Fashioning Forward

The Modern Pioneerwoman

As a young adult, my clothing choices were dictated by how they looked. I didn’t know about materials, didn’t care about comfort, and longevity was barely a thought. Seeing myself in new and different styles was fun and exciting and that’s all I cared about.

Red Rock Crab and I blowing bubbles at each other as I wear a men’s shirt.

Moving to the Mountain

When I moved to the mountain, I mangled one clothing item after the next. Within a year most of the things in my wardrobe died violent deaths, while others were deemed impractical or impossible to wear and were donated to the thrift store.
What remained was a lot less… female.

With little left in the wardrobe, I needed to find new functional clothes. My options involved thin, cheap material, no pockets, and inconsistent sizing. It was frustrating, I knew it shouldn’t be so difficult. Fashioning my world from the ground up is hard work and fashion wasn’t making it any easier.

My blue boy’s coat has lasted ages

History on Repeat

If I’d been a pioneer woman, I would have ridden horses sidesaddle in a dress to preserve my ‘feminine dignity.’ Only the extremely rebellious rode astride like the men.

We want elastics in our jeans because we’re accustomed to form-fitting clothes, but elastics don’t last. We have thinner materials and smaller pockets so that the lines of the garment are more attractive, but we’re cold and can’t carry anything.

It’s as though we haven’t given thought to the fact that women’s clothes are inferior due to historical sexism. Realizing my clothing options are dysfunctional due to past repressive ideologies brings out the picketing feminist in me, but I don’t have the time or patience to fight that fight.

These men’s pants have pockets AND a stretchy waistband 😆

Better Made at a Better Price?

One article at a time, my ‘women’s’ attire is being replaced. When I need something new I head for the men’s and boys’ sections. The differences between design, construction, and sizing are blatant. Even my men’s shoes seem to last longer than those made for women and cost less.

Bearing in mind that I never intend to bash anyone, and blame no one in particular - I see it as something that was systemic sexism and has continued simply because we haven’t given it much thought. It’s not inflicted by anyone in particular but something we do.

‘Pink tax’ or as I’d prefer to call it, ‘Price Discrimination’ needs to be brought up here. Women’s smaller, more cheaply made clothes cost more, partly due to good reasons like extra marketing, but mostly just because they can. It applies mostly to necessities like hygiene products, razors being a prime example, but also includes attire. Local governments have started implementing laws to prevent the ‘pink tax’.

Something I get a kick out of is that I get comments online about how I look, some complimentary, some not - but regardless you’re looking at a woman in men’s clothing.

Girl in Boys Clothing

I do have some old yoga pants that I sometimes wear when going to town and a few pairs of jeans. If you looked into my wardrobe you’d think it belongs to a slightly confused adolescent man, and I’m okay with that. I’ve realized that wearing men’s clothes doesn’t make me less of a woman, it makes me practical. It costs less, has pockets and lasts longer.

Things are improving and there are well-designed workwear brands but they’re not common yet. My brown overalls are women’s.

Is this necessary in 2025?

If I had my way, clothing sizes would be by actual measurement, not so much by gender. The unisex section would be much, much bigger. Of course, in city life gender-based fashion is fine but, why is it still 100% separate sections?

Fitting an iPhone in your front pocket and bending over without it binding on your hipbone is invigorating. If you are or know a woman who fights to find functional clothes like I did, I recommend putting your pride aside and trying the men’s section. Of course, we’re a different shape and so in men’s pants, I wear the same size as Curt. I have to buy different things so that we can tell our clothes apart.

My pants are 30X30
In T-shirts and hoodies, I wear boys’ XL or men’s small.
Shoes are a men’s 6.5.
Bras and socks are still women’s, but I do have boxers.

Being able to throw a tape measure into my pocket, and kneel without worrying about ruining my clothes or changing outfits when the task changes is liberating. Doing what makes sense, like the rebellious women to first ride astride regardless of current norms.

It may not seem like a big deal to some, but wearing good functional garments makes a big difference in my world. I wish I’d realized that wearing men’s clothing was a better option for me sooner. It would have saved a lot of time, frustration, and money if I had realized I could switch sides and go to the section that was not meant for me.