Technical fabrics - aesthetically pleasing to me! - YouLookFab Forum

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Technical fabrics - aesthetically pleasing to me!

Roxanna

Veteran

I read Angie's post today and had to disagree with some of her cons around technical fabrics. As I said in my comment, i actually find the right technical fabrics very aesthetically pleasing, and very comfortable against the skin.

My Lululemon on the fly pants are among the most flattering I have - cut looser, skim the leg, and drape like a dream. I have a skirt and dress int he same fabric that feel wonderful and have a great swoosh factor. Plus - they can easily withstand the daily mess of two young kids, and an impromptu yoga workout in the middle of the day

Also, as Janet and Lisa commented - many technical fabics tend to stay crisper, less wrinkled and more colourfast than natural fabrics. Maybe this is why i always feel put together and polished when I wear my athleisure pieces.

For this reason, though I usually stay away from man-made fabrics, I actually am adding more technical fabrics to my closet and like to wear them. I just bought this dress and love it (can't add find): https://shop.lululemon.com/p/s.....lsrc=aw.ds

Am I the only one who feels this way? Do you like technical fabrics?

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Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Roxanna

LaPed

Veteran

I feel the same, Roxanna. Performance fabrics really do perform, especially under challenging conditions. I love cotton for around town and at home, but sweaty cotton is miserable! I wore chinos for a hike the other day, thinking it would be cooler than it was and not factoring in the humidity. It was only a few miles, not strenuous, but I still regretted it! Would much rather have been wearing nylon pants, especially walking through dewy grass. I’m very glad we don’t have to wear those Victorian-era bathing suits made of knit wool and cotton.

Aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder, and contextual. High quality gear involves extensive design and a lot of testing; I love looking at it, trying it on, and using it, and I do think it can be beautiful. There are plenty of ugly synthetics out there — pilly acrylic sweaters, flimsy viscose tops, etc — and plenty of cheap, ugly gear. But I see plenty of natural fiber clothing that I think is ugly and poorly made too. Fabric is just one factor and doesn’t necessarily correspond to a well-designed product.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree, Roxanna and LaP.

My life is messy, dog hair filled, and active. I'm living in technical fabrics these days. I have Athleta and Lululemon pants that are more comfortable and breathable than any of my cotton pants, even in the hottest weather. They don't hold wrinkles, they're durable and mostly very snag-proof, they dry quickly if I get them wet or sweaty, and they hold their shape and color through many launderings.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm nodding along with this. More and more, I'm investigating tech fabrics and crossover clothing items, even though I wouldn't describe my preferred style as athleisure. Maybe I'm wrong about that, though -- maybe this is a style shift! Hmmm. Interesting thought.

Anonymous

I agree with the points about aesthetics and practicality and the color saturation possible with tech fabrics can be really beautiful. Tech pieces combined with traditional sportswear or mainstream pieces can add a nature loving grittiness to an outfit, a look I really like.

But no fleece, mid layer or against the skin pieces for me going forward.

I know there's potential for debate about the environmental impact of the processing of natural fibers versus synthetic but the impact of the deterioration of synthetics can only be worse and for this reason I limit the use to outerwear.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES to all of this. So many good points!

Roxanna, I fully appreciate how much you and others enjoy wearing gear and Athleisure. I have many clients and friends who feel just like you do! I am always on the side of the wearer, and vote milk it if you feel fab wearing technical fabrics and the look, and it works well for your lifestyle. I'm sorry that did not come through well enough in this morning's post.

As La Ped says, sweaty cotton is a nightmare. I can't do a hot yoga class in anything but technical fabric. Full stop.

The aesthetic appeal and comfort levels of Atheleisure and technical fabric is like everything else fashion and style related - subjective and personal. Some people like it, and others don't. There is no right or wrong because it's simply a preference. It's fascinating, and we can all live in peace respecting the likes and dislikes of others

As for the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of producing/purchasing/wearing/laundering synthetics versus natural fibers....... that's a vast, highly debatable, and emotive topic with no solutions at this point - only compromises at best.

For the record - I DO wear synthetics! They are particularly good in garments blended with natural fibres.

Roxanna

Veteran

Angie no need to apologize! I felt no judgement from the post - just an interesting discussion and differences in perspective from fellow members, which is actually one of the things I love most about the forum. As you are always the first to say - horses for courses! (I still have no idea what that actually means.)

Anonymous

Isn’t cotton one of the worst environmental offenders? I thought I had read that somewhere. I seem to recall that merino wool is problematic, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Roxanna, it means: different people are suited to different things or situations.

TRUTH!

And I'm glad you felt no judgment.

Anonymous

And Roxanna, you look beautiful in these outfits.

Kate

Veteran

You're not the only one, Roxanna. I find technical fabrics great for my lifestyle, and I enjoy wearing them, both for comfort and style. In fact, I'm wearing my Athleta Trekkies right now.

Anonymous

I'm with you 100% Roxanna! Athleta got a good bit of my clothing budget this year!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Nice! I like these outfits.

Gaylene

Veteran

Are we really discussing technical fabric here—or a particular fashion trend which predominately employs this kind of fabric in its designs?

I have mixed feelings about the athleisure trend, but am wholeheartedly behind the use of the fabric in everyday wear. To me, technical fabric isn’t a “look” anymore than cotton or wool is a “look”.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Actually, Gaylene, you're dead right about the confusion. My bad!

I put technical fabrics in the sports gear, workoutwear, and Atheleisure camp as far as the aesthetics and "the look of technical fabrics" goes. Of course, a component of tech fabric is in most items these days - even ball gowns and tuxedos - because of its stretch and durability - like spandex, nylon, polyester, lycra, Gor-Tex.

Sorry for being unclear

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I agree - I find a lot of technical fabrics feel better than some ‘natural’ fibers. Cheap cotton, especially, has a feel I don’t like and it doesn’t hang or drape well either.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

First of all, Roxanna you look beautiful in your technical fabric composed outfits. I agree with Gaylene - not sure I consider technical fabric as a look minus the design factor. The environmental impact issue is very complex, but I think it (relatively) is safe to say an item that stays in your wardrobe a long time is better than an item that is tossed quickly.

Joy

Veteran

I agree with what Shevia said.

lyn67

Veteran

Love your techs here, but am bit confused, best of sportswear is tech, but NOT all man made is techy-isn't it? I think we rather have to discuss the use of tech fabrics(and not only man made) in everyday fashion, at least that one is really interesting.

Laurie

Veteran

Love your looks. You look great in the colors in #1. And, I'm a big fan of these fabrics.

Sal

Veteran

You look great here Roxanna! Lovely looks and the fabric adds to a great fit.

rachylou

Veteran

The brown is superb!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

You look fab in these clothes Roxanna. I have never heard the term “technical fabric” until now. But I think I like it-I could not get dressed without my Lycra-containing pants which I wear almost every day!
My pear/apple waist needs it and the pants are comfortable and I believe smart and professional looking. I get a lot of compliments on my clothes at work. I bet you do too

Anonymous

Adding where I should have begun, Roxanna, applying your style and color choices, of course you look just as beautiful and stylish in your tech pieces as in the silk dress you posted the other day.

Many of the styles and fabrics have become much more mainstream wearable and I think of them really as more crossover pieces rather than true tech wear, created because there was a market the appreciates the advantages you describe.

While at least for now, I avoid synthetics in fabrics for myself, specifically for environmental reasons, I do many other highly obnoxious things and I do not think badly in any way of people who wear synthetics!

Roxanna

Veteran

Thank you all - appreciate all your comments on the outfits, as well as the clarifications/defense/rationale for wearing or not wearing tech fabrics. I love that we can have discussions like this in the forum and hear everyone’s viewpoint!