To wonder if everyone is constantly updating their wardrobe?

[Albionsolutions]

I always look a bit “dated”, ie I’m never wearing the latest style and always feel a bit behind the times when it comes to clothes.

I’m just wondering how often women my age (early 40s) or stage of life (busy working mum) update their clothing? I buy a few dresses and tops each year; but often can be wearing stuff around 3 or 4
years old… is this normal?

I am on a no buy and wearing last year's summer clothes. Most of my clothes are over 3 years old. I don't believe in updating but then I also don't believe in trends.

I’ve got stuff years old, I try not to buy new now, if I want something I aim to sell on vinted and buy with the profits.

I wish! I wore a tshirt today that I bought 20 years ago!

I'm a lot older than you. I buy a few things every year - jackets, tops, trousers mainly - but I've got stuff in my wardrobe anything up to 40 years old. If I wait long enough the style is OK to wear at some point e.g I've got wide trousers from when they were last fashionable and also denim dresses from the last century which look really up to the minute now.
Of course it helps that I was always an individualistic dresser rather than a fashion victim.
Could never ever have afforded at any point in my life to change my whole wardrobe.

I mean of course it's normal to be wearing things you've had for years. I have lots of things I've had for years, often more than ten. But yes, I am in my forties and a busy working mum and I do buy a few current pieces each season and follow trends. (Not all of them; yes horseshoe jeans, no ballet flats. I despise them.) I love fashion and have a lot of fun with my clothes.

The latest style often does not suit me so why would I buy it just so I don't look " dated". I look terrible in those huge baggy dresses with massive puff sleeves that are still the rage. On the other hand, I do have wideleg jeans because I look good in them.

I love clothes and really enjoy styling myself. I buy myself new stuff far too often.

Nope.
I deliberately try to only replace stuff that NEEDS replacing ..ie jeans that wear through at the knees or bum (I work with very small children so a lot of kneeling!)
T shirts when they get thin, and underwear when it has got thin or my nude bras have gone corpse grey
I have clothes older than many of the posters on here. Good boots and good coats last decades and I wear what suits me and is comfortable :)

my updating is discarding stained and ratty items and replacing 1 item for every 2 that need discarding.
i have an issue with cheap fabrics that warp in the wash and cooking stains that simply won't come out or sadly the occasional bleach splatter.
i just can't get over how poor the quality is on some items.
nothing seems to come out, not tea or the dreaded (for me) pasta sauce.
literally some times brand new stuff gets washed once and looks like a dishrag.

I don’t buy new clothes very often, but I tend to dress in a fairly classic style, so my clothes look neither up-to-date nor hideously outdated. I probably look fairly boring. But I don’t have the energy to be a dedicated follower of fashion!

I have some clothes that are years old but I buy new clothes most months too. I just buy things that I like when I see them which keeps my wardrobe up to date.

I’m late 40s and buy clothes every year just as needed ie replacing old ones. I don’t follow trends particularly and my style is quite basic I think. Every year on overage I buy one new coat eg winter, waterproof and one pair of shoes eg trainers, but then more of other clothes like tops.

my philosophy is buy good quality less often.

I’m size 20 Apple so a lot of fashions don’t look good on me to be honest and I choose carefully. I imagine it’s different if everything looks good on you!

I have basics which don't change that much, or which change gradually. But I buy a few bits every season. I find that sometimes new silhouettes or a new way of styling something is very appealing. I'm not sure I ever look like I'm on the cutting edge of fashion but I think I generally look current.

I'm also early 40s, work FT and have a 4 year old in case it makes a difference.

Nooo! I found a few jeans I loved and when they wore through I found the exact same pairs on vinted 😄

I may subconsciously not value clothes and with my finite amount of yearly salary I always seem to choose nice food or experiences over buying clothes, to the extent I have to force myself to remember to budget for and buy them, I update just a few pieces per year.

I tend to buy three or things a year, good quality and classic rather than high fashion. So some of my clothes are 10 or 20 years old.

I buy new clothes every 10 years or so. I LOVE feeling under no obligation to keep up with any sort of fashion

This is me too.

When I do buy new clothes, I'm looking for styles that won't date. Opposite to a pp - I won't buy horseshoe jeans because they'll look dated in a few weeks, whereas I've pulled out the ballet flats I bought from the last time they were in (and they were never 100% out).

I absolutely love those dresses and bought a couple. I think they look cool on me (they might not though as I’m a tiny fat woman)

I don’t have enough wardrobe space so I have to swap spring/summer clothes for autumn/winter ones twice a year. That gives a good chance to see what I’ve got, what needs passing on or throwing out, and what I actually need. So then I go shopping/making accordingly. Never according to current fashion trends. I know what I like and that’s what I’m wearing, no matter what the shops are selling.

I might have ballet flats actually in the top of the wardrobe! Not sure about horseshoe jeans. I’ll need to google them

often can be wearing stuff around 3 or 4 years old… is this normal?

Not at all, I have stuff that must be 20 to 30 years old! Other than underwear I think I have bought a dress and a rain jacket in the last 6 years!

@JudgeJ you are my hero.

Objectively speaking, buying clothes simply because fashions change (for no good reason except to sell more clothes) seems more unreasonable than wearing things until they need to be replaced. If you're happy with your clothes and have neither time nor inclination to update your wardrobe, I wouldn't (and don't!) bother.

If you find clothes that you like and that you feel suit you, they'll still suit you, regardless of the latest fashion.

I buy clothes a lot at the minute, but out of necessity because I'm shrinking. Just now there seems to be a lot of linen, white and block colour which is right up my street so I'm buying even more. Generally I don't know what's in fashion, don't follow trends and don't look dated either.