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Buying something for one season...

Runcarla

Veteran

...or The White T-shirt.

There is a missing ‘essential’ for me to achieve some of my aspirational outfit combos - light (white or cream) tops. I moved away from white shirts, sweaters, and T-shirts because they don’t last more than one season (or year) before they became grubby and unattractive. (Ex. I still have a 2016 navy and white BR button down, but the white one was gone after 1 year.)

Counting wears, and assessing the condition of my tops, I’m thinking 50-60 wears will be the maximum number I’ll get from tops. T-shirts should last 2 years, and most tops 5. I’m speculating that white tops, especially T-shirts, might last half as long - probably due to the vigorous washing techniques required to keep them pristine. I’m also wondering if a high summer capsule is going to experience higher turnover relative to some of the tenant for life garments I own?

So, my question is: do you ever buy things knowing that they will be short term tenants of your closet? How does this factor into your closet management practices? Budget? Quality?

General

43 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

LaPed

Veteran

I've definitely had this experience with white tees. I do find that heavier washing/stain removal means their lifespan is much shorter than darker colours. They end up in the sleepwear drawer drawer after a couple seasons. I've pretty much stopped buying them, partly because it feels wasteful and partly because bright white feels very loud on my complexion. I'm liking the idea of ecru...

nemosmom

Veteran

Yep! White tees are a big one for me. (57 wears for my vneck; 22 wears for my crew neck last year). I won't wear white tees OITW that have yellowed armpits, and I have a difficult time keeping coffee off of anything white... And, regardless of price point, I seem to trash tees at the same rate - rarely do they last longer than a season. I buy a 3 pack of men's white tees for this very reason. They make great dust rags before going to the recycle center.

Long sleeved tees rarely survive longer than a season. I wear them alone in the spring/fall and then use them as base layers in the winter under sweaters. Usually by the time spring rolls around again, they are pilled too much to wear alone.

Another is short no-show socks I wear in summer. They ALWAYS get lost in the wash, or end up with holes. And, I don't wear sneakers in summer without socks.

Cotton undies and base layers are another place where I anticipate having at least an annual turnover and budget accordingly.

Jockey Generation Men's Stay New Cotton 3pk V-Neck T-Shirt - White

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Jockey Generation Men's Stay New Cotton 3pk Crew T-Shirt - White

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slim cat

Veteran

I don't do plain white tees for variety of reasons - light grey for home wear, graphic tees for everything else. Some white tees with graphics survived well - like the linen tee from JCrew I've got 6 years ago.

I do buy some items that have short life span - like summer tops from Old Navy in rayon ( sometimes I get tired of them before they are worn out ).

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I think the trick is just to wear the heck out of them for that season. I do try my best to balance ethics/price for that sort of thing, but this is an item where I'm probably not going to splurge.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't wear white tees, per se, but YES -- white knitwear and tops definitely has a shorter lifespan (especially if worn in summer.) For instance....here are two envelope neck tops I love. Bought in the early days of YLF and the blue one is still going strong. Not so, the white version.

I simply accept that white items (except for white denim, which is very sturdy) are going to wear out faster.

Vince Boatneck Tee

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Vince Boatneck Tee

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ophelia

Veteran

White isn’t the best color on me, which is fine considering how messy I am. I tend to buy dark colors because of their long lasting potential. I have cotton tees from the late 90’s (!) that look almost new because manufacturers actually finished cotton back then, so they don’t pill. Most of my shirts last years (if I don’t stain them). I wouldn’t buy anything if I knew it would only last a year, but my clothing budget is small.

Anonymous

I don't wear white Tshirts so can't help there. Closest thing are my black tanks and long sleeve Ts I use for sleep- and I go cheapo for those. They're ok for a couple years.
Shoes can be pretty short lived items though. I'm already looking into resoling my Birkies cause I put all my weight in my heels and squish them. And running shoes only last but so long too.

Anonymous

I’m in the same boat regarding white T-shirts. When I don’t have one I wish I did , but/and I too have trouble reconciling price with their short life span . I don’t expect a lot out of my summer clothes so tend not to spend as much on them - with the exception of dressier , “ good” pieces. I often see winter sweaters as one -season wonders too , which isn’t intentional , but becomes the the case when I unpack them for a second winter and see how dismal some of them look.

Irina

Veteran

No, I don’t buy anything intentionally for one season or a year. It is exactly the reason why I really want a pair of white flats and don’t buy it, knowing they are unlikely to survive more than one summer.
Good quality white t-shirt that fits well is one of my HEWI. I have only one to wear as a top or under blazers.
I wear white tops and shirts often and this is from my experience:
- it’s easier to keep linen bright white than cotton
- if a shirt has additional fibers like elastane, it will loose its brightness fast and it’s impossible to get it back.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I thought these were going to be quickie shoes when I got them, wound up wearing them for several years. Guess that’s backwards of what you’re talking about. They were supposed to be to test whether I liked metallic footwear. I did, so I went ahead and got boots for a much higher price from Anthropologie. They are still in great structural shape, but some of the color is coming off, after one season of frequent wear and a year of very occasional wear. I have wondered how long my new tops from Inimmissimi are going to last, don’t have an answer yet.

by Stagiaire Fash

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Sal

Veteran

White tops are a challenge. If it is a key essential for you I would add one and do my best. When it is stained it becomes a cleaning rag!!

I have a white cami and a white and black striped tee as my options. I do want a less bare option as well to wear to work.

anchie

Veteran

There a many categories that don’t last long in my wardrobe and I plan for it accordingly. Most basics like
underwear, loungewear, pajamas and some t-shirts are getting worn a lot and usually don’t last for more than a year or two. Some sweaters and shoes, especially those for summer season also can have a short life span and have to be replaced often. And then there are categories that rarely get worn out and I keep them for many years like coats, blazers, scarves, bags, dresses and skirts. Pants and jeans are somewhere in between, but of course there are always exceptions.

Anonymous

Yes that's a good way to look at it. The white T shirts are balanced by the OBGs in other areas

Joy

Veteran

Yes. My white jeans have an even shorter life than white tees most of the time. Trendy things and many prints only last a season most of the time. I bought a print top with a front tie last year intending it to be a one season wonder. A friend who swims daily Says even good swimsuits last a very short time and she washes hers right after swim sessions to get the chlorine out ASAP.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Tru dat about swimsuits, if you’re working hard in the pool every day! We always layered the old, worn out suits on top of our new ones to give us more drag & make us stronger.

rachylou

Veteran

The higher the use on anything, the lower price I go. That’s because there’s a certain level of use where higher quality and higher price do not offset the wear-and-tear. Like suitcases: if you fly every week, $300 performs no better than $20. I’m lucky in that any item of clothing that looks grubby is still perfectly wearable in the bakery, which will be covered by a clean white uniform anyways and will inject some fashion as a boon. My only exception is doggy bags... compostable is worth it if you can do it, ‘cuz that’s just a lot of plastic.

Anonymous

No white t shirts, no white at all. I used to buy Three Dots white t shirts and they lasted as well as the grey, but no more because I no longer wear white.

I buy cashmere hats and scarves which I wear daily, including on trail walks, because they're soft, warm and lightweight but they last pretty well if taken care of. I suppose that's a different category, like, Extravagance in Daily Use.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great questions! It's a compromise a lot of the time unfortunately.

White tops are a challenge unless they are woven and excellent quality. 100% cotton T-shirts are the worst contenders because jersey knit is not made to last. So you try to do the right thing by buying a 100% organic white tee from an ethical and sustainable manufacturer. But it only looks good for a season because that is the nature of knitted jersey that has not been combined with a manmade fibre to stabilize the fabric. Non-white tees look better for longer, and so do white tees with graphics on them.

White cotton knitwear lasts longer, as do white woven tops.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To answer your questions: you have to manage the compromise in a way that makes you sleep at night.

Some options:

Buy and recycle every season

Wear the heck out the item for one season

Don't spend much money on the item to begin with

Keep two in rotation to share the wear

Jules

Veteran

I was going to mention this on your other thread, but it wasn't totally topical. And neither is it exactly what you are asking here. But just in general, I find my high summer clothing has a high proportion of one season wonders. It is somewhat due to wear, of course, but I think also because it's a short season with a long gap from year to year (up to 10 months some years). And perhaps less potential to mix and match/layer items the way we do to combine old and new items in other seasons? Anyway, my solution (in theory) is to maintain a relatively small summer wardrobe. Last summer for example I was sad to see many nicer office and going out items from the year before get no wear due to Covid, knowing I only wore them a half dozen times the year before, and that they might not suit me next year..
On the specific matter of simple cotton tees, I love a soft old tee for bed and around the house. Can you repurpose for gardening?

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Good luck with white T-shirts. I don’t buy them any more, mostly because rather than becoming worn out, pit- or otherwise stained or misshapen, they were never worn out of fear of the above. Last summer, I donated about 5 totally unworn white shirts. I kept a couple that have cute graphics, notably a Life is Good daisy, for one.

As to your question about buying one-season items intentionally, I find it very difficult to predict how long any new single item will last, or even how long I will like it. Very many low-end or clearance items were ones that became favorites and lasted several years. OTH, I have several nice dressier poly or linen summer tops that I just don’t wear often enough to wear them out, not because I don’t like them, but I do not have a minimum numbers wardrobe. Who knows when they will be gone?

Rather than looking for either (maybe less expensive) things with predictably short longevity, or things (maybe more expensive) which I know will endure, I do not hesitate to buy a top with a cute detail for every day. This is because the way I shop, I know I can find tops for any occasion or level of “fanciness” at the same price point. For example, go to TJMaxx or a mall store with a clearance rack, pick out three tops, one solid v-neck tee, one print blouse style, and one tee with interesting feature. Each will be approximately the same price, under $20. So you see I don’t save one of them for “good” because they all cost the same and financial loss will be equal if ruined. I may save something for “good” if it especially matches other pieces or accessories which are “good”, or if I find it’s a better than usual fit or laundry performer, etc.

Helena

Veteran

What rachy said for white t-shirts - sunscreen will stain a $300 t-shirt just as fast as a $15 one, so this is one item NOT worth investing in, imo - I'd rather just get one or two, wear them to death, and then but them in the textile recycling bin - I miss Target for these sort of items!

The Cat

Veteran

I have my white tees for years and wear them year round. Mine are not expensive--I buy them at H&M and similar places. My best tips are to treat difficult spots with Vanish a few minutes before regular laundry, to wash white items with other white items ONLY, to let them be turned inside out while in the machine, and to let them airdry.

The Cat

Veteran

To answer your question, Carla: No, in general I don't want to buy items that I know will be short term tenants of my closet. (I want all items to last at least two years, preferably more.) The only exceptions might be cheap items bought for a special occasion, say a holiday or a theme party.

kkards

Veteran

So...i just counted and i own 7 short sleeve white tee shirts, ...some are wearable for work, some are wearable for weekends, and 1 is loungewear only...for me the wearable for work to loungewear only cycle is about 5 years...i tend to buy at Target and the Gap, but I’m willing to spend more on a good fit....
shorts on the other hand, I’m not willing to spend on, even thought they may last a lot of seasons, i just don’t wear shorts that much so i want them cheap...

unfrumped

Veteran

I think this is a great discussion because of the many different ways of looking at the issues, as in the comments so far.
Your end question was whether one might by a short- term item “ with knowledge afore thought “. Maybe also thinking about whether that fits in with responsible buying, or if there a better way around it.
If thers a yup if item that really works - a “wardrobe essential” or wardrobe workhorse, and not a good substitute that works as well, I agree with finding a reasonable price/ quality breakpoint and just wear and replace. By “ quality “, for me that includes fit, which in knits is not necessarily related to price— some T tops just “ get me” and I’m likely to buy it when I find it.
But as I look at what I think is my still too- large wardrobe, it’s about how many items come in and out per year and how much I wear them. Some years I bought a lot of items whilst having a lot that saw little wear, and then eventually a lot had to go due to fit, styles, tastes but hadn’t actually worn out. That would not be any better than having a smaller wardrobe that includes a few one- season wonders( wear and tear, or a few trends that fade) every year.
I’m probably not expressing it well, but I’m thinking I had a lot of good quality items but more than I could or would wear, so while they stayed in my closet for a long time, eventually they came out! Yes, hopefully many got new lives as I gave to some re- sellers and charities, but surely not all.
I’m not promoting “ fast fashion, “ but am just noting there are different ways to be wasteful.
There are items and fabrics that DO give great longevity - less turnover and waste- if you spring for “ quality “. This would apply if said items are wardrobe essentials so that you must replace if it were to disappear. For me when working, that was things like black dress pants in good tropical wool, which wore like iron, neutral blazer, good leather shoes/ boots that can be re- heeled.
But when I went in too “ deep” on number of such items, my feet or shape might change before any wore out!

MsMaven

Veteran

No white tees for me either. I do have some off white camis, but I usually wear them under another top or card--I've had Nic and Zoe camis that have lasted for years.

White isn't my best color near my face, and I have found that a couple of white tops I bought 2-3 years ago just don't get worn much. Underwear showing through, easily stained, on and on and not worth it.

I do like an off-white cotton or rayon sweater though--with a thicker weave they seem to wear better for me.

So, I don't know what is the best solution for you.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I'm back to say that if you have one white tee that lasts one year, that's the equivalent, sustainability- and budget-wise of someone else who has five white t-shirts that last them five years. Sometimes, discussions like this obscure the realities of a small wardrobe.

Tina

I figure on plain colored Ts lasting about a year if I'm lucky, especially white, so I'm always on the look out for good, not-to-expensive versions. Most other things get kept for years, so it doesn't seem like a huge deal to replace stained or worn T-shirts. (My biggest problem is spilling food off of a fork or somehow dribbling coffee -- all of which gets caught on the "shelf." So many stains right in the middle of my chest...)

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