Anna, that's what makes it such an interesting question. We wouldn't be here unless we cared about how we look -- and yet we're weighing comfort in the balance to a greater or lesser degree. And other factors, too --like that obscure sense that the clothes we're wearing express who we are, in some way (whatever that means). For some of us, perhaps, showing that we are comfortable or actually being comfortable is somehow part of the self-expression and/or the aesthetic, and for others, not so much.

I also wonder how much of your physical comfort depends on what you're used to. For example, I have often read comments about how comfy a pair of leggings and a tunic is. Lots of people find this combination more comfortable than jeans. For me, though, it's the opposite. I grew up wearing jeans to school, I wore jeans all through my academic years, and I even mostly wore jeans (smart jeans, of course) as a teacher. I am far more comfortable in jeans than in anything else -- and when I say this, I mean physically, not psychologically. Well, I guess it's true that I also find them psychologically comfortable, but that's not the point I'm trying to make. With the exception of baggy sweat pants, or possibly a loose flowing skirt with no hose, jeans are the most comfortable bottoms I own. (Well, maybe not the skintight ones, but I don't wear those a lot). Leggings, on the other hand, are clingy and sweaty and basically they annoy me all day long. I finally gave up wearing them this year, when I realized that even though they should be comfy, they're not.

I see what you mean, Anna, about how you enjoy wearing more structures clothing when you're not in your scrubs. I understand that. I wear pencil skirts with hose sometimes, a combination that, while not uncomfortable, is...how do I put it? I feel like it limits my range of movement. It's restricting. But I enjoy it at times, because it makes me feel ladylike and put-together and mature.

anna...i totally get what you mean. my point was comfort like style is subjective.

disclaimer...the following is strictly my perspective about myself and in no way reflects what i think of each of the fabulous women who share themselves on this forum.

to me, the theory of clothing and presentation is really an expression of the socioeconomic class one grows up in and the reaction one has and the meaning one attaches to that. so, being one notch under-dressed to me means i know the social expectations and i am comfortable enough in my place in this class that i can push the rules. or i will go so over the top that it is camp.

i also use dress as a way to communicate a professional perspective /brand eg of being an outside the box thinker, which worked in a particular career stage. now that i'm negotiating a transition into the structure, i choose more "standard" outfits (the ones i posted today not withstanding) to show that i can play within the system.

of course i dress to make myself happy, but i'm always cognizant of what my outfit says. i'm working on making sure they say what i want more consistently!

so much of the discussion we have engaged in...slob vs comfort, over-dressed vs under, masculine vs feminine...are subsets of the whole and hard for me to discuss without context. even the insistence on dressing to "express" myself has meaning beyond wanting to express a "style."

anyway...my 2 cents.

I'm with Angie in finding structure comfortable. I own one pair of sweats that haven't been worn in over a year. I only keep them because they are great if I'm sick and chilled. I prefer jackets to cardigans, buttondowns to knits, and like the feel of shape wear as it helps support my back. Comfort is not the same for everyone.

bj1111, funny thing about socioeconomic class. I grew up in an overeducated but underearning small town, rural environment. Most of my clothes came from clearance racks and bargain basements. I used to be obese. But I always tried to look good. So I guess even way back when I was defying my environmental norm. To bring it back to my original question, I guess comfort has not been a priority for me, except in terms of sport specific gear.

anna, yup...then layer on the intercontinental cultural shifts when i (we? did you grow up in oz?) moved. misregistration of socioeconomic class markers...had to relearn those.

and yes, i agree with you that comfort is usually a secondary consideration. if i'm comfortable, it means i'm at home and totally in my underpants typing on the computer to strangers about the semiotics of fashion. no, i'm actually clothed (today). bwahahaha....

Bj, LOL!!!

I am now in my PJs typing to strangers...totally comfortable......

It depends on where I am at. I am most comfortable in structured clothing when I feel I need protection. The more uncomfortable I think I will be the more structured, or uncomfortable, I want my clothes. That way I focus on the clothing instead of the situation. I have done this since I was a kid. And yes, I am weird.

Team Angie. I am generally more comfortable with a bit of structure (to hold in my jiggly bits!). I don't wear anything that hurts, but I don't mind sucking in my gut.

I guess comfortable means different things to different people. I know 'comfortable' means different things to me, at different times and in different scenarios.

Sometimes comfortable is stretchy and a little loose, sometimes it is formfitted, and sometimes it is something very tight, such as a beautiful corset. Sometimes comfortable is four-inch heels, and sometimes comfortable is bare feet on a hot patio pavement.

Or maybe I don't think of the word 'comfortable', so much as 'happy with what I am wearing, how I look, and how I feel right at this moment'.

Fascinating discussion, ladies. I need to be comfortable, ditto what Thistle said, that sums it up for me.

I can pin point the time when comfort became a very important consideration in my clothing and footwear. It was when I becam a mum. Managing work and child care and home time I just couldn't be in killer heels any longer. I also found my clothes need to move more with me and i became a fan of fabrics with a bit of stretch. Also now as I become more and more particular about my clothing, comfort is definitely a priority. Primarily because if I don't feel comfortable, I don't look good. The things i don't toerate any more are sore feet, tightness around my middle, restriction in the arm/shoulder area.

Yes, comfort is my top priority but I think my definition of comfort might be a bit different than some of the views others have expressed in this thread. To me comfort means not having to think about my clothes once I've finished dressing.

My occupation means, on a typical day, I can interact with 300-500 people with a huge range of ages, backgrounds, and interests. Like bj1111, I dress to communicate very specific messages to these audiences. If my clothing does its job, it means I can concentrate on interacting with the people I'm with instead of being distracted by feeling self-conscious or inauthentic. My outfits are comfortable when they don't become a distraction to either me or my audience.

First priority? No way, not for me. Not even now that it has jumped up several ranks in priority. I don't want to be distracted by pain or heat or sweat or itching or a lack of oxygen but, really, it's not like I only pick my clothes from a pool of The Most Comfortable Items Available. If that were the case, I'd have a serious problem trying to disguise Lulu and Crocs as UWP.

bj1111 (and probably many of the rest of you) may enjoy this blog written by two academics about fashion and society.You may have run across it already.

http://iheartthreadbared.wordpress.com/

Thank you Gaylene, you just summarized my primary goal.

Gaylene, that is a great point. I want to put my clothes on and then be free to go about my day unimpeded. That's what I was trying to get at with "fuss factor".

for me emotional comfort is key, if if don't feel at home in my outfit, then i will be "off" all day. for me that means clothing that allows me to fidget and move around at my desk, commute 45 minutes each way, and run errands as needed at the end of the day. it means layers always, because i can not stand to be cold. and like gaylene said, it also has to send a message, which for me is that i care about what i wear, and how i dress.

The angel spirits (devils?) of my bf and mum are sitting on my shoulders. They are telling me comfort = fleece jacket, knit polo with pocket (for men) / knit tee with pocket (for women), mom/dad jeans, running shoes.

The principles are: soft, warm, unbinding, cushioned, and every item of clothing must embody all the principles.

From this perspective, comfort is even lower down on my list than I previously thought. For example, I have almost abandoned knit shirts for silky blouses, which are neither soft nor warm. I have to be warm, and I add that back in with a coat and/or sweater. However, you can see, each item of clothing will not feature all aspects of comfort.

I have to also note that I'm psychologically uncomfortable with the so-called physical comfort of baggy heavy weight sweatshirts. I have a giant, hooded Totoro sweatshirt that I'm torn about. I don't want to wear it, but it's Totoro! And it is comfy and all that. I don't know what to do with it.

The Totoro sweatshirt sounds good for snowy days at home, and for late night TV watching during the winter months.

Man, T-Rex. We get no snow! Is Totoro doomed?

You know, Rachy, I also never wear sweatshirts. I live in an overheated city apartment though, and I gotta say, they are really useful in cold country houses (or LOL cold suburban houses like my parents')... just like I go barefoot at home, but in other peoples' cold houses I'm always wishing I had slippers or socks.

I think the thing about sweatshirts that bugs me is the crew necks. So choking! Maybe I should rip the neckbands out flashdance-style.

And Liz! I thought nobody else but me had the weird panic attack reaction! It makes me feel oddly comforted to know that I am not a complete freak... I also am so short waisted that I have maybe an inch of space between my ribs and hip bones so no waist cinching belts for me either!

No way! We have to brainstorm something.

Seriously, right?!!

Should I flashdance Totoro?

Actually, that's not far from what I was thinking. I didn't see anything ideal here, but different seach terms may turn up the perfect DIY refashioning project for Totoro.

https://www.google.com/search?.....gs_l=img.3..0l7j0i24l3.33804.36655.7.37257.11.9.0.2.2.1.330.1445.5j1j2j1.9.0...0.0...1c.1.14.img.L6JdPKvEE18&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47008514,bs.1,d.eWU&fp=b161123230a68c39&biw=1366&bih=656

Ha! The link was too long, so it won't give you results when you first click it. But hit the search button again, and you will see the results I saw. I tried adding "hooded" to the search, but got fewer refashions that way, and more hooded sweatshirts that had just been decorated.

rachy...soundtrack for diy totoro

ps: i never noticed jennifer's moves are 33 rpm while her body double is at 45.

pps: that bubble butt is UNREAL.

That is very interesting about RPM, bj...

Ok. Well, we got the soundtrack to sew by! Now for the plan... There are some really cute sweatshirt transformations in that search, T-Rex... decisions decisions!! :0

For me... well there are versions of comfort! If I am at work, I would be highly uncomfortable in sweats and sneakers, even if I was the only person there, and I wear fairly casual clothes to work (my office job).

Whilst I could do formal for work (my boss would love me!) it doesn't translate well to my MOTG afternoon role... I feel pretty uncomfortable running errands and being a soccer mom in formal workwear.

Coming home... gosh - everything comes off - jewelry, shoes, even the bra... I like loose fitting comfort. Yoga pants, sweat shirts and socks.

Big no's for me though are uncomfortable shoes and itchy and too tight clothing.