No right answer here! For you personally, when you wear these garments, are you happy and content, or are you looking forward to getting home and stripping it all off?
Starting with an American option, Jeans! Comfortable or uncomfortable?
For myself personally, I do not like wearing jeans. I have a bit of a tummy, and they squeeze and squeeze and it is not fun. If I get a really good fit, it isn’t bad, I can wear them for a full day, but boy am I happy to take them off! Especially sitting down, have you noticed that? Jeans are not sitting pants.
Next up, Sari! Not gonna get into the details of how you drape it or anything like that, just the outfit in general, comfortable or uncomfortable?
I always thought it was comfortable, in the abstract. And then I actually had someone give me a “real” sari and drape it on me and I did NOT like it. For lots of reasons. Too long for one thing, I was really worried I would trip on the hem as I walked. I’m used to things being about two inches off the ground, not sweeping it. And heavy! All of that wrapping and wrapping and wrapping adds on the weight. And too tight! It looks all flowly and pleasant, but I had to have this cord biting into my waist to keep it all up, and the standard sari blouse sleeves started cutting into my arms. Just like jeans, probably if I got the exact right everything (super light fabric, cheated and made it shorter, puffed sleeves) it would be comfortable. But it wasn’t a by default comfort garb as I expected.
Second most common outfit in Hindi films, Salwar Kameez! Comfortable or uncomfortable?
I have found this to be soooooooooooooooooo comfortable. Salwar alone, or Kameez alone, or both together, all great. But also, very different from movies! If I was wearing a Kameez so tight you could see the outline of my bra and I had to breath shallowly so it wouldn’t pop at the waist, as actresses must to make it look the way it looks, then probably not comfortable. But in “real life”, oh yeah I love it. Pants that are perfectly designed for my little tummy, big shirts that don’t bite into my arms and are slit up the side so I can move my hips, I could wear this 24 hours a day, happily.
Okay, what are your opinions on these options? Or on the statement I decided was too controversial to include, Sneakers Are Not Comfortable.
dontcallitbollywood 
Sneakers Are Not Comfortable? You’re just trying to lure Harsh into making a comment.
LikeLike
I don’t know if “Comfort” is an important part of Sneaker Culture though.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 8:58 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Honestly, none of those are. Jeans are very stiff. I’ve only ever worn the kameez part of a salwar kameez (vintage hippie fashion) and don’t like it, because the trouser/long blouse combo rubs together and is weirdly constricting on the legs. Never worn a sari, but everyone I know who has doesn’t like them because the pins are always coming out and it’s constantly falling apart. I know I’d look really smashing in one though so I still want to wear one.
LikeLike
Oh, you MUST try a Salwar! I adore them, it’s like wearing Pajama pants that are three times too big.
Glad to know I am not the only person anti-jeans. They are held up as this great “oh I just threw on a pair of jeans” kind of clothes. And I am more likely to go “jeans, blech!”
More generally, I expect much from you this day! It is clothing day, and I feel like this topic should speak to your particular specialities DEEPLY. I need to put up a photo post (as in, “put a photo in the comment”) and I am trying to decide what the category should be. Best use of color? Best Hat? Best feathers? Best patches?
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 9:42 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I have a million clothes opinions so never fear.
Oh man. I’d go for best hat or best feathers. But Helen would win both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wore jeans a lot when I was a kid and always when travelling on an aeroplane AND I HATED THEM! Give me skinny leggings like jeans any day over those stiff, uncomfortable air pressure holders for legs.
Haven’t worn a saree or a salwar kameez in my life so far, but want to try at least once. But I have a red kurta and it is so comfortable! If I could find good Punjabi pants from some store that looked good I would have the whole look, but it literally goes with everything, although best with skinny jeans or leggings at least in terms of comfort.
Not much of a sneaker girl, they are way too big and stiff and I have delicate small-framed feet, which makes any heavy footwear that isn’t supported at the ankle very uncomfortable and a disaster waiting to happen.
LikeLike
Jeans are the WORST airplane clothes!!!!! It’s a packing nightmare for me, because the one time I like jeans is when I am traveling. If I am planning to spend 12 hours a day walking around museums and parks and things, and then go back to my hotel and immediately put on PJs and sit on the bed, jeans are the ideal clothing. But the 3 hour plane ride to get to the vacation place, jeans are the worst clothes.
I bought a bunch of Kameez/Kurtas/whatevers years ago when I was in India, and I had the hardest time finding ones that fit me. It was literally head size! I have an enormous head, and the head-holes were not wide enough for me to shove my humongous skull through. Anyway, I bought all the ones that I could squeeze myself into and it was totally worth it. They are just the best most flexible clothing. I used to wear them with long flowing skirts all the time, and they look great that way too.
I am opposite with sneakers. I have large wide feet, which means the sneakers that fit me make me feel like I am wearing clown shoes, I keep knocking into things and getting my shoes caught in stuff.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 10:30 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I hated jeans for a long time because they were never comfortable to me. They are still not my favorite (I would much prefer a dress or a skirt), but over the last couple years, I discovered jeans that are essentially leggings with an elactic waist band with jean fabric annd that has been a gamechanger! I now only were such jeans if I need to. No more buttons or zips!
I am comfortable wearing a saree if it is pre-stiched, which all of mine now are. I know that is cheating but to me it was better than having a bags full of unused sarees. With pre-stiched sarees, its basically like wearing a skirt and a blouse with a drape. Super comfortable!
Love salwar kameez – super comfortable. I only wear them together but what’s not to love about pants which can fit you no matter what size you are and a loose flowy long top.
Sneakers are only for working out. Fight me, Harsh. Wedge flipflops with good arch support or any other good flipflops are the most comfortable summer footwear and should be worn for all occasions. I have my formal flip flops, work flip flops, my casual going on a date or out to brunch flip flops and my beach flip flops.
LikeLike
Could not agree more about flip flops. In India I wore them all the time to work, when I went out, etc. After coming to the US winters have prevented me from wearing throughout the year but summer and fall is flip flops season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have massive toe issues right now, like I was supposed to have surgery for it that got delayed thanks to everything that is happening. Anyway, with my massive painful toe bone problems, turns out flip flops are pretty much the only truly comfortable option. It’s really amazing how much better it is to have a shoe that lets your toe bones breath as much as they want.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is so sad that we can’t wear flip flops all year around. I wear them until literally my toes are in danger of frostbite if I continue to wear then any longer.
LikeLike
I bought lined year round crocs this year and it is amazing. They are unbelievably hideous of course, but so comfy!
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 12:14 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
When I just moved to the US, I was considering wearing flip-flops even in winters and in preparation read this blog – https://xeroshoes.com/cold – but never came around to doing it.
LikeLike
I had a friend who moved from Dallas to Chicago, and in Dallas she really could wear flip flops all but maybe 3 weeks out of the year. She wore them as long as she could in Chicago, but even she had to do more layers in the winter months.
LikeLike
I had a pair of jeans that were made from kind of sweat pants fabric that were AMAZING. They had a zipper and everything, no one could tell they were fake. I got them from a friend who bought them at a resale shop, and then I went out trying to buy another pair and it turns out they were over a hundred dollars new. I can see why, SO GREAT, but also more than I would pay for jeans and after I wore them down to nothing, I didn’t get a replacement.
I could picture what you meant about “pre-stitched” and then I realized I have seen it in the past….on toddlers. But why should adults be less comfortable????
I only wear Salwar Kameez separate! I think of the top and bottom as having completely opposite clothing purposes, one dressy and one at home only. I keep a pair of Salwar in my apartment specifically for summer time home lounging. There is nothing better than returning from errands, yanking off the jeans of evil or whatever else I was wearing, and pulling on ten year old Salwars instead. And then I wore the Kameez/Kurtas to shreds over skirts for “fancy office wear that won’t make me die of heat”.
I won’t even wear sneakers in winter, you have to bend over and lace them up and then unlace them and on and on. Slip on shoes are wear it is at, clogs or similar, just as comfy and so much easier to get on and off.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 11:23 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I’ve never considered saris particularly comfortable, so I’m not surprised by your experience.
Agree on salwar kameez. The first time I put mine on in India, and my legs finally got some air again, I was immediately in love with the outfit. These days, I also own a men’s kurta – the single most comfortable garment when it’s really hot.
I may have to offer a different perspective on jeans, though. If I were to “slip on” a pair, it wouldn’t be for lounging around at home, it would be for something like gardening. There is a kind of comfort in just not worrying about what to wear – and knowing you’ll have enough pockets.
LikeLike
I should say, I do really like jeans while I am doing something active. Not even gardening for me, too much bending and squating, but if I need to walk two miles carrying things, or carrying boxes up and down stairs, jeans would be great. But ONLY then.
I think I have a man’s kurta somewhere buried at the bottom of a drawer. It’s kind of a nice one, and I feel weird wearing it because it is so clearly men’s wear. But I should just get over that! It’s so nice looking and so comfortable and fits me really well.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 1:37 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Now that is a really interesting question. Are we sure someone unfamiliar with Indian clothes would recognize those kurtas as men’s wear? How can you tell men’s from women’s clothes if you’re not familiar with the culture?
LikeLike
Speaking as a sewer, I can recognize men’s versus women’s shirts from any culture, because women’s shirts are cut to fit from the breast, and men’s shirts are cut to fit from the shoulder. Same with pants, men’s pants don’t have the same hip cut as women’s. Not that you can’t fit in one from the other, but the fit looks different. I’m always aware of it when I wear men’s clothes, if it is so obvious to me, I feel like it must be obvious to other people.
I should mention, I also happen to have an overabundance of womanly features in my top half. So when I wear a man’s shirt you KNOW it is not cut for me.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 11:17 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Okay, that’s a valid point. Guess I’m lucky then that my very loose kurta just fits decently well.
LikeLike
I have a WWII army coat which is amazing, it’s boiled wool felt, weighs a thousand pounds and can stand up on it’s own, but I wear it whenever it drops below zero and don’t even feel a chill. Anyway, it’s double breasted and for a man and my boobs are SO SORE when I take it off! It’s like I’ve had them strapped down. Plus, the skirt of the coat moves really weirdly on me, because it was cut to go straight up and down under the waist and I am not straight up and down under the waist. It’s a deep reminder every time I put it on that men and women are not built the same way and nor should their clothing me.
On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 12:50 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Jeans are good but only outside and never in the summer. I can wear them all day long, but as soon as I enter my house I Immediately take them off.
Flip flops are evil. I don’t know how you all can wear them. It pains!
Salwar kameezes are the best. I lost count how many hours I have spent on ebay searching for a nice salwar kameez. I never found any because the ones I liked were too expensive or very small.
LikeLike
Ha. My husband agrees with you that flip flops are evil. He does not know how to walk in them. He will wear them around the house but never outside.
LikeLike
Same with Salwars! You can get them in our size, but only if they are special made. And I just can’t justify spending that much on something that is available so cheaply in smaller sizes.
On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 2:59 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Jeans are work pants, that’s how they started out, they’re good at standing up to a lot of activity and mess. That describes some stages of my life when I lived in jeans, including things like parenting small children. Comfiest when they’ve been worn in and stretched in strategic places. One of my most common wardrobe items, especially these days when I’m not going into the office.
No experience with saris or salwar kameez, though one interview where Mahira was talking about how much she loved scenes where she got to wear salwar kameez over some gorgeous but hideously uncomfortable gown made them sound wonderful.
I feel like you’re just trolling with the sneaker comment. In my normal life, my commute involves walking a couple of miles over the course of a day, and my quality of life improved when I switched to sneakers and left my dress shoes at the office. I need a wide toe box though, I do agree that some get too pinchy (Altras are great for giving your toes room to move). Though yes, as soon as it gets warm enough it’s all about flip flops and sandals, I would live without socks if I could. My favorite part of lockdown life has been spending most of the day without shoes.
LikeLike
Yes, jeans are work pants! Just not office-work pants. If I am moving things or building things or carrying things, love the jeans. If I am sitting, or just needing to exist in clothing for 10 hours or more, hate the jeans!
Nope, I do not like sneakers! I would rather spend shocking amounts of money to buy foot-healthy shoes that are not sneakers, and avoid them. I’ve got Earth shoes and Birkenstocks galore, and I wear them until the soles wear out and the leather is all scuffed, while my sneakers remain untouched in the back of the closet.
LikeLike
I’ve unfortunately never actually worn Indian clothes, so I can’t say about sari and salwar. But apparently I’m a monster because I’ve worn jeans for most of quarantine instead of leggings or sweatpants. But I agree with the person who said “jeggings” are a game changer.
I like flip flops because they’re easy to slip on and off. For the longest time, when I was a kid, I never wore flip flips because the middle toe strap would irritate in between my toes and I hated it. Don’t remember what changed. But I’ve had foot issues my entire life–I was born with low muscle tone in my legs, so I didn’t start walking until I was 2 years old, and only after physical therapy. And I still have low arches and can’t stand for more than an hour or two without my feet killing me, so pretty much every pair of shoes I own has some kind of arch support. Except for my cheap pool shoes, every pair of summer shoes I own, including flip flops, cost over $50 to get the arch support I need. But then after a while, it starts to dig into my arch and it’s uncomfortable. So while I wouldn’t consider sneakers the most comfortable, I always feel lighter on my feet when I wear them, and because they’re closed toe, I can just slip in my inserts and feel great and I don’t have to spend a crazy amount of money on them.
I would like to add some potentially controversial ones as well. I HATE turtlenecks. They always feel like they’re either scratching or, more often, choking. And lately, some scoop neck t-shirts have ridden up on my neck and had the same effect.
Also, hoodies! But hoodies are good! I love hoodies!
LikeLike
It’s true, you are an inhuman person since jeans are clearly The Devil.
I didn’t wear flip flops when I was a kid because I kept walking out of the back of them. Somehow I just couldn’t do the muscle spasm to keep them on. And then I became An Adult and suddenly I could. I’m same with expensive shoes and arch support, only what I end up doing to save money is buying really expensive shoes on sale because they are the ugliest colors. Which is how I ended up with perhaps the most hideous (but comfortable!) collection of shoes in history. Last year my Mom finally took me in hand and offered to buy me shoes just to save me.
YES! I also have turtlenecks! I have a thick neck (proportionate to my large head), which means turtlenecks both choke me and look terrible. Low neckline is where it is at for me.
Hoodies are THE BEST! And why is it so hard to get one with a zipper???? Does ANYONE prefer a zipperless hoodie to a zippered one? Why do people not understand this????
LikeLike
I used to hate jeans, but now they have fake jeans, which look the same, but are a stretchy material, and much more comfortable (although not as durable). And I’ve discovered that if I wear jeans and a t-shirt people don’t think I’m some sort of weirdo, which is what I suspect they thought when I was constantly wearing skirts and leggings, so now I wear fake jeans all the time. It also helps that after having children my belly grew and now the pants actually fit me better than they did when I just had big hips.
I have seen actors wrap women up in their Saris so that they can’t move too many times, thus I’ve always suspected that item of clothing could be unpractical. The Salwar Kameez looks practical enough, though I have never worn one. And sneakers with inserts keep the planters fasciitis pain to a minimum, usually.
LikeLike
I need to buy more fake jeans. Right now I have Almost Fake jeans. Stretchier fabric, but still denim. They aren’t as nice as the true fakes that are just plain knit. Although I did cross the line into mostly leggings this winter and it is sooooooooooo comfortable. Now it’s summer, thank goodness, so I can do dresses and skirts which are my favorites.
You should try a Salwar! Everyone should! Insanely comfy, and cool. It’s the most modest thing you can wear and feel like you are wearing nothing.
On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 9:17 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
1. I live in a small majority conservative town so stepping out in a Salwar would make me immediately known as the weird ethnic clothes woman. But if I ever go to India, I’ll try the Salwar!
2. I live in California, so if I wear anything that isn’t seen as middle class white I will be accused of appropriate.
3. Fake jeans and t-shirts are boring, but I guess there are worse uniforms, though sometimes I do miss having clothes that I actually felt some attachment towards.
LikeLike
I use Salwar for lounging around the house clothes. But then my inside-outside barrier is probably less porous than yours. I’ve got loads of time to change clothes before anyone would see me.
On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 2:25 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Sneakers are not comfortable? Come on! But I agree with you about the sari – I’m Indian and I used to wear them all the time for work. But still, it’s not something I’d pick out as comfort. I know women who even sleep in a saree (older generation) mostly, and I don’t get it.
LikeLike
Sneakers are horrible! All heavy and restrictive.
On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 3:01 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike