For Style or Comfort?

It is all too often we come to a complete hault and stand confused when answering the age-old question of fashion: Fashion for comfort or fashion for image? When we shop for clothes, is it really about what we think looks good or what we think looks comfortable? We brainwash ourselves time and again to think that we can buy something because we justify its level of sex appeal and which model or celebrity wears it (and wears it well). Do we spend all this money just to realize in the end we are doing it for the sake of fashion and not for comfort? A seemingly-perfect purchase of a pair of slacks, a pair of sky-high stiletto's, a gold bangle or a designer-label shirt can impair our ability to choose comfort over fashion. Who will know if the pants are two sizes too small, the stiletto's are 4.5 inches too uncomfortable, the bangle cuts off blood circulation to your hand or the shirt still itches after wearing it 5 times. We are constantly being bombarded with choices that can lead us to think we have just made the perfect purchase or that we just spent too much money on an item we will never use. In these situations, it is best to step back and assess the situation wisely.

First and foremost, decide whether or not it is an item you can afford. If you feel you cannot afford it, the item becomes a more risky purchase in the event that you may never use it. If you carelessly spend money (and can afford it), the question of purchasing such an expensive item becomes trivial. Secondly, research the item. Is it something that you would wear? Do you own anything like it? In the case that you feel you cannot wear it frequently, is it a classic item that will not go out of style in a couple of months? Third, is the level of comfort worth it to you? If you decide to wear it and you inevitably get those blisters on the bottom of your foot, is the pain worth it? Are you willing to suck in your stomach to fit those jeans for a day? These are all decisions that we must ask ourselves individually. The reason behind this is because we each have our own levels of pain that we can endure throughout the duration of wearing the item.

The key idea is that we need to evaluate the situation so that items being worn can accommodate our own comfort levels. Where are we wearing the item? Do we have to move a lot? If so will it cause discomfort? For a cab ride to a restaurant for a dinner date, we can assume there won't be much walking involved, so naturally, stiletto's may become an appropriate choice (that is if heels are hard to walk in for you). In a situation where your pants are too tight, if you have to sit for hours on end, you might encounter high levels of discomfort as your skin is pushing hard up against your pelvic bone. It is safe to say that by evaluating your wardrobe choices, you will have made a more wise decision in wearing clothes that will leave you feeling more comfortable without sabotaging your outfit or your own personal style choices.