Hypersensitive to clothes - what do you wear?

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kanashimoo
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02 Nov 2013, 11:28 am

Hi,

I took a quick look through some threads and didn't find exactly what I was looking for. I go to a college, and though I really hardly give a damn about how I look, I can't really go around wearing sweats everywhere. What kind of tops and especially, pants are very comfy, and basically disappear? I also have a huge issue with socks falling down from my feet - it bothers me to no end. I've used mostly cotton socks, should I try other materials?

Thanks in advance.


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doofy
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02 Nov 2013, 11:49 am

kanashimoo wrote:
Hi,

I took a quick look through some threads and didn't find exactly what I was looking for. I go to a college, and though I really hardly give a damn about how I look, I can't really go around wearing sweats everywhere. What kind of tops and especially, pants are very comfy, and basically disappear? I also have a huge issue with socks falling down from my feet - it bothers me to no end. I've used mostly cotton socks, should I try other materials?


Next to the skin, bamboo is unbeatable - better than cotton for comfort, wicking, not smelling. I've worn bamboo tee shirts every day since discovering them 8 or so years back.

Socks are difficult - if too tight they constrict, if too loose they slip about. I'm a UK 10 and am currently living in size 12-14 bamboo socks which stay put without constriction.

By "pants" do you mean underwear or trousers? If underwear, bamboo; if trousers then Tommy Bahama silk trousers are luxurious and generously sized. Probably disgustingly over priced but I got mine on ebay for a pittance. Too cold to wear now, so I'm into jeans - "comfort fit", or "relaxed fit" with "bootfit" hems; stretch is a bonus. Regular, straight leg, fit in jeans is usually constricting on the thighs and irritating round the ankles.



Soccer22
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02 Nov 2013, 11:57 am

Ooops, I actually go everywhere wearing sweats, I didn't know that wasn't acceptable :? … I understand the sock falling issue, that annoys me too. I usually get quarter top socks because they stay up and aren't weird looking, in my opinion. You can google image search quarter top socks to see what I'm talking about. With the pants situation, you're not ok with wearing loose fitting jeans? Jeans only bother me if they're too tight at the waist or too tight at the knees for when I'm bending. When I was a little kid (I'm a girl so this next part may be weird), but I hated girls underwear and would only wear boy silk boxers, so my recommendation for that area would be silk boxers. Shirt wise, plain ol' cotton shirts feel comfy to me. Hanes tag-less tshirts and long sleeve shirts are nice.



StarCity
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02 Nov 2013, 12:07 pm

Hi kanashimoo,

Outdoors:
I wear trousers & tops that are loose fitting. However saying that, I don't like them too loose that I can feel the trouser leg flopping about around my ankle.
I also wear shirts.
Underwear (briefs/boxers) tends to be a big problem as I hate the feeling of tight elastic, or material causing pressure when it bunches up.
As for socks. I also hate loose (saggy) ones.

Indoors:
In the mornings I just go about "natural", but upon returning home after being out I put on tracky bottoms & a sweat-shirt.


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kanashimoo
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02 Nov 2013, 12:27 pm

Woah thanks for the quick replies!

Bamboo seems really promising. Are they available in any big retailers or malls? I honestly never go shopping but I figured that I really should sometime.

I actually don't wear ankle/quarter top socks. I wear those socks that are a bit shorter than soccer socks but are much, much longer than ankle socks. Ankle socks irritate me to no end for some reason.

I've also, gasp, never worn jeans. At least not the classic blue ones, not sure if any of my pants can be classified as such. Perhaps a handful of times in my life over a decade ago, but I have no recollection of it. I don't know, I don't really want to try either. I just feel really awkward and out of place about it.

Pants always feel really off after I go to the washroom. I can never get back in the 'groove', and it really makes my ADHD and fidgeting so much worse, as I constantly shift in my seat an innumerable amount of times to feel 'at home' again.

I actually wore sweats during all of the last two years of high school but I think its not so socially acceptable as a guy.. I'm not 100% sure on this and I could be wrong, but thats the general idea I get. I wear sweats out all the time, just not at school, or you know, those places where I can't be that trashy. Around friends, like hell I care.

Underwear thankfully isn't a problem, got plenty of briefs and boxer briefs that do great. Sleeping naked is great but aside from that I'd always like to have at least some articles of clothing on.

I guess I just wanna look decent, and not have to wear the exact same things all the time. Hey if I'm a bit lonely, maybe I should at least give appearance just a tad bit of an effort.


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Specialisterne is an international nonprofit which has the singular goal of enabling 1 million jobs for people on spectrum. DO check them out! I conducted an interview on national radio regarding my experiences with Specialisterne and SAP.

On a more local level, Focus Professional Services is a consulting organization based in Vancouver, Canada that attempts to hire people on the spectrum to act as IT consultants. They're a very new organization.

For those of us in Vancouver, there is an Aspies Meetup group; pm me if you're interested. I look forward to seeing anyone in Vancouver either in person or in a larger gathering!


doofy
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02 Nov 2013, 12:48 pm

I've never seen bamboo in shops, but then I do most of my shopping online and live miles from big shops. Amazon has some nice bamboo tee shirts. Over them I wear loose cotton or silk, depending on weather and stress levels (can't wear silk when stressed cos of temp control issues). Top layer is poly cotton fleece. Wool and nylon are unwearable. Leather's nice.

Trousers: you want neither sweats nor jeans so try cotton chinos - they're generally loose fitting and comfortable. I can't wear what we in UK call "jogging bottoms" - "sweats"(?) - partly cos they usually have elasticated waist and hems, neither of which I can stand, and partly cos those who wear them tend to be perjoratively referred to as "chavs".

Socks: try high quality, poly cotton, slightly fleecy hiking socks. You want them to come slightly above the calf so as to stay up. Mid calf socks fall down too quick.



LAlien
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02 Nov 2013, 2:16 pm

Although I am a 15 year old girl, I believe I may be able to help. On the rare occasion that I am required to wear pants other than cotton leggings, sweats, or stretch pants, I wear my cotton leggings underneath the other pants (such as blue jeans or slacks). I know they make leggings for men, like runners' pants, thermal wear, and long underwear. The leggings prevent the clothing from rubbing on my skin and they also provide a slight, calming, pressure. You might also try wearing pants that are lined with fleece or flannel, if weather permits. Then, they feel more like sweats but look like pants. They sell those in mens' sizes on landsend.com sometimes, and probably places like LL Bean that sell comfortable, practical, wear for being outdoors.
For shirts: maybe you should stick with cotton Ts. Threadless.com, though a bit pricey at times, sells really cool Ts (with awesome designs) made of soft fabric. If you need something like a polo and can't stand that awful mesh, try landsend.com. They sell the ones that are made of T shirt material.
I hope you find something that works for you :)

P.S. If worst comes to worst, you could always just join a sports team and wear your team sweats! :lol:


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droppy
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02 Nov 2013, 4:48 pm

From the head to the feet: usually I wear nothing on my head because it feels uncomfortable, but if it's windy or it's raining I could wear a hood. I wear a t-shirt, possibly a baggy one, or long-sleeved shirt. I wear hoodies if it's cold. Then I usually wear sport trousers or jeans (but not the tight ones. I hate the tight ones). The shoes I use are sport shoes, converse and boots. If it's hot outside I sometimes wear sandals. Any other type of shoe is very uncomfortable for me and I couldn't put them on. I hate shoes. I wish I could walk barefoot without hurting my feet or catching a cold.



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02 Nov 2013, 5:56 pm

I have been trying to sort out this issue myself. Ideally, I prefer clothes made of soft natural fibers, with enough volume to feel weighty. But my mother said I looked like a refugee and my boyfriend asked if I was joining an Amish community, so...

Here is the list, in the order I put them on (underwear excepted): soft cotton or linen t shirts or tanks (especially organic, but can't always afford it); black cotton yoga pants; or if dressing up, cotton leggings if it is cold; a loose, jersey knit cotton or cotton/rayon dress with a full, a-line skirt. Ballet flats in soft leather, or in cold weather, clogs with Smartwool socks in pretty patterns--they don't itch like some other wools, and I wash them in lanolin to keep them soft. The socks are pricey but durable and you can find them online for a discount (Sierra Trading Post usually has them). I would love to buy all my clothes from Gudrun Sjoden online, but am deficient in discretionary funds. However it does give me ideas about what to look for, and how to mix patterns in an appealing way. That said, yoga clothes are often soft, comfortable fit and more elegant than your average exercise clothes, and can be found inexpensively.



Bodyles
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02 Nov 2013, 9:15 pm

I wear soft, loose cotton jeans that are several sizes too large at the waist, belted if I have to walk around anywhere without holding them up, loose cotton t-shirts, and no socks or underwear ever unless required for a specific purpose.

Generally speaking that's pretty comfortable for me, though if I could I'd probably just walk around naked all the time.



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03 Nov 2013, 7:33 am

Sorry Kanashimoo et al, I am reading / writing on my iPhone and did not see that the query was specific to men!

However, I was a "big sister" to a wonderful young man who is now in his early twenties, and has always had great sensitivity to clothes. He always wears slightly loose t shirts with designs that are relevant to his interests; loose jogging pants ( they are not always sweats, sometimes a lighter jersey knit); a Polarfleece / micro fleece pullover (look in outdoor stores, Lands End or LL Bean (the latter two often have great sales). He doesn't wear shoes when he can go barefoot, but when he can't he wears microfiber socks that are fine enough knit that they can slouch a little without looking unkempt or baggy, and solid black jogging shoes (the solid black makes them appear more formal even though they are just jogging shoes). For occasions when he needs to appear dressed-up, he wears a plain long-sleeved t shirt under his collared shirt and leaves the top few buttons of the latter undone, and he has found loose corduroy pants to be more agreeable than khakis.

Hope that is more helpful than my previous post!