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Original poster

Do you still wear old clothes?

75 replies

WithCheesePlease · 14/06/2017 23:55

And by that I don't mean "vintage" or "retro chic", I mean actually old 😂. This probably shouldn't be in the style section but I don't think there's an 'anti-style' section 😒

Often people will say to me "oh I love your top/jeans/jacket', and I'm like 'oh I've had this a while'. In reality I had my favorite pair of jeans for almost 20 years until the arse was literally hanging out of them, but torn arses came back into fashion so that was ok 😂

I have belts that I've worn for 15/20 years and can still see the worn notches of where they fit one time, back in the day 😮

I've lots of tops (just basic ones) that are at least 10 years old, and don't get me started on pyjamas!

Does anyone else hang onto clothes for a really long time (and of course add to your wardrobe with newer pieces as you go along)? Or would you never keep anything longer than say a year or two?

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 15/06/2017 09:28

What is old?

Nothing wrong with wearing clothes for a few years. In fact, I dislike the current disposable clothes that seem to flood the High Street.

Treesinbloom · 15/06/2017 09:40

Erm sometimes. Although I did have a huge overhaul of my wardrobe a few years ago and since then I've started buying clothes that suit my figure much better and I got rid of loads of old clothes that did nothing for me.

I've got a couple of coats that are over 10 years old. Plus some skirts. But everything else is less than 5 years old.

Before overhauling my wardobe the vast majority of my clothes were over 10 years old and made me look awful

silkpyjamasallday · 15/06/2017 10:01

I don't ever get rid of clothes unless it was a very bad purchasing decision (some printed trousers from H&M that looked like they should belong to a clown spring to mind) or something is totally wrecked. I have pretty eclectic taste and I'm not bothered about wearing the latest trends, especially when it's bloody cold shoulders and ugly frills like it is at the moment. I am 22 and wear stuff I bought as a young teen still, I only really bought black grey or beige clothes so I have just added some more fun colourful things like vintage kimonos as I have got older, but the older stuff provides the base layer perfectly still. I also wear clothes that belonged to my DM when she was younger so they are much older than me, and I have several fur coats that belonged to my nana and grandma. It's nice for clothes to have memories attached to them, I still have an exs hoody that I wear on slobby days, and if you keep occasion wear for long enough no one will remember you've already worn it.

Although I think the idea of a capsule wardrobe is appealing in terms of reducing clutter, it does mean clothes get worn out and look scruffy much more quickly and you have to replace them more often. Unless you buy really good quality it isn't going to last and I've found even high end brands aren't that well made nowadays despite being £££ in comparison to vintage clothes I have from M&S for example made in the 70s or 80s. If you have the space I don't see why you wouldn't just put things in storage for a while when you've gone off them then take them out again when you want to wear whatever it is again.

BusterGonad · 15/06/2017 10:29

SilkPs I can honestly say the idea of a capsule wardrobe fills me with sadness, I honestly couldn't do it, just like the idea of a minimal make up collection!

PNGirl · 15/06/2017 10:46

I don't really have space to keep things for decades. We have a shared double wardrobe in the bedroom, 2 dresser drawers each and another triple wardrobe for coats, jumpers, and things like weekend bags and small suitcases.

The oldest thing I have is probably a leather jacket from 2008 but the cut is dated now so I'm going to donate it. T-shirts last me about 2-3 years but I don't pay much for them. Jeans wear through where my legs rub in about 2 years as well! My shoes last well though; I had a pair of winter boots from Duo that lasted me almost 8 years and sandals will do me 5 summers.

If I buy something and don't wear it after a season or so I will eBay or donate it so it's not wasted.

IrrationalAboutPie · 15/06/2017 12:20

It's not really a question of space is it PN? Either you've got space for clothes or you don't have space for clothes. How old they are is irrelevant!

Having said that, I've been living out of boxes for the past 3 years and hopefully will have a wardrobe in a couple of weeks so am planning a huge clear out because I clearly don't need the clothes that are in the bottom boxes!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 15/06/2017 12:23

I'm still wearing a t-shirt nicked off my ex who I split up with 20 years ago, which he bought at a festival in 1991. I dont wear it often because it has swears on the back, but it's a well loved favourite.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 15/06/2017 12:24

Oh and I also still wear my 25 year old Docs.

Monkeybunkey · 15/06/2017 13:38

I only get rid of clothes if they haven't fitted for more than a year/18 months or are full of holes or otherwise ruined. I hate clothes shopping so don't often buy new stuff (unless I see something I really like). I've lost 2.5 stone in the last couple of years and have recently donated a lot of my "big" stuff as I'm going to try really hard not to need it again. I do a lot of gardening and outdoor stuff so clothes get relegated to gardening or dog walking before they get binned!

ChainingDaisy · 15/06/2017 13:41

Today I'm wearing a 10 year old skirt. I got it when I was 16. It still suits me, it's one of my favourite summer skirts. Not only that, it's a 10 year old primark skirt, still in perfect condition. I Hinksey it was a fiver, I wear it at least once a week through summer. Very good value for money!

specialsubject · 15/06/2017 13:41

I wear stuff until it disintegrates. Shopping is so horrible that I am working on running stocks right down.

Have bought a few pairs of socks, a new fleece and a couple of vest tops in the last year. Still have plenty of clothes!

ChainingDaisy · 15/06/2017 13:41

Think, feck knows what Hinksey is.

PNGirl · 15/06/2017 13:44

I was actually responding to these points:

"I get rid of clothes that are trashed or that don't suit or fit me any more but if they're just dated or if I'm bored with them I put them away and recycle. You do need space for a very big cupboard, I admit that."

"It's getting rid simply because you haven't worn it for a while that gets me (other than lack of space)."

So I don't have space to "put things away" until they're back in style again. I also don't have space to keep things for sentimental reasons or that might fit me again one day. If I'm not wearing it regularly, it has to go.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 15/06/2017 13:44

I only get rid of clothes that are no longer fit for purpose or don't fit anymore.
Today I'm wearing a pair of 10 year old shorts and a too I've had for about 2 years.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/06/2017 13:44

I have clothes that I was wearing at university. I graduated in 1993!

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 15/06/2017 13:46

May I also ask for anyone who does get rid of clothes regularly or knows those who do, please reassure me that they go to a charity shop or recycling rather than in a bin?

ALittleMop · 15/06/2017 13:47

I HAMMER my clothes, I mend things but I seem to wear things out, stain them, rip them and shred them like nobody's business

Floisme · 15/06/2017 14:15

Yes it's different when you don't have the space.

I also can't see today's high street clothes lasting 2 or 3 decades. Some of them don't survive that number of washes.

BusterGonad · 15/06/2017 14:21

I never bin anything unless it's ruined, toys, clothes, ornaments etc all to charity shops!

9GreenBottles · 15/06/2017 14:25

I do have things that I've had for years and wear with regularity, and I buy new things to introduce a bit of variety. I know what suits my body shape and colouring and buy for that instead of following fashion slavishly (cold shoulder tops??? Good god, no!).

As long as things flatter you, and aren't full of holes, why wouldn't you keep them?

purpleprincess24 · 15/06/2017 14:26

My problem is having so much stuff in my wardrobe for years that I've never worn for various reasons

MitchellMummy · 15/06/2017 14:31

Lightweights, all of you! I have two items in my wardrobe which are 39 and 42 years old. Yes I wear them, one's for very hot weather so doesn't get worn that often.

MyNewHobbyIsGin · 15/06/2017 14:33

Ha! I'm wearing a skirt today that I can't date. I rediscover it every couple of summers and love it. I think I bought it with another green skirt, which I recall wearing in 1999.

Black, midi, with a 'v' shape front and back. Looks good as new!

OldJoseph · 15/06/2017 14:41

The only item of clothing I own that's been with me for years is a belt bought in America more than 20 years ago. I love it, I wear it most weeks and it's still in good condition. I would be very sad if I ever lost it. Am hoping I'll keep it until the day I die.

CypriotDonkey · 15/06/2017 15:30

All my clothes are old. I never buy new, only very rarely, maybe once per year, for holiday for example. I dont follow fashion and hate shopping. In fact, I have been looking for a top to go on holiday to go with some jeans but cannot find anything I like, everything at the moment seems to be covered in ruffles, bell sleeves or awful prints! Where are all the nice pretty clothes? I have given up and will probably just wear something old! I normally just get all my holiday clothes out from under bed and just wear them all year after yearGrin