YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Longevity & wardrobe planning

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Longevity & wardrobe planning https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:02:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Isabel on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355396 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 22:16:46 +0000 Isabel 1355396@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This fascinates me.  I used to be someone that hung on to my  clothes forever, it seemed.  The fact that I wore the same size from the time I was about 16 to 46 helped. I still have a pair of waterproof boots that I have had for 25 years !  And a beautiful blazer that my mom made me 32 years ago. And they look awesome.  Everything else is gone because my body changed dramatically after my cancer diagnosis.  After a couple of years, I decided to build a "minimal"  wardrobe from scratch and two years later, I feel as if it is too  much....and I don't think of long term wearability because I still have one more year of treatment and I have no idea where it will head. I can say that I bought some nicer jackets with an eye toward having them tailored :  whether I gain more wait or scale down a bit.  So I do look for that in nicer clothes, the ability to be altered.  I don't know how to do it myself but I have a good eye in determining the potential of a piece.  I go through t shirts rather quickly.  I had cashmere and wool sweaters that lasted me 15 years.  These are the types of things that I took very good care of . I suppose that I would like my nice, wool outer coats to go at least 10 years.  My jeans kinda have a life of their own now and I don't have too much of a longevity expect ion for them.  I wear these the most. Though I would like at least 3 years.  I definitely overbought when I started over and I am finding that I probably will not get a ton of wear out of things because I simply have too many things.  And I don't have the type of life that warrants it.      :  )  shedev on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355394 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 22:09:27 +0000 shedev 1355394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's hard for me to do this in years. I worked so much last winter that the only thing that really got a lot of wear was a $20 Hanes hoody that I only wear at work. It is at just under 60 wears. My most worn shirt this summer was the flora mortis tee, it only got 5 wears. I can extend its season by wearing it under a jacket. I'm working on a 4-5 year turnover plan. I have a goal to see how much of my wardrobe I can get to $10 CPW. So I'd wear a $10 sweater once, and a $100. sweater 10 times. It's got me thinking about where I put my wardrobe $$. $230 for villous jacket, can wear most of year, possibly good buy. $230 Thick knit sweater from All Saints, 2 month window=maybe 4 wears, not good buy. I'm either going to price stalk or keep a lookout for similar sweater at lower price point. I'm still working on the right size wardrobe for me. I know my 230 is still too big. I did all the big purges. I got rid of all the no brainer type of items. It's harder now that I'm evaluating stuff that is from 2013-14, and worn very little. I have a Michael Kors navy packable down that I bought last year. My co workers love this coat, but I feel sort of frumpy in it. It's at $2 CPW, so I'm fine with letting it go to consignment. I feel like I'm splitting wears with better stuff. rabbit on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355358 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 20:53:26 +0000 rabbit 1355358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm increasingly thinking it's not about how long you have something in your closet, but about exactly how many times you wear it, and for how long each time.   For example I have skirts that have been around for 10-15 years, but I think I've probably worn them less than 10 times each year, so it's not really about their durability.    Also as caro has pointed out (and I've noticed to) unless I really track this, I have a tendency to overestimate how much I am wearing any item.   So I have a black bag I bought in January that I could swear I wore daily during the winter and spring, and at least a few times a week since then.  Still, in tracking it's had only about 90 wears.  A lot, but not the 200 or so I would have otherwise guesstimated. Just for me right now as a metric, a piece of clothing that isn't a one off special occasion dress or something, has to have at least as many wears as dollars I spent for it to be worth it to me.  I'd really like more durable clothes (as opposed to clothes that burn out) to go under a dollar per wear regularly too within a year. gryffin - I mostly have fleece-lined leggings, Hue and other brands, but am finding that they pill with abrasion, even with very little  washing by hand.  I can shave them, but it's annoying.  I should probably look at more athletic/gear options in colors besides black... gryffin on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355347 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 20:34:00 +0000 gryffin 1355347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Rabbit - I am currently on leggings hunt.  I used to wear only danskin supplex 1562.  I had read on amazon that danskin changed their factory and they were not that well rated.  To date, I tried capezio - they run small and short.  I really want legging no more than 1" above my ankles and I'm only 5'3".  I tried danskins cotton leggings and did not like them.  I currently have the danskin supplex and hue leggings on order.  Legging must be totally opaque and thick or I don't like them.  I wash them in a lingerie bag but regular cycle.  I'll let you know if I find something acceptable.  I have a few new pairs squirrelled away (princess duplicator here) but this could be a long hunt from the reviews.  I'll keep you updated! Suz - you are right in that I work in an office, so it's climate controlled (other than my formerly unairconditioned ancient car!!) and I do wear a lab coat at work so that cuts down on wear and tear for sure.  Brands that survived were mostly old Ann Taylor, Episode (which I'm not sure still exists), Dana Buchman when she was in the designer section - so more mid tier but I think clothes were still better made back then.  I do agree I have a very defined style but I find the few long jackets available are very similar in silhouette to new pieces that are coming out.  I think it's how and what you style a piece with that keeps the look current for me - but I am also much less concerned with whether I look current than if I look great in an oufit!  Faith on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355329 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 19:46:06 +0000 Faith 1355329@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will stand by the potential of timeless classics. With allowances for changes in hem length, the pencil skirt is my go-to example -- with no shoulder pads, lapels or armholes, it's not as tricky as an upper-body garment. I also very much believe in items that are so unique as to be outside time, as well as in the cyclical nature of fashion. Others may prefer to buy the new iteration when a trend comes around again, but I love plunging into my personal, family curated collection as well -- I've resurrected any number of boxy '80s blouses in the past couple years, and wore others a decade ago underneath a pullover that reigned in their (then-unfashionable) oversized armholes. I am also shameless in altering vintage garments to tweak them just that little bit, although I deeply regret over-shortening a few skirts in the late 90s. Nowadays I would leave plenty of allowance in the hem to let them back down again. With respect to how long I would potentially like a garment to last, I'm with gryffin, although, to Suz's point, most of my clothing is of very high quality and I have a larger wardrobe. I would also expect leather good -- belts, purses, etc., to last even longer than she suggests, with good care and a good cobbler. I'm still wearing pencil skirts (both wool and linen) and cashmere knits of my mother's that are 30+ years old. Because I usually have relatively few outerwear pieces in rotation, I do find that I have preferred to pass them on when they get to the needing to be re-lined point--which I find to be about 10 years as well--rather than refreshing them, although my last wool/cashmere coat certainly could have kept going with a new lining. Exceptions to the expectation of longevity are t-shirt type knits (although I do have a number from J. Crew that are on year 5, they are slightly oversize and were quite fringe in 2009 but are now perfectly mainstream), underthings, socks, pj's, gear, much-loved jeans, and the occasional delicate silk blouse, if, again, it's particularly well-loved; I've also found that ponte pants don't last more than a couple seasons as they tend to pill, if not between the legs, then where my bag hits my hip. Dry cleaned clothes usually go to the cleaners, at most, twice a year, sweaters get shaved when needed, and all leather goods and shoes get cleaned and conditioned once a year, if not re-heeled or re-soled. I’m also a regular mender and a patron of my local re-weaver. I am quite hard on shoes. My exceptional cobbler can keep most shoes going indefinitely, but sandals and plimsolls usually last just one season, and I've recently discovered there are limits to the magic he can work on patent leather. Also, again to one of Suz's points, when I was living without regular air conditioning, my summer wardrobe consisted of cheap, cotton gauze dresses from Zara, which with frequent laundering often started to shred after a season. I've lost a lot fewer shirts and tops to underarm stains since I stopped using conventional antiperspirant.  Of course, all of this isn’t to say that I don’t temporarily or permanently retire items due to changes in fashion. For that sort of planning purpose, I find that I tend to favor particular silhouettes for about 3 years at a time.  MsMary on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355283 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:09:31 +0000 MsMary 1355283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Laura brings up a good point when she says "At this point in my life I don't want a wardrobe of timeless classics."  I tend to agree with that.  Even assuming there is such a thing (about which I have my doubts; I think Una totally nailed it <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lightbulb-semantics-and-classic-vs-timeless" rel="nofollow">here</a>), I consider clothing to be a consumable.  Generally I don't expect any particular item to last a lifetime or anywhere near it.  Styles change, tastes change, I get tired of wearing a particular item, so I move on. The exceptions would be accessories (as discussed in the thread linked above) and certain footwear like my 28-year-old cowboy boots.  Or something so crazy and awesome that it was never in style, so will never be out of style, like<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/06/angela_merkel_has_been_wearing_the_same_tunic_for_18_years_photo.html?wpisrc=obinsite" rel="nofollow"> Angela Merkel's awesome silk tunic</a>.  But generally I don't aspire to building a wardrobe that will stand the test of time. viva on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355272 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:56:33 +0000 viva 1355272@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a hard question for me to answer. I maintain a medium-sized wardrobe of about 85 items (not including lounge, shoes, or outerwear), some items I have had for more than 10 years and some items I have had for 10 days. I get rid of things because they lose their integrity (shape, color, etc.) or because they lose their appeal (fit, style, etc.). While the first is somewhat predictable (jeans should last 2 years, but since I wear them almost daily perhaps not much longer), the second is wholly unpredictable (my grey wool shift is at least 7 years old, but I consigned my citron JCrew tunic after 4 months because I just did not like how it looked on me despite how I felt the day I bought it). I guess I would say that I expect every item to last at least two years, with the exception of shoes that I know I will be wearing hard. In that case, a season could potentially do them in. I really do not like to wear worn-down shoes. I have shoes that are old (my cowboy boots are older than my marriage -- at least 25 years old) but they tend to be really well made and rarely worn. On the other hand, trendy shoes that are worn often are sometimes ready to go after a season (case and point: my SE Cruz sneakers look like crap, but I wore them almost every day this summer). The wildcard is really that second factor: will an item lose its appeal? Will it start to fit differently because my body changes? Will I lose my love for a style?  Any of those could shorten a lifespan pretty dramatically. Anonymous on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355253 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:23:21 +0000 Anonymous 1355253@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is something I can never figure out either. I have a hard time predicting how long things will last because, even within the same category of stuff, same brand, or similar fabrications, there's been a huge range for me. Then, unless we're talking about workhorses or other things that would leave a wardrobe hole if they were gone, I don't necessarily think of new purchases as explicit "replacements" for a worn-out item. Instead, new things usually mean that older things will be worn a little less often while they're on the downward slope toward possibly wearing out, giving them a prolonged life. Plus, I also have a hard time judging when something is too worn out to wear. A large wardrobe plus an outsized sense of guilt at getting rid of things that are showing their age but still technically wearable means things can live for years in wardrobe semi-retirement. Maybe they're demoted to loungewear or worn only in a few outfits or when I'm low on clean clothes, but they're still in there being vaguely useful. rachylou on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355244 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:58:52 +0000 rachylou 1355244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Shoes = one to two dog walks on the city sidewalks before getting taps put on. If the taps never get put on, 1 month tops with two to three wears a weeks. I swear shoe soles used to last longer, or maybe I simply put up with worn-down shoes as a girl. I wear my shoes unevenly though, and my left knee starts to hurt. Sometimes I can barely walk when that happens. rabbit on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355236 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:35:52 +0000 rabbit 1355236@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ To Laura's point, I recently visited my mother to help her clean her closets and she was definitely a 'keep it just it case, baby it, never throw it out' person.   She also had lots of woven shirts so they had lasted many, many years with hand washing and still looked presentable.   Here's the thing, she was wearing woven shirts that I remember wearing when I was 13 (I'm 41 now), and I'm pretty sure some of them weren't bought new even back in the early 80's when I wore them to middle school with fluorescent headbands :).  I actually found some that worked with current styles, (boxy woven tees),  but others....    I do think a lot of fabrications were just stronger a few decades ago though. Also gryffin if you can point me to leggings that last that long, I'd appreciate it. Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355227 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:11:20 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1355227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Traci, I like your idea to work backwards and figure out how many items I need to replace each season and figure out how to fit that into my budget rather than the other way around. Combine that with Mo's seasonal replacement rates and I'll have a general structure to work with. Some of this is speculative only, because I did replace a lot of items when I lost weight last year and I don't have an overall sense of how long they will all last. I still can't imagine most of the things in my casual everyday wardrobe lasting more than five years. Before I lost weight, I regularly had to toss jeans that got worn through on the inner thighs, pants that had shrunk in the wash, knits that had pilled, anything cotton that had faded badly. I guess I should rephrase and say chose to toss instead of had to toss because some of those items were strictly wearable, and if I'd been in a tight financial situation I could have made do. I can see how if you work in an office and wear woven shirts and lined pencil skirts and that sort of fabrication, those items would last a lot longer than knit tees and cotton sweaters and denim. I read some of the earlier responses in this thread before I went to bed last night and ended up feeling impressed by those of you that manage to keep things for a long time, and a bit chided. I gave it some thought and realized that personal preferences as far as replacement rate can be really emotional, and change over your lifetime. My parents were/are savers and 'keep it just in case'-ers and I took that approach into my young adulthood. Then sometime in my late 20s I realized I felt like I wasn't participating in fashion, or had anything in common with my peers. I was interested in the aesthetic part of fashion: proportions, colors, body types - but I didn't bother noticing trends because what was the point, I had perfectly good clothes at home. Except that most of them were dated and made me look older and heavier than I was, or just didn't fit right. I got rid of a lot of the old stuff, and even more when I joined YLF a few years ago, and bought new things, a bit trendier things, and it's made a big difference in how I feel about myself (and I think how others think about me when they meet me). I donate all my wearable items to thrift stores, and I buy secondhand myself, so I don't think I'm particularly wasteful. A t this point in my life I don't want a wardrobe of timeless classics; maybe I will in the future sometime. anne on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355214 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:43:00 +0000 anne 1355214@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Not relavent to you Laura, but just popping back to say that anything woven I have bought from Portmans (an Australian brand) has lasted forever. I have 2 dresses still going from prior to 2001. shiny on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning/page/2#post-1355213 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:42:48 +0000 shiny 1355213@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't expect knits to last all that long, no matter what the price or brand, and how well I baby them, which I do. I can get one year out of them for looking nice, then the following year they are relegated to layering only, beach wear, then the year after that they may make it into sleepwear and lounge capsule.  Summer clothes have the shortest life of all -- sweat & sunscreen, more frequent laundering, sand from the beach, etc. I am hardest by far on my summer clothes. I also do not invest a lot of $ in my summer clothes, because I know I'm going to have to replace 80% of it the following year. Then there are the miracle knits I find sometimes that are seemingly indestructible. For example inexpensive camisoles from H&M I purchased years ago. I wear these very frequently and do not baby them at all, frying them in the dryer, etc.... and they continue to hold up year after year with no fading.  Wovens seem to last a lot longer which is why I prefer them. I tend to grow bored of them, or grow out of them, before they wear out. I am more apt to stain a woven top accidentally. Or a top has to go because of pit stains. Or a woven starts to shine because of ill treatment by the dry cleaners. I have had a lot of clothes bite the dust after a trip to the dry cleaners, unfortunately. Sweaters: can be all over the map. I have sweaters that are 10+ years old. Then I have sweaters that *should* have lasted years, but started looking shabby after just one. I do think sweater quality has gone way down in recent years -- even the better brands.  Jeans: I haven't blown out the knees on a pair of jeans since high school. Then again, I don't like to wear jeans all that often.  Coats: I own a lot, because I live in a colder climate. I have many that are several years old and still look as good as new. Often what happens with coats is that I'll lose a button or break a zipper or the lining will tear. These things can usually be fixed. However mostly what happens with coats is that I buy one that will "do" -- not perfect but close enough -- and it gets replaced when I find one that is perfect. My Bernardo puffer, which I love, is probably not going to last too long, because it sheds feathers like crazy. White or cream coats are prone to staining, or showing wear on the cuffs. With coats I always wear a scarf around the neck, to prevent ring around the collar.  Shoes: I baby my shoes, especially the ones I've spent a lot of $ on.  If they are comfortable favorites that fall out of fashion I have been known to tuck them away until they come back into fashion. Believe it or not, I have Me-Too ballet flats that are still going strong. My tall boots are all 5+ years and still going strong. I do not ever wear my suede boots/shoes if there is any hint of rain or snow in the weather, or salt on the ground. I wipe off my boots immediately when I get home, so salt doesn't sit. I take my shoes in frequently for cobbler TLC. I rotate so that shoes have a chance to breathe. And I wear socks whenever feasible -- because I find it is the shoes you can't wear socks with that wear out the fastest.  I had a pair of sandals, worn daily in the hot months, that lasted 4 years. I only just discarded them. I never wore them on the beach, because sand is so hard on sandals. I have two pairs of Jcrew thongs. The silver pair is oldest, and starting to look ratty, so it is reserved for the beach. The gold pair is newer and is reserved for wearing anywhere but the beach. If a particular shoe works really well, I duplicate so that I can rotate. Such as the Jcrew sandals, but also including athletic sneakers, and Me-Too ballet flats, and my favorite booties (which I have in black, blue suede, and leopard).  I choose wedge shoes instead of heels if I'm going to be walking on cobble stones or grass. If I'm driving I will wear a different pair of shoes to save the back of my better heels from getting scuffed. I carefully pack my shoes in shoe bags, and stuff them, and bury them inside my luggage rather than putting them into the outer pocket where they can get squished and wind up cracking. I put my shoes away in the closet (pocketed shoe organizer) rather than tossing them in the pile with my family's shoes. I do not leave gear shoes in a hot car to protect the rubber from wearing out. I stuff my tall boots so they don't sag over in the closet.  Gear: can last but often the elastic gives out, even when not worn at all. It simply degrades over time. Sneakers can degrade as well. If you are a runner, it's good to replace sneakers frequently, whether they look like they need it or not. thimblelina on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355207 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:31:02 +0000 thimblelina 1355207@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Someone mentioned a loft tee giving out? In my experience Loft & Banana Republic jersey knits are just the worst for pilling! I think it's the grade of cotton they must use & the modal they blend it with. I am finding that Uniqlo's Supima cotton tees are much better quality. I really liked Pickwick & Weller tees but they folded; I think Everlane is pretty similar. Mo on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355204 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:22:56 +0000 Mo 1355204@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I obviously simplified my answer in saying 5 years turnover.  I have some items that are ready to go midway through their second season, and by contrast several items that are over 20 years old and still plenty wearable. But I was addressing the part of your question that concerns planning when buying.  I agree that I wouldn't want to one day realize I need to replace every sandal I own (barring foot issues that may precipitate such a change).  So I am planning to buy a new sandal every year, so that as the others slowly wear out, there will always be a new one in the mix.  Same with each other type of shoe.  Boots in winter, flats in spring, sneakers in fall.  If I can do this every year I should never find myself in a bad place where one whole category is worn out (or dated for that matter).  Same with the other categories of clothing.  If I keep on average 15 dresses, I can plan for 2 or 3 new every year to keep turnover rates covered.  This keeps things refreshed and current but still under control.  Rinse, repeat for each category.  I may have some dresses that are 10 years old and others I'm done with 2 or 3 years in, but overall my average will likely be around 5 years. anne on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355194 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:00:37 +0000 anne 1355194@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm with gryffin - the thought of replacing key pieces that often throws me too!! That said, I can most repliably wore out wearing out rates with shoes. For many years I wore one pair of sandals each summer and one pair of shoes each winter for the majority of time and I didn't count on them lasting further than that season.  Since YLF I have bought more footwear but it kinds of works on the same basis. kneelength low heeled brown boots - worn at least 3 times a week as a SAHM but not much actually around the house - I got three years (helped by repairs, resoling and reheeling). My heeled black boots I bought 5 years ago. I wore them about once a week for 3 years, then very often last winter and now I am giving up on them as the cobbler can't repair the latest mend neded. Prior to YLF, and when I was working in an office (no jeans), I would only buy a new pair every 2 or 3 years.Once I was home with kids I needed more pairs at at a time, but can usually wear them for about 3 years. My pleather jackets last about 4-5 years and then start deteriating. I wear them 2-3 time a week in winter. Next year will be a big replacement year for me, with the black boots, the pleather jacket and  perhaps running shoes (mine are 6 years old!). These replacements will take up a big part of my clothing budget and I'll have to be careful to manage resources so I can get them! So I think Laura you are wise to be thinking through replacements when you consider your overall budget. Traci on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355193 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 13:55:26 +0000 Traci 1355193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the big variable here is going to be how often you are wearing each item.  10 items per season is fairly arbitrary.  Maybe you need to do the math in reverse to determine how many items you need to buy each season.  Take out a spreadsheet, log all your items and then give an estimate for how long you'd like those items to last.  Then give each item a score based on how often you expect to replace them, ie. .20= every 5 years, .25= every 4 years, .333= every 3 years, .5= every other year and 1 for yearly, 2 for twice a year.  Then sum up all  your scores and I think that will tell you how many items to expect to buy each year, then you can split that over the 4 seasons.  You could even sort things out by season so that you can see that you may need to buy 12 FW items and 8 SS items each year. DocP on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355188 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 13:48:18 +0000 DocP 1355188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mostly agree with gryffin.  Wore a ponte knit dress a couple of days ago that is more than a decade old.  I do have a larger wardrobe, so some individual items may only be worn a half dozen times a season.  I live in a four season climate. Biggest frustration is recent t shirt and cotton sweater purchases.  They seem to last only about three years despite careful care and less frequent wear. Not sure if initial price correlates with quality/longevity.  Cotton prices skyrocketed a couple of years ago, so manufacturers made thinner knits or began using more blends to maintain their price point.  I think we are seeing this reflected in the durability of those garments. Suz on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355184 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 13:44:25 +0000 Suz 1355184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ gryffin, I think a lot of your clothes are really, really high quality, which definitely helps. Also, you work (I think?) in an office that is (somewhat?) climate controlled, meaning a sort of seasonless dressing for a good part of the year (although not all items would fall into that category because you obviously have to get to and from wherever you are going.)  Plus -- you have a very defined personal style and know it well, know what works on you, what you like, etc. So I think this also helps ensure longevity -- you pick very well for yourself and don't get tired of things in the same way.  It is sobering to think how much "churn" results from fashion preferences vs. actual wear and tear. I'd say in my case it is quite a lot, even though I have a fairly classic style myself and can depend on the higher quality items lasting a fairly long time. I can't see myself "wearing out" my Reiss jacket for at least a decade, for example. Probably a lot longer. And right now, I hope it will last forever, I love it so much!  But even though it's a classic cut, I do wonder if it may start to look dated by the end of five or six years as styles evolve.  I really like your reminders that with excellent care, any item will last longer. Re-lining jackets, ensuring everything is kept clean and ship shape, resoling shoes (where possible) -- these all make a big difference.  gryffin on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355176 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 13:25:26 +0000 gryffin 1355176@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Laura - wow, what a question.  I keep repeating to myself "I must be a dinosaur, I must be a dinosaur."  I absolutely expect my clothes to hold up better than everyone else.  I have two beautiful blazers in rotation that have to be close to 15 yo, I expect to get them relined around 10 yo.  Jeans, I've had a couple of pairs split at the knee in under a year and I was fit to be tied, although with todays styles this just means demoting to "rate" wear.  Although I don't find that comfortable. Outerwear - should last until styles change and I don't want it.  ie forever Blazers - 10-15 yrs assuming good quality and assuming relining.  Wearing about once a week all day at work.  Some strictly weekend. Hangbags in daily use - 5 yrs or longer Boots/Booties - with cobbler visits as needed 5 yr to forever Jeans - 5- 10 yrs but I only wear them on weekends Sweaters - indefinitely with sweater shaving and good care Fine knits with loose weaves - 3-5 yrs with excellent care Pants - 10 yrs or more depending on number of wears Leggings - about 3 yr of hard wear then demoted sleepwear (although dankin quaility is rumored to have gone downhill - I'm about to find out) Sleepwear - 5 yr but tunic length sweatshirts are hard to find to I will push the longevity on this one. Leather jackets - forever Belts - 10-20 yr with cobbler attention to heavy wear areas. Workout - 3-5 yrs depending on amount of use If I had to count on replacing key pieces every year I would honestly sit down and cry.  Kudos to all of you who can keep up with that level of attrition!! kkards on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355171 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 13:02:43 +0000 kkards 1355171@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ based on my lifestyle, office job with a commute by car, i expected my clothes to last until i'm ready to retire specific item. as others mentioned, knits may have a shorter life, but i will move a knit from workwear to lounge wear as it ages.  unfortunately, not everything i buy lives up to my expectations. currently. i have a linen sweater and tee for the loft, that i'm not sure will make 2 summers, which really makes me mad, as they were not worn or washed a lot, but the fabric isn't holding up. for now, i will but them away, and reevaluate at the start of next summer.  Suz on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355153 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 12:26:48 +0000 Suz 1355153@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mary, I think the fact that your wardrobe is large and you bought those pieces new three years ago means that few individual pieces have yet been "worn to death."    Alana, with a small wardrobe, or even a moderate one, you'll see a lot more wear. And knits, especially, will look tired.  But-- another factor -- how many hours a day do you wear your clothes?  Mary may have a lot of clothes to rotate through. But Mary also wears them for long hours, whereas Alana's clothes are basically "after work and weekend" clothes. In other words, they won't get as much wear and should last longer.  Note: I mentioned that two pairs of my recent jeans had worn out within a year. Was I upset? Yes, for a minute....until I realized that I had worn the J. Crew ones at least 150 times in that period, which seems a pretty reasonable life, all things considered. And the Gap ones had suffered a fall where I scraped the knee. The hole only developed later, but I really can't blame the maker for my clumsiness! ;)  Louise on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355108 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 07:35:36 +0000 Louise 1355108@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't own a big wardrobe by YLF standards but most defiantly not as small as Claire's 10 items but much of it is several years old and still going strong. I've got some suede shoes from about 2 years ago that I've just had re soled and heeled, they were starting to look shabby so I gave them a good clean with suede cleaner and a coat of protection spray and they are as good as new. The stuff I buy is mostly mid price range and I wash after each wear on a delicate wash and air dry. I generally get bored of stuff before it needs replacing. With my work wardrobe I have a vague idea about adding say 1 new pair of shoes, a dress, a pair of trousers/ shorts and a couple of tops per Spring/Summer & Autumn/Winter then as I get bored with the old stuff I can pass it on without too much worry as there will be other things already in rotation to cover the hole. It hasn't worked like that yet as I say it's a (new) vague idea but I did buy a load of warmer weather casual pieces as I opened my wardrobe just before the school holidays and realised that I had 1 dress, 2 pairs of jeans that didn't fit properly, a tunic and a pair of tired leggings!! I do wonder if the quality of things is going downhill I've not been too impressed with M&S this year so perhaps I'll see things lasting less as I buy newer pieces? X fern on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355102 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 07:10:51 +0000 fern 1355102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am hoping for a replacement average of five years, and I aim for quality and longevity when I'm buying. Summer tops, knits and sandals are definitely lasting on the shorter side of five years, and boots and dressy coats on the longer side. My winter raincoat (daily use for 5-6 months) is high-quality yet already looking worn and not as rainproof, and I don't think it's two full winters old yet. I don't think having multiples would make each raincoat last more total wears, the way it does with leather shoes - but am I missing something? I mentioned replacing my whole summer shoe wardrobe in Claire's "summer" thread, but that was partially due to my feet growing and becoming fussier, with more heat swelling, so I needed different straps & styles. Hopefully I can update by adding a pair or two of sandals next summer, and not four new pairs of shoes. Also, I prefer natural fabrics, but I have one poly t-shirt that is at least a decade old and still fits beautifully and shows no wear. Ah, polyester. lyn67 on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355092 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 06:33:27 +0000 lyn67 1355092@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will come back to this thread to read the comments. But this is why I keep a bigger wardrobe for myself. When you have more to wear, then they will last more:-), but am a mostly (hopefully modern) classic dresser. Depends on what you aim for. This may not be a great ideea for an  always on trend look:-(. thimblelina on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355089 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 06:26:58 +0000 thimblelina 1355089@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ @ Caro: I suspect there have been marked changes in the manufacturing & labeling of cashmere in recent years. I've been very disappointed with some of the mid-priced brands I used to love and am planning to switch to woolovers cashmere/merino blend for new sweater purchases. MsMary on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355074 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:39:55 +0000 MsMary 1355074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am kind of running an experiment on this question because about three and a half years ago I had to replace my entire wardrobe, from the shoes up, when I lost a lot of weight.  So far I have gotten rid of many, many pieces because I was tired of them or because they were mistakes, and very few because they were actually worn out.  So Laura, I don't think it's at all unreasonable to think that you could wear the items in your large wardrobe for five years.  And Alana, don't be scared.  I expect my clothes to last for a long time.  My Halogen pencil skirts, for example, are still going strong in their fourth year of year-round wear. I am finding, though, that shoes are likely to be ready for replacement after about three years if I wear them year round, and I do wear many of my shoes year round because the climate here is quite mild.  Boots and sandals last longer because they get less wear.  I expect my Frye boots to last almost forever! The thing that has been most surprising to me is how I have fallen out of love with items that I adored and wore all the time for the first season or two.  That is good information and has taught me not to count on even the most awesome item being a very-long-term proposition. Day Vies on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355069 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:24:41 +0000 Day Vies 1355069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think it depends on your personal style, the size of your wardrobe, your climate, and the quality of the pieces you're buying. <ul> <li>The more pieces you have the longer it will take to rotate through all of them</li> <li>The more conservative your taste the easier it is to look modern because a white t-shirt never really looks dated (though it may get dingy ;-D)</li> <li>The higher the quality the longer your pieces will last.</li> <li>The longer your summer the more you'll wear your summer clothes -- their shelf life then will be limited. </li> </ul> Having said all that because I live in a 4 season climate, my summer clothes last a good long time (an average of 5 years generally longer). Sandals if I love them (wear them constantly) last about 2-3 years otherwise depending on style, comfort and quality about 5 years. I have a large wardrobe so I have a lot of clothes in rotation and tend to wear out the all season pieces quicker than the specifically winter or summer pieces. My taste in clothes is generally classic -- color choices not so classic. I love mixing up the basics, so it's not unusual for me to have a piece for 10 years. Caro in Oz on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355062 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:05:27 +0000 Caro in Oz 1355062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'd be very happy if I could get two years out of knits - they start to look shabby very quickly imo. I have some old cashmere that is still going strong after 20++ years but some of my newer knits are just awful after one winter. Deb on "Longevity & wardrobe planning" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/longevity-wardrobe-planning#post-1355044 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 04:34:34 +0000 Deb 1355044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Interesting question. I am not an advocate of the disposable wardrobe and would be disappointed if items were worn out after a year or two. I tend to always buy quality over quantity and find with the right, well thought out choices, I get many years of wear from my clothes and shoes. I have a moderate size wardrobe, with enough variety and many items to rotate. Favouring natural fabrics like cashmere, silk and cotton, some decent man made fibres, premium jeans, and Spanish or Italian shoes. All of these cost more on purchase but last so much longer. Diligence with shoe maintenance and laundering is paramount too.