Things I learned from Reddit fashion

4/10/2026 at 8:24:38 AM

reddit is probably the worst place on the internet to get any advice on. it used to be the place I used to go when I wanted to outsource my entire personality and thinking (admittedly I was underage and didnt have a shred of critical thinking in me). has been a long journey of unlearning ever since I realized what kind of people were posting on there. I'm seeing similarities on HN too btw. I think the internet would be a much better place without reddit.

by raks619

4/7/2026 at 2:56:41 PM

I have sometimes turned to Reddit to find out things about clothing and recommendations for clothes, but I find the general consensus about "if you want x, the best place to buy is y" is pretty rubbish.

The best thing you can learn is how to treat clothes, as you mention.

by delphic-frog

4/9/2026 at 8:54:53 PM

You can tell the author went deep into reddit because they fell for the wool meme. Sorry but synthetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture.

One pattern I noticed that was missing: the classic reddit experience of saying "I'd like a new shoulder season jacket, and I want to spend less than $100" and having some know-it-all try to convince you that what you really need is an ultra-nano-pore down puffer made by a blind Italian artisan that costs $950, and that anything else is Wal-Mart-tier garbage.

by levocardia

4/9/2026 at 10:03:25 PM

The best warm underlayer garments I've ever owned have been merino Icebreaker brand. They can be worn multiple times without needing a wash. Synthetics stink really, really quickly.

I asked claude to remind me of what Sir Peter Blake had to say about merino underwear:

>> Sir Peter Blake wore Icebreaker merino prototypes during his record-breaking round-the-world yacht race. After returning from the Southern Ocean, he claimed the fabric was "superior in every way to anything I had ever worn before" and revealed he'd worn his Icebreaker for 43 days and 43 nights without changing. He also reportedly greeted Icebreaker's original merino farmer, Brian Brakenridge, as "the sheep farmer responsible for stopping my undies from smelling."

by tmnvix

4/9/2026 at 9:10:52 PM

Having spent a lot of time in denial before investing in a few light wool turtlenecks and some Aran jumpers, I can only disagree.

When wool gets warm it expands, which cools you slightly. It seems to have a much better range of temperatures you can be comfortable in.

Synthetic jumpers and sweaters get stuffy quickly and after a few washes can end up itchy.

And no, good cable knits from non designer brands go for $100-$200 and will last many, many years.

by boonzeet

4/9/2026 at 11:42:27 PM

> sythetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture.

Synthetic fibres such as polyester and acrylic absorb little water, as such they are good insulators but poor at thermal buffering. They have minimal heat of sorption (about 5–7 J/g) [7], and are limited to moisture wicking. There are also more likely to develop odors and are much more flammable.

by xnyan

4/9/2026 at 9:07:05 PM

wool IS better if you are gonna stay outdoors for long periods of time in anything but extreme cold

wool will keep you warm and comfy

wool is the difference between happiness and tears

ignore at your own risk

by evenerhejjr

4/9/2026 at 9:16:31 PM

Wool will keep you warm and comfy even if it is soaking wet. It is also used for fire blankets.

by galleywest200

4/9/2026 at 9:20:44 PM

Team wool here too

My carpets are 80% wool (with wool underlay). My base layers are wool. My jumpers are wool. My curtains are wool. Much of my mattress is wool. My next sofa will be wool.

The only thing better than wool in a duvet (comforter?) is down. My duvet is down lol

by gib444

4/10/2026 at 2:40:44 AM

I can walk down a Bangkok street in my suit and be comfortable. Why? Lightweight Italian wool fabric, silk-lined jacket, cotton shirt. Meanwhile the guy next to me in short sleeve polo and jeans is a puddle of sweat.

Synthetics definitely have their place. Uniqlo's Airism is a game-changer in the tropics and lots of outdoors activities like hiking or skiing are much more comfortable with modern technical fabrics, but natural fibres are far from obsolete.

by exidy

4/9/2026 at 9:13:59 PM

Wool is an excellent fiber for active base layer. Probably in a blend. The bacteria growth on anything poly is brutal, giving me a horrible stink and wrecking my skin once I wear it for more than an hour of activity. Do I want wool as insulation? No, I don't want the weight or time to dry.

by skithrowyouknow

4/9/2026 at 9:10:40 PM

Synthetics stink quite quickly.

by g8oz

4/9/2026 at 9:15:04 PM

> synthetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture

True. But I hate synthetics on my skin. Merino base layers and then layered synthetics/more wool works for me for low-activity cold weather. Feels much better. I like wool hats too as they seem to deal with odour better.

I only tolerate a synthetic breathable top for the gym. Though when they misconfigure the A/C I have to wear a heavy cotton tshirt to not freeze!

Synthetic socks can be dangerous too - slippery as hell on a smooth floor! Nearly came a cropper the other day when I forgot I wasn't wearing cotton lol

Modern merino is quite affordable. £20-50 per base layer item. My 100% wool hat was like £15 or something. My modern merino jumpers are £40-50 ish, and they look very posh too

Wool still has its place and isn't going anywhere

by gib444

4/10/2026 at 9:38:37 AM

on related note what would be the best VFM sneakers/hiking shoes which will be mostly used in the city and are also available in Europe? in US you have pretty sweet deals on sneakers or some walmart or other cheap good quality brands, but here in Europe everything which ain't Adidas/Nike/Puma will have for me collapsed heel within few weeks, and mind I am not even some fat guy, my BMI is like 21 and literally every single noname shoe (think like Lidl) will collapse for me

by Markoff