Chixe

Men do not appreciate how easy they have it. I know my wardrobe is going to be overhauled when I move. Women can sort of get away with baggy clothes because of the weather here but where I'm moving it's warm all the time...tight and tighter...sigh....

Um, if your pants are too tight maybe you should go a size up. Seems obvious to me. Unless your ego is tied up in the number on the tag.

I struggle every morning. Although it's much more about what can I make work based on what's clean.

I usually just pick what's at the top of the drawer. Literally.

Off the top of the drawer? Fancy.

1. Pick up whatever clothing has been on the floor the shortest.
2. Smell.
3. If acceptable, wear.
4. When done, deposit elsewhere on floor.
5. Repeat.

Men, you aren't getting it. It's not that the pants are too small, it's the style - very form-fitting pants. I have some pants that have to hug my waist...or they slip down too far. And no, they don't have belt loops. :) I wish I could find Aaliyah pants - hug the waist but are baggy from the waist down. Don't let me find any, I'm buying them all up.

It's tough. The semi ironic thing about this whole debate is that women are usually the ones who notice this kind of stuff. Sure, the nature of women's styles allow for more variety more but in my experience women more often than not, women are their own harshest critic.

Does this make sense?

Smelling them first before you put them on is key.

So key.

My brother used to spend more time getting dressed than I do, and many of my make friends at school seem to be the same way.
I have jeans, boots and tee shirts and a several black and brown suits so there is not much I worry about.

I have known guys who change their clothing multiple times before going out and it drives me mad.

While I know that in general men tend to care less about fashion, we have been receiving more and more social pressure to dress and groom according to standards once thought only for women. Many metrosexual men struggle with image issues that make dressing a challenge.

I do that too! lol
By the time I decide what to wear, I have a mountain of clothes on my bed. Clothes I decided not to wear. Then I dread having to put them all away. LOL

Tyme, if you ever find those pants, and don't share, I'll boycott you girl! It's the biggest pain, this whole dressing thing. I hate to spend time shopping for necessities, like the perfect pair of jeans. I want to do that once in like, 5 plus years, and then just keep buying the same style in multiples. That works until some idiotic manufacturer/label decides to discontinue or change what I like, and then I have to start all over which happens way too often.

As for tight or tighter, it's all about our own self image, I think. And of course we women do it to ourselves. It's all about how you want to look, the look you feel most "you" in, and sometimes it depends on the day. I have my days where I feel good in just about anything, and then there are the days where I WILL spend an inordinate amount of time choosing what to wear, and trying on many things. Sometimes, it doesn't matter how many things I try on, it's just not a good day for clothing, which probably has nothing to do with the clothing at all, at that point. It usually turns out that there are other issues on days like that.

I don't dress for the opposite sex, if that's what you mean by "the tight ones or the tighter ones. Why?" question. I dress for me, in my own individual style, and whatever suits my mood and or mental state at the moment.

Reason number 23432432 I hate fashion: the assumption women are all one top body length. I am 5ft 8 (hardly the tallest women in the world), and almost all tops as a rule give me a chill patch at the bottom of my back. Add to this the trend in low waist trousers that don't account for the fact I have no hips - I know most women do but lordly you'd need hips, a tummy that has been ironed and so on just to get these to work.

My husband jokes at me as any fashion seems intent on not working for my body. I admit it, I have no breast (well unless you count those of the first cup size - yes some women don't have udders), no hips and no arse. I'm doomed when it comes to clothes. Oh and add the fact I'm 5ft 8 I should just give up and wear a bin bag.

I must be a sight sometimes, top half way up my back and trousers falling down as I they aren't sitting on anything but a hope and a prayer. I love one pair in particular but can't wear in public for fear of flashing my pants if I have to actually move.

I don't really do tight clothes though, something I can't break the habit from when I was on the larger size. Having been huge it's hard to shake the baggy jumper thing - but I live in the UK so we get about a week when jumpers aren't required.

Tyme you may want to try Uk fashion, well only if you have hips as I don't and I am stuffed. If you don't you are up poo creak with me. Lot of our clothes are tight at waist baggy after. Then again I don't know what height you are and the 'waist' on these is about where the top of my 'don't show in public' line is at 5ft 8. Hardly a comfortable place for trousers to sit.

I'm the opposite end of the spectrum to you Karma, but trust me - they don't make clothes that fit curvy 5'2" people either. *sigh* There's a reason I live in the same two skirts (one long, one short-ish) and five tops pretty much all year round. My one concession to the British winter/summer divide is that I put on/take off a cardigan. And even that I wore at college so it's a good... few... years old.

Like Dreamweaver, I don't dress for the opposite sex, I wear what I feel comfortable in and what I think I look good in. Sadly, I find it hard to find clothes that I like to wear, so my wardrobe always has a tendency to look a little scrappy and worn.

Karmatosed:
I don't know what your budget is but Mango and Zara tend to do a pretty good line in long skinny trousers. Mango sometimes goes through ugly seasons so you may need to check back in a few months to find something wearable that will last.

Gap were also doing some good long-waisted tops recently. Don't know if they still have them.

Otherwise, yes. British-made high-street fashion seems to design their clothes for 5'4 only.

What I wear depends on the "5 pound range". That means "does it fit today?"

We men like to give the impression we give a damn about clothes...but believe me, most of us take as long as women to pick a pair of jeans

I usually opt for the surf stuff or dutch clothes. For some reasons dutch fashion is about bang on my body frame - discovered this when was younger and saves some of my sanity. Again, oddly enough Protest works like a charm. I'm a bit fussy when I do actually buy clothes and have checked out both Mango and Zara but they are a bit not what I like. I have spent far too long living in gap clothes and almost refuse to wear now on principle that I don't work in an office. Gap was about the only fashion that both I could wear and was worked for an office.

The other problem I have is at 5ft 8 it's assumed we all have legs longer than a long day having a long moment. I would love to educate the idiots that made that decision. As a result often I get the roughed edges on trousers and not becuase I'm trying to be young and hip - believe me at 31 it's about the most unhip thing you can have.

I hear you on the men choosing clothes front. My husband claimed he was oh so easy to pick clothes... the first jeans picking trip disproved that theory.

By the time I decide what to wear, I have a mountain of clothes on my bed.

That happens to me a couple times a week. But it's the not jeans for me, it's the shirts and shoes.

Hey...I spend a great deal of time fussing over what to wear as well and whether it'll look good. Is the shirt on too tight? Does the colour match? Do I need to buy a new shirt to go with this other shirt?

Pants work for me fine though, I get you when you say men get away with a lot. But we still can't escape what shows above the waist.

There's alot to be said about planning ahead. Usually the night before I know what i'm going to wear or at least part of the outfit...otherwise i'd go insane in my closet. I'm OCD about cleanliness so all my clothes are sorted.....**I know**

Women care about appearances and the details, most men don't. Pretty cut and dry.

While I agree it's quite a bit simpler for us, it's still next to impossible to get consistently correct fitting clothes unless they're tailored. When you find a brand or line that does fit right, buy up several, because I guarantee it won't be around for long.

Last time I bought jeans I bought 3 pair, all different sizes on the label, all the same fit in reality. Different brands and cuts, yes, but the waist and length are supposed to be measured in inches. I'm not quite sure how I can have a 32" waist at the same time as a 36"...