Ohmigoodness. Don’t even get us started with all the problems in women’s clothing. If you ever stroll through the aisles of female fashion, you’ll know what nuisances I’m talking about: from the fact that a lot of fashion is plainly non-functional, to a lack of clothing for women with big busts, the absence of pockets, inconsistent sizing, and pink tax, to name just a few.
So no wonder when someone asked women “What’s something about clothing that irritates you?” they had too many things to get off their chest. Let’s see some of the most eye-opening responses right below, which will surely change the way you think about clothing marketed for women, which is often nowhere near as pretty as the ads would like us to believe.
Have yet another annoying thing to add to this list? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section!
This post may include affiliate links.
Buttons over my prodigious breasts that never stay closed, collars on shirts, leggings that ride down, things that claim to not roll, but ALWAYS do, fussy extraneous details (stop putting button tabs on sleeves. Just no.),bras with lots of fkn lace details. Give us real, comfortable, sturdy bras, not fluff for the male gaze, Jean's that fit you bum, but leave a 10in gap at the waist. Why?
Bored Panda reached out to Redditor u/TheRightEquilibrium and author of this thread on r/AskWomen who got women sharing what things about womenswear they dislike the most. The Redditor told us that he’s actually starting his own clothing brand and he needed to get a feel on how people view clothes.
“I also wanted to make the brand known in different communities so that way they get to know me and I can create my own community from the connections I’m making,” said u/TheRightEquilibrium. “The question itself came super late at night kinda randomly now that I think about it, I had asked multiple subreddits the same question hoping to get a broader range of answers and r/AskWomen was the most engaging.”
The author was very surprised with the great number of responses on the sub, “because I got very little to no replies on other subreddits, especially ones that are centered around fashion.”
See through shirts. Seriously, I hate that so many shirts in women’s clothing are thin or nearly sheer. I don’t enjoy having to put a tank top under my shirts or having my bra show through.
the fact that I have one "boys" school shirt and the rest "girls" and the "boys" shirt the thread count is higher and the opacity is twice as much on "boys" SCHOOL shirts- I would like to emphasise- SCHOOL. GIRLS 4-16. HAVE TO WEAR SEE-THROUGH SHIRTS. EVERY DAY. AND SCHOOLS WONDER WHY THEY HAVE A HARASSMENT PROBLEM.
Moreover, u/TheRightEquilibrium has noticed just how much more vocal the women are about their problems with clothing. “And they actually seemed to care about the subject,” he said. “I really needed the women’s perspective on this subject because I would’ve never realized how much women struggle with size inconsistencies, having ZERO pockets on pants/skirts, shirts being tacky or crop tops being ill-fitting.”
The Redditor said that “without this information, I would’ve been continuing the same problems that already exist within women’s fashion and I believe the brand would be worse off this way; however, now I know exactly what the issues are and I can help solve and create solutions to those problems.”
Quite literally: scratchy tags. I also don't know why certain kinds of itchy wool clothing are still made.
Plus size clothes that have too much decoration on them. I don't want to look like a garden.
There should be a variety. I prefer patterned clothes coz they camouflage the bulges much more. All my wobbly bits stand out more in solid colours.
Unnecessary details on women’s clothing and accessories eg awkward cut-outs, tacky looking non-functional zips and buttons, random “quirky” words on a t-shirt, ugly frills, handbag chains that look out of place… the list goes on! I just want a plain jumper, not a cropped one that has “good vibezzz” in bubble writing on it. Also… we want pockets!
“Being a guy, I don’t experience most of the problems that women do, but I do have a wife and I notice she prefers to wear my clothing more than her own, not because she misses me, and mostly due to the fact that it is more comfortable and open.”
u/TheRightEquilibrium also said that while shopping, his “wife looks at both sections for clothes but only the men’s for shirts or hoodies, maybe sometimes sweats. She’s not a fan of crop tops, jeans, or dresses; they're just uncomfortable.”
He continued: “It seems that most of women’s clothing is form-fitting at the waist or arm hole area, but the form the clothing is targeting isn’t a form 80% of women have. It’s like most clothing is aimed for the supermodel look and if you don’t have that type of figure, you’re outta luck, which is why I think most women prefer men’s clothing (mostly T-shirts) because they aren’t clingy/tight.”
Each black piece is a different shade of black.
Pants need to come in more inseams than short, regular and tall. Men can get all sorts on inseams, why can’t women?
Also, shirts need to come in tall and short sizes too. I’m sick of the sleeves and torsos being too short.
The crop top trend. I’m tired of looking for a shirt that actually covers my belly. I like cute shirts, but i don’t like how revealing they are.
Agreed! As a more modest person, I love cute clothing that makes me feel fashionable, but I'd like to be able to do that without showing half my stomach thanks.
When asked which responses he found the most eye-opening, u/TheRightEquilibrium said: “There was a comment about how clothing for women isn’t to be comfortable but it’s made so the women can be looked at, which I agree with, which is super strange and kinda rude. Also, what’s up with the no pockets thing? Just add pockets! There are a few other things, but then I’ll just be ranting,” he added.
Branding. They ask customers to become walking billboards with giant their logos and unfortunately most buyers happily oblige.
dresses where you can't wear a bra, like backless ones. They know big women will need to wear a bra, so why design a dress that we can't wear a bra!
I wish sizes would be consistent across brands! I hate having to remember what size of jeans I wear at American Eagle and then again at Hollister.
We also talked to Carry Somers, the founder and global operations director at Fashion Revolution, who shared some very important insights on the flaws of womenswear, which turn out to be much bigger than simply the lack of pockets. “The global fashion industry relies upon the exploitation of natural resources and people working across its supply chain, producing more clothes than people need and manipulating them into overconsuming clothing at increasingly faster rates,” Carry said when asked about the current state of the clothing industry.
When pants or shorts fit your legs but not your waist.
Opposite for me. Fit my waist but are wayy too short length-wise
Clothing for heavy physical work. I choose to buy mens clothing, because that was actually designed for hard work outside in all kinds of weather. The option for women was only designed to look sexy, too tight to properly move or lift or work.
Athletic clothing is always bright colors or bizarre patterns. I love dark neutral colors, but they're so hard to find in woman's options. Men's gear doesn't fit me
I have the opposite problem - 99% of men's athletic gear is black, but I'd like brighter colors so I'm not so invisible on the biking/hiking trail at dusk or in the rain. I want cyclists to be able to see me, and as a cyclist, I *hate* people wearing all black at night... I don't want to blind people on the trail with my bright headlight, but also it's very hard to see someone dressed in head-to-toe black without my headlight on high.
“Injustices are endemic because supply chains are fragmented and opaque, and because some people have great power while others have very little, and because the fashion industry rewards economic growth and profit above all else.”
Carry continued: “We also need to recognize the interdependence of human rights and the rights of nature, because garment workers’ right to a healthy environment depends on the health of our planet. With garment production predicted to grow by 81% by 2030, there is ever-growing demand for agricultural land to produce cotton, viscose, wool, rubber, and other natural fibers.”
My problem is in bottoms. I can either fit them to my waist and they are too tight around my thighs or I can go up a size and they are comfortable around my thighs but too big around my waist. If I wear a belt then they bunch up funny around my crotch area.
I wish more companies would tell you the height of their models on their websites. The amount of dresses I've bought that show as being knee length, so I've thought it would probably come to mid thigh on me, and I've bought it and it doesn't even cover my crotch! It's like the models must be 5' or something. Shein tell you the height of their models and it makes it so much easier to know how long it will be for me. And as others have said, inconsistent sizing.
I wish more companies would just tell you how long the dang dress is!! The ruler was designed for a reason people, use it.
Most pants are ankle length. Can I just have some normal freaking pants? Why are crop tops expensive if it’s less material? Same with shorts. Why did my shorts cost the same as my pants?! Why is athletic wear so tacky? I’m finding a lot of tops are short. I have a short torso so it’s not a good look. Shirts that aren’t tagless.
I don't like wearing ankle length pants too but these days it's becoming hard and hard to find non ankle length pants (especially jeans).
It’s no secret that the clothing industry is one of the biggest pollutants of microplastics and microfibers, both plastic and cellulosic-based, on our planet. Not only are they “hugely damaging to the marine environment and wildlife, but they are also impacting human health through the chemicals they harbor that leach into the surrounding environment, including air, water, food, or body tissues.”
“The textile industry uses over 15,000 different chemicals during the manufacturing process. Currently, we have little way of knowing what chemicals are, or aren’t, allowed into our clothing. Fertility rates are decreasing 1% a year globally due to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, with the average person in their 20s having the fertility their grandmother had in their 40s,” Carry said about the grim reality of fast fashion.
Carry concluded that those at Fashion Revolution believe that “the fashion industry’s problems are bigger than any one company’s actions, and bigger than just the fast fashion sector. It’s systemic failure. This is why we are actively working to avoid binary arguments and bring a higher degree of nuance to these conversations."
Bras and swimwear without pads.
Clothes with fake pockets
Cheap fabric. Fabric that needs to be ironed.
Stuff that doesn't fit even though you bought the same size.
Finding good fitting pants is a struggle for me. I have IBS and hate tight fitting pants. It needs to sit a bit loose on my tummy. But if it is comfortable around my tummy it's too loose on my butt. Leggings are great, but I can't always wear leggings, especially at work.
That clothes for oversized women are always so damn ugly and unflattering. Luckily I have a great body and don't need to shop oversized clothing. But no one can tell me that those women are happy with the choices they have. Just because they are overweight doesn't mean that they don't have any taste. What the hell are all those ugly patterns?!
"Bras and swimwear without pads..." Other way around please! Nothing is as gross as getting out of the water and having to walk around with those soggy pads in your bikini top. Also; I get that some people want an extra layer between their boobs and the world, I however don't like to wear all that extra stuffing around my body. People have to accept what other people choose to wear, whether those are bras with or without padding :)
Women's graphic tees being so tacky
Yes!! Particularly band t's, so often bands put a different design on their women's fit shirts and when they do its always crappier. I want the same shirt design as men, I just would like to have some that aren't oversized because I have to buy men's to get the good design!!!
I wish there would be clothing for curvy people. I’m in between an XXS and a M.
Also I noticed that shops often offer less variety in certain products like padded bike shorts because apparently women don't want to wear them
For me it's shorts. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like it's either awkward knee length, or practically underwear.
Wanted to comment this too! Also skirts, almost every skirt I find will barely cover my behind, why just why
Load More Replies...I hate too many accessories! It just to make prices of women's clothing and shoes so much higher than those for men. How many times I was searching for winter boots, plain, comfy, warm boots, no 7 inch heels, no 7 zippers, no 10 meter long shoelaces, no silly attachments... same for clothes, at least give us choice, we are not all into clothes that has everything on it, zippers, buttons, laces, frills, fringes, rhinestones... give up on that!
How about “women’s” shirts that are a full three sizes smaller than “unisex” shirts? Bonus points if they’re a “baby doll” fit 🤮🤮
I just assume that unisex means “men’s” because unisex is always too big for me.
Load More Replies...I want to learn how to sew so I can make my own stuff or adjust men's clothing to my body type.
Yeah, that's a good idea. I can't sew well enough to do that, but being able to adjust hems/sleeves has saved me a lot. It's baggy but it covers (or doesn't drag!).
Load More Replies...When my husband needs pants, he walks into a department store, goes in the dressing room with a handful of pants in his size, and buys about half of them. When I need new pants, I try on like 10 different pairs in 3 different sizes. (It takes forever, because they only let you take in a few items at a time, so I have to keep getting dressed again to go out and get more.) None of them fit exactly right, and I end up buying one pair I can only wear with a belt, another I can only wear with a long shirt, and a third pair I can't bend over in. I'm gone all day, and when my husband sees what I bought he says, "Why don't you just buy pants that fit?"
Literally me yesterday. Finding pants that fit is always a challenge.
Load More Replies...normal size and plus size. how about sizes of all kind from 0 (which is still kind of ridiculous, cmon zero, like you are made of air ) to whatever number, let's stop branding a person "normal" and "plus". and even better when you go to the store and you have the special "plus" section, hidden at the back (like the adult section of a video store), where no one can see your fat ugly face.
Athletic clothes only for people who are already fit. If i want to start getting fit, I can't buy any sport clothes! I mean, not even XL for yoga pants, wetsuits, gym shorts or jogging windbreakers.
As I had a girlfriend who suffered from incontinence - there were practically no pants of any kind that wouldn't allow you to see what's underneath - she wore male's pants, then, or skirts that weren't too tight. Every pant made for women is so tight that, in order to keep this out of public, you could just as well wear no pants at all, or a shirt announcing what brand of diaper you have on - and if they weren't too tight, they were too short on the top end, sticking out etc... When shopping, she usually was pissed. Two kinds of pissed.
Like being a middle schooler who just started having periods and all you had were your mom's overnight pads. All pants in your size were tight fitting, so everyone sees the bulge on your backside. Kids can be horrible to each other. Good times /s
Load More Replies...Keep looking. I am short with an above average bust and don't suit cool colours, so I can't just walk into any shop and find something suitable. Trousers from Robel, underwear from Bravissimo (who also do a small range of clothes including shirts in different bra sizes), and a few others. Expensive yes but they last and I feel good, and it's probably better than buying a load of cheap stuff regularly and still feeling like a bundle of rags tied up with ugly string. And everything else from thrift shops!
Auntriarch, I looked up Bravissimo. Thank you thank you thank you !
Load More Replies...The clothing problems start young! As a mom to two boys and I girl I've noticed how poorly made girls clothes are compared to boys even as toddlers. Girls clothes from the same brand are generally shorter, tighter and thinner fabric, but the cost the same as the boys. My daughter's wardrobe is largely made up of hand me downs from her big brothers because it's just better quality.
Can we address the butterfly/flower/hearts/glitter designs everywhere? Give me dinosaurs and rockets on my swimsuit or my PJs! Give me nerdy quotes on cute tops!
You should look at the brand "Free to Be Kids" for cool t-shirts - they have adult/teen sizes and some truly great shirts!
Load More Replies...YES! And those 2 inch fake pockets, why bother? Last week at a doctor visit, I had on a Zuri dress with pockets and the first thing (even before hello) that my female doctor said to me excitedly is “your dress has pockets!” Everyone needs pockets.
Load More Replies...Real pockets. Shirts cut for bust sizes. I hate buying a 2xl an looking like I'm in a tent just to fit my tits. S-m-l-xl-xxl-xxxl waist and then bra size the tops! Hey who wants to start a company? "Fit to your t's" ?!?!
Clothes manufacturers don't know women have breasts. I have size 3, which isn't even that big, and still finding clothes that won't be too tight/ can be buttoned properly above the waist is a whole challenge.
As a tall woman, it’s when the waist sizes go up depending on what skirt length.mJust because I’m tall and have long legs, so I need longer skirts does not mean that my waist size is large.
This entire article is the reason why I am saving for a sewing machine to learn to make my own clothes.
I want shirts and dresses of the same size with options for different bra cup sizes! Thank`s, pregnancy, for 85K :( Also, even freaking maternity/breastfeeding bras have the same cup sizes as normal bras. Also wtf with having to buy two sets of clothes for pregnancy and breastfeeding because either it fits your bump or it allows you to breastfeed. And that at 50€+ prices!
Some plus size cloths brands that base their plus sizes on a size 8 fit model (they just add inches and don't consider where fat accumulates on the body so it looks and fits horrible).
Clothing manufacturers who automatically think that larger sizes should have long sleeves and long legs. Grossly inflated prices for women’s clothing. Men’s t-shirts are more comfortable. If a women’s t-shirt says it has a crew collar then I expects it to fit nicely round my neck, not drape down to my wotsits. Under Armour who obviously believe that anyone over a size 14 cannot wear their products. I could go on but it’s tea time now.
What women want: POCKETS. Also, sizes not determined by the mannequins. Nobody born is built like a mannequin. Very few are a "perfect size whatever". So can we have pockets and options on sizes? My jeans come in 8/10/12/etc. My hubby gets jeans with inseam/waist numbers. His clothes are cut for his chest. Mine are M/L/etc. Why can't we just... have clothes that we don't haev to alter? (and POCKETS!)
I’d like to offer a counter point to these comments from my own perspective as a man. The thing I think a lot of us hate about men’s clothing and are jealous of when it comes to women’s clothing is just the sheer limitless options. You only have to look at the size of men’s sections in shops compared to women’s to see choice and options are huge. Even the range of clothing styles, materials and types of clothing are amazing. While I can empathise with a lot of the comments here (just add pockets FFS they are brilliant) there are a lot of positives that come with this. I also appreciate that the lack of options for men most likely comes from the same Genesis as the problems for women’s clothing, but it would be lovely to be able to break out of the trouser/shirt, jeans/t-shirt mundanity
Cool/cold weather clothing that is thin, skin tight, and often cropped (for jackets). Minnesota gets cold! I don't want the inch+ of skin between the bottom of a jacket and the top of my jeans exposed on a November day. I don't want skin tight because you lose all the heat. I don't want that super warm lining that only covers the cuffs and edge of a hood for looks only. Give me something warm!
Why can’t catalogs just give you the actual garment measurements for each size, chest, waist, hips, length, knee diameter, etc? Sizing is so inconsistent, and the size charts are worthless. Biggest pet peeve. Makes it so hard to order anything, and expensive to send back.
When a brand has been selling something, say a tshirt for years and years, so all the customers know they can just click their size and order. But then without any notice it has changed, so all those loyal customers get ill fitting, terrible quality crap sent to their house and often only find out when it's too late to return it
I will never give up fighting freaking pockets. What is so hard about adding pockets to our clothes after adding gigantic pockets on male pants?
I used to have friends in the fashion industry. I don't know if it's still like this with every company, but they used to size all their clothing by fitting it on a size 2 or 4 model, and then just making each size up proportionally the same but bigger. But women's bodies don't stay proportional when we gain weight because we tend to gain in certain areas. This why when I'm a size 6 most clothes look good on me. But if I put on weight and go up to a size 10 or 12, it's hard to find pants that fit, let alone look flattering.
Universal clothing sizes based on the "average" woman. I'm short, relatively slim, and have a small frame. When the extra small is too big for me, there's something wrong. I literally can't find a brand of panties that doesn't fall off me at this point, because of the obesity epidemic. (Yes, you should feel good about yourself at any size. I'd bloody well like to feel good about myself, and would, if I could find clothes that don't drown me.)
Years ago my mom had to shop in children´s department because of her short statue. Luckily she was quite slim but also quite busty. As a kid I did not know better and laughed when she basically bought the school uniform skirt or things like that. But it was really difficult for her. I am average height but really busty and I find nothing. If I were shorter I think I would be naked because even kids clothes would not fit. If I happen to find something I wear it until it has holes because I get no replacement. If I have to wear a suit I look like I dressed in my fathers clothes because tighter would pop all the buttons.
Load More Replies...It's difficult to buy shorts that fit my waist and do not cut me in half vertically. (camel toe is not a good look.)
Remember that show with Stacy London, where they'd make over a woman and take her shopping, show her what to buy to suit her frame? They took all the things and Had Them Tailored. Try to find a good tailor or seamstress in your town, it's very difficult and often means spending $20+/- on one alteration. Not many can afford it.
I stopped buying jeans because either it's too long or too tight. Ended up with leggings or jogging pants or even maternity jeans because it's more comfortable. And sport bra! Difficult to find normal bra with good support.
When I was in high school, I had a friend who was the smallest of the people in theater, and so was tapped to play Oliver Twist. She said she had never worn an outfit more comfortable than the Twist costume: loose knickers with knee socks, shirt, suspenders and vest. It allowed complete freedom of movement while also looking... street-urchin chic? I thought it was oddly cute.
For me it's clothes that fit you perfectly in the hips, then suddenly cinch in at the waist so they don't fit. We're can't all afford the Kim Kardashian figure. That, and a lot plus sized or large clothing skewing either too old and frumpy or too young and immature. Like, just because I'm still working on losing weight I have to look like I'm either in my 60s, or I'm a tweenager again?
I feel you on the "frumpy" thing. I am a middle aged woman working in a "creative" field where the dress code is casual, but it's important to look hip and (as my grandmother would say) "put together." Most of the reasonably priced clothes out there give me the choice of looking like either a soccer mom or a 15 year-old. Otherwise I have to spend a fortune on some really expensive designer label.
Load More Replies...Even in somewhat more expensive clothes you find shirts and sweaters with details or ornamentation on the front only. The backs are plain. Terrible looking.
POCKETS!!!! Skirts, ladies jeans, anything, stop making these faux pockets or tiny ones!
Shirts and dresses that zip up or button up the back. Men don't need a servant or friend to zip or button them up in their dress clothes. Why do women still need this?!? It's 2021, women don't have servants, house staff, or ladies in waiting to zip or button the back of their dress/top up
I am 5' tall. I have a very hard time finding petite sized clothes. In most stores the petite department only carries a fraction of the choices offered in the regular sizes. I'm tired of buying misses sizes and having to roll up the sleeves and shorten the pants.
Clothing for people with arthritis. Its difficult for us when you have a lot of ridiculous buttons, zips and msall clips
SWEATS; sweatshirts and sweatpants that start to pill the first time you wash them. I hate the feel of pills and I hate the look that my pants have a "disease".
Some quick words for the ladies: 1) ALWAYS carry a tape measure when you clothes shop. You’ll know EXACTLY what will fit from what is wasting your time. 2) If in doubt, buy something in a slightly larger size, then just about any dry cleaners has an alterations person who can fit you PERFECTLY. You are fooling yourself if you think models and actresses buy off the rack and everything is perfect ready-to-wear. A few stitches make all the difference. And buy things that you LOVE, not what someone tells you!
I find a lot of good things in thrift stores and are worn in, comfortable and washable without issues!
Need more places making plus petite! 5'2", well over 200lbs, and an hourglass shape. Land's End has them, but their pockets became faaaashion... At least their men's pants are good.
Founds some great fitting clothes recently! At Target - men's department. With pockets, sturdy material, and not $50 for lounge pants.
Only Cloth that does not annoy me is my Pajama and my comfy tshirt that I wear at home .
I really need a motorcycle jacket. The VERY few available at the motorcycle shops are apparently designed for 16 year old anorexics. If it zipped across my hips the arms were long enough for a gorilla. I never did find a jacket that would fit my bust and hips (I'm curvy) but didn't the fit the shoulders and arm length of a linebacker.
Don’t forget those wear prices of clothing where you can’t what it supposed to be or how to even put it on. The inside is just a tangled mass of fabrics going this way and that way and spinning at some parts.
Own a bike shop. Woman came in with a man who was getting a repair. She looked around and was checking out the clothes rack. She grabbed a pair of biking shorts and held them close to her. When she came to pay I wanted to ring them up but needed to scan them. She didn't want to hand them to me was scared I wouldn't give them back. She said no where sold actual shorts for women. Weird.
Hate the high waisted pants trend. They don't work on short waisted plus size people like me. Also, a*s too big, waist too small in pants...being "thick" is not the same as fat
High waisted pants...some of us are plus size and short waisted, and I hate having to fold down the waist bands
bras for A/B cups always full of some padding/falsies. I am unable to wear them in summer as they are way too warm. And what is the point in wearing padded bras and pretend you have a C cup when then the truth will come to the light anyway at the end. I mean sometimes you do need this type of bras for dresses or so but why do all bras need to be with padding? My breasts do not make me more/less valued just because they seem bigger/smaller. I don't need to fake
Tall women clothing in general. Awful colours, barely any choice and ridiculously overpriced.
Pyjamas for grown women are either cutesy/teddy bear/glittery or sexy satin. We're are grown ups who just want to sleep in comfort. I buy men's pyjamas.
This is the first part of a series in which we’ll be showcasing some of the most frustrating things about women’s clothing, from fashion to underwear and everything in between. We hope you’ll find this list useful for choosing your everyday outfits wisely. http://chooseyourthings.com/
I am a woman. And like many other women, I have known the pain of trying to find clothes that fit. If you are tired of it too, then this book is for you. Here you will find our compilation of the most irritating things about women’s clothing: from non-functional fashion to the pink tax, we cover it all. http://chooseyourthings.com/
"Luckily I have a great body and don't need to shop oversized clothing" hmmm body positive
Shirts. During the summer it seems like you can only buy short sleeve shirts. I don't like my arms and I will only wear the 3/4 length type sleve or long sleve. A lot of times companies just assume we all want short or no sleeves.
Motorcycle clothes for women. I ride my own motorcycle. Similar to comments about other types of clothing here, they are designed to be sexy, not functional. Women need the same practicality and function in their gear as men. Wearing small men’s gear doesn’t work if you have curves and if you are small the “armor” sits in the wrong place making it useless and uncomfortable. Also why pink? Motorcycle gear manufacturers just size it down and make it pink and call it “women’s”.
Well, besides the pocket things, which seem to be an epidemic amongst women's clothing, I think a lot of this says more about the person's search skills than it does about the clothing? Even very common brands like H&M and online stores here in The Netherlands will provide you with options. And some like crop tops as a trend, some hate padded bras and swimsuits and frilly things. Just choose the other option. Which there are plenty of.
Not exactly clothing, but kinda related: mattress shops have their items only on slated spring wood frames, which may not be suitable for all people. As a result, mattresses that you lie on there to test out appear softer and more comfortable, even those that have a high-degree of hardness. But when you put them on your own duckboards, they suddenly become as hard as a rock to lie on. Mattress shop should have their products on both slatted spring wood frames, _and_ on normal duckboards so people can try out both make more informed decision. Had to return a couple mattresses, because they turned out to be too hard for me to lie on, despite the store's assurance, that those would go well on my simple duckboards as well. And _don't_ get me started on women's jeans.
No one here says they bought the clothes that way. Most of these comments are from women who have had the experience of spending hours at the mall, unsuccessfully trying to find clothes that fit, don't look ridiculous, and won't fall apart the first time they wash them. There's a common stereotype that women LOVE to go shopping. But a lot of us f***ing hate to waste our whole Saturday trying on trying on clothes, only to come home empty-handed. Or to buy something we don't feel happy and confident to wear, but we desperately needed new clothes and this was the best we could find.
Load More Replies...Except that you often CAN get a thick quality cotton MENS tshirt for less than a cheep polyester women's one on the other side of the same store. And sure the simple answer is "Just buy the men's shirt then." But clothes in mens proportions don't work for many of us.
Load More Replies...For me it's shorts. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like it's either awkward knee length, or practically underwear.
Wanted to comment this too! Also skirts, almost every skirt I find will barely cover my behind, why just why
Load More Replies...I hate too many accessories! It just to make prices of women's clothing and shoes so much higher than those for men. How many times I was searching for winter boots, plain, comfy, warm boots, no 7 inch heels, no 7 zippers, no 10 meter long shoelaces, no silly attachments... same for clothes, at least give us choice, we are not all into clothes that has everything on it, zippers, buttons, laces, frills, fringes, rhinestones... give up on that!
How about “women’s” shirts that are a full three sizes smaller than “unisex” shirts? Bonus points if they’re a “baby doll” fit 🤮🤮
I just assume that unisex means “men’s” because unisex is always too big for me.
Load More Replies...I want to learn how to sew so I can make my own stuff or adjust men's clothing to my body type.
Yeah, that's a good idea. I can't sew well enough to do that, but being able to adjust hems/sleeves has saved me a lot. It's baggy but it covers (or doesn't drag!).
Load More Replies...When my husband needs pants, he walks into a department store, goes in the dressing room with a handful of pants in his size, and buys about half of them. When I need new pants, I try on like 10 different pairs in 3 different sizes. (It takes forever, because they only let you take in a few items at a time, so I have to keep getting dressed again to go out and get more.) None of them fit exactly right, and I end up buying one pair I can only wear with a belt, another I can only wear with a long shirt, and a third pair I can't bend over in. I'm gone all day, and when my husband sees what I bought he says, "Why don't you just buy pants that fit?"
Literally me yesterday. Finding pants that fit is always a challenge.
Load More Replies...normal size and plus size. how about sizes of all kind from 0 (which is still kind of ridiculous, cmon zero, like you are made of air ) to whatever number, let's stop branding a person "normal" and "plus". and even better when you go to the store and you have the special "plus" section, hidden at the back (like the adult section of a video store), where no one can see your fat ugly face.
Athletic clothes only for people who are already fit. If i want to start getting fit, I can't buy any sport clothes! I mean, not even XL for yoga pants, wetsuits, gym shorts or jogging windbreakers.
As I had a girlfriend who suffered from incontinence - there were practically no pants of any kind that wouldn't allow you to see what's underneath - she wore male's pants, then, or skirts that weren't too tight. Every pant made for women is so tight that, in order to keep this out of public, you could just as well wear no pants at all, or a shirt announcing what brand of diaper you have on - and if they weren't too tight, they were too short on the top end, sticking out etc... When shopping, she usually was pissed. Two kinds of pissed.
Like being a middle schooler who just started having periods and all you had were your mom's overnight pads. All pants in your size were tight fitting, so everyone sees the bulge on your backside. Kids can be horrible to each other. Good times /s
Load More Replies...Keep looking. I am short with an above average bust and don't suit cool colours, so I can't just walk into any shop and find something suitable. Trousers from Robel, underwear from Bravissimo (who also do a small range of clothes including shirts in different bra sizes), and a few others. Expensive yes but they last and I feel good, and it's probably better than buying a load of cheap stuff regularly and still feeling like a bundle of rags tied up with ugly string. And everything else from thrift shops!
Auntriarch, I looked up Bravissimo. Thank you thank you thank you !
Load More Replies...The clothing problems start young! As a mom to two boys and I girl I've noticed how poorly made girls clothes are compared to boys even as toddlers. Girls clothes from the same brand are generally shorter, tighter and thinner fabric, but the cost the same as the boys. My daughter's wardrobe is largely made up of hand me downs from her big brothers because it's just better quality.
Can we address the butterfly/flower/hearts/glitter designs everywhere? Give me dinosaurs and rockets on my swimsuit or my PJs! Give me nerdy quotes on cute tops!
You should look at the brand "Free to Be Kids" for cool t-shirts - they have adult/teen sizes and some truly great shirts!
Load More Replies...YES! And those 2 inch fake pockets, why bother? Last week at a doctor visit, I had on a Zuri dress with pockets and the first thing (even before hello) that my female doctor said to me excitedly is “your dress has pockets!” Everyone needs pockets.
Load More Replies...Real pockets. Shirts cut for bust sizes. I hate buying a 2xl an looking like I'm in a tent just to fit my tits. S-m-l-xl-xxl-xxxl waist and then bra size the tops! Hey who wants to start a company? "Fit to your t's" ?!?!
Clothes manufacturers don't know women have breasts. I have size 3, which isn't even that big, and still finding clothes that won't be too tight/ can be buttoned properly above the waist is a whole challenge.
As a tall woman, it’s when the waist sizes go up depending on what skirt length.mJust because I’m tall and have long legs, so I need longer skirts does not mean that my waist size is large.
This entire article is the reason why I am saving for a sewing machine to learn to make my own clothes.
I want shirts and dresses of the same size with options for different bra cup sizes! Thank`s, pregnancy, for 85K :( Also, even freaking maternity/breastfeeding bras have the same cup sizes as normal bras. Also wtf with having to buy two sets of clothes for pregnancy and breastfeeding because either it fits your bump or it allows you to breastfeed. And that at 50€+ prices!
Some plus size cloths brands that base their plus sizes on a size 8 fit model (they just add inches and don't consider where fat accumulates on the body so it looks and fits horrible).
Clothing manufacturers who automatically think that larger sizes should have long sleeves and long legs. Grossly inflated prices for women’s clothing. Men’s t-shirts are more comfortable. If a women’s t-shirt says it has a crew collar then I expects it to fit nicely round my neck, not drape down to my wotsits. Under Armour who obviously believe that anyone over a size 14 cannot wear their products. I could go on but it’s tea time now.
What women want: POCKETS. Also, sizes not determined by the mannequins. Nobody born is built like a mannequin. Very few are a "perfect size whatever". So can we have pockets and options on sizes? My jeans come in 8/10/12/etc. My hubby gets jeans with inseam/waist numbers. His clothes are cut for his chest. Mine are M/L/etc. Why can't we just... have clothes that we don't haev to alter? (and POCKETS!)
I’d like to offer a counter point to these comments from my own perspective as a man. The thing I think a lot of us hate about men’s clothing and are jealous of when it comes to women’s clothing is just the sheer limitless options. You only have to look at the size of men’s sections in shops compared to women’s to see choice and options are huge. Even the range of clothing styles, materials and types of clothing are amazing. While I can empathise with a lot of the comments here (just add pockets FFS they are brilliant) there are a lot of positives that come with this. I also appreciate that the lack of options for men most likely comes from the same Genesis as the problems for women’s clothing, but it would be lovely to be able to break out of the trouser/shirt, jeans/t-shirt mundanity
Cool/cold weather clothing that is thin, skin tight, and often cropped (for jackets). Minnesota gets cold! I don't want the inch+ of skin between the bottom of a jacket and the top of my jeans exposed on a November day. I don't want skin tight because you lose all the heat. I don't want that super warm lining that only covers the cuffs and edge of a hood for looks only. Give me something warm!
Why can’t catalogs just give you the actual garment measurements for each size, chest, waist, hips, length, knee diameter, etc? Sizing is so inconsistent, and the size charts are worthless. Biggest pet peeve. Makes it so hard to order anything, and expensive to send back.
When a brand has been selling something, say a tshirt for years and years, so all the customers know they can just click their size and order. But then without any notice it has changed, so all those loyal customers get ill fitting, terrible quality crap sent to their house and often only find out when it's too late to return it
I will never give up fighting freaking pockets. What is so hard about adding pockets to our clothes after adding gigantic pockets on male pants?
I used to have friends in the fashion industry. I don't know if it's still like this with every company, but they used to size all their clothing by fitting it on a size 2 or 4 model, and then just making each size up proportionally the same but bigger. But women's bodies don't stay proportional when we gain weight because we tend to gain in certain areas. This why when I'm a size 6 most clothes look good on me. But if I put on weight and go up to a size 10 or 12, it's hard to find pants that fit, let alone look flattering.
Universal clothing sizes based on the "average" woman. I'm short, relatively slim, and have a small frame. When the extra small is too big for me, there's something wrong. I literally can't find a brand of panties that doesn't fall off me at this point, because of the obesity epidemic. (Yes, you should feel good about yourself at any size. I'd bloody well like to feel good about myself, and would, if I could find clothes that don't drown me.)
Years ago my mom had to shop in children´s department because of her short statue. Luckily she was quite slim but also quite busty. As a kid I did not know better and laughed when she basically bought the school uniform skirt or things like that. But it was really difficult for her. I am average height but really busty and I find nothing. If I were shorter I think I would be naked because even kids clothes would not fit. If I happen to find something I wear it until it has holes because I get no replacement. If I have to wear a suit I look like I dressed in my fathers clothes because tighter would pop all the buttons.
Load More Replies...It's difficult to buy shorts that fit my waist and do not cut me in half vertically. (camel toe is not a good look.)
Remember that show with Stacy London, where they'd make over a woman and take her shopping, show her what to buy to suit her frame? They took all the things and Had Them Tailored. Try to find a good tailor or seamstress in your town, it's very difficult and often means spending $20+/- on one alteration. Not many can afford it.
I stopped buying jeans because either it's too long or too tight. Ended up with leggings or jogging pants or even maternity jeans because it's more comfortable. And sport bra! Difficult to find normal bra with good support.
When I was in high school, I had a friend who was the smallest of the people in theater, and so was tapped to play Oliver Twist. She said she had never worn an outfit more comfortable than the Twist costume: loose knickers with knee socks, shirt, suspenders and vest. It allowed complete freedom of movement while also looking... street-urchin chic? I thought it was oddly cute.
For me it's clothes that fit you perfectly in the hips, then suddenly cinch in at the waist so they don't fit. We're can't all afford the Kim Kardashian figure. That, and a lot plus sized or large clothing skewing either too old and frumpy or too young and immature. Like, just because I'm still working on losing weight I have to look like I'm either in my 60s, or I'm a tweenager again?
I feel you on the "frumpy" thing. I am a middle aged woman working in a "creative" field where the dress code is casual, but it's important to look hip and (as my grandmother would say) "put together." Most of the reasonably priced clothes out there give me the choice of looking like either a soccer mom or a 15 year-old. Otherwise I have to spend a fortune on some really expensive designer label.
Load More Replies...Even in somewhat more expensive clothes you find shirts and sweaters with details or ornamentation on the front only. The backs are plain. Terrible looking.
POCKETS!!!! Skirts, ladies jeans, anything, stop making these faux pockets or tiny ones!
Shirts and dresses that zip up or button up the back. Men don't need a servant or friend to zip or button them up in their dress clothes. Why do women still need this?!? It's 2021, women don't have servants, house staff, or ladies in waiting to zip or button the back of their dress/top up
I am 5' tall. I have a very hard time finding petite sized clothes. In most stores the petite department only carries a fraction of the choices offered in the regular sizes. I'm tired of buying misses sizes and having to roll up the sleeves and shorten the pants.
Clothing for people with arthritis. Its difficult for us when you have a lot of ridiculous buttons, zips and msall clips
SWEATS; sweatshirts and sweatpants that start to pill the first time you wash them. I hate the feel of pills and I hate the look that my pants have a "disease".
Some quick words for the ladies: 1) ALWAYS carry a tape measure when you clothes shop. You’ll know EXACTLY what will fit from what is wasting your time. 2) If in doubt, buy something in a slightly larger size, then just about any dry cleaners has an alterations person who can fit you PERFECTLY. You are fooling yourself if you think models and actresses buy off the rack and everything is perfect ready-to-wear. A few stitches make all the difference. And buy things that you LOVE, not what someone tells you!
I find a lot of good things in thrift stores and are worn in, comfortable and washable without issues!
Need more places making plus petite! 5'2", well over 200lbs, and an hourglass shape. Land's End has them, but their pockets became faaaashion... At least their men's pants are good.
Founds some great fitting clothes recently! At Target - men's department. With pockets, sturdy material, and not $50 for lounge pants.
Only Cloth that does not annoy me is my Pajama and my comfy tshirt that I wear at home .
I really need a motorcycle jacket. The VERY few available at the motorcycle shops are apparently designed for 16 year old anorexics. If it zipped across my hips the arms were long enough for a gorilla. I never did find a jacket that would fit my bust and hips (I'm curvy) but didn't the fit the shoulders and arm length of a linebacker.
Don’t forget those wear prices of clothing where you can’t what it supposed to be or how to even put it on. The inside is just a tangled mass of fabrics going this way and that way and spinning at some parts.
Own a bike shop. Woman came in with a man who was getting a repair. She looked around and was checking out the clothes rack. She grabbed a pair of biking shorts and held them close to her. When she came to pay I wanted to ring them up but needed to scan them. She didn't want to hand them to me was scared I wouldn't give them back. She said no where sold actual shorts for women. Weird.
Hate the high waisted pants trend. They don't work on short waisted plus size people like me. Also, a*s too big, waist too small in pants...being "thick" is not the same as fat
High waisted pants...some of us are plus size and short waisted, and I hate having to fold down the waist bands
bras for A/B cups always full of some padding/falsies. I am unable to wear them in summer as they are way too warm. And what is the point in wearing padded bras and pretend you have a C cup when then the truth will come to the light anyway at the end. I mean sometimes you do need this type of bras for dresses or so but why do all bras need to be with padding? My breasts do not make me more/less valued just because they seem bigger/smaller. I don't need to fake
Tall women clothing in general. Awful colours, barely any choice and ridiculously overpriced.
Pyjamas for grown women are either cutesy/teddy bear/glittery or sexy satin. We're are grown ups who just want to sleep in comfort. I buy men's pyjamas.
This is the first part of a series in which we’ll be showcasing some of the most frustrating things about women’s clothing, from fashion to underwear and everything in between. We hope you’ll find this list useful for choosing your everyday outfits wisely. http://chooseyourthings.com/
I am a woman. And like many other women, I have known the pain of trying to find clothes that fit. If you are tired of it too, then this book is for you. Here you will find our compilation of the most irritating things about women’s clothing: from non-functional fashion to the pink tax, we cover it all. http://chooseyourthings.com/
"Luckily I have a great body and don't need to shop oversized clothing" hmmm body positive
Shirts. During the summer it seems like you can only buy short sleeve shirts. I don't like my arms and I will only wear the 3/4 length type sleve or long sleve. A lot of times companies just assume we all want short or no sleeves.
Motorcycle clothes for women. I ride my own motorcycle. Similar to comments about other types of clothing here, they are designed to be sexy, not functional. Women need the same practicality and function in their gear as men. Wearing small men’s gear doesn’t work if you have curves and if you are small the “armor” sits in the wrong place making it useless and uncomfortable. Also why pink? Motorcycle gear manufacturers just size it down and make it pink and call it “women’s”.
Well, besides the pocket things, which seem to be an epidemic amongst women's clothing, I think a lot of this says more about the person's search skills than it does about the clothing? Even very common brands like H&M and online stores here in The Netherlands will provide you with options. And some like crop tops as a trend, some hate padded bras and swimsuits and frilly things. Just choose the other option. Which there are plenty of.
Not exactly clothing, but kinda related: mattress shops have their items only on slated spring wood frames, which may not be suitable for all people. As a result, mattresses that you lie on there to test out appear softer and more comfortable, even those that have a high-degree of hardness. But when you put them on your own duckboards, they suddenly become as hard as a rock to lie on. Mattress shop should have their products on both slatted spring wood frames, _and_ on normal duckboards so people can try out both make more informed decision. Had to return a couple mattresses, because they turned out to be too hard for me to lie on, despite the store's assurance, that those would go well on my simple duckboards as well. And _don't_ get me started on women's jeans.
No one here says they bought the clothes that way. Most of these comments are from women who have had the experience of spending hours at the mall, unsuccessfully trying to find clothes that fit, don't look ridiculous, and won't fall apart the first time they wash them. There's a common stereotype that women LOVE to go shopping. But a lot of us f***ing hate to waste our whole Saturday trying on trying on clothes, only to come home empty-handed. Or to buy something we don't feel happy and confident to wear, but we desperately needed new clothes and this was the best we could find.
Load More Replies...Except that you often CAN get a thick quality cotton MENS tshirt for less than a cheep polyester women's one on the other side of the same store. And sure the simple answer is "Just buy the men's shirt then." But clothes in mens proportions don't work for many of us.
Load More Replies...