Why did clothing become boring?
Modern clothing is perceived by many as more homogeneous and utilitarian than in past eras, prompting debate over how industrialization, fast fashion, and globalization have flattened visible differences in what people wear. Commenters contrast historical garments shaped by climate, labor, class, and laundry constraints with today’s mass-produced basics, noting the decline of visible subcultures and formal dress codes as workplaces and social norms have relaxed. Others counter that variety still exists—just in different price brackets and niches—and argue that clothing remains a powerful tool for self-expression, status signaling, and even environmental impact, rather than a purely functional necessity.
Historical Function vs Modern Use
- Several comments stress that historically clothing was tightly linked to climate, transport, and status: layers for warmth, capes/boots for mud and horses, hats for protection, and sumptuary laws that encoded class in fabric and color.
- Today, better housing, heating, and transport make functional differentiation less critical, weakening the practical basis for elaborate wardrobes.
Industrialization, Mass Production, and Craft
- The industrial revolution made clothes cheaper and shifted attention to other pursuits; clothing became more standardized and less artisanal.
- Replacement of skilled guild work with sweatshops is blamed for a loss of ornamentation and quality.
- Some argue that historically notable garments are biased toward wealthy elites; a fair comparison today would be to haute couture or cosplay, not average streetwear.
Utility, Status, and “Fashion”
- A long subthread debates utility vs fashion: one side insists they are opposites; others argue every clothing choice—including “purely utilitarian” ones like fanny packs or identical outfits—still communicates identity and values.
- Clothing is framed by many as social signaling (status, group membership, professionalism, subculture), akin to art or music.
Subcultures, Homogenization, and Capitalism
- Older commenters recall visibly distinct subcultures (metal, punk, emo, goth, hip‑hop) among 2000s teens, contrasting with a more brand‑conformist, social‑media‑driven look in the 2010s.
- Others say subcultures still exist but get rapidly commercialized and diluted; disagreement over whether capitalism specifically causes this or it’s just what happens when niches scale.
- Some see cyclical swings between “trying too hard to be different” and “trying too hard to fit in.”
Variety Today: Boring or Not?
- Skeptics of the article’s thesis argue there is more variety in an average crowd today than among historical peasants; the article is seen as cherry‑picking aristocratic and ceremonial outfits.
- Regional differences (Tokyo vs LA, Miami vs Seattle) and youth experimentation are cited against the idea that “everyone dresses the same.”
- Others feel everyday wear is indeed dominated by similar global brands and black/neutral basics, especially in colder weather.
Technology, Laundry, and Construction
- Pre‑washing‑machine laundry shaped clothing design: undergarments protected outer layers, allowing batch washing and rare cleaning of complex garments.
- Discussion of suit linings and structural canvassing highlights how older everyday suits could be unlined, lighter, and less formal than modern ones.
Ethics, Environment, and Fast Fashion
- Multiple comments criticize fast fashion’s waste and pollution.
- Suggested responses: regulatory pricing of externalities, keeping garments longer, and decoupling self‑expression from constant turnover, while preserving fashion as a meaningful form of identity and communication.