why aren't we all wearing star trek unitards yet?
August 3, 2017 6:52 AM Subscribe
I struggle to find clothes that I like. This morning, I stumbled on a top that seems perfect. It's work-appropriate, has sleeves, doesn't have buttons, and just looks easy to wear. I also think the fabric seems stylish and nice, but even if it were very plain, it would be a huge improvement over basically every other top I can find (why shoulder cutouts? why peplum? why bell sleeves? why high-cut???)
I don't know how to find more tops like this one, but I suspect others may have better ideas about where to look. Calling on the hive mind for help!
CANNOT WAIT for the cutout shoulder thing to DIE DIE DIE. Please, DIE NOW.
Macy's is also a go-to for me, for the same reasons.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 7:06 AM on August 3, 2017 [21 favorites]
Macy's is also a go-to for me, for the same reasons.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 7:06 AM on August 3, 2017 [21 favorites]
3rd Macys.com for their excellent filter (by sleeve length, color, features, fabric, price etc) and large selection. (Don't even go in the stores, they lack both the selection and the ease of finding stuff.)
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:11 AM on August 3, 2017
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:11 AM on August 3, 2017
Jjill is great for clothes with an interesting cut, easy to wear, not hyper-fashionable. Boden gets recommended a lot on ask.. I also buy basics from LL Bean and Landsend, for well made, reasonably ethically produced clothing. LL Bean has free shipping. Landsend is owned by Sears, and you used to be able to buy at and do returns at Sears. Some tops I've gotten at J Jill are very light cotton jersey, but have held up well (line dry, then dryer to de-wrinkle). Clothes from LL Bean and Lands End last a very long time. I don't love the way LL Bean trousers for women are cut, but tops and skirts are great.
posted by theora55 at 7:28 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 7:28 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
The cut out shoulder thing is the worst. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind silly fashion trends, but I hate when they become ubiquitous and I have a hard time trying to find things I want to wear because every damn store seems to be on board.
That said, I've often joked that I wished more workplaces had uniforms so I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear that day to work.
posted by anactualwolfe at 7:47 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
That said, I've often joked that I wished more workplaces had uniforms so I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear that day to work.
posted by anactualwolfe at 7:47 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Check out Cos!
posted by functionequalsform at 7:55 AM on August 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by functionequalsform at 7:55 AM on August 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
When you do find something you like, like the top you link to, go ahead and get several. There's no rule that says you can't! There's also no rule that says you can't make your own 'uniform', with multiples of the same items in different colors or patterns. (Says the person who basically wears a tank top, shirt, and jeans every single day. Dull maybe, but also low stress, and I never did care about fashion.)
posted by easily confused at 7:58 AM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by easily confused at 7:58 AM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've followed the "get several" directive in the past, and, while it can be convenient, I'd urge you to get one and try it for a while first, before investing in several. You may realize that, hey, this garment is OK, but I deserve something that fits better, or that has natural fabrics (there are subtle issues with synthetics), or that isn't so hot, or that doesn't get so wrinkled after six washings.
posted by amtho at 8:10 AM on August 3, 2017
posted by amtho at 8:10 AM on August 3, 2017
Jumpsuits with elastic waists. I swear to Troi, this jumpsuit is what she wanted to wear on the Enterprise. I have it in every single colour available and it looks like pants with a shell top, and it is basically like wearing slightly stiff PJs all day WITH POCKETS.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:13 AM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:13 AM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hear me out - Amazon! Amazon is surprisingly great for browsing for specific types of clothing. I've found the way to see a lot of options in a similar category is to track down ONE item that I like the look of, go to the product page, and then look at the 'Customers who viewed this item also viewed' section or the 'sponsored products related to this item' section. The Amazon algorithm has gotten really good at this - there's usually a lot of very similar-but-not-identical pieces in these sections and it helps me find exactly what I'm looking for pretty easily.
As a bonus, the clothes often have reviews describing how the fabric feels and any fit issues, and are sometimes even accompanied by a photo of the customer wearing the item so you can see a non-photoshopped version on a real person.
Plus, there's usually a very clearly spelled-out return policy on Amazon items so you can order and try on without worrying you'll be stuck with an item that doesn't work for you.
(And a 30-second glance at Amazon after searching for 'HATCH Collection' brought me to this top, which is gorgeous and seems to be a little bit in line with the shirt you linked.)
posted by DSime at 8:26 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
As a bonus, the clothes often have reviews describing how the fabric feels and any fit issues, and are sometimes even accompanied by a photo of the customer wearing the item so you can see a non-photoshopped version on a real person.
Plus, there's usually a very clearly spelled-out return policy on Amazon items so you can order and try on without worrying you'll be stuck with an item that doesn't work for you.
(And a 30-second glance at Amazon after searching for 'HATCH Collection' brought me to this top, which is gorgeous and seems to be a little bit in line with the shirt you linked.)
posted by DSime at 8:26 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
I always struggle to find clothing that doesn't read too old or too young or too trendy or too boring, and lately I have been buying selected tops from LOFT.
If you sign up for their mailing list, they seem to have sales and discounts all the time, too.
posted by Squeak Attack at 8:48 AM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you sign up for their mailing list, they seem to have sales and discounts all the time, too.
posted by Squeak Attack at 8:48 AM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
If I had unlimited money, I'd buy everything from Elizabeth Suzann.
Since I definitely do not, I'm saving up for something nice from Not Perfect Linen and buying secondhand. And seconding Boden!
posted by sonmi at 9:59 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Since I definitely do not, I'm saving up for something nice from Not Perfect Linen and buying secondhand. And seconding Boden!
posted by sonmi at 9:59 AM on August 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Check out Brass, Everlane, MM LaFleur, and Cuyana (the last one if you want to go really expensive).
I've started making myself a uniform. Comfy trousers (the above almost all have leggings like, but actually professional looking trousers), a block top, and a blazer. Having a few items that I cycle works well. And what I have discovered is that most people don't notice what I am wearing anyway.
posted by troytroy at 10:00 AM on August 3, 2017
I've started making myself a uniform. Comfy trousers (the above almost all have leggings like, but actually professional looking trousers), a block top, and a blazer. Having a few items that I cycle works well. And what I have discovered is that most people don't notice what I am wearing anyway.
posted by troytroy at 10:00 AM on August 3, 2017
I fail to understand why manufacturers always say that silk should be dry-clean only (as the top DSime linked to does). Silk is tough and easy to launder (I do mine in the machine, hang up on padded hanger while wet, smooth out and let dry). I mean, it's been around for thousands of years before dry-cleaning was available—how do you think people coped with cleaning it? Most dowsed it in water, scrubbed it, and then threw it over a bush or line.
posted by MovableBookLady at 12:47 PM on August 3, 2017
posted by MovableBookLady at 12:47 PM on August 3, 2017
Zara usually has some decent basics in amongst the weird shit.
posted by adiabatic at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2017
posted by adiabatic at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2017
I actually agree - I own SO MUCH SILK and I've never dry-cleaned a piece in my life. What I do is take whatever silk piece needs cleaning into the shower with me in the morning and quickly hand-wash it, usually using my (fancy, silicone- and sulfate-free) hair conditioner instead of specialised laundry soap. Then roll it up in a towel to squeeze some water out and hang it over the shower rail to dry, which it does in like A MINUTE because silk is the best. (Caveat - I like a pretty cool-temperature shower. I think a very hot shower might cause dye-running issues.)
My understanding is that contact with water can cause certain weaves of silk, such as silk dupioni, to lose their luster. This isn't actually an issue I've ever encountered and I wonder if modern weaving techniques have caused this to be a solved problem.
posted by DSime at 1:27 PM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
My understanding is that contact with water can cause certain weaves of silk, such as silk dupioni, to lose their luster. This isn't actually an issue I've ever encountered and I wonder if modern weaving techniques have caused this to be a solved problem.
posted by DSime at 1:27 PM on August 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
DSime: Very clever to just take in the shower. I've always had better luck just hanging it up sopping wet and smoothing out any wrinkles—it's amazing how easy it is to do with silk; it responds as though you're ironing (which you can also do). Silk is the best.
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2017
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2017
I mean, when you get silk wet it just masses up into a tiny ball of wrinkles. But then you smooth it out and TA DA it's lovely again. Of course, we're not talking about raw silk here, with its slubs and all, and I can't speak to dupioni's luster. But blouse-weight silk is easy to deal with.
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by OrangeDisk at 6:57 AM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]