I lost a ton of weight several years ago ('97 thru '98), and ended up buying a number of new clothes, one or two shirts a month, and I still had older shirts (1990ish) that I could wear that I previously had not. I have not bought any new “workish” clothes since 1998. And my “newest” pants I actually inherited from someone who had died (1998 also), and I have no idea how long he had had them. I have no idea when I bought my other pants, but I know they’re all at least 10 years old.
All of them, shirts and pants, are in good condition, but is this an abnormally long amount of time to wear clothes? I know practicallynothing about dressing other than I have to.
Well, if you’re a guy, you’ve got it easier. Guys’ styles change only drastically in ties and collar widths, I think. Unless they’re parachute pants or Qiana shirts, they should be fine. However, ten years is a long time, and you probably DESERVE new clothes.
Don’t throw anything out, though - the second you do, it will come back in style and be worth a fortune on eBay.
i normally don’t ever do any major shopping. instead if i happen to be at the mall or around any clothing departments, i’ll browse.
if there’s anything that i like that’s a fairly good price i’ll buy it. keeps me from spending a lot of money at once. i also don’t have to waste a full day of trying on outfit after outfit. not exactly my idea of fun (although i’ve been told that this is a bit weird for a girl).
Remember, only one day left until the next shopping day…
Some things are classic and can last forever. The wool coat that I bought thirty years ago is one of them.
Some people like to live very simply with the basic mix and match items. Others shop when the clothes get dirty. It depends on your priorities.
When I was teaching, I bought two really good quality complete outfits a year – including shoes, handbags and accessories. If I chose carefully and didn’t go for the fads, my wardrobe would last a long time that way.
Now that I’m retired and my sixties celebration clothes are “in” again, I’m dragging out my once cherished hippie skirts and peasant blouses.
(Prim and unassuming English teacher by day – wired and irreverent hippie by night.)
I’d say you deserve at least a new shirt and pair of pants.
I personally only shop when I absolutely need to, or if I have any spare cash and find stuff that I like and is a decent price. I haven’t done a shopping binge in a bit. I think the newest article of clothing I own is a calf length jacket I bought because I like the style and it flatters me, plus it was 70% off
I still have stuff I wear from when I was 15/16 I think… mainly tops. It just depends how nice it looks and how good with a sewing needle you are.
I see the wardrobe question as a mix of need, cost and what you’re willing to deal with in the way of the laundry cycle.
My style of work dress has changed since the first 15 years or so of suits and ties every day. Now, I buy clothes as they wear out (typically the wallet pocket on slacks or the cuffs on dress shirts).
Style changes only as limited by what’s available when the need arises. I’ve been a button down cotton oxford/dress slacks sort for work since the suits went away, and don’t anticipate changing.
If I need to go to a department store for any reasoon, I usually glance over the khakis and other slacks for my size, and usually come up empty-handed (why is 31x32 so rare?). The rarity is why I check.
Jeans can go quite a while, so it often seems the laundry cycle is commanded by the supply of socks and underwear. I’ve been known to run up to Target on a Sunday evening when I just could not mange the laundry to pick up a few days worth of new socks and underwear (of course, I’ll check the slacks on hand when I do).
I buy clothes all the time, but only because I have really good luck at finding things like the only pair of jeans my size for $5.00 on the clearance rack at Target. I have TONS of clothes but I very, very rarely pay more than $15 for any one item, even $10 in most cases. I do have a few really expensive things, but it has to be extremely unique before I’ll fork out a big chunk of change for anything (like the black jumpsuit I’m wearing in some of the pictures posted on my journal – that was about $80.00.) I don’t really care if something’s in fashion or not, as long as it fits, looks good and I think it’s cool.
I also have been known to shop vintage and resale, and wear older things/fashions, so the only reason I ever throw anything out is if it gets ruined or no longer fits and can’t be altered or put to some other use.
You might be due for some new clothes. I guess it depends on where you work, etc. Myself, I have trouble going a month without new clothes, but that has nothing to do with how often a person “should” get new clothes.
I hardly ever buy clothes, unless an item is ridiculously cheap. I look at the price tag, imagine how many books that money could buy, and keep on walking. Most of my new clothes come to me as gifts or things my fashionable and finicky sister bought and now doesn’t want.
Personally I usually buy whatever’s cheap. Cheap cheap. Like the $5 skirts I picked up at a Kmart that was going out of business. One of which my stupid cat promptly chewed holes in. Jacques has issues.
I like to buy a few things every two or three months. I tend to buy stuff that won’t go out of style quickly. My standard summer uniform is tank tops, so I’m about to score a few of those. I’m also in the market for work shoes right now. I’m very fussy, so I shop around quite a bit before I make a purchase.
