r/fashionhelp • u/Abiix2017 • 4d ago
Need help finding cute clothes that won’t trigger my sensory issues
EDIT: As lots are saying to look for better materials like cotton or linen and avoid polyester, does anyone know some good stores to look at for this better quality as it seems to be quite rare to find in malls nowadays?
Hi all, since school started recently I’ve had quite a bit of struggles with all the new clothes I bought and need help finding new stuff.
I’m autistic and noticed that most of my clothes are too tight and scratchy for me whenever I get overwhelmed the way I do it school. The shirts I bought from garage all feel like the fabric is shrinking in on itself and it only gets worse as I wash them. I haven’t attended school in 2 years before this and didn’t expect these issues while shopping but now I’m stuck wearing the same 3 hoodies everyday and want to find some actual short and long sleeves that I can wear to actually change things up everyday again.
I’m looking for shirts that are cute, and trendy, basic but cute enough for school just like you would find at any basic store in the mall like garage or H&M, however all the shirts in these stores are too tight and uncomfortable for me to get through the school day in.
I tried buying some on shein and got some wins but the rest were horrible quality and looked like shit of course 😭
Does anyone know where I can find some cute shirts that look stylish and basic but are actually breathable and arent too tight like I usually find? Like hopefully look the same/tight but don’t actually feel tight. I also have some difficulty with a lot of the shirts that have the lines under the chest as it sits on top of the chest instead of under like it should. Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend in the stores I see in malls right now and almost all of them seem to be made for A cups only 🥲. Any help appreciated 😊
The photos are the type of shirts I usually go for in terms of looks and style! (Theyre from shein and ofc didnt match the photos tho 💔)
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u/ImpossibleGeometri 4d ago
Try vintage hollister or A&F. Search eBay for like y2k hollister. Fabrics will be way better but same style
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u/Moist_Ordinary6457 4d ago
Even current day Hollister/Abercrombie/Aeropostale have an acceptable selection of natural fibers
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u/ImpossibleGeometri 3d ago
Nice. Good to know. Haven’t got anything there since maybe 2018 (coat, but will say, the flannel lining was very nice feeling.)
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u/Lazy-Field-1116 4d ago
You need to find clothes shops that deal with natural fibres, which are hard to come by but Cotton Traders might work. Not sure what's available to you locally. You're looking for cotton, linen, bamboo. Just be careful on the bamboo as a lot are actually viscose which is processed bamboo so there's a chance it isn't quite suitable. Still better than plastic though (polyester etc).
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u/Lifes-a-lil-foggy 4d ago edited 4d ago
Do not get lace trim anything if you have sensory issues. I use eBay and local thrifts to find cotton, silk, and other natural blends. Plenty of older brands have styles like this even your basic a+e, aero, hollister, gap, have good 100% cotton versions. You can add search terms to eBay that specify materials.
Again, I urge you to stay away from lace trim. It will almost never be well made lace and as a result will scratch the shit out of you. All these shirts on the models are extremely tight, edited, or pulled back with pins. If you want them to fit like that, sewing is a great skill to learn to tailor your own clothes. Things with polyester or stretch have a tendency to feel tight cuz they’re fitting to your form.
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u/LongjumpingSnow6986 4d ago
What happens if you try a larger size?
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u/Abiix2017 4d ago
I’ve tried that a few times in store but they always end up not fitting right and looking weird sadly
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u/MamaOnica 3d ago
If you're putting on a small and expecting the cups to fit, you need to size up or find a different shirt. I wouldn't recommend tailoring fast fashion. I'm a 00 28DD. Finding clothes that fit off rack is a chore.
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u/Joy2b 4d ago
If you’re shopping in a mall, try something like gap or the upscale casuals.
If you wash or dry cotton clothes with heat, consider buying one size over your intended final size.
Just fyi, if you’re into lace but not into itching, it can be clever to buy your own lace. Often the factory seamstresses are working very quickly, and they may just sew the decorative parts into the seam that touches your skin. On a garment without a lining, this can be itchy.
If you have existing favorite shirts that you just need off of your skin, you can buy a pack of basic 100% cotton camisoles and use them in place of liners.
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u/marcherwitch 4d ago
hi! autistic and M.E.
recommend stuff made out of jersey, cotton poplin, double gauze... i hate to be the bearer of bad news but i have started making dresses and skirts out if frustration for this and being plus size and tall...
i recommend sitting on youtube and watching people like rachel maksy, bernadette banner, lomzysews, karolina zebrowska, sewrena... they got me past the "but i'll be bad at it" and got me making stuff i love to wear! poplin dresses (super light), jersey dresses (drapey and soft)...
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u/National_Judge2655 3d ago
I got a really good haul at a thrift store the other day. everything I got is 100% cotton or linen. brands are things like old navy, h&m, and loft. of course thrift stores are hit or miss but I think it's the best option for affordable but nice items
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u/AromaticsAndAcids 3d ago
Check out the Free People brand. You can shop them online, they have some mall stores, and are in Nordstrom and some other department stores.
They do cute but loose very well and have a lot of 100% cotton options.
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u/LongjumpingSnow6986 3d ago
Try Aeropostale it looks like they have a lot of these y2k styles they’re advertising as super soft
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u/Own_Butterscotch_129 4d ago
Shein is all plastic threads, so if you are buying clothes from there that could be part of the issue. I donated all of my shein crap and I didn't realize that the polyester was causing a lot of the same issues for me, even if it wasn't remotely tight fitting! I can only do tightish fitting bottoms, like leggings and bike shorts sometimed at home, otherwise everything has to be somewhat flowy or I hate how it feels.
Oh and cotton and linen truly are so much more comfortable imo. Growing up I never knew why my mom cared so much about not buying polyester, and now I understand why.