The growing appeal of adjustable clothes

From drawstrings to elastic waists, clothes with flexibility — or just room to breathe — are more relevant than ever in the age of GLP-1.

Changeable clothing size can be a genuine wardrobe problem. Even before the rise of GLP-1 drugs, many people already owned wardrobes that catered to different versions of themselves — more fitted at times and looser at others. As size fluctuation becomes ever more pronounced, it makes sense that clothes should work a little harder for us.

For designers, adjustable clothing is a convenient way to simplify the perennial problem of fit. It has long been a feature of bespoke tailoring: With bespoke we always leave good inlays so it can be let out or taken in — we future-proof the garment. There is increasing changeability in individuals’ sizes, and people are more self-aware than before and they will share any new health regime that might impact their size right from the start.

After the pandemic there was a reluctance to relinquish comfort, but what is emerging feels like a good compromise. You can still have tailoring and look “put together” but it can be enhanced and improved with stretch, ties and hidden adjustments.