Women Call Out The Worst Features Of Clothes Designed For Them

Kasia Mikolajczak
red high heels next to a bag
Pexels | Pexels

I do consider myself fashionable. However, that doesn't mean I follow every trend that comes out. In fact, I prefer to stick to the classic styles. After all, they don't usually go out of fashion. Am I right? But even those classic styles can sometimes leave something to be desired, especially when it comes to women's clothing.

Somehow I feel like the designers aren't listening to their customers, and a recent Reddit thread proved that. In it, a woman asked, "What’s a piece of clothing item for women that you hate?" and the ladies responded in droves. Let's check some of these answers out. Shall we?

No Pockets

woman wearing gray sweater and black pants
Everlane | Everlane

"I just bought a couple of pairs of men's jeans for this very reason! And they're nice and comfy so it's definitely an option, so long as you're not super curvy (I've got a booty, but I'm no Kardashian). Also, they're cheaper and actually work on measurable sizes rather than arbitrary numbers that are different in every store."

I hear this lady loud and clear. Let's make more pockets in women's clothing, please!

Bras

red lace bra
Pexels | Pexels

"Even though I've found comfy ones, the first thing that happens when I walk in the door from being out is to take that bloody thing off. The best use I've found for bras? Napping spots for cats. Seriously. I found one that was 'lightly lined' (no wire, cotton) and I swear on all that's holy the cups are like something out of an '80s Madonna video. The tabby decided he loved the whole idea and fell asleep with his head in a cup."

OMG, ha, ha. I share this sentiment about bras. And of course, it was a man that invented one. Ugh!

Cropped Tops

woman wearing a cropped top
Giphy | Not Sorry Goods

"Yes, some of us are not built to or not comfortable wearing half of a shirt. I hate it when you spy a possible cute top and pull it off the rack and it’s a [expletive] crop top. Like finding a good parking spot, go to pull in, only to see a super-compact car already parked there."

Honestly, I was never a fan of this trend either especially now that I'm older.

Cutouts

woman in a cutout black top
Revolve | Revolve

"Clothing with cutouts that make it next to impossible to wear a bra."

Okay, I get the idea of cutouts. They provide a bit of a sexy look by showing off more skin. But come on, some of these cutouts are ridiculous. I agree with this lady here — how do you wear a bra? You might as well wear a tank top underneath it which doesn't really go together. So yeah, there's that.

Feminine Slogans

Live Laugh Love tee, denim shorts and sneakers flatlay
etsy | JoysunDesigns

"I hate finding a cute top that has the perfect length and neckline, but it comes emblazoned with something like 'Live. Laugh. Love' on the front."

I couldn't agree more. A lot of the time I just want a plain shirt with no writing on it, but good luck finding it. As soon as I stumble upon one with a great sleeve and pretty color there it is embossed with "C’est La Vie."

Narrow Shoes

narrow beige women's shoes
Naturalizer | Naturalizer

"I feel this. My feet aren't even classified as wide, yet most shoes are too narrow. And of course, wide is too wide. Can't win."

I actually always look for shoes labeled wide, otherwise, I find my toes end up squished. However, not all brands design shoes with the wide option, and I think they definitely should. It would make shoe shopping for people like me a lot easier.

Knee-High Boots

Woman pointing with words "I feel you." on the screen
Giphy | Shalita Grant

"Knee-high boots. I would actually love wearing them, but the standard sizes are too tight for my muscular calves, wider fits are inevitable of the, 'You're big, so you should be happy wearing ugly' variety, and I can't afford to have a pair made to fit."

OMG, I literally have the same problem. I love how they look, but getting them zipped up on my calves is a fruitless effort, lol.

Adult Rompers

woman wearing black romper
Amazon | Amazon

"Designed by people who never have to pee."

Ha, ha, ha! I see so many cute rompers and jumpsuits out there and the first thing that comes to my mind is, "What if I have to pee?" So this is something I can definitely relate to big time. Would it kill them to invent some kind of zipper or something like that?

Everything Pink

pink woman's shirt
Amazon | Amazon

"Sports apparel that turns pink in the women’s section. My alma mater’s colors are gold and black, why would I want a pink shirt? The assumption that I want anything to be pink simply because I’m female really gets to me."

Honestly, I probably have maybe two pink shirts, and that's it. All my athleisure and sportswear is either black or gray. That's the way I roll, hehe.

Poor Quality Clothing

clothing rack
Unsplash | Artificial Photography

"The sheerness and overall cheap quality of most clothing these days."

Here's an easy way to save money on manufacturing: Let's make women's clothing sheer and made with polyester. That stuff may look cute when you first get it, but it definitely doesn't have lasting power. A few washes and it belongs in the garbage.

Pantyhose

girl in class saying "yuck, pantyhose."
Giphy | ABC Network

"Tights! I think Americans call them pantyhose. They are so annoying, especially if they’re too small and they started to twist around the crotch area lol."

Oh man, I have a love and hate relationship with pantyhose. Or should I just admit that I hate them? I have managed to find a few pairs that are actually comfortable to wear, but I haven't worn them in like three years, so that should tell you something.

Ripped Jeans

woman in ripped jeans and crop top
Shein | Shein

"Back in my day, you had to wear your jeans out. We EARNED our rips! They were like badges of honor. My friend group figured out we could get worn jeans at the thrift store and they'd rip sooner. We were cheating the system and it was glorious!"

Aha! I totally agree with that. And now you have rips where the whole knee is sticking out. I don't get that at all.

Thongs

thong and a donut
Unsplash | Dainis Graveris

"G-string. I hate the feeling when your panties slip in between your buttcheek, now imagine that slip couldn't be fixed.... ugh."

Oh my goodness, ha, ha! Truth be told, I have had my share of thongs or G-strings over the years, and no, I never found them comfortable to wear. I only wore them to feel and look sexy, if you know what I mean. Now, I couldn't care less.

Polyester/Spandex

woman grimacing
Giphy | The Good Place

"Personally, I loathe all clothing made of polyester/spandex. What a nasty fabric. It doesn't breathe, so there's no escaping being hot. It clings to every figure flaw, somehow magnifying those. Sigh."

I totally agree with this. Although polyester has gotten better the last few years, I still find spandex very restrictive.

Bodycon Dresses

red bodycon dress on a woman
Venus | Venus

"Bodycon dresses. Only look good if you have a flat stomach and almost nobody has a flat stomach. I’m average weight but I feel hella fat in them."

Oh, yeah. Those dresses are sure unforgiving, huh? I have a few, but I only buy the ones with ruching in the middle section to strategically hide the muffin top, ha, ha.

High Heels

woman saying "everything hurts and I'm dying."
Giphy

"High Heels. Why do they even exist? They’re basically death contraptions that are super uncomfortable that aren’t good for walking or standing for long periods of time. The only heels I’ve ever found that are comfortable enough to wear for more than an hour are my Clark wedges, and even then those are wedges. There is no way to make stilettos comfortable."

I second that. The only so-called high heels I wear these days are wedges.

Strapless Dresses

woman in a strapless dress
Unsplash | Cristina Anne Costello

"Strapless dresses. I'm flat-chested, so those never stay up. If I go too long without tugging them up all the damn time, my nipples come out to say hello. It pains me whenever I see an otherwise cute dress that I can't wear because they're strapless."

I actually do like them, but I hate that I always need to adjust them. It's just a pain in itself.

Cold-Shoulder Tops

woman wearing black cold shoulder long sleeve top
Shein | Shein

"I don’t understand cold-shoulder tops. Like, if it’s cold, why are you wearing a long sleeve shirt with your shoulders exposed? If it’s a tee-shirt version, it just looks like it has holes. Exceptions are made for people with stunning shoulders I suppose. Like, if you are Iman or Wonder Woman, I guess I understand it, but perhaps a tank next time?"

I own zero cold shoulder tops. Period, end of story, ha, ha. Why? Because I'm always cold. That's why.

So do you agree with these items here?

Woman agreeing saying "that's it."
other | iOne Digital

Which one of women's clothing do you despise the most? For me, it's pants without pockets. Like why? And then it would be bras — do I even need to explain myself? I think not. I just hope that one day designers will consider these comments so they can make clothes for women that are easier to wear. Please! The women have spoken, and now we need action.