Live data from Hacker News

Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

nytimes.com

261–270 of 369 posts

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#261
post #252
post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One strap shoulder Man-bags are all the rage. They are pretty practical, especially when you can’t fit your checkbook-sized wallet in tiny pockets. But in the US it looks like you’re wearing a fanny pack. Especially true in SE Asia. I resisted the trend because it looks effeminate, like you're wearing a purse. Asian guys love them because they're super practical if you ride a motorbike or scooter tandem style. I thin…

> I resisted the trend because it looks effeminate To be honest, it seems that in the most of US, merely being stylish is perceived as "effeminate" (for a man).

Not only in the US, that is pretty typical for the whole American continent, even worse in Latin America as it's seen as a "gay" trait to be into fashion.

As a straight man who is into fashion for quite a few years now and who moved out of Brazil to Sweden: that culture is pretty stupid, I feel so much better and more myself when I'm able to express my personality with my clothes without the fear of being judged by someone's else prejudice... Even better that it's a common thing in Western Europe for people to be more fashionable.

I've bought some pieces that are pretty bold, I love some avant-garde male fashion pieces and being able to wear that without people batting an eye (and even getting random compliments) makes me feel pretty good, hope the Americas can get to this point because it's a very toxic masculinity trait for a whole continent to have and perpetuate.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#263
post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure why this is being downvoted: Finns themselves joke about having no fashion sense, and the stereotypes is guys in sweatpants with a flask of vodka in the back pocket and women with no makeup. Things have improved over the last 20 years, but the contrast to Russia in particular is very noticeable.

These both seem to be stereotypes from decades ago when USSR was still a threat. If you keep up with current events you might have noticed that Finland has become a prominent country in the worldside design and fashion world. I for example have never heard of this kind of joke being said or written anywhere.

As much as I like Finns I will say that in the Nordics the stylish scale for me goes: Sweden - Denmark - Norway - Finland. Not sure where I would put Icelandic fashion sense in there as I had very little contact with Icelandics living here in Sweden.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are some examples of women’s clothing where I cannot think of the equivalent thing in a men’s clothing department: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1AawYy29TBuNjy0Fcq6zeiFXaW/Off... https://patternshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tube-top-... http://images.asos-media.com/products/asos-cut-out-sleeve-on... https://cdn.tobi.com/product_images/lg/1/teal-kayla-ombre-ma... (That last one is a bit of a cheat because m…

The male equivalent of those styles can be found in the realm of gay fashion.

Nah, mate, the equivalent is found in the realm of high male fashion [0][1]. High fashion != gay.

[0] https://www.rickowens.eu/ as an example

[1] https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.com/shop/r/r10/?h1_text_prm=Yoh...

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#265
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(All comments on culture US centric) - This thinking is why the men’s section is 1/4 as large as the women’s in most stores. Culturally for men clothing is supposed to be above all practical. There are 5 genres of men’s clothes - business (pressed shirts, suits), casual, workout, skater, and comfort (hoodie). Contrast this with the women’s section. Women have an expectation to express themselves and their personality…

> Women have an expectation to express themselves and their personality. Personality is expressed through choice of cut, material, and color of cloth?

Yes, it is. Just like you have a taste in music, doesn't music express your personality somehow? It's all a matter of notes, timing and timbre.

The same with clothes: the choice of textures say something about you, the choice of cuts say something, the choice of colour the same. The thing is: the clothes you wear need to resonate with you to become part of your expression.

It's not that your clothes = your personality, but the choices you've done consciously will tell someone else about you, the same as looking around your book shelves at home. The thing is: you need to care about you are wearing for it to become something expressive.

With my clothes I can signal a lot of stuff to others that are into the same things I am, I can signal hobbies, I can signal that I care about a particular type of material or cut, and so on.

If not then you are just being practical and wearing what is expected from you, nothing wrong with that but don't judge and put others down because they take this more into consideration than you do.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#266
post #5

The collapse of the fashion industry does not mean the clothing industry will collapse. People still need clothing obviously (cheap and of good quality preferably). Also, what do we consider the fashion industry exactly? Most long term clothing trends seem to be dictated by a couple of factors. Consisting of: - practicality. Jeans are good example of this. It's cheap and practical clothing that lasts a long time. - c…

> Jeans are good example of this. It's cheap and practical clothing that lasts a long time. Mainstream jeans brands seem astronomically expensive to me.

But compared to other types of clothes I find that they last a long time. I buy a new pair every year from Nudie Jeans for $140 and they last around four years (with the included free repairs). And when they are worn out you get 20% discount on new ones if you hand in your old pair.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#267
post #5

The collapse of the fashion industry does not mean the clothing industry will collapse. People still need clothing obviously (cheap and of good quality preferably). Also, what do we consider the fashion industry exactly? Most long term clothing trends seem to be dictated by a couple of factors. Consisting of: - practicality. Jeans are good example of this. It's cheap and practical clothing that lasts a long time. - c…

From the practicality standpoint it seems that we should all be wearing togas (or robes, at most). They're basically unisex (with opportunities for expression for those who value it), flexible on size (or at least very forgiving if your exact size is unavailable), and can be made pretty cheap (assuming mass production). Everything more complicated than that is fashion.

not convinced togas are that great for sports...?

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#268
post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by "equivalent"? That last sentence makes it sounds like you mean clothes in the same pattern but cut to fit male bodies.

Men's fashion currently has no mainstream style that shows off athleticism. Sleeveless crop-tops, with abs and shoulders on display! Shorts with flare for muscular thighs, allowing them to be shorter! Semi-sheer panels, allowing for pecs to bulge! Mesh sections in pants! What's wrong with men showing a little skin for once?

Not exactly the same thing, but at least where I live, going shirtless is a pretty common way for athletic men to show that off. Obviously not in the office, but it's very socially acceptable to jog, play basketball, sit on a park bench, or grill shirtless. People then build the rest of an outfit/look around that as a core component. There's a certain amount of explicit catering to that in a section of men's fashion too, judging by their model shoots.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You get custom made clothing cheaper than store clothing? That doesn't seem to be the norm pricing wise.

> You get custom made clothing cheaper than store clothing? If you get it made in India or Asia this is the norm. Long sleeved shirts from a good tailor in Saigon or Bangkok are 15-25 EUR p.P. for the tailoring. Then add 3-20 EUR for fabric – depending on what material you choose. Once the tailor has your measurements on file you can either send your fabric of choice there and have the shirts be in your mail three we…

Where can i find such a good tailor? PM please, both the indian and the berlin one if possible.

Re: Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed

#270
post #246
post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One strap shoulder Man-bags are all the rage. They are pretty practical, especially when you can’t fit your checkbook-sized wallet in tiny pockets. But in the US it looks like you’re wearing a fanny pack. Especially true in SE Asia. I resisted the trend because it looks effeminate, like you're wearing a purse. Asian guys love them because they're super practical if you ride a motorbike or scooter tandem style. I thin…

I think the one strap shoulder bag also is more comfortable when it is extremely hot and humid: a backpack would make your entire back soaked in sweat.

Yes! I'm in the Philippines and I can't bear to wear a backpack down here at sea level, in the tropics...maybe in the mountains, but not for everyday use.
Post reply on HN