Polyester - do you wear it?!!

Polly (thunalata)

I am (overly) paranoid about only wearing natural fibres. My experience of man-made fibres is that they are cold in winter and hot in summer and I automatically pass over anything made of polyester.

Is this a mistake? I am starting to look for more interesting tops and lots are polyester. Does anyone have any helpful advice?

Thanks in advance...

15 years ago

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from cciele

Maya

Veteran

I wear all kinds of fabric and never throw anything off the table. The only point in doing so to me would be if it felt uncomfortable against the skin or caused an allergic reaction.

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I don't see much 100% poly's anymore...They blend well with other fabrics.

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I do try to stay away from polyester- it's too hot for summer and too cold for winter for me. Other synthetics don't cause the same issues for me, but every time I buy something polyester I end up regretting it.

15 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

I don't usually wear 100% polyester, but I base it on how the fabric feels. I actually like a bit of polyester in things like dress pants, it gives a nice drape and keeps pants wrinkle free. Poly/rayon/spandex seems to be a nice blend.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, like Taylor, I don't see too many garments these days that are 100% poly.

The other day I hugged a friend of mine wearing a vintage polyester blazer, probably from the 70's, and it felt very flammable. I'm not sure how he stands it. I guess since it's lined it doesn't bother him.

15 years ago

Beth

Veteran

I much prefer natural fibers, too, but considering my love affair with the Nine West dress, it's time to reevaluate things. :O

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm getting a little smarter at this after reading Angie's blogs. I'm not a fan of polyester but will try rayon, modal, viscose and lyocell. I believe these are cellulose fibres which are made through pulping natural materials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_fiber

15 years ago

JuliaInGermany

Active Member

I stay away from any clothes with more than 30 % synthetics. It's either too hot or too cold and it makes my hair fly, which I HATE. And I always have to think of the hand-me-down-clothes I had to wear as a child in the 70s. I can still hear the crackling sound when putting on polyester. Ugh!

I do wear modal and viscose though. For the summer I try to find 100 % cotton clothes to not get too hot.

This makes shopping a bit complicated which is why I often think I should just try other fibres. I've been told that synthetics have gotten much better since the 70s.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

I don't see a lot of 100% polyester around nowadays thank goodness it gives me horrible flashbacks to cheap 80's market stall tops. I have 2 camis made from it which came attatched to other tops which are sheer i always swap them for another cami x

15 years ago

Ljubica

Active Member

I actually like man made fibers, and have several blouses made of some sort of synthetics.
The main reason for wearing them is that they are very easy to care for - they dry in a matter of minutes, and there's no need to iron them. I don't sweat as a rule, so I don't have any issues concerning body odour or being uncomfortable.
But I don't wear any of them in summer.

15 years ago

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Really helpful comments - I've noticed more blends too, but was looking at a Sweet Pea top on ebay that was 100% polyester and wasn't sure if it was a good idea.

Interesting thoughts about blends and I like the idea of a rule of thumb of avoiding more than 30% polyester, pregnantmom - I think I might go with that too, but will also perhaps take each case on its merits a bit more.. All very helpful - thanks!

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

To be honest, I don't think I've given the fabric of my clothes any thought at all. I am more concerned with the drape and the weight than if it is manmade or natural fibers. I know I live in a cold climate, but we have heat and air-conditioning and truthfully, I'm in a climate-controlled space most of my day. *shrug*

15 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

I'm not crazy about poly but I'll wear blends, no problem. I'm like Kristen and generally pay more attention to drape/weight than to fibre content. If there's anything that my YEARS of textile classes taught me, it's that there's benefits and drawbacks to every fibre! But I agree that the benefits of poly do NOT include wearability in extreme temperatures.

Oh, and like Julie, I'm a fan of the manmade cellulosic group, including Tencel, Modal and rayons. Sort of "the best of both worlds".

15 years ago

Susan

(website)

Active Member

I totally wear polyester. I like to wear natural fibers as my under layer, but alot of really functional winter underwear and work out gear is a synthetic blend. Plus, synthetic fibers make things less wrinkly. Natural fibers are my preference, but sometimes polyester can be OK. There is alot of double knit poylester at thrift stores. My partner says it feels like wearing oil (polyester is made from petrol, I think), but I like to wear these pieces occasionally just to mix it up (with a slip of course).

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

"polyester" has changed soooo much since the old days. Yes, I wear it. All my polar fleeces are 100 % polyester. My ponte knit pants are polyester. Most of my "sport " clothes and anything quick-dry is polyester. Sweat Pea tops are polyester. I think that you can feel the garment and tell if it is "bad" polyester. Anything that is very inexpensive and very dense is probably not good. It needs to breathe.

I really do prefer natural fibers - but I also love my poly. Throw it in the wash, in the dryer, abuse it, and it still retains its shape and holds up great.

15 years ago

shana

Veteran

I prefer natural fibers and blends but I definitely have some 100% poly pieces too (like the SP tops). To me it has alot to do with the way the fabric feels - I don't like the ones that feel like that thick knit 70's poly.

15 years ago

cciele

Veteran

The majority of my clothes are natural fibers and blends -- I think they feel nicer and breath better than 100% synthetic. But I also have a few 100% synthetic pieces (100% nylon Sweet Pea tops, pleather jackets, the Nine West dress). I don't mind them, but I'm less drawn to them than the natural fibers. Probably because the synthetics don't do too well in hot temps and don't deal with sweat and body odor as well as natural fibers do.

15 years ago

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