What is your clothing lifespan?
I was recently at a consignment store where they specialize in fast fashion resale. I think I was about 35 years older than everyone in that shop. It should have been called Forever 15.
It was recommended to me by my hair stylist as a good place to get rid of unwanted clothing and get some cash in exchange.
The shop was very busy and full of high school kids dropping off massive bags of clothing for cash on-the-spot.
It occurred to me that these kids had no idea that clothing should last more than six months to a year.
The fashion industry has trained the youth to treat clothing as disposable. Wear it once and get rid of it.
I was stunned when the salesperson explained that they only accept clothing that is 1-2 years old and shows very little or no signs of wear.
It got me thinking how long I anticipate wearing items when I buy them. Without a doubt I shop with the intention of wearing an item for a minimum of three to five years. Coats, boots, many shoes, jeans and quite a few other items I anticipate wearing upwards of ten years. I have a bathing suit that is 10 years old that I still wear. I have many items in my closet that are over fifteen years old and I don’t plan on getting rid of them any time soon. They suit me, my style and my body. Unless I gain or lose lots of weight I see no need to replace these items every 1-2 years.
I just read this article stating that the average number of times a woman wears one item of clothing is seven times.
What do you think about that? Do you believe that to be true?
Certainly there are items in your closet you can’t wear as often because they are for special occasions (I consider my bathing suit to be one of them since I only wear it when we go on vacation) but that doesn’t mean you should get rid of them. I have several dresses I bought over 25 years ago and I still wear them.
I still wear the dress I wore to my high school graduation. I knew at the time that I wanted something that would remain classic and it has.
Plus I just think it is damn cool to be wearing something that I wore when I was 16.
I often buy vintage items which are ageless. I hope to be wearing them another ten years from now.
Tips to increase your clothing lifespan
- Buy quality fabrics that are lined and well constructed. Look at the seams, are they straight? Frayed?
- Wash your clothes according to manufacturers instructions. I try to avoid the dryer and use a very delicate washing soap.
- Try to wash your clothes less often. Hang outside to air out, steam clean, or spot clean items if possible. Washing clothes ages them.
- Buy classic shapes and colours that suit your body type.
- Buy what you love. If you love it, you’ll wear it, no matter how long you’ve owned it.
What do you consider to be your average clothing lifespan?
Just for fun…this is what I had to go through to get these last photos. Never try to take blog photos when your master is hungry.
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, 52-pick-me-up
The pug bomb! She needs her own show, I say. I am a keeper of clothing as well, although not as fabulously as you do it: your high school dress still looks fresh and pretty – and your *mom’s* dress as well. I too feel like an old T-Rex in those consignment shops (went to one yesterday with my baby sister and were the oldest there by a generation or two). thanks for sharing these memorable looks, and for being so creative, xox
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
I hate fast fashion! Almost as much as I hate polyester. Yes, clothes should last, otherwise we could just throw away money… My solution is to buy less but but buy better, hubby says I have expensive taste
(A pot calling kettle black in this case…)
I love your vintage finds, good investments.
Ha ha! My husband has expensive tastes. That is why he chose me! LOL
Brilliant! Of course he did! Mine too. Hee hee.
You have fabulous clothes! I agree with Patti, your high school graduation dress still looks great on you! That’s pretty hard to do!
I do buy clothes with the intend to keep them for a long time. I also have very little space in my closet, so I don’t buy a lot of new things each season and usually focus on a few new accessories (I can always find a place for those! Although I have to say my scarf hanging system is getting out of hand again after a few new additions…). Because I don’t buy a lot of things, what I buy has to be “perfect.” (It doesn’t always work out that day, but it’s my intention nonetheless…).
One item I have to replace quite often are tees, but I have been looking for better made ones, and I have found a few that wash much better than others (I always wash them on the hand-wash cycle and line dry them, but sadly many tees don’t look that great after wearing and washing them for a season.)
Oooh…please share which t-shirts you have found that are better quality. I agree, t-shirts aren’t made to last it seems. Also there is a big problem with under arm stains discolouring tees I find. I don’t ever remember it being as bad as it is now. I don’t know if it is because the antiperspirant is stronger or I’m simply sweating more. I do know it makes it hard to keep tees more than a couple of years. Sometimes like you I only manage to get one year from them.
I got some really nice tees (long sleeve and short sleeve) at Black House White Market about six years ago. They were all on sale (still not cheap, but a much better deal than full price). They have held up beautifully (but they are not traditional cotton-only material; I’m actually not sure what material they are as I cut out all the tags…). I’ve also had luck with some tees (but not all!) from Banana Republic. I don’t order tees from there online anymore as I need to look at them…
Finally, I just bought a black investment blouse from Trina Turk. It basically looks like a tee (but isn’t and isn’t cotton). I have very high hopes for it and see myself wearing it when I’m 80! We’ll see… 🙂
I’ll be interested to learn how that Trina Turk works out for you. Especially after a few washes.
http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/how-to-get-rid-of-sweat-stains/
… good grief – who knew!!
Okay…I’m trying this and crossing my fingers the salt water one does the trick.
The pug bomb is hilarious!! But maybe she just wanted some more notoriety—she’s getting a taste of being a dog blogger and wants more!! (now there’s an idea for you—start a dog blog)
I’ve been to a consignment store like this—and I was flabbergasted—why would I get rid of an item only 1-2 years old? So I feel like the story you told was deja vu!!
Maybe as we get older, we get smarter and realize it’s fun to keep clothing around!
I totally love that you still wear your graduation dress and your mom’s confirmation dress—how cool!
I just don’t understand why you don’t wear your bathing suit more often —-ha ha! (i’m sure you could do a post on how to wear it under your leather jacket or something!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
ps…sorry for the way long comment—-I must need to get out and talk to real people soon!!
Yeah! I should do a post on how to get more wear from your bathing suit! NOT!!! Ha ha.
Don’t give Zoë any ideas about her own blog. She is too much of a demanding diva already.
I very seldom buy brand new retail except for underpinnings.
You absolutely get what you pay for – whether that is a beautifully made item in a quality fabric, or a small label with a designer name on it.
I totally agree that we wash our clothes to death. Dry clean only? Educate yourself as to what IS dry clean only – ditto washing instructions on garments and the booklet that came with your washing machine. I don’t have a tumble-drier.
Only buy what you love. Be choosy where you spend your money.
Or not! It’s your choice! Just don’t be a dick (a bit of male-oriented slurring for Melanie Bagandaberet)
Also this http://tinyurl.com/jkmhb4g
Elaine (Victorian handbag owning) Monkeypaints
Ugh. Every time I read about how our unrelenting over indulging excess consumerism needs are being met through scrupulous companies exploiting workers I feel ill.
I realize well that it isn’t just the companies that need to change, it is how we view clothing and our own personal desires. If we have a habit of shopping for fun (I’m not excluded) then we need to change our mindset. This requires replacing our old habits with new ones. For the moment for me that is focusing on thrifting and vintage, but ideally I would love for that to be replaced with desiring experiences rather than objects.
We have been brainwashed through years of marketing that if we have the right clothing, the right look then the experiences we desire in our life will magically appear. Our lives will be like those fabulous women in the magazines. Fulfilling, joyful and full of love. That is simply untrue. The proliferation of social media has only magnified this lie.
I wish I had a button I could push to just rid myself of any desire to shop. Collecting and enjoying my clothing is fun, especially when memories are attached to them such as my Mom’s dress or my graduations dress, but collecting clothing simply because I look good in it isn’t creating the life I want. Having a blog that focuses on style only feeds the monster.
I propose that we go out for chocolate cake instead of shopping for fun. No, I propose that we go to YOUR HOUSE, Suzanne, for chocolate cake instead of shopping for fun. Heh.
If you ever find the magic button, heh, please, please let me know.
Thank you for that slur, Elaine. Hahaha. They now have “wet cleaning” too.
I think if we were all out sweating at hard manual labour every day we wouldn’t worry about shopping so much. But we might still obsess about chocolate cake at Suzanne’s house.
Mmmmm chocolate cake. I need to bake one.
I love to hang on to clothes but my wearing of them goes in jumps and starts. I have shipped boxes and boxes of clothes through the years to family members and have loved seeing nieces wear some of these pieces to proms, etc. I wish they were in my own closet, but this is the next best thing. I simply have don’t have the space to hang on to sentimental clothes AND feed my changing tastes at the same time.
When I buy an eccentric piece, I’m usually fairly sure I’ll only wear it a few times, but those few times are worth it – mind you, they are vintage/used from the $5 rack usually and I redonate. It’s kind of like rental.
I love this photo gallery in your long-lasting faves, especially your airport photo. I hope we see a video next! Hahaha! Forever 15? Bwahahaha!! Good one. What a pity, this trend.
“Not surprisingly, many of the workers don’t understand why so many Westerners are getting rid of perfectly good clothing. The women offer up plenty of explanations, such as, “Everyone here says that the clothes come over because there’s a water shortage in the West…Maybe the water is too expensive to wash them.” Another reason: “Who knows, maybe they just don’t like washing their clothes?” However, the final comment, made by a woman standing in the middle of piles of clothes bigger than her, rings truest. “They wear their clothes a couple of times, then throw them away,” she says.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKnqCzLQI0M
As most of the women in my family worked in the clothing/footwear industry in the UK at some point – clothing is somewhat politicised for me too 🙂
Even the crappiest of clothing was brought into being by someones hand
Thanks for sharing that video.
How bizarre our world has become.
Fabulous in every single look.
I always buy what steels my heart usually timeless items of clothing
Mil besos, my friend
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I am also swayed by unique pieces like what you buy. And colour. I think we are both addicted to colour.
The older a person is, the longer they expect their clothes to last — because the further back in time you go, the sturdier things were made with the expectation of longer clothing-life. I’m shocked at how disposable people now view clothes. I guess it’s a function of how prices have dropped so far, but I grew up expecting to get a good year or two of regular wear out of a garment. BTW, your outfits here are sooo cute.
Thanks Ally.
It is crazy now how the world is addicted to “new”. Consumerism is fuelling the economy and destroying the world.
Pugster! So cute. It’s a sad indictment of the times isn’t it. The irony is that a lot of those clothes that have to be less that a year old are made so badly they won’t last a year. I like to do a cost-per-wear calculation. Paid $10 for the dress, wore it 83 times: Cost Per Wear 12 cents. Awesome! Great advice – thanks. Your distressed jeans? Did they actually get distressed from wear and tear rather than by a designer? Wow! Silver jumpsuit. Too awesome. Everything vintage. Gorgeous. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to keep these as long as you can, and mourn them when you have worn them ragged with love?
I am also a big fan of the CPW.
The distressed jeans had a few holes when I bought them, but they became much larger over the years, that is why I put the fabric in behind the holes.
Isn’t that jumpsuit incredible? 1970’s lurex found in one of my favourite vintage shops that has now sadly closed. : (
I am a real sucker for vintage. I think it is because I’m vintage : )
Zoe needs her own blog!
Love every single outfit you’re wearing.
I occasionally look back at old posts on my blog and am surprised how long I’ve been wearing my clothes – most were already over 40 when I got them. Like you I keep the laundering to a minimum, airing dresses before they go back in the wardrobe. Now we’ve got the smoking ban it means I don’t have to chuck my complete outfit in the washing machine after a night out to get rid of the hideous stink of fags.
I hate today’s throwaway yoof culture. xxx
I too am happy we no longer need to worry about cigarette smoke in our clothes. That is the WORST to try to get out of vintage leather.
🙂 What a lovely little pug you have!
I’m in love with all your vintage dresses – my favorites are the outfit you wore to pick up your husband and the long reddish-brown dress. They’re so WOW!
My clothes have quite a long lifespan and I fully agree with you – buy what you LOVE (not what you like). Those are the pieces that I have the longest!
Have a very HAPPY week!
Greetings form Vienna xo 🙂
Yes, I am the slave of a very demanding diva pug.
That orange and gold 1960’s dress is one I just LOVE to wear. I’ve worn it for New Year’s and to a couple of fancy parties. I feel like a movie star every time I put it on.
Great post and I agree with you, better to buy vintage and high quality items that last.
I rarely buy cheap stuff just for 1 season wear, almost all of my stuff I have had for years, especially my shoes/boots. If you spend more money on new stuff it is more timeless and lasts longer- quality is better than quantity. If I do want something frivolous I buy at the thrift store. I probably buy about 85% of my stuff at thrift/consignment anyway. Would rather save my money for going on trips and doing fun things 🙂
You have it all worked out, stop spending so much money on clothes and put it towards experiences.
I need to take a page from your book.
I am probably guilty of falling into the trap of fast fashion. Now days retailers do new roll outs every several weeks (smart marketing). I shop even though I have enough clothes for probably 10 people. I do love things in my closet that are on the older side, it just means I have stayed true to my style and still love the pieces and was worth every penny.
Because of this fashion trend, I am trying better to stay away shops like F21 or Target when it’s very reasonably priced and too much temptations.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
I agree…avoiding those shops is the best idea.
Ha ha – pug bomb! I haven’t given much thought to how long my clothes will last – but I have many things in my closet that are at least 20 years old. I can’t fit into anything from high school though – impressive!
Well, I should add there is an elastic waist on the dress ; P
I like to have long-term relationships with my clothing and don’t buy things unless I expect them to last for a long time. Quite a bit of my wardrobe is at least pre-Angel, and I still have a few cherished dresses from high school (True, I graduated in ’08, so not all that long ago, but certainly longer than the dictates of ‘fast fashion’). I can’t imagine buying something and only wearing it a few times! Like you, I try to minimize washing (not as easy to do in the tropics), and I handwash and hang dry anything that needs it. #5 from your tips is big for me–I buy only what I love and my love does not tend to be fickle, so I stick with what I bought and am sad when the necessities of moving overseas or plain old wear-and-tear make me get rid of a garment.
I imagine that clothing wears totally different in a humid hot climate.
Love to see you rocking all your fabulous clothes, and enjoying them as they deserve!. I agree with you, clothes, good clothes, are made to be worn for years and years, as they make us feel fabulous. I’m also a keeper, I own some really old pieces and I’m still very fond of them!
And thanks for sharing that cute ‘pug bomb’, you really made my day!!
besos & fun
I’ll let Zoë know she has a fan : )
Some great tips there Suzanne about how to maintain our much loved items. Not over washing is the one I think I should heed as I didn’t realise the long term affects. We all seem to adore your pug-bomb. It’s good to show who’s boss even when there’s a camera around x
Anna
Anna’s Island Style
When I worked in a women’s clothing store in the early 90’s we had to take a course on clothing care and that was one of the first things we learned. Funny now since when I researched online today’s recommendations they all said to wash the clothing after every wear. Totally NOT what I’d learned and completely unnecessary.
It’s amazing to still be wearing something that you had at 16! I have a few pieces still from college, but that’s about it. I completely agree that younger people are conditioned to see clothing as disposable, especially young women. My husband, unlike me, does have clothing from high school/college that he still wears. Men’s clothing doesn’t change that much in terms of what’s in style, but with women’s clothing there is always a new trend to latch on to. As you stated, it’s best to try to stick to well-made classics, which in the last few years I’m trying to do more of.
I only expect my clothes to last…forever. :o)
JJ
Hehe. I think it helps that you had good taste as a teenager. I don’t think I could ever wear anything that I was wearing at that age. I didn’t know anything about anything. Haha. Also, I probably wouldn’t be able to fit into any of it. So you got me there, as well. ;D I’m a big fan of showing love for clothing through reuse, so obviously I think this is a great post! <3
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
Oh blimey, I have lots of items that are around 10 years old! I really do wear stuff until it wears out completely, or until I think it’s ‘not my style’. I really would never spend money on something think it’s just for a year!! x
It’s shocking the quality of alot of garments these days compared with when I was growing up. I have loads of shoes, coats and clothes in my wardrobe that are at least 15 years old and still going strong.
If you take care of items they can last if you’re prepared to pay for quality.
I couldn’t bear the idea of wearing something only once – although my wedding dress does fall into that category!
First of all, you look amazing in all of these outfits – a woman with such an incredible sense of style. You are also one of those rare women who don’t change much in shape and size over the years. I wish I still could fit in some of mu clothing. I think the oldest item I fit in is 10 years old or so – I gained a lot of weight. But fast fashion is an alien concept to me of course, being from a different generation and also a different culture where people saved things for years simply because they did not have much. I bought many more items of clothing in the past 3 years than I’ve ever done before because of my reborn interest to style and a new journey. I plan to hang on to most of them – I do give myself a wiggle room because when you’re experimenting, some errors occur, for sure. Otherwise, I’d love to have an eclectic wardrobe consistent of many pieces that I wear for many years – just like your wardrobe is!
I don’t think that young adults buy anything these days expecting it to last more than a season or a year. Look at the planned obsolescence built into small appliances and technology – everything is disposable, and easily replaceable, so why should their attitude towards clothing be different. It’s all about having whatever is the current trend, so it need not last more than 7 wearings. Those of us that don’t buy our clothing based on what is “in” appreciate the better quality of vintage pieces that have already lasted 10, 20, 30 or more years.
We have a new consignment shop in London that is just like the one you described. I can’t believe the amount of cheap rayon and lycra stuff that is on the racks.
I wish I could also tap that button you mention above making me not want to shop! I have way too much stuff although much is second hand.
Yes, that is pretty shocking about the expectation that you only wear clothing for that long. I have many items that I’ve had well over 10 years. I still have my black concert dress from when I was 14 which I wear sometimes and I have my Nan’s shirt which she gave me when I was 15 which was her’s before. I have bought things from Primark (which is the cheap fast fashion equivalent of whatever shop you were referring to) since I was about 13 before it became well known but I’d wear them for years too- I don’t understand it when people say the clothesfrom there die after a certain amount of time because that doesn’t happen to me- I use non-bio Ecover washing powder and no tumble drier and it works for me! x
The main part of my wardrobe are clothes from WHBM and I’ve had them for around ten years now.
BTW : You look fab in everything you wear…no matter how old it is! 🙂
Love this post! Isn’t it interesting how the younger generation think when it comes to clothes? Amazing, right? And I’ve even raised two of these. Although Tori is getting a lot better with age and is finally investing in less and better quality. I think the two of us shop exactly the same way (two great minds), and I keep reminding Par that my closets keep expanding because I haven’t. When you stay the same size for 30 years your clothes keep fitting so why give the ones you love away, right? Like your Pink plaid Mr. Jax dress, it looks fantastic, as well as your graduation dress and your mom’s confirmation dress is about as lovely as they come.
Oh yes, I wear my clothes for a long time. And indeed when I buy them I want them to last at least five years. Preferably for ever.
I love that white dress of your mom. Oh well, I like all the outfits you showed. But the white one was new to me. And the graduation dress of course.
That silver jumpsuit…. ah.. never get rid of that either. Sooo good.
Greetje
PS please feed that dog…