Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Fashion And Beauty
  4. / Fashion
  5. / Women's Fashion

by Anonymous on October 3rd, 2006

Anonymous

Question

Help answer this question below.

Why is women's clothing, in general, so much less practical than men's clothing?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 14 helpful answers below.

  • by Kitty Kat on October 3rd, 2006

    Kitty Kat

    men's clothes can be just as impractical--it's just that a lot of men don't care to have the nicest shirts, best quality shoes and fifty pairs of jeans that may or may not look identical to each other lol .. i think it's really just that more women like to shop than men--but trust me, high end impractical clothing is DEF out there for men.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Roger Kovaciny on October 6th, 2006

    Roger Kovaciny

    Because her relationships are the most important thing for most women, and his work is the most important thing for most men. Women dress nicely and use makeup not just to look good for men, but to have self-confidence and show status to other women. Men, however, generally want to be able to work (and, if necessary, fight) at a moment's notice; and his relationships aren't usually that affected by how he's dressed, provided it's within social norms for the situation.

    Looking good and practicality are often mutually exclusive. Pockets don't look any better on a hip or thigh than they would on a fender, so they're left off of female clothing. But it's more important for a man to have his hands free, so he wants a place for his wallet, keys, change, pen, Daytimer... a woman keeps all those things in her purse.

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on October 4th, 2006

    Anonymous

    Prior to the Cultural Revolution, Chinese women (as I'm sure you know) would normally have their feet bound as children to keep them fashionably small. By early adulthood the feet of many women treated in this way had completely doubled over, rendering them incapable of taking anything but the very smallest of steps- thus confining them physically within the home, out of the sight of other men who might be potential rivals for her affection, and incapable of running from a husband or father who might be mistreating her.

    Whilst this is an extreme example it seems to me that many female fashions throughout the ages seem to have been designed with a similar concept in mind (whether conciously or subconciously)- corsets, high heels, stockings- and so on. Women, somewhere along the line, perhaps because of the inbuilt biological need to appeal to a potential mate, seem to have become compliant in this themselves and not only buy, but create impractical fashions.

    It seems that there's an inbuilt male need to be sure that a woman stays at home, looking after the children and house in general and doesn't go out looking for alternative "entertainment" and produce children passing on another man's genetic material.

    Its notable that women first began wearing trousers (or bloomers) to ride bikes around the beginning of the Women's suffrage movement, wearing still more practical clothing during the war years as more rights were gained, and became very utilitarian indeed during the '70's with the groeth of the women's lib movement. During the eighties and nineties the extreme feminist movement slowly died down and fashions became slightly more "feminine" again.

    Whilst in the modern world this attitude probably doesn't hold as much sway, and most men are quite happy for their wives to go out and earn their own living, we can see the residue in the differences between male and female fashion.

    Just a theory from my own observations, I think it does raise wider questions about the nature versus nurture argument, but I hope it helps at least a little.

    This is interesting too:
    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/10102006/325/fertile-women-dress-impress-study.html

    • Like
    • Report

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Seanette on October 4th, 2007

    Seanette

    I've come to the conclusion that the fashion industry is run by pseudo-male extra-terrestrials with a serious grudge against human females.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Ullyses on October 9th, 2006

    Ullyses

    I reckon it has to do with self image. A sort of 'how you look on the outside mirrors the inside' ideology.

    Women want to look nice, and there are many who spend a lot of time and affort to find those items that show off their natural beauty to best effect. They will usually wear appealing clothes even when going out on normal, run-of-the-mill business. This shows respect for themselves and others. Many men, on the other hand, will throw on something in which they feel comfortable, without thinking about how disrespectful they are being to their partner, simply because their clothing is 'practical'. I like Eastern and Southern Europe, where men seem to care about their appearance as much as women. Here in UK, and there in US, there are many slobs rolling around the streets. When it comes to pockets, btw, women have a marvellous invention called the handbag. It holds an incredible amount of items.

    I like the comment about the tie, as well. Originally, cravattes and what are now ties were used simply to keep the wearer's clothes clean when eating. Now they are seen as a must for businessmen, but without a purpose other than fashion. Be the mirror, Bob.

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by 40ishVoiceofReason on February 3rd, 2009

    40ishVoiceofReason

    So we have to buy more of it. If I gain 5 lbs, that's another size up. I wish I could let out the waist seam like my hubby does when that happens to him!

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Skirtsnhose on October 15th, 2008

    Skirtsnhose

    There is nothing less practical than a tie. While I'm not about to do yard work in a miniskirt, for most of my daily routine there is absolutely nothing impractical about a skirt and heels. There is no practical reason why I can't wear skirt suits for my job, either, only cultural ones.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by zeta04 on June 18th, 2008

    zeta04

    I have given this a lot of thought myself and i think that it has something to do with the mating thing. Estrogen in women indicates reproductive ability. Estrogen also increases the tolerance of pain, it also keeps bones strong. High heels for example put a strain on the foot bones and can cause pain. So when women wear extream heels and walk in them with out pain (showen by a smile) it indicates strong bones and a high pain tolerance. So could indicate high estrogen. Same with corsets. I do not think it is about keeping the woman in the house. When women have kids they tend to dress more practical, as wearing 4 inch heels and taking your kid to the park do not mix. Even the trend of showing the middle is a way of showing reproductive past. Women who have had babys will have stretch marks!

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on October 4th, 2006

    Anonymous

      It seems nobody who has so far tried to answer really understood what I was asking.  I guess I need to clarify.

      Most women's clothing doesn't have such basic practical features as pockets, for example.  Much of it, especially dresses, have fasteners in the back that are difficult for the wearer to reach.  Women's shoes seem not to be designed for actually walking in.

      As a man, I would never think of buying a pair of pants, or even a shirt, that didn't have pockets.  I would never wear anything, no matter how fashionable it was, if it was particularly difficult to put on or take off (such as, for example, having an unreachable zipper up the back, as many women's dresses do).  I would never wear shoes that I could not comfortably walk in.  I don't think there are very many men who would put up with such nonsense.  Why do women put up with it?

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Pupsik Man on October 3rd, 2006

    Pupsik Man

    Women willing to buy more

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Azraff on November 10th, 2006

    Azraff

    I was thinking about this the other day. I think the funniest thing is to watch a movie and see a man fully dressed appropriately for an action scene or a cold weather scene and the woman is dressed in something too skimpy to be warm or to be physically active in. It just crazy and unattractive.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • by Peetee on October 4th, 2007

    Peetee

    Because women keep buying the impractical stuff. My lady constantly wears clothes with no pockets and then wonders why she can't find her keys.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Im Alec has abandoned this account on October 4th, 2007

    Im Alec has abandoned this account

    It is not - in general. There are virtually no practical clothes which are worm by men which are not also worn, sometimes with minor changes of cur, by women. Both men and women wear practical clothes. But men have a small addition of impractical but attractive clothes, while women have a large addition of impractical clothes. And that is because looking interesting and attractive is more important to women than to men.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Pupsik Man on October 3rd, 2006

    Pupsik Man

    Women is a much better target for fashion and resale companies.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Why is women's clothing, in general, so much less practical than men's clothing?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Practical clothing
Practical clothes
Impractical clothes
Less practical than
Pratical clothing

Answerbag

a Demand Media company