All clothing is ugly these days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been singing this song to anyone who’ll listen for years now. I can walk through a mens department in almost any quality store and see beautiful plaid shirts and combined color patterns that someone had to be using a color wheel to create, but not in ladies. All hell breaks loose in lady’s clothing from color combinations, to pattern shapes and dangling unknowns off the hem lines. It’s not only discussing; it’s heartbreaking to someone who loves a classic look in an outfit. Do we still use that word?

I agree. This original post is from 2017 but, with the exception of the stuff about the bare shoulders, it's still spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post is ON POINT.

It is. I've been thinking this for a while, although not so pulled together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the point when you begin to realize you have more in common with the Over 50 thread. It starts with clothing.

Exactly this. The real first sign of aging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, forgive me: a rant. Women's clothing is just objectively ugly these days. And it's a universal trend, from department stores to discount stores to outlets to boutiques to chains. All women's clothing, for all sizes and shapes and price points, is hideously ugly.

Bizarro Prints/Colors

You know how the color palette of the 70s was earth tones and off-beat shades like pumpkin and avacado? You know how the color palette of the 80s was neons and bright jewel tones? See how those are two completely different color palettes? Well, put them together in a blender, and that is what is going on right now. Same with patterns. Forget things that make sense, like polka dots or houndstooth or pretty florals. Everything now is just...random.

At one point, I was considering a shirt that was a lovely material/weight, which had a really nice cut/fit. I loved it. Except it was a HIDEOUS navy-on-blue print of morning glories or some other flower...like, close-up of the interior of these flowers. I stood there, staring at it. I closed my eyes and summoned the spirit of Georgia O'Keefe. Even she agreed: "This shirt looks like vaginas, and you shouldn't buy it."

Like, who designed a vagina shirt? And then who approved that design? How do you tell your fabric vendor that you'd like 5,300 yards of vagina print in a merino wool with a hint of stretch? What does that conversation look like?

Medieval Times

Let's get into the "cold-shoulder" trend. OK, fine, some people really love to show off their shoulders in a long-sleeve shirt. Note I'm not talking about off-the shoulder. No, we're talking even turtlenecks that show off just the top patch of shoulder for NO REASON. Forget the optical confusion of this look, why would you want your shoulders to be cold? If it is cold enough for a TURTLENECK, why would you expose your shoulders? NO SENSE.

I saw a thick, heavy sleeveless funnel neck sweater that REACHED THE MID-THIGH. If it is cold enough to wear a sweater that comes to your thighs, why would your arms be hanging out. I don't understand!

So that's all bad enough, but now this trend has extended to inexplicably slashed sleeves and Tudor-esque hanging sleeves--on corporate-wear. If you want to look like that Shakespeare-obsessed teenage girl from "10 Things I Hate About You" as a grown-ass woman, that's a look, at least. That's fine, I GUESS. BUT, it appears that the new fashion is to add these Ye Olde Touches to **work attire,** as in a fitted sheath dress that looks like something Joan from "Mad Men" would wear, except the sleeves are all slashed Elizabethan-style. Just...what?

Because--as we know from reading too many Philippa Gregory novels--the function of slashed sleeves was to show the expensive undershirts, and the function of long hanging sleeves was to hide Anne Boleyn's rumored sixth finger. None of this functionality is needed at a board meeting on a Tuesday or a lobbyist's office on a Wednesday. There IS no intersection of Wall Street and Whitehall Palace. I am so mad.

Random Shit

There were so many times, at so many stores where I reached for what I thought was a BASIC, only to find that it had some random shitty detail. Like, not a blouse with pretty jeweled buttons, or a pair of pants with a ribbon sash or anything nice like that. No, I'm talking about a basic long-sleeved button-down with...a sequined pineapple on the pocket. A pair of shoes that had no fewer than seven buckles across the top...and no, they weren't boots, they were flats.

I just don't understand why pants have to have umbrellas on them, you know? I feel like clothing manufacturers got together in 2008 and just decided they were done producing clothing that made sense.

Nobody Wants Middle-Aged Money

I wandered into J Crew, and clearly I am too old. I tiptoed into Talbots, and was confronted by a pair of stretch pants with an olive/martini glass print, so I am clearly too young. Why does no one want to cater to me, a boring, middle-aged mom with a job who just doesn't want to wear olives or pineapples? I'm too chubby for cropped tops, plus also, I can't wear crop tops to work OR to the park with my kids. On the other side of the coin, I just kind of feel like stirrup pants would make me tumble into menopause at an accelerated pace. Why does no one want to make some basic clothing and take my money?

I want my shoulders to be warm, and not to wear a vagina shirt. Is that too much to ask?

I could go on, but I will stop. Please tell me I am not the only one in this group with the worst wardrobe I have ever had, including when I was 6 and owned a terry-cloth romper that made me look like a strawberry, or when I was 19 and had at least three items in my closet that were purchased at Charlotte Russe.

Thank you for your consideration.

Agreed. My first time seeing this post. Still so true. In 2019, I bought an Ann Taylor navy chiffon blouse with white irises that reminds me of this. Couldn't decide if it was attractive or just half of a businesswoman's clown suit. Still haven't found a suitable pant to go with it.

Talbots. I have my best luck at their outlet. Fewer sweaters with Christmas llamas.

Sleeveless dresses are just plain uncomfortable and it's insanely tough to find the right cardigan or blazer to go over them. I swear I've tried on every model of "shrug" on the market without finding one that fits right...

It's been bad for a long time. I used to be a department store clerk at a store like Macy's. My favorite store was Lord&Taylor's at White Flint. Back then my problem was money. Now I have plenty of money and can't find things to buy.

I come to threads like this because, no lie, sometimes I get tips to find brands and styles that are actually wearable.

I knew it was a fashion apocalypse ten years ago, in my mid-40s, when I learned about J Jill from a 97 year old Stanford alumna. I went there and actually bought three things because J Jill makes some petite clothes that are plain solids AND washable AND not completely crap quality.

[Anonymous]

I love this thread.

Last year I decided to stop buying clothes. I went the entire year and bought nothing to wear except one cashmere sweater from LL Bean that I found on sale while traveling for work. This, at first, was really hard for me as I am a shopper and usually buy a cartful of clothes at least 6-8 times a year plus pick up random shirts at Target or Costco.

Now that it's a new year, I've lifted my shopping ban but I can find nothing to buy. I think the year off gave me some perspective. I don't want to buy poorly made, ugly clothes anymore. I can't afford super expensive clothes (I never spend more than $150 per item) and I'm not sure they are that much better anyway.

So I guess I'll just wear the crappy clothes I own until they wear out and then buy more crappy clothes.

[Anonymous]

YES. Everything for all ages trends towards frumpy and either boxy or shapeless, and everything is made from thin rags!!!

No price point is safe.

Then…..the crop tops. IMO far worse than cold shoulders. I’ve told my friends’ gorgeous teenagers that no, sorry, crop tops flatter no one.

I buy clothes on Amazon and at Costco. I’m in great shape and could probably wear most things but I’d rather spend money on anything but raggedy crop tops and high waisted SWEATPANTS.

[Anonymous]

To the last 2 posters: I like the idea of a clothing shopping ban! I might try that. Seriously don’t need anything.

And I hear several people say they find nice clothing items at Costco.

I still like shoes though lol

[Anonymous]

I agree.

That said. This happens to me every decade. There’s a year or two when the clothes are too hideous to buy and I end up wearing things that people tell me look dated, but to me, they just look sane.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say all clothing, but I find the trendy stuff - current teen "style" in particular - to be. DD has been wearing sweats/pj bottoms & hoodie everyday for the last few months - I hate this look and think it looks so sloppy, especially since she has so many other nice pants & tops that aren't pjs.

But, apparently wearing baggy clothes intended for bed is the "thing" these days. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I have shifted to mostly buying classic staples from brands like Everlane and Quince, mixing with consignment finds I buy in person or get on the Real Real. I also raid both my DH's closet and the mens section ALL THE TIME. I don't know that I'm on trend necessarily, but I like how I look and feel both comfortable and sexy.

Favorite recent buys:
- pink pleated chiffon midi skirt from Quince, which I've been wearing with gray boots and an old gray wool sweater of my husbands that fits oversized on me, with a long gray overcoat and a big pink/gray/blue/green floral wool scarf I bought second hand.

- Gold sneakers from Cole Haan I wear with pretty much everything in the summer, and with jeans in the fall. Loving them as a way to dress up casual outfits, and loving gold generally as a true neutral that goes with everything in my closet.

- A black short sleeve jumpsuit with wide, slightly cropped legs from Calvin Klein that I bought at a TJ Maxx during an emergency shopping trip for a specific event where I needed to by slightly dressy, in black, but could not be a dress or skirt and also it was hot. Turns out it's an effortless summer outfit with fun jewelry and strappy sandals, but I can wear it with Chelsea boots and layered over a colored or patterned turtleneck in the winter and it's got a artsy vibe while also being super easy and comfortable.

Again, I do not hold myself out as a paragon of good fashion, and I agree with OP and others about the state of fashion trends and most departments stores and mall brands, but I'm still finding stuff I like and feel good about, that feels age appropriate (mid 40s, white collar job in a creative industry, one kid under 10). But I shop way differently than I used to, don't buy fashion magazines anymore, and kind of don't care if other people think I look good.

[Anonymous]

Can I just reiterate everything you all said? I'm too old for crop tops and too young for fruit printed on my pants. The few things at Dillards I actually liked were literally $695 for a casual blazer (like to go over jeans) ahhhh! What is going on with the world?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, to get High quality middle aged clothes, you have to spend middle-age money. Target is not going to work for your anymore.

OP here. I said at all price points, and I meant it. I shop at a range of stores, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, boutiques, Co-OP, etc. it's all gone downhill, as far as quality and styling.

I am middle aged and have to find "lines" I like and then buy one or two items from them a season, and stick with them season after season-- like I enjoy some items from Amour Vert, Marine Layer has been good to me this spring for casual fare, or every now and then a pair of jeans from a specific expensive jeans vendor (after trying on all) which is the only one with the exact amount of non-stretch and waist to hip ratio, for me. What I am saying is, it is not one stop shopping at one store, but finding a line and lots of trial and error and lots of re-visiting to see what's new. It takes a lot of work!

[Anonymous]

Love this old thread. I often think of the “random shit” critique. A perfectly good shirt ruined by some random weird design element.

[Anonymous]

Clothes are just ugly and have been since 2020! I have bought very little in the last 4 years but used to randomly shop all the time. Cmon!!!!! If has to get better!!!

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread to say I have been searching high and low for a short sleeve blouse or shirt to wear with a blazer and jeans for work in a nice print and cannot find one that is not puffy or ballooned-sleeved or ruffled.

Oh, and everything is rayon or viscose.