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Buying an item over and over

Katerina

Veteran

I am a uniform dresser and I love my favorite essentials. When I love an item, I will want to buy it over and over. And I mean often exactly the same style, not an updated version. Until it is discontinued. My favorites are sneakers I have been wearing for about 15 years. I have several colors and I have replaced the worn ones a couple of times, although the quality has been very good and they have lasted a long time. They are pricey but imo worth the price tag. Very comfortable in all our seasons. My standard colours are black, white, navy and grey. I guess am not easily bored with my clothes and footwear and do not crave change.

I wonder if you also have a wardrobe item that is just “the best” and which you buy over and over… perhaps even in multiple colours. Is there anything that good for you?

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Dressing

40 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

LJP

Veteran

Those are really chic sneakers - are they Hogan ?

Tanya

Veteran

I am the type who likes subtle updates, so I don't tend to do this with clothing and shoes. However, I do it with undies, bras, hosiery, especially bras. It is typically when a favorite bra style is discontinued that forces me to look for a new one.

Those are great looking sneakers, and they look like they would be comfy, too.

Katerina

Veteran

LJP, yes, they are Hogan Interactive. I hope they will not get discontinued….

Tanya, yes, I do the same with undies too.

Irina

Veteran

Good looking sneakers
I don’t have anything that I repeatedly bought. I do have 3 pairs of Club Monaco flats, all in different colors. I bought a first pair in 2020 and two more in 2021. But I don’t know if I will look for the exactly same pair after they become worn out. It would only work if one’s style stays unchanged. I’m not that person.

Sal

Veteran

I rarely do this - there are occasions when I have - or would like to. But usually I tweak things a bit. Exceptions would be exercise sneakers, socks and sports bras.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Katerina, if they work - milk it

I am on your Team!

I've been wearing the ECCO soft 7 sneakers for many years because they REALLY work well for my feet, style, and lifestyle. I keep buying new colours and replacing the essentials when they wear out (I am hard on my shoes). I just bought the gold. Wore them yesterday and today. LOVE!

Ecco Soft 7 Monochromatic 2.0 Sneaker

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Carol

(website)

Veteran

If there's any candidate for me, it's the Lands End turtleneck. Perfectly fitted and supremely warm, they are a classic.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those look like great sneakers, Katerina!

I have done it with footwear. Am a repeat wearer of Ecco Soft 7s...though I am branching out this year, after about 6 years of wearing them. (I still have a pair but also want a shoe with a slightly higher platform.)

I have also done this with bras and undies.

And hiking shoes.

Otherwise, I tend to tweak things for an update.

Katerina

Veteran

Angie, they are great! Love gold sneakers.

Suz, Angie, I have not tried Ecco sneakers, but they sound very comfortable.

Carol, it is perfect and timeless.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I've been wearing Chucks since college.

I recently bought this Eileen Fisher tank dress, which is basically a dupe of the Eileen Fisher tank dress I owned a few years ago and wore until it was thin and shapeless. I tried on a few alternatives, but nothing was as good.

I'm also loyal to my bra and underwear choices and hate when I'm forced to change.

Eileen Fisher Jersey Scoop-Neck Midi Dress

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Converse Unisex Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top Sneaker

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Kate

Veteran

Love your Hogans!

I'm another devoted fan of the Ecco Soft 7 sneaker, and currently have three pairs of them, though I branched out this year, and recently ordered some Born gold sneakers. Since I've worn Born in the past, I hope they will work out. I am also a repeat buyer of bras.

Anonymous

I would do this, but often things get discontinued. The main thing I can think of, besides shameless duplicates and underwear, was my workhorse MK east west crossbody.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Yes I do this...converse sneakers, birkenstok foot wear, Levi 's jeans...of it works for me I continue.

Dee

Veteran

The only things I've ever really bought on repeat is Jockey underwear and Bali bras.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Converse high tops and Sorel sport sandals ….. definitely bras and undies, if I find good ones.. merino socks from Darn Tough….. T shirts and base layers from Muji and Uniqlo. And I’ve bought the same Casio sport watch a few times after losing it during travel! I guess I do this a lot. It saves having to “reinvent the wheel.” But sometimes body or tastes do change, and something new becomes necessary….

Kari

Veteran

I was just thinking about this myself. I also occasionally buy backups of the exact item/color if I can find one secondhand or on final sale AND it’s likely going to be difficult or impossible to replace.

(And of course, basics like intimates, tees, pajamas, socks…)

Some staples that I have multiples of in different colors because I use them a lot, and found other colors secondhand:
• ECCO Soft 7 sneakers
• Rebecca Minkoff Leo envelope clutch
• Frye Elyssa oxford (a discontinued style)
• Cole Haan Air Tali wedge pumps (also discontinued)
• Lucky Basel bootie
• Connally McDougall Sadie midi skirt
• A Caslon suede flat mule from a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale many years ago
• So many activewear pieces - leggings, bodysuits, jackets, shoes
• I can think of several tops, shirts, dresses, or skirts where they worked so well on me that I’ve bought dupes in different colors.

Duplicates of the exact item due to being discontinued and wearing out when I found it secondhand or on final clearance:
• Ecco Flash T-strap sandal in silver - not the one that’s being made now, but a much older style. I’ve found a couple pairs secondhand and new or worn once or twice for an incredibly cheap price.
• Seychelles So Blue Metallic bootie (I wear these all the time, and my pair from 2017 or so is getting very very worn out!)
• Jeans, when I find a pair that works on me & that I wear all the time.

Irina

Veteran

Ha! I just remember - I left a pair of Columbia slides to my sister in 2011 Came back home and bought the same slides again. Still have them or did I replaced with another? Anyway, I have them, they started to look shabby and I bought a pair in a different color just last month.

It is nothing fancy or fashionable, just a pair of casual sandals. I re-purchase because I don’t want to spent time and energy on something useful but mundane.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have repeated shoe styles that work really well for me, and definitely bras. I can't think of anything else off hand, but will certainly do so if the situation comes up again.

slim cat

Veteran

My favorites are often discontinued - undies from GAP, then Madewell,..
I'm sometimes wishing for Time Machine to go back in time and get more of the same piece .

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I often buy duplicates of shoes as they are my hardest fit. And then when I want to replace them they are discontinued. Sigh.

Kate

Veteran

Just remembered, I also repeat Wolford and Falke tights and SmartWool socks.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I am doing it more these days, often for “essentials”- something that’s not what you hope will be looked at but which sets off the other item. So say layering tops- I had a teal one I eventually tired of but the scoop neck and 3/4 sleeves were perfect, so I found the same brand in black a few years later and bought two. Each has been worn about 60 times since 2018.
And last week I made a special trip about 20 minutes away to get a duplicate of a mock neck top for winter that is the most comfortable ever- from about 2007! And the company still makes them! I originally had 3, had one left, have just added another 3 which worries me a little ( need #30 wears out of each) - but then the first has lasted over 15 years with over 120 wears so hopefully I will get there! I’m wearing a new one today and it is so warm and comfortable and looks nice with my knit I feel

SarahD8

Veteran

Yes, very much relate to this! I've noticed recently a tendency for pieces to wear out before I tire of them - leading to me wishing to source an exact replacement (in a couple of cases I've managed to find the exact thing on eBay). This is a big part of what's behind a recent decision to embrace a more expansive wardrobe - to deliberately split my wears: I'd like things to wear out around the time when I feel done with them, rather than way before.

pirouette

I do this all the time with jeans trainers tee shirts and underwear. I am a uniform dresser with a very narrow colour palette so if I like something I often buy a duplicate as a back up. I have a medium sized wardrobe but it appears small as I often have 3 or 4 of the exact same thing.

RobinF

Veteran

I only do this with bras and underwear, otherwise I need more variety. When I have duplicated, even in a different color, I tend to prefer one over the other. I have to say, I have some favorite items that I wish I could repurchase as they wear out but they are long gone

Jen

I am amazed how much of my shopping now is done on Poshmark or EBay, often for just this reason. The main issue for me is I cannot wear most high-waisted pants. I have bought innumerable J. Crew Teddie pants on these sites over the years. There is something about the fit that is magic for me; even if my size changes, it’s still perfect in the new size. My latest obsession is Anthropologie Maeve Margot pants which are still being sold, but I’ve bought them in a whole bunch of patterns, again on consignment. They are higher rise but with a very forgiving elastic waist, perfect for computer work at home. I’ve also bought endless J. Crew tissue turtlenecks, and several Boden ottoman dresses and tops, which I love. It is wonderful to live in a time where, if you love an item, you can still find it online after it has been discontinued by the retailer!

Hadilly

I can’t count how many pairs of Mephisto Helen sandals I have worn. I wear them 8-9 months of the year where I live.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think that particularly with foot wear if you have found something comfortable that works and fits why wouldn’t you just repeat it.l don’t tend to do this with clothes but l do buy the same makeup on repeat,that is until they inevitably discontinue it..grrrr!

ChristelJ

Veteran

I repurchase Levi's Bermuda shorts over the years, in the same and in various washes. I have them all in two sizes to accommodate weight shifts. So glad they are still available! They are my most worn item in summer, and the basis of my "boho tops over denim shorts" formula.

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