I seem to turn over a significant portion of my wardrobe every five years. Not my whole wardrobe, but somewhere around half of it. I can think of three factors that drive this rate of turnover. 

1. Many clothing items don’t last much past five years these days.
2. I enjoy refreshing my style with trendy pieces each season. 
3. I like to keep my wardrobe a certain size which means that items need to be passed on before I can add new pieces. The one-in-one-out wardrobe principle works well for me. 

The biggest factor, however, seemed to be the category of the item.

Tops have a shorter lifespan than my other clothing items. It’s hard to find knitwear that doesn’t pill after a season or two. White and light woven shirts and blouses tend to discolour after a couple of years. Darker woven shirts and blouses tend to last a little longer, but few make it to the five year mark when you wear them regularly. T-shirt, cotton-rich jersey, and sweatshirt type knitted items tend to last a year or two at best. Items made of polyester on the other hand, can last longer than five years. 

Outerwear, like coats and jackets, frequently make it past the five year mark. My trench coats are eight years and five years old respectively, and still going strong. I’m sure that my tweed equestrian Smythe jackets will make it well past the ten year mark. And my denim jackets seem indestructible. I’ve had one of them for thirteen years, and it still looks new.

Some bottoms, like faded blue and dark jeans, can make it past the five year mark. But white jeans seldom do because of discolouration and the occasional stain. My wool and silk trousers sometimes make it to five years, but start to show a lot of wear. My dresses and skirts tend to make it past the five year mark because I don’t wear them that frequently and because they are, for the most part, quite classic. So the styles don’t date too quickly.

Underwear, loungewear and socks seldom make it past two years. My footwear usually lasts between two and five years, but I’m also wearing footwear that is older than that. The lifespan of my handbags runs the gamut. I will have my Valentino and Chanel handbags for life. My other designer bags last at least five years. But my fast fashion Zara bags and less expensive bags only have a year or two in them before quality issues start to show themselves, or the style is too out of date. 

Given the wide range of lifespans, I don’t think the average tells us a lot. But generally speaking I think it’s good going when you’ve worn a wardrobe item regularly for five years. If it hasn’t dated or worn out by then, you might be ready to pass it on to its new home just because you’re ready for a change.

COS is a store owned by Swedish fast fashion giant H&M. But COS pieces are not fast fashion at all. They are better-end, architectural, drapey, minimal, and fashion forward. You won’t find all that many conventionally flattering items in the store, but there are countless pieces that are “just flattering enough”, creating a hip, somewhat arty, and modern outfit integrity. Most of the pieces are in solid colours and the fabrics are luxurious, feeling glorious to the touch. 

There aren’t many COS stores in the United States, but ordering online is an option. Their sizes run big, so you might be sized out if you wear a US size 0. Their larger sizes can fit a US size 14 and 16, especially when the silhouettes are roomy. 

I visited COS stores in Hong Kong, Amsterdam and London this year and enjoyed browsing and fitting their merchandise. I was particularly impressed with their dresses because most of them were woven, casual and the silhouettes a little different from other retailers. Plus, many of the styles had sleeves and sufficient hem length. I was able to make the COS cotton shirt dress in tomato red work because of its comparatively narrower cut. I’ve already worn it many times with white flats and white upscale backpack. So check out COS the next time you’re after a casual woven dress.

COS

Graduated jersey dress

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COS

Pocket detail shirt dress

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COS

Asymmetric jersey dress

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COS

Loose-fit tunic dress

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COS

High-neck draped dress

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COS

Flared panel dress

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COS

V-neck silk shirt dress

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Circle-cut dress

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COS

Oversized jersey dress

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COS

Flared poplin dress

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COS

Dress with pleated back

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COS

Silk layer dress

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COS

Silk skirt cotton dress

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COS

Silk and cotton dress

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Wide-neck cotton dress

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Sheer-hem dress

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COS

Dress with drawstring hem

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COS

Cotton twill shirt dress

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COS

Denim-look shirt dress

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COS

Drawstring shirt dress

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COS

Cotton shirt dress

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All my clients wear skirts and dresses, but some more than others. I find it varies according to their style preferences, their lifestyle, the occasion and the weather. On the one end of the continuum there are my clients who reserve skirt and dresses for fancy occasions. Skirts and dresses do not feature in their everyday style. These clients tend to lead a very casual stay-at-home or work-from-home lifestyle. The practical comfort of shorts, jeans and trousers trumps all.

Somewhere in the middle of the continuum are my clients who wear dresses and skirts as regularly as trousers and jeans. I find this is often true for my clients who work in a business casual or formal environment. Mixing things up prevents them from getting bored with their outfits. On the other end of the continuum, a handful of my clients prefer to wear skirts and dresses almost exclusively both in dressy and casual settings. These clients tend to have very hourglass-y or pear shaped body types and simply prefer the look of their curvy figures in skirts and dresses, which are also easier to fit than trousers and jeans.  

A common theme among all Seattle clients is that skirt and dress wearing frequency increases in warm and hot weather. Our Falls and Winters (and often Springs too) can be wet and cold, which makes us want to insulate our legs with jeans, trousers, warm socks and booties. Some clients though, don’t mind wearing pantyhose and tights with their skirts and dresses, and finish off the look with pumps, loafers, oxfords, booties or tall boots. Clients who drive to and from a heated office in a heated car tend to be fine with wearing skirts and dresses with hose and pumps in cold weather. Those who have to venture out into the elements tend to abandon skirts and dresses in Winter. 

My skirt and dress wearing frequency is driven by the occasion and the weather. I like to wear skirts and dresses to fancy occasions (although my new jumpsuit gives an occasion dress a lot of competition). I prefer not to layer under and over dresses in order to keep the lines of the outfit clean and simple. I like to wear a camisole underneath, and if I do need to wear a topper, stick to a fitted and cropped denim jacket or knee-length coat for over the top.

Occasionally I will wear cropped black leggings under a woven dress for warmth. Sheer and dressy hosiery is fine for holiday bashes in Winter with WOVEN dresses because the static cling with knitted dresses is impossible. I do not like to wear thick tights, nor do I like to wear tall boots or booties with skirts and dresses. I prefer ankle strap pumps or pumps, which again, limits me to wearing them in warm and hot weather.

Over to you. Do you wear skirts and dresses throughout the year, or do you prefer to wear them seasonally? Do you wear skirts and dresses as everyday style, or do do you reserve them for fancy occasions?

A new outfit from Janise Burrafato of Mama in Heels, whom we introduced to YLF in December 2014.

Janise has the art of high and low-end dressing down pat. She’s paired a Céline bag and Louboutin pumps with a stunning two-piece dress from H&M. The material looks like embroidered silk, which gives this monochromatic outfit plenty of textural interest. The short-sleeved cropped top just covers the skirt’s waistband, and accentuates the beautiful lines of the pleated skirt with raw edge hemline. Such a unique detail. The low-contrast rose gold pointy toe pumps lengthen the leg line, and work well with the colour of the bag. Throwing in a vintage necklace, like these oversized pearls in rose gold and ethereal lavender, makes the look even more original and elegant. Bright red lipstick and Janise’s wavy locks are the ladylike finishing touches.