Comfort breakthroughs

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Comfort breakthroughs

— by Angie

on March 28, 2008

Fashion goes in cycles, but fashion technology and comfort are always improving. Here are four breakthroughs for which I am eternally grateful:

Denim: I cannot imagine a fashion season without jeans. They are the quintessential basic.
Stretch: We enjoy Lycra, Spandex and Elastine in so many of our clothes and I still take it for granted. Think of how uncomfortable a bra would be without elastic.
Knitted fabrics: Living in a world of woven fabric would be dreadful. Knits give us comfort and choice. Imagine wearing woven socks and woven underwear!
Comfortable shoes: They are still hard to find, but they do exist.

Silhouettes and trends come and go, but technological advancement is here to stay. Which comfort breakthroughs make your world a happier place?

Fabrications

11 comments · Add a comment

San

My first bras were no stretch at all. It was awful. This was 1965. They also made the no stretch cotton cups shaped like bullets and for extra molding sewed tiny rows of stitching around and around the cup from base to point. This may be why I don’t like the Audry Hepburn look, she looks so stiff.

March 28, 2008 at 8:15 am

Patricia

I don’t know if cashmere is considered a technological advancement but I really love the classic black cashmere turtleneck. It’s so comfortable in the office with a pencil skirt and it can transition with jeans for a night at the movies.

March 28, 2008 at 8:27 am

Shannon

I’m not sure if this is considered a breakthrough or not but I am grateful for longer pant lengths. When I was young I could not find pants long enough anywhere! Now they are almost getting too long, but you will never hear me complaining about that. I’ll just wear higher heels or get them altered. Oh, that is another thing I am grateful for. Being able to keep the original hem when getting jeans altered. What is that called?

March 28, 2008 at 9:12 am

jannine

(website)

Sticking with the “I’m not sure this is a breakthrough” theme – but as a mother of 2 – the empire waist/babydoll/trapeze top is my FAVORITE.
That, and the 4% lycra and Tummy Tuck technology of NYDJ Jeans!
http://www.tummytuckjeans.com/
(AND the “technology” of ANGIE!)

March 28, 2008 at 9:21 am

Caitlin

(website)

1) Bras
2) Shapewear – imagine the girdles of olde!
3) Sneakers!!!
4) Modern zippers – not cold and rusty metal ones
5) Down jackets – wool = brrrr, fur= mean
6) Waterproofed fabric – makes snow a completely different proposition

March 28, 2008 at 9:30 am

Eva

I agree with the above, but had to add some of my favorite technological breakthroughs. I know some of you will cringe, but fleece, wick away fabric and Gortex are my favorite breakthroughs. I am a sporty gal with outdoor (in the rain) hobbies. Along with Caitlin’s waterproof clothing, you need a good wick away thermal and fleece pullover to keep you warm on a cold and rainy hike in the Northwest. Oh, and don’t forget wick away socks in the Gortex shoes when sloshing through creeks. So maybe not “fashion” but definitely technological breakthroughs.

March 28, 2008 at 12:39 pm

Antje

To get real historical for a moment: How about women wearing pants – now that’s a biggie

March 28, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Nicole

Underwire bras that don’t poke thru their casing and jab you in areas you’d rather not be jabbed in.

Men’s fashion becoming almost as important as women’s fashion. (I love my man to look sharp and polished!)

All the technology that goes into a good pair of athletic sneakers. Chuck E Tees are great, but not for sports.

And to me the most obvious breakthrough is the internet. Being able to Google a product, get valuable advice, and purchase just about anything from anywhere in the world has made fashion accessible to everyone. Granted, the internet will never replace a full length mirror, but if you want to know if something is working for you, or if you want to find something that will work better, the internet will help you get there.

March 28, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Carrie

I loved it when they finally figured out to build bras into tank tops!

March 29, 2008 at 2:02 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Coco Chanel’s historical breakthrough for women’s fashion is unprecedented, Antje. Women wearing pants is revolutionary. I was leaving this ultimate breakthrough for a later blog entry!

You make superb points Eva & Caitlin. Technological breakthroughs for sports gear is brilliant and it makes outdoor sporting activities all the more pleasurable. Shopping on the internet is another clever one Nicole.

March 31, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Sarah

These breakthroughs are all great.

Personally I would love it if those 1965 bras San mentioned were still available, because that’s the way I’m shaped. They no longer make bras that fit people like me with long pointy “bullet shaped” boobs. I’m not saying they should be the only thing out there, because obviously most women are not shaped like me, but I wish they were available.

I love stretchy fabrics though. They help tops and dresses fit my broad 28″ shoulders, tiny 32″ chest, and average 26” waist.

April 1, 2008 at 8:25 am

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