https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 02 May 2026 16:43:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302727 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:51:02 +0000 catgirl 302727@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elly, I also carry bear spray - not in the city but on hiking trails for bears and weirdos. It's hot pepper and can deter an attacking bear but is also good for repelling human attackers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302675 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:41:46 +0000 lynne 302675@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My clothes must be able to stay where they belong without pulling or adjusting once they are on. They must feel invisible, that is no scratchy wool or linen. I prefer not to have to dry clean or iron, and most importantly they must be able to make me smile when I catch myself in a mirror. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302619 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:17:27 +0000 Kim 302619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clothing and shoes must be comfortable first. No pulling or tugging or blisters or anything...I'm old enough to know that I don't have to put up with any of that to look good now. I like the term "effortless"...(Although a lot of effort goes into finding effortless clothing! LOL)</p> <p>I don't wear shoes at home (or in anybody elses home) so all my shoes are mainly for walking. I walk a lot when I go out doing errands, shopping, etc. I work with small kids at home so my clothing must be comfy, modest, (when I crawl around on the floor) and machine washable, cause I get a lot of baby drool/food, grubby hugs and kisses on me! LOL </p> <p>My weekend clothing can be a little more high maintenance, (since my own kids are too old to drool on me now) but I still like effortless and comfortable even if it's hand wash, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302582 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:46:54 +0000 Desmo April 302582@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Survive the coming zombie apocalypse!</p> <p>Pretty much everything I have I expect to be able to sit on the floor, walk at least a mile, kick butt, climb on stuff, be comfortable and look good--it's a pretty tall order. I also expect at least 50% to be good for riding a motorcycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302581 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:19:50 +0000 MsMaven 302581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clothes must be cat resistant. My darling Jett hates having her nails trimmed,so as a result I have several pairs of pants with snagged threads on my thighs (from lap sitting.) A sturdy weave for sitting in front of the computer works best. </p> <p>One of my now-deceased cats used to like to drape herself around my neck as though she were a fur collar. Occasionally this was hard on sweaters, (snags) but it was especially hard on my bare neck the time she rolled in poison oak before climbing upon my shoulder.</p> <p>Elly, just today I was wondering if there isn't some kind of a small alarm a woman could put in her pocket or even carry in her hand in a tense situation. I've read advice to keep your keys handy and press the alarm button if necessary, but what if you are far from your car? Fortunately I've never had to deal with either running or fighting off an attacker. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302560 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:52:36 +0000 Elly 302560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>True about the keys Maya-- in most situations they do make good self protection devices. As for the shoes, all of us have different levels of toughness and live in different climates. I grew up in Colorado and will admit to having quite a bit of experience running barefoot on concrete or snow and ice, and I can't even blame it on being drunk : ) I also used to live in the hot desert southwest and went to a college where all the dooms and apartments were keyed with cards like a motel and many students didn't have car keys or didn't carry them unless they were leaving the campus. My campus was like the car-jacking capital of the state since we were just across the border from Mexico. So, the key thing wasn't really practical. Our self-defense professor on campus actually was a big fan of the heels for that reason and actually taught a one-session evening seminar for women and included techniques for using them. </p> <p>I unfortunately got to practice my techniques. For me personally, my rather long car keys are too large to properly seat between my knuckles with my female hands. I injured myself, rather than my attacker. Smaller house keys might work better, but I am not petite by any means and struggle with this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302551 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:29:01 +0000 Angie 302551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice read. Psychopaths and head patting had me in stitches. </p> <p>happy feet + happy skin = happy Angie</p> <p>My feet and and my skin are my fussy bits. No itchy wool or painful shoes. Ever. I haven't met anyone who can out walk me in flats or boots. Kyle says she'll give me a run for my money - so we'll see when we meet in April :). The race is on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement/page/2#post-302523 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:24:41 +0000 Maya 302523@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Running on freezing concrete in the snow? Not to mention a lot of those heels are strappy and would take forever to take off...</p> <p>I just could not rely on that.</p> <p>A lot of them definitely do look like weapons though, but probably the best defense out there is the most innocuous: An ordinary set of house (or car) keys. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302521 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:22:44 +0000 Elly 302521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>He he . . . in defense of heels--- pumps that are quick to take off make some of the best improvised close-range weapons on earth. Oh, and you can throw them. I don't wear heels anymore, but I had no problems taking mine off to make a speedy get away. Of course, I was used to being barefoot and my feet were pretty tough from being a gymnast. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302512 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:11:40 +0000 Maya 302512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I walk very fast and refuse to wear shoes that slow me down or prevent me from walking with my natural gait. Una, I am 100% with you. Most would laugh at me but it really does sicken me to see all those 20-somethings tottering around bars in 5" heels. Alcohol + unwalkable shoes just sounds like a potential tragedy to me. I don't know a single woman who can walk or run with the same speed in very heels as in flats or low heels.</p> <p>Ok, I'm beginning to sound like my mother, which scares me. I'll stop there.</p> <p>My pants must cover everything from behind and hold everything in from the front.</p> <p>Everything must be capable of being worn with a bra. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302508 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:06:04 +0000 Elly 302508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Honestly, what I truly want from my clothes is to be comfortable standing on a roof with a 16-penny pneumatic framing nail gun WHILE look hot. </p> <p>Unfortunately, that is pretty much impossible. I did work construction/landscaping/as a handy-person for almost two years, and I have a feeling that that is part of my fashion problem. </p> <p>In reality, I have two dogs that come into contact with any clothes I wear on a daily basis unless I want to put on two full sets of clothes in the space of ten minutes (one is a house dog and the other is elderly and remains in our climate controlled garage until the last minute before we leave the house). I also deal with a muddy or very snowy driveway and path to the dog rug from October to April or May. The parking lots and sidewalks at the college aren't much better and we have lots of lawns and dirt paths. In the summer I sometimes have to move irrigation water in my clothing (pipe has to be moved 6-8 times a day). After living in a border town I also like my clothing to have secure pockets where I can keep my ID, cash, ect. I can run in all my shoes, but I am not very fast-- so I would prefer a pair of heavy boots that would (cough) "make an impression" over something that keeps me light on my feet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302173 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:51:15 +0000 RoseandJoan 302173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My shoes need to highlight or hide my body art, and my jackets have to pass the pat your head test. My trousers have to pass the brickies bum test but I would most definitely like to be able to outrun a psychopath too. Food for thought. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302162 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:38:26 +0000 Becky 302162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great question!<br /> I require:<br /> *shoe comfort (must be able to walk about 2 miles and/or be on my feet most of the day comfortably)<br /> *arm/shoulder mobility<br /> *ability to easily get onto and off the floor without flashing anyone<br /> *tops that keep my flat chest covered even when I bend over<br /> *washability (I own only a few dry-clean items)<br /> *clothing that requires no ironing (I iron very seldom) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302144 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:11:26 +0000 Aziraphale 302144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great thread! My clothing requirements vary from day to day, depending on what I'm going to be doing. I confess I often change a couple of times a day -- usually just my bottoms -- because on the days I work, I sometimes spill ink or paint on my pants and I really hate ruining my "good" clothes. So I swap bottoms when it's time to run to the school to pick up my kids.</p> <p>I don't have too many general clothing requirements, but I can't wear anything that's remotely itchy (I think I might have a slight allergy to wool, sadly) and I can't wear anything that comes up high on my neck, or I feel like I'm being strangled. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302113 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:29:02 +0000 Patty 302113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I touch things to--couldn't resist touching a tapestry at the Royal Ontario Museum once --the alarms are really loud there-and the security staff are cranky!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302107 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:21:29 +0000 Lynne 302107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>:) great thread! My clothes have to be in fabrics that feel nice - I'm pretty tactile and I always touch things before I try them. I like fabrics that are soft and not scratchy, and I've learnt to pass on shiny fabrics with metallic thread, even though I love how they look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302105 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:15:17 +0000 Diana 302105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have to be able to walk ~1 mile each way as part of my daily commute, so my shoes have to be able to get my somewhat fussy feet through that without pain. My bag also has to be big enough to hold my keys/phone/wallet, a book, lunch, and other assorted items all in one place (plus laptop sometimes) and I need to be able to carry it on a shoulder easily over my coat. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302101 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:11:34 +0000 Scarlet 302101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm...I do gravitate toward fire-retardant clothing for sure... Must be able to raise my arms above my head without requiring readjustment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302097 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:05:20 +0000 Anonymous 302097@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I walk a lot during the day, so my shoes have good soles or I will tear and scuff the leather almost immediately! I have problems with leather covered heels and flats where the shoe leather is too close to the ground, so I avoid these styles. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302084 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:39:58 +0000 Patty 302084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Philly must have been a scary place Una--scarred for life!!!!<br /> Still have car issue clothes but with kids I do add running and bending. With my hands in the sink all the time I check if sleeves are either shorter or will stay rolled so they don't unfurl into the water or even into a raw chicken cavity. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302081 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:23:02 +0000 Mamapicklejuice 302081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know some equate wanting to reach up with wanting to do Olympic level gymnastics, but as a SAHM to two young children, I need to be able to catch a toddler leaping from a play structure or be able to put the dishes away, so I need good arm/shoulder mobility in my tops. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302057 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:51:27 +0000 MsMary 302057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just need to be able to walk a couple of blocks to lunch with my colleagues if I'm so inclined.</p> <p>And I know that I will neither iron nor make it to the cleaner's regularly, so items that need to be ironed are pretty much no-go for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302045 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:43:07 +0000 Carole 302045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great question to ponder...hmmm? For me it's mostly about shoe comfort-that is my biggest obstacle and challenge. Great looking comfortable low heels that can cross over from casual to dress up! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302031 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:30:02 +0000 Heather 302031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>+ I must have on comfy 3"+ heels that allow me to walk and RUN three/four flights of stairs at my office. Una, I am in agreement on wearing shoes that you can run if chased/emergency situation.</p> <p>+ I like to remix my closet everyday and always hope to hear: "Is that new?" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302024 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:22:17 +0000 Kate 302024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Most days I walk at least 2 miles (some of which isn't paved) and go up and down at least 10 flights of stairs, so my shoes have to be comfy and sturdy! I also need clothes that will layer well - the temperature fluctuates a lot over the course of a day here during the winter, and the AC is absurd during the summer, so even when it's 100+ outside I have to bring a cardi with me for going indoors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-302022 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:07:39 +0000 Mo 302022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me it is only about how hard the items are to care for. No ironing or dry cleaning in my daily life. I do both about twice a year and I'd like to keep it that way! I live a wash 'n wear life from my hair to my toes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-301987 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:58:45 +0000 rae 301987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, good to know the psychopaths will not be getting you! </p> <p>For work, I only have to be able to tromp around the office while lugging paper/presentations/packages. For the weekends, however, I need to be able to reach, bend, squat, and haul armloads of clothes when I'm at the swap meet. I should also be able to engage in a game of frisbee at any moment (you never know with my SO) or try on clothes over my current outfit. </p> <p>Kristen, I also insist that my clothes make me feel slim! I certainly don't want to feel bloated all day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-301984 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:53:49 +0000 Barbara 301984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great question, Una. Since I work with torches in my design studio, I wear cotton tees and jeans under a fireproof denim apron. Natural fabrics are somewhat fire resistant. I live in leather ballet flats unless I'm attending a gala event. Then I break out my glam shoes (and usually take a cab).</p> <p>When in class or out and around in the city, I have to be able to walk, run, sit AND look great. I buy natural fabrics with modern style. Only my wool coats require dry cleaning and NOTHING I wear requires ironing. I have more fun things to do! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-301983 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:46:17 +0000 Isabel 301983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My every day clothes must also be machine washable. They must also be easy to get in and out of. For example, I may be cleaning the house and then change to go to the store or pick up the kids, but then I need to come back home and clean or cook......this is probably one of the main reasons that I like jackets so much. They can really make you look pulled together and they are easy to whip on and off. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-must-be-able-to-do-clothing-requirement#post-301982 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:45:13 +0000 Kristine 301982@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also have to be able to run, but usually for a bus instead of from anything. My job is active too, so comfortable shoes are important and for me that means no heels over 2" (and only those when I know I'll be at my desk all day). </p> <p>I have to be able to lift exhibit case tops, heavy artifacts or boxes. I need freedom of movement and good coverage if I'm stretching over stuff or my arms are over my head. </p> <p>I also have to be ready for the possibility that I'll get mold, grease or dirt on my work clothes, so nothing that's too delicate or requires dry cleaning (many dry cleaned items can be hand washed). </p> <p>I have two huskies so clothing that doesn't attract or camouflages pet hair is a big plus also. </p>