Why Must We Sacrifice Comfort for Couture?
For as long as we’ve been around, humans have been creating wearables to carry tools, provide modesty, and protect ourselves from the elements. As our needs evolved, so have our clothing options— some better, and some far worse. Here are some of the most uncomfortable clothes we wear on the regular.
1. Bras
We’re not talking about bralettes or sports bras here. We’re talking about your standard, restrictive, underwire-poking-out, all-around uncomfortable bra. This unfortunate staple in wardrobes can do everything right when it comes to shape and size, but it’s still the first thing that comes off when the day is done.
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2. Corsets
The evil stepmother to bras, traditional corsets were boned with steel and cinched to achieve a “desirable” figure. While not typically worn as tightly anymore, this piece of clothing made it difficult to move, breathe, and dress oneself on the daily.
3. Pantyhose
A daily annoyance for the working woman, pantyhose are not the most forgiving piece of clothing to wear. They’re either too small or too big, and will easily get runs or tears if you so much as breathe at them wrong.
4. Boxers
Out of the few options men have for underwear, boxers tend to be the most uncomfortable. They can be incredibly tight in all the wrong places, but just baggy enough at the legs to cause frumping in the thigh area.
5. Low-rise jeans
We can’t all look like Megan Fox in Jennifer’s Body, and low-rise jeans make sure we know it. They’re too revealing in the front, and occasionally the back if you’re not careful enough. Combine this with teeny tiny pockets, and it’s a potential recipe for disaster.
6. Elaborate swimsuits
Aside from the interesting tan lines you’ll get in one of these, trying to put on a bathing suit that has approximately 30 straps or ties is a nightmare. Sure, you’ll look cute, but the constant modesty adjustments every time you bend or turn don’t necessarily make up for it.
7. Bodycon dresses
One of the more uncomfortable dresses to be sure. This form-fitting dress can feel constrictive, yet revealing, across the shoulders, arms, bust, midriff, and legs, especially after a night of partying.
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8. Dress shirts
For a shirt that seems to be a white collar staple, you’d think they’d make ones that aren’t so stiff. Dress shirts can wreak havoc on a good day by feeling too tight, being made of scratchy fabrics, and being tailored improperly.
9. Heels
They might seem like a good idea at the start of your day, but heels are a modern day torture method by hour three. Balancing on essentially a sharpie, heels can cause leg damage when worn too much, for too long.
10. Ties
Another business, formal, or business formal staple, ties can be irritating and tight if not worn properly. If you’re commonly found wearing looser shirts with wider collars, a tie can be hot, bulky, and even cause headaches if not done properly.
11. Pencil skirts
This straight skirt may make you look classy, but moving around in it is a nightmare. Good luck trying to walk, sit, or bend your knees at any point in the day, and don’t even think about crossing your legs.
12. “Fussy” sleeves
You may look like a magical elf or princess, but doing anything with long, flowing sleeves can be a challenge. Your sleeves are all over your meal, your drink, and accidentally under someone who sat next to you. We guess princesses didn’t have to do all that much.
13. Doc Martens
Let’s get more specific. The Docs you’ve had for five years are probably the most comfortable shoes you own, but brand new leather Doc Martens take time and effort to break in. The stiff leather needs to adapt to your feet, but you better double up on socks and bandages for the time being.
14. Skinny jeans
It’s no longer 2005, so we don’t have to wear skinny jeans anymore— but that doesn’t mean we don’t remember. Jumping to pull your pants on every morning, unbuttoning them when you’re sitting so you don’t lose circulation in your legs, and having to peel them off of you in the evening haunts the memory of anyone who listened to My Chemical Romance back in the day.
15. Wetsuits
Speaking of things you have to peel yourself out of, wetsuits might take the cake. It’s already hard enough to take off a bathing suit when you’re damp, but this can only be equated to taking a second skin off. While they’re a necessity to the waterbugs out there, that doesn’t mean they’re enjoyable.
16. Belts
Sure they keep your pants up and your waist snatched, but sitting down and feeling a belt slide up to your back is one of the worst feelings out there. Depending on your day-to-day activities, this is an accessory that requires constant attention and adjustment.
17. Leather clothing
You look so cool, but we know you’re roasting in there. Leather is constricting, unbreathable, and unforgiving. And you can’t really throw it in the wash either, making it uncomfortable and high maintenance.
18. Plastic Shoes
Whether we’re discussing jellies or the clear boot phase from the early 2020s, plastic shoes are not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for blisters, sore feet, and learning that you can in fact sweat from the ankle down.
19. Hats
We get it - some people just don’t like hats. Maybe they don’t fit your aesthetic, they’re too big or too small, or you get overheated wearing them. Whatever the reason, make sure you put some sunscreen on your forehead.
20. Turtlenecks
Classy, elegant, tasteful…hot, itchy, and tight. Many of us can’t stand the feeling of this high-necked shirt. If your turtleneck is made from polyester or wool, be prepared for a long day ahead.
