Ultra-comfy fashions -- where do you go afterward?

April

I've seen several forum posts alluding to the anxiety provoked by ultra-comfortable fashions. Do they create a slippery slope? Will we all end up at the bottom of that slope, wearing sweatpants and hoodies because anything else seems to pinch?

Pajama jeans -- will they make any other sort of pants seem unbearably constricting?

Sneakers as street wear -- great for fussy feet, but how do you go back to regular footwear when this trend passes?

Fluid fits -- are they the first step toward discovering you've gained ten pounds without noticing?

Anyone else thinking about these issues?

11 years ago

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have. I've thought this very kind of thing about how casual our society has gotten -- where do you go once people are wearing pajamas in public??

I think there is a natural swing of the pendulum though. Once we have played out a feel/vibe/look, people get tired of it and start to crave something new. At some point, the fashion world will trot out the "new" more fitted silhouettes, and we'll think they look fresh after years of slouchy/baggy/loose. After all, that's exactly what's happened with shoes (refined pointy toes! what a nice break from all the clunky shoes of the last years, etc.).

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

I have had all the same thoughts. I am scared by how much I am loving all the trends you've mentioned because of that slippery slope. I don't think fashion should be uncomfortable but my Athleta prima capris and easy peazy city pants are all I want to wear, with all the complimentary and equally relaxed tops and shoes. Hmmm.

11 years ago

Anonymous

This definitely sounds familiar!

I already think my love of knits and dresses has spoiled me for the structure of wovens and the, well, waistband-iness of pants. Which is one reason I've been really hesitant to try the new pants shapes like harem pants and silky track pants and even boyfriend jeans. I think they'd feel like "giving up" in a way that even the comfiest knit dress doesn't. It doesn't help that, whenever I've tried these pants styles on in a store, they really make me feel like I'm ready for a mah-jong game in Florida.

And I've started sizing up in tops to get a more fluid fit. I like the look, but do wonder if telling myself that I'm only buying a particular size because I'm "sizing up" and I could totally wear the next size down if I wanted to is just deluding myself.

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

BTW, I blame you, Janet!

11 years ago

Sona

Veteran

I have the rag and bone pajama-ish jeans that Rae has. The ones with the oil splattered digital frayed print. I wore it once during the last month. But I have also worn my regular fit jeans.

I've always worn a more fluid drape to balance my low waist which sadly is the same diameter as my hips but they work for me and I am gobbling up the current abundance of them.

I think your question of 'slippery slope' is valid. I think for the vast majority of us a wardrobe balanced with selected trendy items with always in fashion tailored items will work well. I do think though that the preference for fluid fits by designers and retail as well will persist for a while.

11 years ago

Kim

Veteran

I think I've always been a fan of comfort, tactile is number one on my list. If it doesn't "feel" good, next to my skin I won't buy it no matter how good it looks. Period. That being said, I'm wearing jean bermudas today and while they don't feel like pajamas, they do feel exactly right, no pinching, or rubbing. They don't "give" (they have no lycra in them) but they don't feel "uncomfortable" either. I also think a good *fit* eliminates discomfort. If feels good, and I can move comfortably in it, and it meets my style (modern classic, so no sweatpants in my closet at all! LOL) then I'll consider it.

I think comfort in our clothing should always be a determining factor, but that doesn't mean sweatpants or pajamas are the only options. In fact, neither of those is an option for me, I simply don't like how they feel, unless I'm working out, or sleeping. Otherwise, they feel "sloppy" and I like structured in my own style.

11 years ago

Anonymous

Elastic and drawstring waistlines and oversized fit did me no favors in the past as I let weight creep up unnoticed. This time my plan is to mix the oversized I with fitted in daily rotation so that I will be aware of whether or not my normal size still fits. The question is will I care.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Kim said! Tailored fits shouldn't feel uncomfortable, if they fit well (or at least I won't buy anything that does feel uncomfortable, even if tailored) -- so I don't experience the difference between those and fluid or oversized fits as so extreme.

I do think the key to this is wearing tailored fits a bit looser than some of us might have been wearing them over the last few years.

Example: I tried on an old BR no iron shirt the other day. It fits me, no question. Fits well, in fact...but it's a very tailored fit. More tailored than I typically wear now, and probably more tailored than I typically wore back then, too -- since I pretty much always went for a bit of extra room in my tailored fits.

And all of a sudden, it felt altogether too tailored. Not "uncomfortable" per se -- but the kind of structure that made me conscious that I was wearing it, all the time. None of my current tops are cut like that. Not even the tailored ones.

Also -- there's a difference in comfort between a silk shirt (even a fluid fit one) and a sweatshirt. Not in terms of how it feels, but in terms of what you might feel comfortable doing in it. I'm not going to roll around on the floor with a muddy dog while wearing my silk shirt. I'm not going to pop it on over my running clothes after a sweaty run!

I guess Janet hits on this aspect with the comment about casualization.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL Claudia! I apologize. Apparently the Prima capris have taken over the forum.

I do the same thing as Joy -- I still wear my structured things so I know they still fit. I have to admit that those easy waistbands were a godsend last summer when I was still recovering from abdominal surgery, but this year I can tolerate real waistbands MUCH better (hooray for the eventual demise of swelly belly). I have to admit, part of why I'm enjoying the fluid fit trend is because, well, I'm nearing 50 and even though I'm fit and at a healthy weight, things are not as, um, taut as they used to be. I suspect that many of us who are a little older are really embracing these fits as our bodies change, and we're not likely to embrace tight bodycon styles when they come back and we're even older.

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

It's more the ability to not feel weight gain creeping on that Joy mentions than the potentially sloppy over casualization aspects for me.

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

Yes, Janet, also the body changes of aging, that too is why these trends are super appealing.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Suz, we cross-posted, but I've noticed the fit thing myself. I have a few things in my closet that technically FIT me just fine. They button up the front with no gaping, the sleeves are long enough, etc. But in light of recent more fluid cuts, they FEEL a little too fitted. Some of them I am keeping because they're pretty classic (and if I lose another 5 lbs as I would like to, they'll probably fit more like current fits). But I just pulled a jacket out to sell that fits so closely that it borderlines on "shrunken" fit, which I was never really into anyway. Jeans that I was perfectly content wearing a couple of years ago (when I was the same size I am now), now feel psychologically uncomfortable even though they're not technically too tight.

11 years ago

April

Veteran

I lemminged those Prima capris as well, but they had too much fabric at the hip for me. Too bunchy.

Also, I surprised myself by being really opposed to the logo on the rear seam that, to my eye, more or less branded them as gear. (That's the whole point of this trend after all, right? Gear as non-gear?)

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Janet, that is it.

I hear you on the weight gain thing, Claudia. I definitely ran into what Joy talks about in the past. Too much wearing of yoga pants didn't help my shape. Maybe it behooves us all to keep one snug item in the closet for size comparisons every now and again?

11 years ago

Neel

Veteran

I am sure there will always be people who love their tailored and bodycon fits. I am one of them. But at least a woman does not need to dress in skin tight sausage casing clothes and high heeled shoes to look good any more! The fashion industry for once is showcasing women wearing oversized and fluid fit clothes instead of pushing them into skin tight clothes and making them trot in 12 cm heels.

What that means to me? Liberating :). Not sure how long it will last ... But I am going to enjoy while it lasts

11 years ago

April

Veteran

Amen, Neel. The sky-high heels thing was a major gripe of mine for years.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Truly April, these thoughts never occurred to me. People have generally been into casual comfort for decades. I can't tell you how relieved I am - and my clients are too - to have non-bodycon options (especially my apple shaped clients of which I have many). To my eye, everyone looks better in a fit that is not skin tight. Tailored as tightest is often best.

I agree with Janet. The oh so popular oversized trend is a visceral reaction to "sausage casing everything". The pendulum will swing back - but HOPEFULLY not to body-con galore. I'm guessing tailored is where fashion will go next.

Suz and Janet, I have beautiful fitted Ann Fontaine shirts that I am not wearing at the moment because they don't feel as fashionable. But I am absolutely keeping them for when I want to look extra tailored. They will not date. I am also only wearing my big denim jacket - and not my fitted ones this year. But I AM keeping them. They won't date either.

11 years ago

always trying

Veteran

Ever since everything started being made with2% spandex, and with the newest thing being the sizing-small , med , large, x large, instead of sizes< I think we will be seeing lots of stretch in everything. so it will be either tighter fitted with movement like workout clothes now, looser, more looser, to baggy, depending on how one wants to look. There will always be those thin women who want shape, different types of fit depending on the activity, etc. And these garments will have style--

As for footwear, I think eventually even hookers will not be wearing the 4+ inch heels. Someone really needs to convince men that women do not look better in heels, buts do not look better with high heels , women do not have to look long legged, and it is OK to be short. Good that they are all getting too old anyhow..and with runway models wearing sneekers and sensible shoes women will happily give up anything uncomfortable.

As for everything looking like pajamas I doubt that will happen. Us on this board are not the only fashion lovers out there-so there will be style-comfy, but styles...

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I also never really bought (or kept at least) very tight fitting clothing, aside from slimmer fitting jeans maybe, but those are still not "tight" per se. I keep a handle on my weight/body shape for good health reasons, so fluid fits and the trend for "comfy" really doesn't play into that for me. I think the slippery slope is in the mindset of the individual, not in the choice of their clothing styles for the current trends.

11 years ago

April

Veteran

As always, the ladies of YLF have wisdom in abundance. Thank you all for putting your thoughts into words.

11 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Janet said it well for me...sometimes you just can't help it! I feel like my body is on a slippery slope and only some of it is my fault! I will do what I can about the part that is, but no one escapes the effects of time.

As far as fashion in general, I was on board with the stirrup pants trend in the 90s...basically loose leggings and tunics. So comfortable. But that was followed by skinny everything everywhere so I'm not really worried that fashion will get to PJs in public and never snap back.

So, while things are loose and wonderful I will embrace and be happy. When it does snap back I'll do what I can. I really only care about ME!

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I very much like the current sporty trend, but I think I am one of the few people who wants to be in BETTER shape to wear it. Elastic waists look better and more intentional to my eye without the poochy tummy I have. I would love a pair of crossover pants, which again look better without the pooch. Lighter colours are easier without lumpy-bumpy going on underneath them. All this has led me to be even more diligent about getting back into shape after a winter with knee surgery and accumulating pity-pounds.

As for those who wear pajamas in public, they aren't the ones on board with new trends anyway. They will continue to wear old sweats and PJs in public because they don't care, not because they are hip to new trends. The people on boards like this will likely be ready for a change and happily adopt it when tailored fits come back. And fitted (and even body-con after that) WILL come back again; they always do and there are always new young people to take up body-con like there's no tomorrow.

And shoes are the same way. Whatever flat soles and pointy toes are in style now will be pushed aside by a new style in a year or two or three. Shoe styles rotate, too, and high-high heels (and platforms) will certainly come back again, too. Again, there is always a new generation coming of age to whom these things are "new", and they will adopt it with gusto. I am grateful for the reprieve and the ability to shop for more comfortable shoes, as my fussy feet aren't nearly as happy with tall heels as they used to be.

11 years ago

April

Veteran

Ah, but Echo, pajamas in public and pajama jeans are two very different animals, no?

We have some amazingly fabulous YLFers wearing gorgeous (and expensive) "pajama jeans" and being very much on trend and chic. But I've heard concerns that those pajama jeans are so comfortable that other jeans and pants start to feel overly tight, even if they used to feel fine.

So I'm wondering -- what does happen when comfy-cozy shifts back to... less comfy-cozy? Will we all just be miserable for a while?

(We shan't speak further of pajamas in public since that is not a fashion trend but a national crisis.)

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

IMHO, the purchasing power of Baby Boomers combined with the weight gaining trend of Americans will keep ultra comfy fashions and fluid fits around for quite awhile. These styles do me no favors, so I guess it's best that I don't stock up!

11 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Yes, I have mentioned this worry before. The last time I wore loose and oversized was when I had my babies...three small children in a row did a job on my waistline and motivation to exercise and eat right. I am pretty sure I wore a pair of black maternity stretch pants for a full year after my last baby was born <shudder>. I was so NOT FAB.

When I finally got serious about my health, I worked hard to get my shape back. It was a reward for me to buy smaller and more fitted items (not body-con) with every 5 lb. loss. Going back to loose clothing gives me the willies...plus I don't really look that great in oversized...I am busty and short so loose tops can make me look pregnant

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Hmm, no, I hadn't thought about it, but that's probably because I'm not a casual dresser. I do agree that we are too casual in general. I was lamenting the fact that hats are unlikely to ever come back into style in the U.S., given the fact that a nice hat looks out of place with a t-shirt and jeans.

Maybe we could go back to corsets...then everything else will feel comfortable in comparison. Hee hee.

I'll have to come back and read the rest of the posts later. Interesting thread!

11 years ago

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