Of course not, I won't defy comfort just to create a look.

I didn't find the belted blazers uncomfortable though, I didn't like the look of them, actually, when sitted, they don't hang each side of you and gape bizarrely. Besides I felt silly adjusting the belt when I was summoned to a meeting for instance.

ETA : Angie, why the dressing standard has to be uncomfortable to be stylish ? I don't get it.

Wow, that's a good question. As I am a teen, I see a lot of peers wearing ultra tight clothing (not always flattering) but also walking around in pj's and sweats on a regular basis (depending on the people).
I like your idea of getting back to "tailored" clothing.
I think that you can flatter your figure and still be modest and not too restricting.
I have always been self-conscious because of some stomach scars that bunched up a small part of my lower belly and make me look a bit "fat" but only in that area in tight clothing. However, I love to wear belted sweaters and tops.
You are right, there is a line between being truly uncomfortable and being a little restricted.
I love sweats, believe me, but I do like nice fits as well. I think that wearing more tailored items can bring a bit more "beauty" or "womenlyness" to clothes without being too "work-style".

LOL, I hope I made a bit of sense there...;)

Nodding along with Suz, Lisap and Texstyle. I don't find comfort and stylishness -- or even polish -- mutually exclusive. I love tailored pieces and will continue to wear them as long as they work for whatever occasion or activity I have planned for a given day. I would guess that some people would look at the structured jackets I wear and think they might not be as "comfortable" as a knit sweater, but I feel psychologically much more fab, stylish, and like "me" in a jacket than I do in most drapey, less structured items that seem more cuddly and comfortable. As long as the fit is right and nothing is pinching, binding or constricting, I don't see how a tailored piece should be perceived as "uncomfortable."

Now, the belted jacket thing goes into another level, as others have said, by incorporating belts, which are not physically comfortable for many, and are fidgety for others like me. I just culled a top from my closet yesterday that looks great as long as I stand in front the mirror just so, but as soon as I start moving around, it shifts and needs rearranging, much like a belt that needs to be adjusted after sitting and standing. As they say, "ain't nobody got time for that."

I don't like to fuss with my clothes, and agree with everyone who posted that it's annoying to have to keep adjusting clothes during the day. I do wear tailored pants on a regular basis, and my jackets are tailored. I wear pantyhose with dresses, too. I just make sure my clothing fits properly (tailored clothing should never be too tight!). Where I draw the line is with my shoes. I have arthritis and simply won't endure discomfort for the sake of fashion.

One other thought. Women have squeezed and contorted themselves into garments for centuries in order to conform to society's expectations. Personally, I'm thrilled that we are no longer slaves to corsets, girdles, or Spanx, but we can also wear them if we really want to.

I'm not wild about how pajamas and sweats have taken over airports and grocery stores, but I feel like the tide is starting to change, as the pendulum towards casualization has reached a bit of a peak.

Personally, that's what I am hoping for, Janet. That casualization has reached its peak. Why do you feel that the pendulum is already swinging? Interesting! Tell me more.

Skylurker, of course you can dress comfortably and stylishly each day. Most women on this forum do! I'm referring to how the goal posts keep on shifting as we demand more and MORE comfort with each passing year. Thus a much more extreme case if these comfort dressing patterns continue (so the opposite if what Janet is saying). Will the concept of style change along with it?

Hum - I have not had time to read all the responses - however, when I gave my thoughts about the blazer belting issue my thoughts were not about comfort. I think there is a difference in comfort vs fussy. First off, I dress very formally. I wear blazers and tailored clothing daily. I think I'm one of the few that LOVES control top pantyhose (I love that held in feeling) and I nice spanx tank - yes please. I don't find tailored clothing uncomfortable at all - only things that are too tight or have fit of fabric issues should cause discomfort. I don't belt my blazers because I don't find the look flattering on me. However, if I was belting, and that belting required constant readjustment - well to me, that's not a "comfort" issue it's a "fuss factor." I don't like fussy clothes that requires that kind of constant reconfiguring because clothes are not flattering when bunched and the constant fidgeting and outfit adjustment they require, well how can anyone feel or look elegant doing that? Coco Chanel said, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury." I totally agree with you about a pursuit of comfort alone in clothing (yoga pants central), at the expense of fit, proportion and style, is not something I personally aspire to. But then I have never found well fitting tailored clothing uncomfortable. But "fussy clothing" is a different issues to me. To me fussy can't be elegant.

I think the extremes need to be removed from the equation, I don't think Angie would ever suggest someone should be uncomfortable for the sake of fashion but there are degrees of comfort, rigid denim is less comfortable than the stretch variety but it can still be comfortable.

I am conscious of comfortable clothing becoming my default easy option, sometimes I have to challenge myself to try something a little more difficult.

I agree with Gryffin, that it's the fuss factor relating to today's blog post which is what would bother me. I don't mind some tailored looks at all and I think fitted items of clothing can be very comfortable. I draw the line at having to fuss with things though.

I wholeheartedly agree that comfort and style need not be mutually exclusive as others have said. Now, if there was a way that a belt could be firmly fixed to the jacket and the folds anchored to make the look fuss-free, then I would try the belted blazer style in a flash

When I was in junior high, pantyhose had not yet been invented. That means I came of sartorial age wearing a girdle or garter belt and itching from those hook things that hold up the stockings. Talk about uncomfortable!!! I guess this is to say I have a fairly high tolerance for a little discomfort and I really like tailored clothing and never feel right in drapey flowy clothing which tends not to flatter me anyway.

But!!! I think tailored cuts (except sleeves) work for my body type. My waist is small for today's cuts, so I never have to worry about a waistband digging into me if the garment fits over my hips. I won't buy a jacket, blazer, or shirt with tight sleeves so that eliminates that problem!

But what do I do about DH? He lives in sweats and huge jeans that may also be a size too big since he lost weight after he retired. It's not that he doesn't own better.

I often look for clothes that have the illusion of structure - knit blazers or ponte skinnies. I can wear an outfit comprised entirely of softer fabrics as long as they don't all LOOK like sweats. There are men's clothes like that too, Donna! Maybe your DH could try that?

Janet, I agree with you about the pajamas. That goes waaaaay too far.

What lisap said.
I wear a lot of things other might consider "less" comfortable.
I wear "hard pants" ( a line from The Directrice as a designation for woven, non-stretch pants with set-in waistbands !), I wear tucked in tops with belts sometimes, tights that others might find constricting; I wear a lab coat loaded down with stuff.
But I do pay attention to the fuss-factor as to whether things come untucked or ride up (and as an example, a welted top that others find fabulously soft and comfortable can be horribly fussy on me because it rides up and settles above my trouser waistband).
So I was looking at some of those longer jackets as problematic for sitting because you're sitting on the tails, so you may smash and wrinkle the hem, which is not as long as a dress that might fall naturallly, but then there's a belt, so I also see yanking and smoothing in the mix.
NOT with every iteration, of course. And a shorter belted version would be more like a peplum, which actually has some of the same issues, though not all, though it would not be the same look at all, of course.

Interesting discussion and so many very smart points!

Once again, i am so happy young me decided to learn how to sew for myself. I have a non-standard body and as a result I despise clothes shopping.

Comfort and style do not have to be at odds whatsoever! In fact, elegance and style include a certain ease in one's skin and, it follows, clothing. Scratchy, overly restrictive, bunched up, constantly in need of adjustment clothing is the antithesis of style. I wear a lot of fairly tailored jackets, button down blouses, skirts and dresses in cottons, linen, and silk. With good fit and judicious stretch, they are absolutely comfortable - and i have an incredibly fussy body (thank you neuropathy).

In my view technology has really fallen behind in delivering any benefits to the average person in terms of clothing. The average clothing for sale here in the USA is on the level of - i can't even think of any daily tech items we use which function as badly as most clothing i see out there.

The one exception is in high end technical outdoor wear, which is superbly designed and assembled - and much of it is pretty smart, as well. Why isn't the same level of design and function available in everyday wear? I feel this is a real shame, as clothing and style is one of life's simple pleasures. It's like eating - we have to do it, why not get enjoyment out of it?

Yes.
Will return later to fully flesh out reasoning

Interesting question. I like some structure to my clothing and my feet have to be comfortable. I need to be able to walk. I love jackets and clothing that is fitted on my top half. I don't like to look sloppy. I also like belts. I have a wide leather belt that I love. I prefer "hard" denim over "soft stretchy" denim. I also like to define my waist. No waist surrendering happening at SF castle.
What I don't like is fussy. When I stand up I have to adjust myself. When I turn around I have to readjust my clothing.
Same with my hair. It better behave itself.

Very interesting thread, Angie, but I'm wondering if it is really comfort we are talking about here. Because, while related, I think the trend towards extremely casual, often sloppy, "I don't care" dressing is worlds away from practical adjustments to accommodate age and physical issues.

Comfort, to me, means feeling good mentally and physically in my clothing--structured and unstructured-- because my outfit conveys my style in an appropriate way in my surroundings. In that sense, how can "uncomfortable" clothing ever be a good choice? Maybe we need to quit using comfort just to describe questionable outfits where the wearer uses "I want to be comfortable" as an explanation--or, more likely, an excuse? And maybe it's that excuse you are really talking about in this thread?

I'm older than a lot of you on here, and I remember when almost everything was comfortable, -AND it did not have spandex or stretch of any kind. Anyone else remember when we just washed our Levis or Calvins a couple of times and they got soft and comfy. I can not remember any uncomfortable clothing. Dresses, suits, etc. that I wore to work were always comfortable all day at work. Shoes sometimes were another matter, BUT then only things like heels and sandals were not. Most casual shoes were comfortable. Of course I am remembering when everything was NOT made in China.

What Gaylene said makes total sense to me. I don't think it's possible to be too comfortable - the question implies "shouldn't we be more uncomfortable?" (and I know that's not what you meant, Angie!) - but it IS possible to be too casual and/or sloppy in the name of comfort.

Alwaystrying, my mother sewed my clothes, and the fabric she was able to get back then was far superior to what is available now. It was softer and lasted longer. It was easy to find great clothes at the mall without having to go on a safari hunt. I remember my shoes being uncomfortable, though. My feet have never liked pumps, but I had to wear them to work and to church. I can still find a way to look good and still be comfortable, but finding those items takes more time and effort than it used to.

I was thinking in parallel to mrseccentric about technical gear being some of the most comfortable and durable clothing available today and why that maybe was a part of the yoga pants all day long phenomenon. There are more and more multi-use separates made by gear companies although until recently it has tended to lean more toward put-a-bird-on-it design then trendy in cut and color. When I look at the longest lasting very frequently worn clothing I own it tends to be exercise gear.

Angie, I could be totally off base about casualization reaching a peak, but it seems to me that once we got to the point where people were leaving the house in pajamas, well, how much further can we go? No, wait, don't answer that.

In all seriousness, I think comfort and casualization don't necessarily have to go hand in hand. I'm trying to think of how to best articulate this… but I'm thinking of the whole athleisure trend and how retailers like Athleta and Lululemon are nudging their offerings away from strictly athletic wear into things like yoga pants that can go to work, because they don't necessarily look like yoga pants.

I'm also thinking that retailers and designers are going to keep finding ways to attract buyers with comfortable items that are not just leggings, yoga pants, and tee shirts. I could be totally wrong about this, but just as many fashion trends and societal patterns are cyclical, the one towards comfort-as-a-fashion-goal may be maxing out as everyone has already invested in it. In its place, stricter, more structured, less "comfortable" styles may start swinging back into style -- just the way that hemlines and heel heights tend to swing back and forth in the fashionable spectrum from one decade to the next. I dunno, I could be completely wrong, but it seems like the fashion industry is always looking for ways to convince women we need to embrace something new to stay in style, so I think that could apply to the "comfort" scale of fashion as well. I could easily see more architectural, structured, strict, and buttoned-up styles start to come back around after we've reached soft saturation point.

One more thing -- it seems I have a lot of thoughts on this. I hear a lot of people use "comfort" as an excuse: an excuse to opt out of style; an excuse not to try something new; an excuse to be lazy, etc. I feel like that's whole separate issue.

Chiming in on the technology here. The more I study historical clothing, the more I am in awe of the old textiles industry. By the middle of the 19th century, they had and used the technology to produce a dizzying array of textiles. Super super fine wools and linens, silks and cottons; combinations of all of the above (try bombazine and grenadine), woven at all weights and thicknesses; silk and wool velvet, solid or printed; amazing variations in weaves and printing, often used together on the same material; cottons that were thin, opaque, and crisp without starch; soft wools at any weight, color, and design, from read-through gauze to non-raveling, waterproof broadcloth... I need to stop, I'm drooling on the keyboard. We've lost so much by neglect and chasing what's cheap and the new.

Loved to read all the viewpoints on this thread.
When I saw the blog post today my thoughts went more to how much out of my fashion context they were and that the outfits seemed like a good way to use my longer blazers ( although I don't know if any of them are long enough).
I don't feel that comfort can be evaluated by looking at a certain outfit.
I can remember some outfits I wore that seemed comfy in pictures but were not very comfortable to wear. Comfort level is a personal thing and I can only accept that, but I agree with Janet that comfort is used too much as an excuse.

I think that designing for comfort is another way of taking cost out of the equation. You can hide poor fit and workmanship thanks to some spandex. You can also clothe a greater range of people in these kinds of clothes. So there may be commercial factors driving this kind of stretch-oriented clothing. I'm not talking about runway, I'm talking about mainstream.

I think it was Caro in Oz who linked to a David Kibbe Facebook post a while ago, where he said one of the biggest changes in fashion since he wrote his book 25 years ago, was the amount of stretch in clothing. He also mentions overseas manufacturing (in China mostly) as another factor.

ETA -- Here is his Facebook page. It's so interesting, especially his blog posts, as he clarifies some of the ways his work has been mis-interpreted. Something we here at the YLF forum may have been guilty of...

Great points, i do think we have been getting more comfortable, but i tend to alternate and don't mind some discomfort. I once wore an obi betl with a blazer and loved it! I do like flowy tops more and more rather than those I feel I have to pull down or fuss with... I haven't worn any button ups this Fall/Winter season... I think that's been due to comfort. I wonder if this will remain with me or change as I lose this extra weight.. If I lose it at this rate with lack of sleep making me unmotivated...

If it is okay to demand comfort for the foot, I don't see the difference with clothing. However, as others have mentioned, that doesn't mean that everything has to LOOK comfortable or unstructured. A fabric with a certain amount of give will give the comfort the wearer might desire and will never be mistaken for sweat pants. A ponte blazer or pants will be far more comfortable that other alternatives, but each still has structure enough to be office-worthy. There are even belts with stretch built in (that isn't always visible).

Additionally, tailored fits in more traditional fabrics are not uncomfortable when properly fit.

Regardless, I don't think a desire for comfort is going away, but I don't think that dress code expectations should necessarily change, either. In other words, I think that people should work within the bounds of what is acceptable in their place of business, but I have no issue with using alternative fabrics or other comfort techniques to do so.

I've done the belted blazer (or cardigan) thing, and with the right belt it's not uncomfortable, nor do I find it all that fussy. The reason that look did not become a staple uniform in my closet is that I ruined my garments doing it! Buttons would get sliced right off by the belt, or the garment would pill from the friction.

I like the belt on my Burberry trenches. I don't find it fussy or annoying; I find it flattering to cinch in my waist. But it has belt loops to keep the belt from shifting. Belt loops I had to have raised so the belt hit at my natural waist.

The most comfortable clothes for me to wear are those that fit to perfection. If the waistband is a too tight -- even if it's a ponte knit or leggings or yoga pants -- uncomfortable!! But then there is also the psychological discomfort of having the waist fit comfortably, but the pants are too loose everywhere else and look frumpy and saggy.

Overall, Angie, I do agree with you in general. We have veered too casual. I'm just not sure if it's for comfort reasons alone. It's more complex than that.

Whomever said they remember the days when we wore suits to work and we were perfectly comfortable, is right. I remember those days too. Yes, the shoes were horrible. But aside from that, we had a few impeccably fitted suits and we could mix and match for a full weeks' worth of outfits. The suits breathed, always looked crisp and polished, they accommodated minor weight fluctuations, and most of all... we didn't have to think all that hard about it. Nor did we have to spend hours and hours in stores trying on clothes to find stuff that fit, or in line at the post office shipping things back that didn't.

I really hated it when casual Fridays became a thing. It made getting dressed for work so much more difficult.

I don't miss wearing suits, but I'm not uncomfortable in them. They're just not my style.