If you had to go back to a past culture's clothes style, which one?

Mud..and other things on the streets.

Now we have cars and a generally controlled environment indoors.

edited 9th Jun '11 2:02:33 PM by blueharp

Seventies easily. Bell bottoms and tie=dye are badass.

If you're talking more ancient, I don't know, I guess one of those eras when men wore dresses but called them robes and tunics to protect their maculinity, even though everybody knew what they actually were.

Late Rennisance

Puffy armsleeves ahoy!

Not sure that today's fashions are more comfortable than all those of yesteryear. Sure, some of the earlier fashions were insane (Elizabethan ruffs and padded jackets, anyone?) but prior to all that insanity are the venerable tunic-and-trews - the nearest modern equivalent being t-shirt and track pants and the difference being tunic and trews were acceptable in the presence of a lord or chieftain (who was probably wearing something similar, perhaps better decorated) while you're likely get sacked if you wander into a board room in trackies and a T.

Then there's the togas and robes.

@Washington 213: Hail, brother! We can groove together.

Except the tunic&trews are far more fashionable than a t-shirt and trackpants, and given a choice of only these two I will always wear the former.

Mostly because track pants are lame.

@anne: I generally eschew any clothing with labels on the outside.

I would too if I had a choice, but I'm too po' to overhaul my wardrobe. I have a bajillion t-shirts and only a few good-looking dress shirts.

edited 12th Jun '11 1:10:06 AM by annebeeche

Togas are 12 ft long sheets made of wool, i.e. a wearable convection oven.

Han Dynasty China.

IN ITALY.

Yup. They hated wearing the damn things, as classy as they were.

edited 12th Jun '11 1:13:34 AM by annebeeche

Actually, wool clothes can keep pretty cool inside, if they are not too tight or too heavy. There is a reason why desert nomads often wear wool — it acts as an insulator, in both directions.

Now the togas of the imperial period, yes, they were insanely heavy and unpractical. But the ones of the earlier times were not particularly bad from that point of view.

edited 12th Jun '11 1:26:02 AM by Carciofus

I'd have every culture's clothes styles. Why? Because that would look so cool!

The West, probably. Boots, sturdy pants, leather dusters or hide jackets, plus dress shirts with either scarves or neckties! Can't really beat that.

The elaborate, more complicated system of suits worn in the early twentieth century.

Modern clothing is ridiculously basic in comparison.

Twenty-one articles of clothing to look like you're wearing a 3-piece suit and collared shirt. I can relate to that.

I'd go for the insane-ness of the 1980s, it was just so colourful and fun. Either that or the Renaissance, after playing Assassin's Creed 2, it wasn't such a bad period in terms of fashion.

I'd go for some sort of Victorian/Steampunk or Renaissance style. Cloaks and side swords also deserve a comeback.

Personally, I've grown tired of steampunk.

Also, I just found a Japanese store that sells split toe shoes. I've always needed a shoe with a thin sole for delicate work.

Sorry for being late to the party, but I just saw this link posted earlier.

I'm surprised anyone would want to wear that. Look at the image.

Also, Nthing cloaks.

Nah, saris aren't so bad. I wouldn't wear that particular one because of the itchy sequins and uncomfortable material, but in general they're pretty much like togas: just a long bedsheet-like piece of fabric you wrap around your body. They have a wide range of comfortableness.