Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with clothing

Why are clothing donation boxes proliferating in my neighborhood?

Dr. Wu — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:26:13 -0800

I live in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and have noticed that, over the past several months, a sizable number of clothing donation boxes have appeared on sidewalks and in little disused nooks of urban space. There are three on my block alone that have sprung up, seemingly overnight, within the last couple months. What's going on? I'm referring to the big, steel boxes -- each about the size of a commercial refrigerator -- that have large levered drop-compartments to accept donations. Most of them are painted or stickered with the name(s) of the charitable organizations that are ostensibly collecting and donating the deposited items.

My question is: Why? Why so many, why at this particular moment, why in this neighborhood? Also: who is behind the placement of these boxes? There's a fair bit of infrastructure needed: the boxes themselves, trucks, cranes, workers, not to mention a system of collecting, sorting, and dealing with the donated materials. This is not just two guys and a van.

I am somewhat suspicious about the "charitable organizations" whose names are on the sides of the boxes, but I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I'm too skeptical, though...

Some data points:
- While I don't remember the names of those charitable organizations, they have struck me more than once as sounding "generic" -- along the lines of "NYC Clothing Charities," e.g.
- I noticed, just this morning, that one of the new boxes had been slapped with a sticker by some branch of the city government. The notice indicated that this particular box had to be removed within 30 days, because such boxes are not permitted on NYC sidewalks. Another small piece of evidence that these things are perhaps a little shady.
- Crown Heights is gentrifying at a pace heretofore unseen in human history. What was until very recently a predominantly middle-aged West Indian neighborhood is transforming unbelievably rapidly into a neighborhood favored by white 20- and 30-somethings. It occurs to me that perhaps this demographic shift has something to do with the proliferation of donation boxes -- the logic being that, since the young white kids turn over their wardrobes pretty often, there's an opportunity to collect and profit from their castoffs. But do donated clothes and shoes really represent a solid revenue stream?

All of this is speculative. I'd like to know more about the "system" behind these boxes, and would be grateful if you could point me to resources where I could learn more.

Ethically Produced Duds Similar to Everlane, U.S. Office Edition

forkisbetter — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:05:41 -0800

I read this New York Times article about clothing that is ethically produced and looked up the company they feature, Everlane, and really loved the look of their stuff. It's conservative enough for an office, but still fashionable and hip, and not horribly expensive ($15 for women's t-shirts). The trouble is, they don't offer very much variety. Basically, I'm looking for more things along the lines of these previous MeFi questions but for women's clothes available for purchase in the U.S. Doesn't have to be made in the U.S. just made under ethical working conditions. I seem to see somewhat positive things about J. Crew for example (Landsend sells U.S. made clothing, but I think most of their stuff is too matronly). Just has to sell ethically made clothing that is work appropriate for a relatively conservative office, not super crazy expensive, available online in the U.S.

In my researching I've come across a few sites that look good, but so many of them are so small and hard to find that I was curious if anyone had any more they'd recommend.

Good and Fair, Blu Democracy, Sosume, Alternative Apparel

Also, it's going to be 90+ degrees the entire time.

troika — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:21:07 -0800

I'm going to Pakistan! What do I wear? Work is sending me to Islamabad, Pakistan for a week or so. I'll be working for a western-run office. What should I wear? I've been told that western business attire is fine as long as I dress modestly, in loose-ish clothing. I don't have to cover my hair.

I'm not a very clothing-oriented person but I would like to make the best impression I can on this trip, so I need your help in finding specific examples of things that fit the above criteria, would not look wildly out of place in Islamabad, and would look good on a late-twenties, size 8-10 woman.

Thanks!

(The guy that's been handling my trip out there is, well, a guy. He's great, but doesn't have much advice in terms of women's clothing)

Who decides that everyone will be wearing the same color for 3 months?

herbplarfegan — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:22:16 -0800

Everyone is wearing mint green as of spring. EVERYONE. How does this happen? Is there a fashion counsel in a dark room, like at the beginning of Zoolander, where they confer? Do they review which colors are in surplus and push those, like the specials on a restaurant menu?

This is the first time that I have ever noticed a color overtly and aggressively saturating every corner of the sartorial landscape. My guess would be that it's actually happened every season of my life and this just happens to be the most eye-catching color-- lots of contrast and such.

What in general (in the sense that this has indeed always happened) and specifically (in the sense that mint green was chosen to cover every human frame for Spring 2013) is going on here?

if it matters: I live in Seattle, I'm not remotely 'inside baseball' about fashion, & I'm a 35 year old male.

Summer Wardrobe Shopping - Male Edition

Yowser — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:33:23 -0800

So the days are getting longer and warmer, and I find myself in the need of some decent clothing, varying from casual to business casual. I'm on the heavier side and thus prefer darker, more muted tones, but am open to other options. I'm also not a fan of logos but will pay a premium for good quality and easy to care for clothing. An important consideration is that I REALLY prefer long-sleeve shirts and longer pants (i.e. I don't need more shorts), as I feel they make me feel more put together. They still need to be "breathable" though! Extra challenge - if anyone can point out where I can find black walking/cross-training shoes in North America size 10 with width 6E (you read that right), I will kiss you. If you can recommend white shoes that meet those criteria, you get a hug.

I know that New Balance has nice white 10 6Es, but I live in Edmonton and there don't seem to be any New Balance flagship stores, which tend to be the ones that carry 6Es.

I spare no expense for shoes.

Non-terrible hats for women

sunshine37 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:39:11 -0800

Non-touristy, non-dowdy hat suitable for a 20-something female. My scalp burns very easily and I'm tired of wearing baseball caps. Also, I'm traveling to Italy next month and don't want to look (too much) like a tourist. I've read this thread and will dressing mostly in neutral colored skirts and capris. I'm looking for a decent hat to wear, but can't even think of a style that wouldn't look touristy or dowdy. I'm a 20-something female with brown hair, if that matters.

Looking for a good, affordable tailor in London, UK

narcotizingdysfunction — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:42:49 -0800

I've recently discovered the difference that quality tailoring can make to the quality of my wardrobe. Now I'm looking for a great tailor in London who can alter my clothes at a price I can afford. Any recommendations? Mostly I'll be needing to have shirts taken in and trousers hemmed. I'm happy to take any recommendation: a shop, a tailor working out of their home, etc.

Ideally the tailor will be located in Central or South London. By affordable I mean that a single alteration shouldn't much exceed £10 -- though a lower price would certainly be welcome.

Thanks!

Women's fashion blogs and shops that focus on quality and craftsmanship?

third word on a random page — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:12:44 -0800

Help me find women's fashion blogs and shops that emulate a certain quality I enjoy in men's fashion and accessories, namely the emphasis on craftsmanship and timeless style. I love men's style blogs like The Compass, Mr Porter, A Continuous Lean, Well Spent and Valet. At the newsagent, I leaf through GQ's style section because I love the aesthetics so much more than, say, Vogue. There's a focus on quality, durability, detail and craftsmanship that I just don't see in women's fashion. Good luck finding women's shoes that are meant to last more than two years, and can be re-soled indefinitely. Even higher end women's clothing just doesn't seem to be built as well as higher end men's clothing. My style is quite feminine, so simply wearing men's clothing doesn't appeal to me.

So. Help me find the blogs, magazines and shops that showcase durable, well-made, stylish and beautiful items. I really like The Vivienne Files, which somewhat embraces this. Where are the others?

(I live in Australia, so anything that focuses on southern hemisphere seasons and/or ships here would be lovely.)

High-quality women's clothing online?

The Elusive Architeuthis — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:12:42 -0800

Help me find some new places to buy clothes...from the couch, in my pajamas. A number of my go-to clothing items are all reaching decrepitude at the same time, which means it's time to do some shopping. I work in the opposite direction from my city's shopping areas, and I would rather spend my minimal daylight free time with my toddler anyway, so I buy most of my clothes online. I'm in kind of a rut, though--most of my clothes are from Banana Republic, with occasional forays into Ann Taylor and The Outnet's more conservative offerings. I need some suggestions for expanding my internet shopping options.

I can sew, but have pretty much zero time to make clothes for myself. But that makes me sensitive to fabric quality and construction techniques. So things that are made well (within the constraints of ready-to-wear, obviously) are important to me. Name brands are not important.

Shape: I wear a standard US 10/UK 14 (top and bottom). I'm tall but can usually manage with a standard 32" inseam. I have a fairly balanced figure, a little on the busty side but I can usually accommodate all but the slimmest of slim-cut shirts, especially if there's some stretch in the fabric. I have wide calves and kind of a flat butt that together make skinny or narrow-cut pants almost impossible to wear unless the spandex content is really high.

Style: Admittedly kind of boring. I work in the sort of place where you could feasibly wear clogs and carry an NPR tote bag every day, so although I have a few snappy-dressing colleagues, there's not much external pressure to step up my game. (Note: I do not wear clogs or carry an NPR bag, not that there's anything wrong with that.). For work I wear a lot of black/gray/beige 3-season wool trousers with sweaters or button-down shirts, sheath dresses, and cardigans. Out of work I mostly wear trouser-cut jeans with bright colored scoop neck T-shirts or sweaters. I like bright colors and patterns but they need to mix well with neutrals. I would rather project an all-over image of polish and professionalism than have people remember me for my clothes. However, that doesn't mean I don't like stylish pieces, they just need to fit into the overall ensemble. I am hard on my clothes (see above re: toddler) but don't mind hand-washing or dry-cleaning. I will iron if I need to, although my cats like to sleep on the ironing board so that presents its own set of hair-removal issues.

Price: Let's say less than $100 for shirts, less than $200 for trousers/sweaters, and less than $300 for dresses. Less is good, of course, but I'd also love to hear recommendations for more expensive brands that I can keep an eye out for on sale or Ebay. Online vintage is OK too, but I don't have time to troll thrift stores.

Places I've tried: J. Crew is OK but I'm not crazy about their quality. Anthropologie has some nice things but I often find them a little... twee. I will buy button-down shirts from Lands' End but otherwise find their clothes unflattering. I tend to find department store websites a little overwhelming and it's hard to tell what the quality is like on a given piece, but if you have suggestions for particular brands or lines I can use to narrow down the options I'm all ears.

I've looked at some of the fashion blogs (Corporette etc) but I just don't find clothes interesting enough to read them on a regular basis.

Super-special bonus question: We're planning to expand our family soon. Any suggestions for MATERNITY clothing lines that meet the above criteria would be welcomed. Last time I just wore Old Navy and H&M through the pregnancy, and, well, a few nicer pieces would be good this time around.

Anybody know where to get this jacket?

awesomedude — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:41:36 -0800

Can anyone tell me where to get this fleece thing? Or even just identify the brand? http://www.anony.ws/96O

Most Popular Men's Pants Colors?

whitebird — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:46:07 -0800

I'm curious what the most frequently purchased colors are for regular, non-jean pants for men. I was discussing this with a colleague today, and guessed black and navy. I'm looking specifically for industry numbers or anecdotal evidence from those working in clothing manufacturing or sales. (I already guessed!) Thanks in advance.

I've got rid of all my clothes and I'm too busty to go naked

mippy — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:57:36 -0800

Following a house move, a friend and I decluttered 70-90% of my wardrobe. I now feel like I have no idea what sort of thing I need to be buying in the future, particularly as I have a hard to fit figure. Help! It was depressing on many levels - partly because I have gained weight in the past couple of years due to medication/contraception/stress, and partly because I've clearly wasted a lot of time and money on things that don't fit or suit. Many of it I;d been hanging onto in the hope of fitting into again, and I feel a bit like I'm resigning myself to being the size bigger that I am now - though the meds I take are such that I can arrest the process and start living/eating more healthily, but probably not change size easily.

Things that make clothes buying hard: I'm 5ft10, a UK16-18, and take a H-cup. I'm also an hourglass shape, which means that things that fit on the bust won't elsewhere, trousers in one size won't fasten and the next size up falls off my hips. Most high street ranges here stop at a 16, which means that I don't have the option of sizing up, and even then many shops here don't really cut for curves. I am also pale and red-headed which rules out quite a few colours. I sometimes feel like a different species next to other girls - too tall, too wide, too large-footed, too busty.

I like 50s style clothing, though my height and size rules out proper vintage (I have size US11 feet as well). I have a few vintage repro clothes, but I wonder if going for that look would feel more costumey. I work in a casual office so style is really up to me, but finding casual clothes that fit well is tricky. I wear a lot of jersey dresses as the stretch and shape is good on me, but my height and bust means that the 'waistband' hits at empire line, which manages to both hide my waist and emphasise the extra weight above it. Good for getting a seat on public transport, but not a good look.

I have some dressmaking skills but not enough to work with converting a pattern from a B-cup to a H, so at this stage I'm interested in things I can buy readymade from the shops. I have heard good things about an eBay store called TopRunway that does made-to-measure vintage-inspired clothing, but I'm not sure this is an everyday option, even if I fancy swanning around looking like Joan Holloway. I also like some of the styles on ModCloth, but given the cost of shipping, it's a gamble when it comes to the fit. I don't mind spending more for good quality - I'd like to find things that look ace and keep wearing them - but I don't have the funds to invest £££ per item, especially as I don't know if I will be this size forever.

So if you're a similar size - especially in terms of having a large bust - what kind of things do you wear?

What places sell maternity clothing that my wife would like?

nitsuj — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:46:03 -0800

My wife is pregnant. I'd like to get her a gift certificate to a store that sells maternity clothing that is akin to the clothing she normally buys. She normally shops at places like J. Crew and Anthropology. Are there stores of similar style and quality that specialize in maternity clothing?

Website that helps you find clothes you actually like?

jrobin276 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:17:53 -0800

What website am I thinking of - make clothes selections, creates a fasion profile, and then makes suggestions? General advice on how to figure out what to wear... why does 30 feel so...weird? I feel like I'm either dressed like a 20 yr old or a 60 yr old - awkward, all the time. 1) There was a website where you selected items of clothing (this or this? or, "show me something else"), which it used to suggest other clothes... created a "style profile" etc. The closest thing I can find is a lifehacker review of covet.com - which is no longer in operation, and anyway, it was much more recent than that. I can't find this website anywhere... help! What am I thinking of?

2) I've been through a lot of change lately (a lot of "who am I where am I heading?" angst), and I can see this manifesting in a closet purge. I feel silly in office-professional, can't pull of "cute", feel mannish a lot. I'm kinda boho-artsy-outdoorsy, but work in an office (pretty relaxed). I feel awkward, at best, much of the time... I'd like to own very very few pieces of well made (and/or ethically made) clothing. I very much like the idea of a "uniform". I hate shopping. I can't wear what I wore in college (it fits, but looks inappropriate), and don't want to look like a grandma or a soccer mom. Ugh.

I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam, curvy/slim (lotsa booty, no boobs)... and in my early thirties.

Any celebrities in their 30's to look at for inspiration?
Where do 30 yr olds shop anyway? (I'm in Australia, but travel to the US regularly)
Looking for good quality, reasonably priced basics...leggings, cardigans, etc. ?
HOW to shop and/or learn to recognize what I should be trying on/buying...
I've read through heaps of old fashion askmes. Any general advice or resource recommendations more than welcome. If there are any mefites in Sydney who want to go shopping, memail me!

Biff’s green tracksuit.

Start with Dessert — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 21:44:41 -0800

I'm looking for Biff Tannen’s green Adidas tracksuit. So my brother has red hair and will often set this image of Biff as his facebook profile picture. His wife hates it but I thought I would try to make his dream a reality!

More higher quality pics:1 2

I don't have a problem finding green vintage Adidas tracksuits but often don’t have the right hue of green and never have the white bar across the chest. Unfortunately, as I'm in New Zealand, the likelihood of finding one in a thrift store here is very slim and I've had no luck so far. Online searching has similarly been futile. Help!

Where to get cardigan sleeves altered in Toronto?

yellowbinder — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:10:53 -0800

I have an awesome new cardigan, yay! I got ink stains on the sleeve! Boo! Any recommendations for someone in Toronto skilled at alteration? I can buy a new one online for $40, which is definitely an option. But I thought I might embrace the impermanence of such things and have it altered to have the sleeves end either at 3/4 length or even shorter like a standard t-shirt sleeve length. The cuff is unstained, just a little bit further up on the sleeve.

I've never had something like this done before though and I'm not sure where to go. I live near Yonge and Bloor so anything downtown is good, but I can travel for awesomeness. What say you?

Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts!

mrfuga0 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:45:35 -0800

What do women wear under workout shorts? I work out by doing heavy lifting and some conditioning work (fast workouts that involve lots of movement -- pushups, sprints, etc. -- essentially CrossFit workouts). Sometimes I do yoga or light running/hiking. Whatever I do, there is a considerable amount of bending/lifting/stretching and a good chance I could flash someone. To combat this, I usually wear running shorts from Target with the built-in underwear. If it is cold, then I wear yoga pants without underwear.

Right now, all I can find (in South Africa) are workout shorts without inner liners -- what do people wear under these? I would be pulling my underwear out of my crack all workout long if just wore regular underwear and the amount of bending and such like (with a trainer in my face) makes me wary of no underwear.

Halp?

Can you recommend some fashion docs for lazy weekend watching?

bluefly — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 12:52:25 -0800

I'm interested in watching more documentaries or miniseries about the fashion/clothing industry. Three I've rented recently were Valentino:The Last Emperor, The September Issue, and Signé Chanel. I especially enjoyed the last two as they really showed a lot behind the scenes about how stuff is made (both the media and the couture dressmaking sides). I'd be interested in all levels of clothing and shoes, from mass market to haute couture and all aspects from designing to manufacturing to marketing. Also, I'd like it if the films or TV shows were easily available in the US (either can be ordered/streamed online or likely found in a local video store). Thanks!

What are the best men's v-neck t-shirts?

sgo — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:57:13 -0800

My current wardrobe consists of jeans and a Gap V-neck T. I am at the point where I need to replace my t-shirts (they are wearing out). Do I stick to the Gap shirts or is there something better out there for a similar or lower price? Some options I've found are Uniqlo (but they always seem to be sold out) or Everlane. Also, any sizing suggestions would be great too! I currently wear a large Gap shirt, but with Everlane it looks like I'd need to go up to an XL (I figured this by comparing chest size from Gap to Everlane). Is that correct?

Men's undershirts that breathe?

suprenant — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:13:12 -0800

Can you recommend men's undershirts (preferably v-neck, possibly tank) as an alternative to cotton tees? I am realizing that my standard men's undershirts – 100% cotton white American Apparel crew tees and APC tanks – sometimes get sweaty/clammy and are somewhat heavy to pack for traveling.

I like the looks of this and this from Patagonia but would prefer to avoid crew necks so the undershirt isn't visible under dress shirts, oxfords, etc.

I generally like natural fibers and see that wool, silk, and cashmere might be options, depending on season. I do use these synthetic (100% polyester) briefs and think they're great, so a similar material could work.

So, what breathable, lightweight undershirts are best?

Why Does Ready To Wear Mensware From The UK Fit Me Better Than US Stuff?

The Whelk — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:27:20 -0800

I've noticed that the bog-standard off the rack/department store menswear items (button-up shirts, slacks, etc) from UK brands bought in the UK tends to fit me wildly better then their counterparts in the US. I have to alter them a lot less and they just hang off my body better. I'm wondering if there's a technical/fashion-nerd reason for this and if so, what should I be looking for in the US department store brands to get this same effect? For sizing: 6'0 220lb man, all shoulders and butt.

Clothing recommendations for -16C Toronto

acalthla — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:43:42 -0800

I live in London. I am going to Toronto on Sunday where, according to the weather forecast, there will be lows of -16C. I have literally never *been* in weather like that before, and do not own, or know where I should purchase, clothing which will deal with it. Special circumstance to note: I am a large person. I'm a woman, but men's XXXL does well by me . (I don't specially care about the sleeves being too long. I care about my limbs not freezing and falling off.) Men's XXL is likely to be too small to fasten in front. Let's not even bother getting into clothing-intended-for-women unless you have some special knowledge that this exists.

So. Long johns? Thermal vests, gloves, socks? What boots/shoes? And, even more importantly, where can I get them in *appropriate sizes*?

Offroad biking clothes for the large and temperate

scruss — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:03:42 -0800

Looking for offroad biking clothes that don't make me look like shrink-wrapped tripe or some kind of junior-high skater dude. What does the middle-aged country gentleman wear on a bicycle hack through the shrubbery? Look, I'm kind of a clydesdale. I did the malodorous lycra commuter thing in my twenties and thirties. I do not wish to be a MAMIL. I will not go far, nor will I go fast; I'm a pootler, not a racer. I realize that liner shorts will likely be involved for general comfort, but above that?

Looking for a men's shirt made by a company called "Golden Star"

Taken Outtacontext — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:41:30 -0800

I bought a beautiful long sleeve men's shirt on Hautelook.com. It was all black with contrast saddle stitching. The site said the size was true, meaning I bought a medium because I wear a medium. Boy, were they wrong. It was way too small. So, unfortunately, I have to return it. I called them to see if they had a large but they don't keep stock on the things they sell. So, I'm trying to see if this shirt is sold any other place. But when I google/bing "Golden Star" nothing remotely close comes up. To be honest, I've never heard of that label. Does anyone know how I can find this shirt or, at least, the company that makes it?

Website that showed 'Street Style/OOTD' of people with similar bodyshape

Huck — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:23:48 -0800

I am trying to remember a website I vaguely remember. It was like lookbook.nu but everyone had their height/weight/body shape in their profile, so you could search for fashionable style posts/outfit of the days with people with a similar body type to you? Does anybody know what site this was? Did lookbook.nu at one time have this function or? Are there any sites similar to this idea?
I'd like to be able to get inspiration from people with a similar body type to me. (<5'2'', slightly curvy).
*Bonus points to those who can point me to great fashion blogs featuring ladies with petite frames!