Don't get too comfortable with Fashion!

When it comes to dressing up or being seen in public, what often crosses our minds is the innate sense to dress for comfort. We rarely pick out the painful and wrechedly uncomfortable shoes or perhaps a pair of jeans that are 2 sizes too small. On the contrary, we sway towards a more wearable style. What we think might be fun and stylish suddenly becomes impractical and too much of a burden on our already-stressed and hurting bodies. Suddenly, waves of stylish and comfortable trends hit the streets. Celebs, trendsetters and everyone else suddenly realizes the acceptability of wearing items of clothing that strike an opportunity for the body and mind to be at ease. In other words, we are given the chance to put on comfortable clothes. We can always find ways to turn the uncomfortable into fashionable clothing choices, but are we able to, with the same magnitude and perserverance, allowed to take soft, comfy clothing and transform it into couture classics? I have gathered a list of items that I believe have taken on a ubiquitous presence when, perhaps, there was no rational purpose for its preposterously high level of popularity to begin with.

This look to the right examines the efforts of dressing for the whole body in comfort. The shoes, the dress, even down to the bag, has a comforting look to it. Nothing about this look says "painful" (except the look in itself!). I question many women who attempt to dress like this. It is as if you were attending a Psychic's Convention in Taos, New Mexico. The look says comfortable but not trying. Not even a bit. In our society, where much emphasis is put upon our efforts towards a specific outcome, we are rarely given the chance to look this bad to gain a positive and reputable impression towards others. What we think we can get away with, suddenly becomes all that we are known for.

The most excrutiating pain doesn't come from a stab of a knife or even a really bad burn from a blazing fire. It is the shoking cultural phenomenon that has swept the nation, one disaster outfit after another. I am referring to the fashion mistake commonly known as, The UGG boots. Originally from Australia, these boots are full of purpose and practicality. They protect our feet from snow and harsh weather conditions, they are made exclusively for comfort and they are a signature boot for making life a little bit easier. The only problem? The influence of many celebs have opened the flood gates for such a catastrophic trend that millions of girls patiently await their paychecks, daddy's credit card or Christmas/Hannukah/Birthday presents to receive such a thoughtful gift. Now, I cannot imagine a street corner without a girl who can tuck her Seven jeans into her UGG's for a trendy style choice. Trendy? yes. Stylish? Perhaps not. What we must evaluate when it comes to comfortable fashion is its ability to maintain both comfort and style. These colors range from bright pink to a caramel beige for a wider range of potential customers. They look great to shovel snow and they can be very practical for Northern Minnesota weather. When we start seeing these boots in Beverly Hills, however, should we probably start to ask why?

The equally-as-loud, twice as cliché uniform that has me shrugging my shoulders everytime I witness such a faux pas is the undeniably popular Juicy Velour Suit. I have to admit, its remarkably comfortable, great for lounging at home or good for errands. This look has vastly taken on women's wardrobes and has become almost a staple item in every woman's closet. The problem? When 10 million women are wearing a suit that reads 'Juicy' on it, what sort of message does that send out? At the same time, when everyone's wearing it, should this mean you should too? And, if this trend spins out of control, as it has been so far, does it just appear as though women bare a striking resemblance to pajama-clad bandits of tasteless fashion? What next, Fleece Onesies for a night out on the town? You get the point. Velour suits make the grade for practicality, receiving an A for Attainment in comfort, but a big F for Fashion potential.

I will often come across the painfully displayed, bare-it-all tactics of many risk-taking fashion goers. By this, I am referring to the hundreds of thousands of women who bare their nipples, showing a more comfortable side of their everyday dress. It is argued that it might, in fact, not be too tacky when some attempt to pull off a stunt such as this for a given occassion. With evening gowns or an artistic photo op, it could be considered acceptable. These days, however, it is almost everywhere you turn that you see a powerful pair of breasts that bare everything but support. I have seen commercials for more comfortable bras, bras that remain hidden to the public eye, as well as bras that, when shown, don't necessarily look like a bra at all. Why aren't these an option for the women who opt for a natural look? I may be cynical or old-fashioned, but underwear always seems like a good idea, not matter what the fashion trends are throughout the times. Are we becoming shallow and focusing on the outside when, more or less, it's what's on the inside that matters?

The "homely" moccasins are best kept at home. They provide warmth, durability, and of course, comfort. What I didn't understand was when I started to see many girls and women wearing house slippers or comfort moccasins out to WHole Foods or a shopping trip. Don't be mistaken! Moccasins can adapt great styles by many designers to add a touch of class as well as comfort for those who prefer casual flats over day heels. Moreso, I am referring to the traditional moccasins that grace the shelves of comfort shoe stores worldwide. Turquoise beadwork in a shape of an eagle or thick suede string that is weaved around the trim for a home-made appearance. For costumes, house-lounging, or a visit to Arizona, these make an excellent choice. Otherwise, it might be best to keep this choice of footwear in storage and/or away from your friends to avoid public mockery.

Certain choices can prove tough and time-consuming desicions. What we once thought could be deemed acceptable might be your worst mistake yet. We should take time to evaluate such decisions and realize that comfort can only take us so far before we are crossing boundaries into inpropriety. It is best that we consider our everyday attire to differ greatly from our sleep or lounge wear. Robes, slippers, sweatpants and the lack of underwear all have their time and place. If many of us follow certain standards of dress, then why should we suffer from the comfort of others?