I was thinking today about how I’ve been very pleased with my most recent set of work boots today and thought it could be interesting if anyone else had any particular favorite clothing items that they have really been enjoying.
Clothes are a very personal choice, as we’re all built differently and do different things, but I’m curious to see if any trends show up in what we like.
I got the Keen Braddock Low Tops almost a year ago. I had a previous pair of Keen’s imported boots a while back, and my new job makes us go through their provider instead of me getting reimbursed for buying my own boot of choice, and I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of buying safety toes without getting to try them on first, as some can be pretty uncomfortable. I saw they had the US made Braddock though, which I had been wanting to try to see if it was an upgrade from the now discontinued boots I had from them.
I like Keen’s because my old ones held up tremendously well. The thick rubber toe may look a little odd, but it doesn’t scuff up like a leather cap boot, and it’s asymmetrical so it fits my big foot better than many safety toes where both caps are the same shape. They feel very sneaker like, which is nice since my feet don’t need serious protection from a super stiff and tall boot. I like the design is enough to be interesting, but nothing too wild.
These have been holding up very well, though I have 3 pairs in my rotation now, I also have a pair of leather CAT steel toe low tops and a pair of Carhartt composite toe fabric low tops. They each have their ups and downs, but the Keen is my all-arounder. It’s not as light as the comp toe, it’s a little bulkier than the leather boot, but it’s the most comfy and feels to be the best built of the 3.
Edit: Just noticed the rules say the post needs to end with a question mark…
What is your favorite clothing item and why?
My favourite article of clothing is my pink cape by Review Australia. Since buying it we moved to the tropics so I never get to wear it, but I love it so much.
There’s just something about it.
I like the collar and bow! It looks very modern while still having some age of knights and damsels in high towers charm.
I have a peacoat that I just really love, it’s super warm and comfy and it makes me feel like a ship’s captain. In fact, before I knew that sort of thing was called a peacoat I just referred to it as my captain’s jacket.
I used to wear hoodies a lot because it would cover up my body and help with the dysphoria. I still like them because they’re warm and comfortable, but unlike back then I don’t wear them in the summer when it’s blazing hot out. Other than that I don’t have much preferences, I just wear generic clothes.
Bought an old navy denim jacket when I was 8, I desperately wanted one but they only had men’s large and I decided I’d grow into it. I did, 6 years later. Now is 22 years later and it still my favorite jacket. I’ve dyed it every 10 years to a match my current style and it still fits me like a glove. Doesn’t even look a year old, I guess old navy used to be a lot better quality.
You know, I came into this thinking I didn’t particularly like clothes, but now I think it’s just clothes shopping I don’t enjoy.
I got a Starter windbreaker type jacket around 98-00 and I still wear it every spring and fall. I got a new and upgraded zipper on it a few years back and I just rewaterproofed it last year and it’s still awesome. That is probably the oldest clothing item I have and it’s something I enjoy at least as much, if not more, than when I bought it since it’s been through so much of my life with me.
The one physical thing I took with me when I left the infantry in the '90s is a pair of really-new standard issue Canadian combat boots.
I wore them in the Calgary winters, walking to work with a looped cassette of Thompson Twins Cool World Play with Me, trimmed as a form of 1990s pre-CD-era ‘repeat’. I stomped all the way there for my 2-hour shift (fuck you conservatives and your shitty labour laws) and I’d stomp home or off to the other job.
When I went to America, 5 years after that, I had a chance to buy a really-new standard Canadian Navy ‘surplus’ overcoat with the zipped liner. There was no NJ winter that thing didn’t dominate. I’d gone back to sneakers for the years I was in America, but I was rarely cold.
But the sneakers hosed the bursa in my heels and now I’m relegated to sandals that are neither the boots I love nor fitting with the overcoat. Both sit on the closet pending a bilateral arthroscopic calcaneoplasty. whee. I’m on the list, and pre-covid the list was 2 weeks long but I wasn’t a suitable candidate. Now I am, but the indolent hillbillies, used during COVID as a cheap political tool - by the cons again - bullied the docs into rage-quitting; and the wait list is a year.
My hatred of our pseudo-aristocracy for their hatred of people aside, the navy overcoat that fit so well in new Jersey and the combat boots I could kill in a series of Calgary winters remain my favourite pieces of clothing.
I hope they’re able to fix your heels, and at least when they finally do, the birds will be ready for you.
I’m in the more populous part of Pennsylvania, but when I go to some parts of the state, it can almost feel like another place entirely with the lack of a lot of services.
My Brooks Ghost 15 shoes saved me from double heel spurs, double flat feet and a bad knee.
I am on my third pair in two years, I wear them all year round, from 30C to -20C, and they are fantastic.
I need extra wide shoes, inlays and a soft sole.
Sure, they don’t last long, but the earlier shoes I had put me in a bad way where I for months cried out of pain when dragging myself back home from the bus after work.
Yikes. My brother works a hard large job and is full of aches and pains and I still see him buy mostly crap footwear and it blows my mind.
My girlfriend has never quite understood why I spend more money on shoes and boots than actual clothing, but now she started working 12 hours shifts at the hospital on her feet the majority of the day. Guess who started with one pair of Brooks, but now has 3 pairs of Brooks? 😁
Somewhat boring, but I just love my merino wool t shirts. They don’t have any logos or swag, but they are incredibly comfortable, don’t smell and you just air them out every evening instead of constant washing. They are also expensive as he’ll for those considering them
Minor has shorter sleeves, but:
My favorite shoes are Yuketen Maine Guide boots - I actually have two pairs, a lighter brown rough-out and a darker brown leather. The leather quality is fantastic and they’re easily the most comfortable boots I own.
My favorite piece of outerwear is a light gray Monitaly shawl collar peacoat.
The Yuketen stuff looks very impressive! I got a kick out of their “Land Jordan” shoe. 😁
Over my life I’ve had several shoes and other clothes that I wish when they wore out I could have bought more. Thankfully my favorite shirt right now I can. It is a tshirt from Hot Topic. It says it is the Dark Phoenix but I know it is Kitty Pryde using shi’ar tech to look like the Dark Phoenix and it amuses me to wear it. I have several times worn it and said “Do you like my Kitty Pryde T-shirt?” And people being confused. The shirt is also very comfortable.
I would have also been confused, but then enjoyed the explanation!
It is a very cool looking shirt though!
It’s hard to pick just one! I have a pair of Todd Snyder x LL Bean “utility cargo” sweat shorts that are a nice soft texture and a pleasant heavy weight. They are one of my go-to pairs for wearing around the house or when doing errands. The quality of the fabric and construction really stands out to me and I enjoy them every time I wear them!
The other one that came to mind is a lightweight linen long sleeve button down shirt in dark blue plaid that I also got from Todd Snyder. It was my first linen shirt and as soon as I wore it I realized that linen is my favorite fabric for warm weather because it breathes so nicely and feels great on the skin.
I had a linen shirt once, and this super hot summer this year had me wanting to give linen another go. It’d be nice to have at least one for occasions that are a little nicer during the summer.
I bought a proper country jacket last year for far more than I’d normally spend. It’s very heavy, very waterproof, very full of pockets, very farmerish, very good.
Thick wool socks are pretty great, very comfy when it gets cold out (so like a month or two from now for me)
I want to pick up more pairs than just the Walmart cheapies I’ve had. I’ve really started loving wool the last few years. I have a thin wool blanket on my bed all year now on top of the top sheet, and it keeps me the perfect temp all year. I toss a second one on top in the winter. I’m typically very hot all the time, and the wool keeps me at that just right point.
Carhartt makes really good wool socks if you want recommendations
Always appreciate a recommendation!
I have an old light green neck Buff made from bamboo fiber. It’s like three times the normal size so you have to wrap it multiple times around your neck which is great in cold weather.
And it’s so soft! I love wearing it the moment autumn turns cooler.
It’s getting a few holes so I hope it’ll still last a couple more years. They don’t sell this design anymore 😞Are you able to darn it to fix up the holes? I learned to darn my socks, and I just do it while I watch tv since it doesn’t need to be pretty since no one will see it. I do it in random colors for some fancy wabi-sabi and it reminds me of how long the items have been with me. I’m a person of simple pleasure… 😜
I don’t know if this can be darned, the threads are very very thin. I might give it a try if one of those holes becomes too big.
When I do, I’ll definitely use different colors. I like your idea :)The distinct colors make anything look intentional, so it’s a good way to pass off imperfect repairs and uneven stitches as intentional if anyone asks. 😅
All of my hoodies. I love having a hoodie with a zipper down the middle of it. People say I’ve lost weight because it sort of hides my belly 😂 but I like the feeling and the cool weather that comes with wearing one.
It’s a shame I can’t always wear one.
Zippered hoodies for me too, I have a mst3k one that’s my favorite.
That’s nice that it gives a tangible feel to the seasons changing. I feel that way when I switch the flannel sheets in/out.
And anything that makes you look better while also being comfy is a major win.
