How old are your clothes?

[disneysteve]

I recently read something talking about underwear of all things. What caught my attention was they said that 26% of men admit to having underwear that is more than 5 years old. So that means 74% of guys replace their stuff more often than that. Really? It made me wonder what is the norm, not just for underwear but for clothes in general.

Just yesterday, I was wearing a t-shirt that I bought in 1997. I still have a couple of t-shirts from college (graduated in 1986). I have pants that I've had for at least 10 years and many dress shirts that I've had for nearly 20 years. I know that because my late father-in-law and I wore the same size and when he died, I got all of his shirts.

Of course, it helps greatly that I choose not to participate in the obesity epidemic so that I still wear the same size clothing that I wore 30 years ago. So are most people replacing clothes more often because they "outgrow" them or is it more about fashion and gratification from always having new stuff?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I think its more the fashion and gratification thing.

I'm today wearing a t-shirt from a 1990 family reunion. It's getting thin. Yesterday I wore a t-shirt from my employment in 1998. I've stitched a tiny hole that appeared on it. I have a favorite woven tank top and that I bought at least 25 years ago.

I hang onto some rather worn and stained clothes for outdoor work; I do a lot of that. So there are some old things in my closet. I think most USAmerican adults could have quite a few old-but-good clothes because they can rotate each piece with so many others that none get all that much wear and tear. Also, most people work in jobs that do not wear out their clothes.

[Barclay]

I have jeans from high school. I graduated 20 years ago. Of course, most of my clothes are newer because of work, I probably dont keep most things more than three years because of changes in fashion.

[josetann]

I think my tennis shoes may be 10+ years old, but I've only had them for a bit under a year.

I "think" my jeans are about two years old. My other pants and shorts are about 1-2 years old.

Shirts, most are 1-2 years old. I know one's 3 years old.

Socks and underwear, I dunno. I think they're about three years old.

Other than the socks/underwear and the jeans, most of what I have was bought at thrift stores. So I don't know the true age (I looked up the shoes though, they look like they were really popular and older than I thought, but they had virtually no wear).

[bennkar]

I'm sure most of my clothes are at least 5 years old. Although I do find most of them at yard sales, so that is just a guess. As for college clothes, I can't wear what I wore then (and I still have some shirts) though it is due to my weight lifting routine - the shirts simply won't fit over my shoulders. The socks from college I was wearing to the gym until about a year ago - the last pair finally gave up the ghost. Now I wear socks in the gym I usually find like new for $0.25.

In the last two years, I have probably bought 4 underwear and one pair of sneakers in a store. When you lose weight you can find so many like-new clothes at yard sales it's amazing. Even suits can be found for a few $$$.

If I go back 5 years I can probably add a pair of sneakers, one dress shirt and not much else I can remember to my in-store purchases. I find it funny as I can compare my clothese to a co-worker that doesn't buy much, but he insists on buying new in a store. His clothes are always in much worse shape than mine, its just crazy.

BTW Steve, that 64% should be 74%.

[disneysteve]

BTW Steve, that 64% should be 74%

Oops. I fixed the typo. Thanks.

[disneysteve]

I hadn't even thought about thrift shop purchases. It is true that I have no idea how old those items are. I have articles of clothing that I bought secondhand years ago and they were used then meaning their actual age is even older.

I just don't see the point in replacing things every few years. Certain things, like maybe socks, tend to wear out quicker, especially if you are like me and take your shoes off as soon as you enter the house. But pants, shirts, jackets, suits and even underwear, simply don't wear out that soon. Even cheap low-end items like $5 t-shirts from Walmart, last for years.

Of course, I'm not saying that I never buy new stuff. I do, as does my wife. You do just get tired of wearing the same things over and over and want to freshen up the wardrobe, but unless something gets stained or damaged, it remains in the rotation.

[josetann]

Even cheap low-end items like $5 t-shirts from Walmart, last for years.

$5 T-shirts (unless we're talking $5 marked down from $20) don't tend to last for years. I am a little better about picking out crap than I used to be (if the fabric is too thin on a cotton shirt, it's not gonna last), but I'm not that great (might look good, but stitching turns out to be crap, or some such).

But I do wear the shirts pretty often. Right now there's 5-6 shirts I'm wearing on a weekly basis. One shirt I'm wearing as an everyday shirt and I'm wearing it the majority of most days (to reduce wear and tear on the others). If I was constantly rotating 20-30 shirts...then yeah, I could see the crap (as in build quality) shirts lasting for years. Otherwise, these shirts tend to last a few months.

...but unless something gets stained or damaged, it remains in the rotation.

Doesn't work for me. But I'm against clutter. If I haven't worn in in the past year, I don't need it (I do still hold on to a few items that are seldom worn, such as my DBZ shirts). I will rotate the distressed T-shirts from the everyday pile to the around-the-house pile...but I still end up with 6-12 everyday shirts, and I only need 2-3.

I probably sound like I buy clothes all the time . I did go a bit all out last year because I was stocking up for this year (clothes are more expensive where we're at now, so far I've bought zero clothes for myself this year). And I do have a bit of a weakness for the $10-$15 souvenir T-shirts (I have some Alaska shirts, including one autographed by Phil Kromm and Jack Jesse). But for the most part, I don't care for clothes shopping.

[marvholly]

I put on about 10 lb in the past 5 years so most of my clothes are newer (to me-thrift shop stuff) but I have blouses/tops that I bought for myself in 2001 or earlier. I am also wearing a pair of sandals bought for DD's college graduation in 2001.

Actually, I have quite a few pairs of shoes even older because:
I always wore walking shoes (new balance & Reebok) for work but had weekend/dress shoes
I got a BUNCH of shoes when my Mom passed away and MANY are from the early 1990's.

[bjl584]

My current clothes are pretty old. I tend to wear things until they wear out. I think that the newest thing that I currently have is a pair of jeans. I got them as a Christmas gift.

[kork13]

Most of my clothes are between 1-4 years old, though I know I have a few items (shirts particularly) from over 10 years ago. I normally get rid of clothes because they either wear out, are excessively (and irreversibly) dirty/stained, or simply because I no longer want to wear them anymore (style reasons, I suppose). I'm almost the same size as I was in high school (8 years ago), so I've grown out of very little. On the acquisition side, I hate shopping for clothes, so I normally will only shop for new clothes once or twice in a year, buy a bunch of whatever I've gotten short on, then mostly avoid clothing stores altogether.

To the original post, I think I do tend to replace socks, underwear, and undershirts more frequently than other items, though... I'd estimate those typically only last about to 1-2 years for me. I think simply because they're directly in contact with your body, those items get alot more abuse due to sweat, friction, and more frequent wear.

[disneysteve]

$5 T-shirts (unless we're talking $5 marked down from $20) don't tend to last for years.

Maybe I've just been lucky but I have a bunch of t-shirts I bought at Target and Walmart 5+ years ago for $5-6 (not marked down from $20) that are holding up perfectly fine and they get worn pretty regularly.

If I haven't worn in in the past year, I don't need it

I will rotate the distressed T-shirts from the everyday pile to the around-the-house pile

for the most part, I don't care for clothes shopping.

I also tend to thin out stuff that I haven't worn for a while unless it is a more special item that I know I'll use in the future.

I do the same thing with the "distressed" shirts and pants and relegate them to the bum around pile, sleep shirts, yard work, etc.

And I'm with you on not liking to shop for clothes. I did one shopping trip this year which I posted about. I bought a bunch of new pants, a suit and some shirts. That was the most I had spent on clothes in at least 2 years.

I tend to wear things until they wear out.

Me too. That's why I don't need to buy stuff that often. I avoid buying anything that is trendy or the latest fashion. I buy stuff that is always in fashion so I can keep it for 5 or 10 or 20 years as long as it is still in good condition. While my wife and daughter are always giving things away to Goodwill, I hardly ever do. By the time I'm done with an item, it really isn't of any use to anyone else.

[MonkeyMama]

IT just depends. I have random clothing from high school that is still in good condition and wearable, and other things that just wear out after a year or two. I think I am heistant to buy higher quality clothing because I do like to change it up a bit and also because it's hard to judge how well you like something until you wear it a couple of times. So the quality seems to be hit and miss. I don't want to spend more on clothing I might not like in the end...

I also like to mostly wear the same clothes every day, which does wear them out rather quickly. In general I will wear the same 2-3 pairs of pants every day, so they do stretch out and wear out rather quickly (a couple of years). Shirts I tend to mix it up more. I often pull out things that are 10-20 years old, and people will compliment my *new* clothing.

I did stop buying clothing at Target a few years back because the clothing would just fall apart so quickly. I have nothing 20 years old that I bought from Target, that is for sure. That said, I buy my kids clothes from Target because it tends to be cheaper than thrift and can hold up very well. They may only wear the clothing about 6 months, but they abuse it and then I hand it down to my younger child for another 6 months. I suppose it could be that I didn't find things lasted very long - maybe one year is all that clothing has to give. So it has been perfect for quickly growing children.

Socks and underwear - feels like we are always buying new on those items. But they get far more dirty and smelly and holey than anything else we wear.

[feh]

I'm frugal, don't care much (if at all) about fashion, and am the same weight I was when I was 20, so you can probably guess my response to this question.

I also can dress casually for work. I wear things until they become unsightly (holes, worn out, etc). Then those items will probably be worn around the house or for yard work.

My clothing expenses are very, very low.

[josetann]

IT just depends. I have random clothing from high school that is still in good condition and wearable, and other things that just wear out after a year or two. I think I am heistant to buy higher quality clothing because I do like to change it up a bit and also because it's hard to judge how well you like something until you wear it a couple of times. So the quality seems to be hit and miss. I don't want to spend more on clothing I might not like in the end...

I have two shirts from high school, both from senior year. One was for band, other was the senior t-shirt (had the year and everyone's signatures). But I'll admit, I'm a bit more, um, let's just say I'm a bit more now than I was then. So even if I wanted to, I couldn't have kept those clothes.

And yes, the quality really does seem to be hit and miss. Another reason I like thrift stores; if it looks decent, then maybe it's already gotten some wear and is holding up well (and if not...well then I'm getting a good deal on a brand new item I suppose). If it looks ragged...well there you go. And if a clothing choice completely bombs out (which is has a couple times), I'm out all of $1 or so. Don't know if I could go out now and spend $20 on a new shirt. If I KNEW the quality was exceptional, maybe. Otherwise...don't think I could do it.

I also like to mostly wear the same clothes every day, which does wear them out rather quickly. In general I will wear the same 2-3 pairs of pants every day, so they do stretch out and wear out rather quickly (a couple of years). Shirts I tend to mix it up more. I often pull out things that are 10-20 years old, and people will compliment my *new* clothing.

I have one pair of jeans with me now, and they get worn the majority of the time. The rest of the time, it's a pair of beige pants I have. Summer, I'll mainly wear jeans or choose between two pairs of shorts. That's about it. Shirts...I have one that I'm wearing the majority of the time (worn all the time at the house except when it's getting washed, and 1-2 times a week I'll wear it out of the house). I have another 6+ shirts here, but it goes like this. Take son to school, change out of pink shirt (my everyday shirt) into something else...drop him off, get back home, put back on the pink shirt. Go out somewhere, change again, then back when I'm back home. Pick son up, change back to other shirt. Get back home, put back on the pink shirt. Except when the shirt is freshly laundered (it gets washed with pretty much every load), then I can wear it all day. It's actually holding up pretty well, collar's a bit worn, but otherwise...it's probably had a couple year's worth of wear in the past six months. Not bad for $1 (and it's reducing wear on my $10+ shirts).

I did stop buying clothing at Target a few years back because the clothing would just fall apart so quickly. I have nothing 20 years old that I bought from Target, that is for sure. That said, I buy my kids clothes from Target because it tends to be cheaper than thrift and can hold up very well. They may only wear the clothing about 6 months, but they abuse it and then I hand it down to my younger child for another 6 months. I suppose it could be that I didn't find things lasted very long - maybe one year is all that clothing has to give. So it has been perfect for quickly growing children.

Socks and underwear - feels like we are always buying new on those items. But they get far more dirty and smelly and holey than anything else we wear.

I'm with ya there (except I still shop thrift stores for the kids' clothes before I go to a department store). Kids' clothes...don't care as much about quality, because our kids are really hard on clothes and they're going to outgrow them soon anyway. That said, I still try to patch things up to get as much life out of them as I can (just super-glued my son's shoes and backpack this weekend, and need to sew up a hole in his pants). And our youngest does get some hand-me-downs, but since she's a girl and our son is, of course, a boy...her tastes are a bit different than his