the curse of "comfy"

More from Marcus. Side note: I’m stealing the Prorsum when he’s busy watching Gossip Girl tonight. Sorry, sir!

xoConnie

Aside from Connie and the staff of BARE, none of my friends could be considered very “fashion forward” people. This isn’t to say that they’re poorly dressed or anything; they just sometimes make choices that aren’t always in the best interest of their personal appearance (editor’s note: Marcus, you bitch.). The one thing that I always hear (and not just from other guys) is that sweatpants are super comfortable and that everything else seems super _un_comfortable by comparison. Well, if you’re going to compare a bed to a bed of nails, the former is always going to win. But it’s not impossible to be comfortable and well-dressed at the same time.

Anyone who knows me knows my penchant for slouchy, drapey clothing: I always find it to be interesting, flattering, and very comfortable. But this doesn’t mean I’m stocking up on XXXL sweatshirts and calling it a day. I like my clothes slouchy, but fitted. That seems like a contradiction, but it really isn’t. I want my clothes to hang on my body, but not swallow it up. But if you’re not after that sort of aesthetic, then at least look for clothes that show off your body, rather than obscuring it.

The quickest way to tell if something actually fits is where the shoulder seam sits. Shoulder seams should gently follow the natural curve of your shoulder. Anything that’s off your shoulder (unless it’s meant to, like the dropped shoulder on my sweater) means that it’s too big and that you need to size down. Also, stop wearing your tennis shoes everywhere. I understand the importance of arch support, but there’s no way to justify wearing athletic gear when you aren’t playing a sport or working out. Pick up a pair of Chucks, throw in some insoles (my lower back kills me if I don’t have my Superfeet insoles), and now you’ve got classic shoes that’ll be just as comfortable as any pair of New Balance.

I know nothing I do will ever stop people from buying, wearing, and enjoying their hoodie/sweatpant/Ugg combos. But at least try something new, at least try something fitted. Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it.