You've put on a jumper, and within minutes the label is all you can think about. Or your socks have a seam that's sitting slightly wrong, and it's ruining your whole morning.

If getting dressed sometimes feels like a battle, you're not being fussy. For many autistic people, clothes are one of the most constant sensory inputs of the day.

Why clothes can feel so intense

Many autistic people experience touch differently. The National Autistic Society lists fabric textures, including clothing and bedding, as a common sensory trigger, along with things like unexpected touch and wind or rain on the skin (National Autistic Society). It also notes that people who avoid certain sensations sometimes get unhelpful labels like "picky" or "fussy".

The NHS lists being very sensitive, or not sensitive at all, to textures as one of the signs of autism in adults (NHS).

Clothes are tricky because you can't take a break from them. A noisy room you can leave. A scratchy waistband stays with you all day. And, like other sensory input, it can feel worse when you're tired, stressed or already overloaded.

A scenario

Imagine it's Monday morning. You've got a new shirt for an important meeting. It looked fine in the shop, but now the collar is rubbing and the fabric feels stiff. By 11am you can't focus on what anyone's saying, and you've no idea why you're so on edge. It's only when you get home and change that the fog lifts.

Practical ways to make it easier

You don't need to overhaul your wardrobe. Start with the item that bothers you most.

There are more ideas for managing touch and other senses in building your sensory toolkit.

Uniforms and dress codes at work

Work clothes can be one of the hardest parts. You might not get to choose the fabric, the fit or the shoes.

It can help to start informally. Many dress codes have some flexibility, like a different fabric in the same colour or a soft top under a required jacket. If that doesn't work, you may be able to ask for a reasonable adjustment.

A short, specific request often works best. For example: "The uniform fabric is very uncomfortable for me because of sensory differences. Could I wear the same style in a cotton version, or a soft layer underneath?"

Explaining it to others

People close to you might not understand why you won't wear the lovely jumper they bought you. You could try: "Some fabrics feel really uncomfortable on my skin, a bit like wearing something itchy all day. It's not about the jumper, it's about the texture."

If you're supporting someone, try not to push them into clothes that feel wrong, even for special occasions. Asking "What feels comfortable?" before buying, or offering a receipt, can save a lot of stress.

References

  1. National Autistic Society. Sensory differences: a guide for all audiences. autism.org.uk
  2. NHS. Signs of autism in adults. nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs-in-adults
  3. Acas. Adjustments for neurodiversity. acas.org.uk/reasonable-adjustments/adjustments-for-neurodiversity
  4. Government Equalities Office (2018). Dress codes and sex discrimination: what you need to know. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk