being cold. People are surprised I have so many different sweaters. Boots too. Long boots keep my feet warm. In a few years once menopause hits I will likely be trying to find clothes to keep me cool. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I want both, but I won't stay in anything other than a bra that isn't fairly comfortable -- but after all, comfort is only good fit! You don't have to wear slobby clothes to be comfortable. You just have to wear ones that actually fit you and aren't too small. I dress like a slob when I'm working at home and wear pajamas or shorts in the house, mostly cotton, and houseshoes fleece lined for the winter and vintage suede Cole Haan loafers in the summer with arch supports, for yard shoes. I go out to eat lunch at fairly nice places about four days a week if not more, and wear comfortable clothes that are nicer looking and wear jewelry to accessorize, or sometimes leather vest if I want to look like a lumberjack. So will have on my good ring, and then costume jewelry bracelet and/or long necklace. This year, I found out I can (with my bad feet I was confined to loafers with arch supports wear booties (ankle booties) without supports and the boot is enough support. So my shoes were the main thing holding me back and so I bought a little dress to wear, which I haven't worn yet. But now I finally found plus jeans that are long enough and thin enough for my legs which aren't as fat as the rest, so that looks better. Then I wear different tops that are blouses mostly that are not tucked in. For the rare occasion that I still go to a concert or a gig and see the old crowd, I will wear something like black jeans and like a purple crocheted top with a black jacket over and a deep teal, blue, and purple long ombre scarf with my blue suede booties. I'm perfectly comfy in all of it. I have one pair of Carlos Santana booties with 2" heels that I will only go to a restaurant in because I can't walk real good in them (I have a torn miniscus and limp) and a pair of open toed block heel shoes the same. I wouldn't wear them to anything that took long or had to walk much. I'm 66. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
clia Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I think it's possible to have both. I have many pairs of high heels that I can walk miles in and be perfectly fine. You can also be quite stylish and comfortable in some of the athleisure clothing that is so popular now. And I see a lot of trending clothing items that are both stylish and comfortable. That said, in my 20s/30s I was far more concerned with being stylish than comfort. I would always reach for the high heels and never would've dreamed of wearing tennis shoes or hiking type shoes anywhere other than hiking or to the gym. I never wore pants -- always skirts and dresses -- and always dressed up. As I've hit my 40s I tend to think more about comfort and am lazier about getting ready. If I'm just out running errands, I'll wear my Merrell's or ballerina flats as opposed to wearing my heels. Even when I'm getting more dressed up, I think more about my comfort for the evening -- will I be warm enough, will this skirt ride up, are the straps digging in, etc. -- whereas in my 20s/30s I cared more about the overall look and would've just suffered through it. I've come to realize as I've gotten older that people just don't really care that much about what you are wearing. I can still look cute and be comfortable. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Wallysbears Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I see zero reason why stylish cannot also be comfortable. I feel as though I've found a balance to both. I'm a 40F 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Kristine Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I like cute clothes that are comfortable but cute matters to me. I rarely dress just for comfort. I do dress warm but even that's stylist. I love cute sweaters. I'm 44, female. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
thefooloftheyear Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I have a non conventional physique and would need everything custom if I wanted to be "stylish"...I have some custom fitted suits/clothes that look great, so I do have the capability to look very sharp when needed.. But just walking around, its baggy stuff and gym wear only...Plus, I have sensitive skin and anything that isn't 100% cotton will make me uncomfortable..Thankfully, I really don't care to impress anyone, so it's comfort over style unless the conditions warrant.. M -early 50's TFY 2 Link to post Share on other sites
CautiouslyOptimistic Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 If I could wear hoodies and flip flops every day, everywhere for the rest of my life I'd be happy. Definitely comfort! Female, 46. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Early 30s/F Comfort all the way, but I'll make exceptions for special events and the occasional fancy date night (although even then, comfort's probably at least half the story - you'll never see me in high heels outside the bedroom, lol!) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
CantGetEnuff Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) I always suit up from M-F. To me, suit pants are infinitely more comfortable than are jeans. Style and comfort come together. Mid 40s male Edited February 21, 2019 by CantGetEnuff Link to post Share on other sites
LurkerXX Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I do like style when I can get it. But I am very short, but very curvy, so juniors do not fit, and neither do many adult clothes....it is not just a matter of hemming pants legs and shirt sleeve s. Shoulder and neck areas, pants gussets...all challenging. Petite sizes are hit and miss on fit. Dresses that have a certain cut....v neck with empire waist are best bet....but not appropriate for the work I do. Also...pants signify 'workwear' to me, so even for meetings, I reach for dress slacks. Link to post Share on other sites
edgygirl Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 Female, 40s Style always #1. But I won't buy it if it's not comfy. I have to be well dressed because of my profession, but I've always been into fashion & design since I was a child. The 2-3 years I was fat nothing fit well so I went for comfy. I am size 0-2 now so it's much easier to be comfy and look good in almost anything. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author LastStraw Posted February 23, 2019 Author Share Posted February 23, 2019 Very interesting to read the replies. Seems like prevalent preference is for comfort or combination comfort/looks (who doesn’t like that combination lol, if possible). As I expected the people diverging from this are mainly women, usually older (30+) women. TBH style can be interpreted in different ways, eg athleisure or sneaker type shoes I consider purely comfort choice, and high heels - purely for form, some may think differently. Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Very interesting to read the replies. Seems like prevalent preference is for comfort or combination comfort/looks (who doesn’t like that combination lol, if possible). As I expected the people diverging from this are mainly women, usually older (30+) women. TBH style can be interpreted in different ways, eg athleisure or sneaker type shoes I consider purely comfort choice, and high heels - purely for form, some may think differently. I guess my thoughts on high heels are - why would I wear something that takes twice as long to get anywhere, and causes all sorts of harmful strain to my feet, knees, and back... just so that other people get something nice to look at? I'm not that altruistic. Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 I dress for a combination of style, comfort, function, and appropriateness. Which means that I end up searching for clothes that work or make my own, as my needs differ from those of other women. For shoes, I ended up going with black leather zip-up Airborne-style combat boots. Seriously. Good traction, good support for my weak ankles, and great to kick people with if needed. And they polish to a lovely shine. For shirts, I usually wear T-shirts or simple work shirts with pockets. Dickies has a line of female work shirts that fit me pretty well, and in the subdued colors I prefer. I usually have a lightweight jacket on. I wear a lot of black, khaki, blue, gray, green, etc... I will wear a better quality shirt when I go to work at the office, or a wool jacket that I like. I hate Hate HATE women's pants. No pockets that work, and no belt loops big enough for a good belt. So I usually buy men's jeans and if I'm lucky I find a size that fit, or I modify them at home. I've become pretty good with a sewing machine over the years, so it is minimal trouble for me to get what I want. Most women's clothing is poor quality, thin fabric, too revealing, and not suitable for carrying a gun, a wallet, or really anything else. Society expects you to carry a purse....and I don't. Pockets shouldn't just be a privilege for men. Link to post Share on other sites
mark clemson Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Both. My job allows me to wear jeans and T-shirts. But I look good in them due to interest in fitness. I buy new jeans if my size changes (has gradually gone down). Some years, when I had a potbelly, I wore dress shirts instead. I bought sweatshirts for comfort during the winter and had them tailored so the arms wouldn't look saggy. My wife like to tease me about it: "tailored sweatshirts?" Male, mid 40's. Link to post Share on other sites
melonmint57 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Comfort all the way! If I could spend every living, breathing moment in Birkenstocks, a soft v-neck t-shirt and jeans I'd be A-OK with that! Link to post Share on other sites
crispytoast Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Usually my crust is nice and crunchy and there's a layer of crunchiness on the bread part but the inside is soft and squishy. Style and comfort all toasted into one. Late20sToast Link to post Share on other sites
healing light Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Female, 33. Comfort. Ideally the combination of the two, but if something feels like crap on, I'm very unlikely to wear it. I've been like this with the sensory feel of my clothes since I was a kid. Link to post Share on other sites
Wallysbears Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Comfort to me on day to day: Well fitting, some stretch, dress slacks, pencil skirts/dresses or office appropriate jeans in a dark wash. Flats or wedge heels dress shoes or my boots I ordered from Europe to have the appropriate calf fit. Tunic, shell/cardigan or sweater (colder months), or appropriate top (I keep black, khaki and navy blazers in my office if needed for an unexpected client meeting) I also have several pairs of actual heels that are 8+ hour comfortable - medium heel, nice footbed...but not cheap so I don’t expect most people to wear that type. Comfort doesn’t mean sloppy. It means investing in better quality items that you can wear without regret and mix and match with other items. Non-work...I love my casual yoga wear type clothes. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
JuneL Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Almost 40F. Comfort then style; they’re not mutually exclusive. I agree comfort has more to do with quality than style. Also, if one has a fit body, wearing yoga pant and a fit t-shirt or top can look very cute I wear heels sometimes but never those stilettos, as the latter are bad for our body. Link to post Share on other sites
shydad Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 What is more important to you when you choose clothes and accessories - how they look or how they feel? How they look is more important (MUCH more important). This is a recent change for me, which I've embraced. I'm in my early 40s. In my teens, 20s, and 30s, I wore comfortable, but dumpy looking clothes. One thought that may have been overlooked in this thread is how you feel when you look good. I find that the nicer I dress, the better I feel. A leather jacket will not be as comfortable as a loose sweatshirt, but I will feel better wearing it. So there is physical comfort, and there is psychological comfort. I'm assuming we're talking about what we wear when we go outside. Inside the house I wear what is most comfortable, as I'm sure everyone does. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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