Serious Fashion Question

[Anonymous]

There are many factors at play. Fast fashion, social media and the rise of online shopping are big ones. But also the pandemic. People got comfy in their stretchy pants, not going anywhere or seeing anyone. If young people at the office seem a mess, I think that’s still a big part of it.

[Anonymous]

There is too much variety to choose from and too much insecurity to have confidence in your own choice.

[Anonymous]

I don't know or follow a single influencer so I have no idea how that impacts everyone. I would say fast fashion and capitalism are the biggest impacts on what people put on.

Also, people had no way to prove they were "respectable" without trying really hard to "look" respectable. Now nobody questions anyone anywhere. There's no "you shouldn't be here; you can't afford it" any longer. Tech bros in joggers. Pajamas in first class. It's kind of refreshing not to be judged on how many brands you are wearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know or follow a single influencer so I have no idea how that impacts everyone. I would say fast fashion and capitalism are the biggest impacts on what people put on.

Also, people had no way to prove they were "respectable" without trying really hard to "look" respectable. Now nobody questions anyone anywhere. There's no "you shouldn't be here; you can't afford it" any longer. Tech bros in joggers. Pajamas in first class. It's kind of refreshing not to be judged on how many brands you are wearing.

I think that still exists. Teens and young adults are so atuned to what is good athleisure v. bad. You can wear an Alo or Lululemon branded outfit and people put you in the "relaxed with money" category, but if you have messy hair and crocs on feet and a big baggy sweatshirt as a non-gorgeous and thin person, you will be judged. Same with the tech bro: that look requires a good level of fitness to look good in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The men haven't change much except they no longer all wear hats.

I wouldn't want to go back to those clothes unless I was going to a costume party. Uncomfortable heels all the time, pantyhose, hats and gloves. What a PITA. You can still get nice skirts and blouses if that's your thing.

I will point out that because men's fashion has more uniforms, it's also easier on them. There's the tux dress code, the suit dress code, the khakis and button down dress code, the khakis and polo dress code, the khaki shorts and polo or tee dress code, and the sweats or baketball shorts dress code.

For women the corresponding dress code to each of those has a ton more choices and options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom was born in 1950, and she was never thin or polished. She was obese and although she mostly would buy pants and a shirt that went together, she never looked polished.

I was born in the '70's and you'll be SHOCKED to know I have also never been thin. I rarely look polished.

We have one single picture of my great grandmother who immigrated from Sicily in 1905. She is middle aged in the photo and super obese. I think the picture is taken in the 1930s. She is wearing a mumu. So, yeah, people were fat even back then! And like today, it was mostly poor people you don’t see in the ads or TV shows.

But generally clothes were much higher quality and intended to be worn longer so they just looked better on and people took better care of them. I still have clothes that my grandmother and her sister bought in the 1940s through 1960s and it hangs better than stuff I bought recently. It’s wool with an “good hand” and lined and properly tailored. My grandmothers family worked in the textile industry and she had her sister (who had worked QC at the mill prior to the Depression) often decried the decline in wool weaves even in the 1970s and 80s—and it’s gotten worse since then.
Also, people didn’t have as many choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many factors at play. Fast fashion, social media and the rise of online shopping are big ones. But also the pandemic. People got comfy in their stretchy pants, not going anywhere or seeing anyone. If young people at the office seem a mess, I think that’s still a big part of it.

It’s also just the decline of the superego. My parents and grandparents generation were obsessed with what other people thought of them. It drove where they lived, their job choices, what they wore, what they said, how they worshiped. With each generation, people seem to care less. It’s also why you have people who listen to music on metro, or yell at cashiers, litter, etc. People just don’t give AF as much what others think of them—everyone is just going to live their truth in their way. In some ways, that’s good, but it sometimes gets annoying. As said in Seinfeld — we’re living in a society, people! Among other things, I don’t want to see your butt crack on metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People were thinner, expectations were higher, clothes were better and sort of more normal. You could look I in the mirror and use common sense.

I agree the influencer stuff is mind boggling.

Bullsh*t about everything being better. Expectations re dress were not higher. You clearly know no history. Can we talk about the 60s and 70s?

The only real difference is we were able to buy clothes made of cotton and wool which are hard to find now. There were still lots of clothes made of some form of plastic that weren't well made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I blame Sex & the City!

Those women were stylish though.

Carie was a mess plus everything was pretty sl*tty - not elegant at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today, everyone thinks they should be comfortable 24/7. Lycra or stretch has become a necessity. My current pet peeve are sweatshirt material matching sets. Every influencer pushes them. I cannot participate.

Uhm, why shouldn't we think that we should be comfortable 24/7? I don't care what you think of my clothes. Worry about your own self.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I blame Sex & the City!

I'm not disagreeing, just trying to understand how the high fashion of SATC would cause women to dress down. Generally, popular shows make women want to dress like them, not the opposite.

I would hardly call Sex and the City high fashion, LOL. I think Carrie THOUGHT she was fashionable., though.

Those women were wearing high end labels and vintage fashion. You may not have liked their clothes, but they were most definitely fashionable for that time period.

[Anonymous]

It's partly our fabrics and the rise of fast fashion. Cheap fabric and poor construction drapes horribly, and people look sloppy when they wear it. Especially if overweight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1950s Street Scene - Los Angeles

This is like 70 years ago. If those folks were to look back 70 years, what would the fashion look like? Think about that. What if people from 1885 were to look at this video? The would find it unfortunate that women were showing their legs, at best, I'm sure. And the 1950s women would look back at the 1885 dresses and feel fortunate that they don't have to put on a bustle (as we feel fortunate that we don't have to put on pantyhose).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know or follow a single influencer so I have no idea how that impacts everyone. I would say fast fashion and capitalism are the biggest impacts on what people put on.

Also, people had no way to prove they were "respectable" without trying really hard to "look" respectable. Now nobody questions anyone anywhere. There's no "you shouldn't be here; you can't afford it" any longer. Tech bros in joggers. Pajamas in first class. It's kind of refreshing not to be judged on how many brands you are wearing.

I think that still exists. Teens and young adults are so atuned to what is good athleisure v. bad. You can wear an Alo or Lululemon branded outfit and people put you in the "relaxed with money" category, but if you have messy hair and crocs on feet and a big baggy sweatshirt as a non-gorgeous and thin person, you will be judged. Same with the tech bro: that look requires a good level of fitness to look good in.

The athleisure thing is all about showing off a fit body. Sure, people who don't have a fit body wear it, the pandemic sealed the deal on that. But Align leggings are not going to look good if you are obese. I remember wandering into Lulu years ago looking for shorts for hot yoga, and I was a size 14 or so, and the sales person snubbed me. She looked at me and in a nasty tone said "Do you work out? These are workout clothes." I left and never went back even though I'm now a size 6 and still do yoga and enjoy buying clothes for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1950s Street Scene - Los Angeles

This is like 70 years ago. If those folks were to look back 70 years, what would the fashion look like? Think about that. What if people from 1885 were to look at this video? The would find it unfortunate that women were showing their legs, at best, I'm sure. And the 1950s women would look back at the 1885 dresses and feel fortunate that they don't have to put on a bustle (as we feel fortunate that we don't have to put on pantyhose).

I wonder what the clothing situation will be like 70 years from now.