Expected longevity of your clothes? - YouLookFab Forum

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Expected longevity of your clothes?

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I have long suspected that I am on the extreme end of the continuum here. When you buy something new, how long do you expect a well-cared-for garment (other than a simple tee) to stay in your closet? Let's pick three types of garments to answer: a pair of jeans, a pair of non-denim pants, and a blouse. How do you decide when it's time to let it go? Do your purchases tend to meet your longevity expectations?

This is a question that has no right or wrong answer because we all will base our choices on our own values. Because I am pretty sure I am an outlier, I would like to hear others' responses before I chime in so I can get an unbiased reality check to help me be a better YLFer.

General

39 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Honestly? Years and years. I am not hard on my clothes, I don't wash them as much as some, I take care of them when I do wash them, and I have a large closet so they don't see as much wear as some. And my weight is pretty stable. I'd get rid of them when they don't fit, get stained, torn, or when I know I don't like it anymore. How long that is really varies. I'm sure many things should go quicker than they do though! Until the last few years I tended to by pretty classic things, so even going out of style took time. Or, I was blissfully unaware.

Julie

Hi! I'm new to the forum and interested in this question. But, I don't own or wear too many non-denim pants or blouses (I'm a scientist and the dress code is _extremely_ casual). So, those tend to last a long time for me! We're talking 10 years easily.

For jeans: I think about 4-5 years, then another year or two as gardening/art project wear only.
Unless I make a mistake and buy something that doesn't fit quite right, then off they go to the second hand store.

Anonymous

EXCELLENT QUESTION. I fully expect all of those categories to last me until I decide to donate them. That could be anywhere from a year to five years to ten years. MOST of the time my garments meet that expectation. There is always a case or two when I am disappointed.

anchie

Veteran

This exact question is on my mind this days and I am very interested in everyone's responses. I would say on average 5 years, with some exceptions in both directions. T-shirts, summer shoes and sweaters shorter than that, coats and blazers longer than 5 years. But once in a while it is possible to find sweater that just refuses to die, no matter what.
It all also depends on quality, fabric content and frequency of the wear.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I expect most of my better made clothes (jeans, denim shorts, twill shorts, coats, quality sweaters, silks) to last at least 5-7 years. These are not items I wear every day of the year so they can last even 10+ years in some cases (and some of my jeans are that old). That said, most of my "daily wear" tops and lighter weight clothing only last for a few years before it either get's worn/stained/torn or I tire of it and pass it on.

I'm learning more and more that I need far fewer of the "better made" items in my wardrobe than I once thought I needed (and less than I once thought I wanted). 4 or 5 pair of jeans vs. 10 pair of jeans, etc. If I have too many long lasting items several of them are going to end up not being worn much and the CPW really takes a hit. I have too many items that I only wear maybe two or three times in the year - and that's not the best idea for me. Going forward I won't be replacing these with new versions, I'll just reduce the size of that category (like cashmere sweaters and fall jackets). Unless I move to a cooler climate of course.

I do like some variety - so I tend to buy more "fun" things at lower price points to help keep dressing interesting. My daily lifestyle requires things that I feel I can afford to get dirty without worrying about losing $100 by ruining something. So for me, that's where places like the Loft or JCrew Factory come into play. Esp. in summer.

viva

Veteran

I don't expect lifetime longevity, in part because I don't buy extremely high end items and in part because my tastes change and I like to get new things. However, I also do not expect seasonal turnover of every item, because I can't afford that and am personally not interested in that kind of shopping. So I am somewhere in the middle, and it was interesting to think about these things...

Jeans: 2-5 years. 2 is fine with me, because some of the jeans I buy are quite trendy, and I may find that a trend really does not suit me, so after 2 years I have had enough. And I wear jeans A LOT, so if they are a workhorse pair, usually after 5 years they are ready to go.

Non-denim pants: 3-4 years at least. I don't wear them as often, so it is mainly a question of style and fit. Do they still feel modern enough and fit well? If not, I will consign. But I would expect to be able to wear and enjoy them for 3-4 years and often longer.

Blouses: 4-5 years at least. This is interesting because with blouses I like to buy what feel for me like statement pieces: more unusual, interesting items. I wear them much less frequently and, because they are unusual, I am not worried about them looking modern or on-trend. I will get rid of blouses if they no longer fit or get ruined or if I never wear them, but if I purchase well (and I try to) I expect to wear a blouse for a pretty long time (for me).

rachylou

Veteran

Twenty, seven and ten... although, I'm really really sad to let almost everything go before 20. I love F21 sweaters, but their max is really 2-3 years.... I part with them at 5 years when it just has to be faced that they're dead.

Another reason I have so many clothes. *Sigh.*

Diana

Veteran

Ballpark? I would say 5 years for all of these categories (assuming they are worn relatively frequently) although of course there are many factors that would affect this. I expect most of my clothes to last this long, although certain items (like blazers or coats) should ideally last longer. It makes me very upset when things fall apart after one or two years. My workhorse summer Naot sandals are an exception (2-3 years on average, I think) but I am very hard on my shoes. (My winter shoes only last longer because they can be re-heeled and I wear them with socks/insoles (which slows the wear I on the inside of the sole) unlike the Naots.)

ETA: I'm also pretty slow to purge unless the item in question doesn't fit or has some fatal flaw (like it's itchy).

Penny

Veteran

Agreed, my clothes tend to last till I decide to pass them on - I am wearing a dress today that I bought ten years ago, in fact! Some exceptions, of course - like a couple of robes I bought recently are already very pill-y, a cashmere cardigan I love is limping along with patched elbows (otherwise in decent shape), and my shoes wear down pretty quickly (although they can last a long time thanks to a great shoe-repair shop nearby). Will be interested to read others responses . . .

Sal

Veteran

I am similar to most others -

Jeans 2-5 years (usually wear them out, either by stretch going or knees completely wearing through - I currently have five pairs and this has been typical over the last few years).
Non jeans bottoms - 2-3 years (I think this represents that I do not have many in this category, I have six pairs total)
Blouses/woven tops - 4-10 (I have a lot, probably 20)
Tees and sweaters - 2-3 years mostly (Do have some a lot older, but some sadly only last 1 1/2 seasons )
years (Have some surprisingly old ones actually that I still love)
Jackets 5-10 years
Coats 5-10 years
Dresses - 5 years

Footwear varies the most. My oldest shoes are 17 years old. I have several in the 5-10 years bracket (one pair ankle boots, 2 x heeled sandals). I have worn out shoes in one year however at times. My shoes are my largest category however so they get rotated often and I rarely wear any of them more than two days a week.

I pass them on for three reasons;

1) Worn out, normally converted to rags of some sort. Knits pilled, stained, saggy, colour washed out etc.. I keep a small group of pieces to wear as lounge wear or garden wear or for painting but it is small. I also have a pair of jeans and a sweater that I wear to muddy rugby matches....
2) Fit/piece is wrong - and not worth persevering, usually donated to Garage Sale or Thrift Shop. Something I didn't pick up at purchase (top being too short would be a common one) or something has changed (shoes no longer comfortable, now too tight or loose)
3) I am tired of it, this is a small category but it is still there. I purchased two-three items last year that I passed on after very little wear at all (maybe two times in total).

DonnaF

Veteran

I expect five to ten years. I have lots of clothes so don't wear a single piece terribly often, live in a coolish climate and no longer sweat much at all, and don't wash my clothing as often as most folks. My bras are the things that wear out in less time, but since I stocked up last year the ones I have may last five years since I don't wear each one as often.

I am an extremely slow purger. A few months ago, I concluded that I was buying my newish Uniqlo underlayer tops a size to big. I will pass at least four of the five on to DD who is broader through the shoulders. If I didn't have her, I would probably keep them until they fell apart.

Anonymous

I'm like Vivian - in terms of usually choosing to pass something on before it truly wears out. My weight fluctuates like a container ship (which is what I also look like most of the time ) so jeans and pants (which I don't wear or own very many of ) come and go. My one high-end pair of dress pants (Vince) are at least 5 years old now and oddly still fit. They were huge when I bought them though - truth be told. My interests and ideas for how I want to dress change more often than every 5 years. I can't imagine hanging on many things that long.

Kate

Veteran

Five years at the very least, and probably a lot longer.

The Cat

Veteran

I expect ALL my clothes to last for at least 2 years. The more expensive items: at least 5 years.
Well, sometimes an item looks worn out in just a few months time, and then I will have to let it go. That is disappointing, of course, but usually, that item was cheap (maybe because the quality was poorer than I realized when I bought it). On the other hand, I have several items that are more than 5 years old. And if they still look good and fit my body and my style, I will gladly continue to use them. I "evaluate" all my clothes every season.

The Cat

Veteran

I expect ALL my clothes to last for at least 2 years. The more expensive items: at least 5 years.
Well, sometimes an item looks worn out in just a few months time, and then I will have to let it go. That is disappointing, of course, but usually, that item was cheap (maybe because the quality was poorer than I realized when I bought it). On the other hand, I have several items that are more than 5 years old. And if they still look good and fit my body and my style, I will gladly continue to use them. I "evaluate" all my clothes every season.

Anonymous

5-10 years if all goes well.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

This is making me feel better. Maybe I'm not such an outlier after all. No one in my social circle would ever describe me as a conservative of anything other than money, but I am surprised time and again by my resistance to "trendy" garments that I don't think will last the test of time, which in my case is likely to be at least a decade. I would never have thought to describe myself as a "classic" in my style statement, but maybe I am more stylistically conservative than I realized. This probably explains why I've never been able to actually write a decent style statement or pick my pithy fashion persona descriptors. More thoughts to come, I'm sure.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Do you veterans remember ClearlyClaire's 10 garments per season strategy? She chose a small capsule that got used up, literally, then replaced as the need changes for the season. It seemed like maybe less than half of her selections made it to the next year. When I was brand new here, I didn't understand it all, but now I am finding it really appealing, except for the part of having to shop that frequently. I wonder what she's doing now...

JAileen

Veteran

Claire's wardrobe strategy was fascinating. I have a hard time finding the perfect thing. So when I do, I want it to last forever.

Anonymous

I meticulously buy colors that blend so I can mix and match. I'd hate to have to replace all this in one season. Eek! Shopping is time consuming, and I want a good amount of longevity in what I wear. Sweaters are problematic, and I'm moving more towards jackets to keep me warm. I love a cozy sweater, but the pills drive me nuts.

shedev

Veteran

I get 2-4 years out of items in regular rotation. Most of my wardrobe does meet my expectations of $2 CPW, there are a few underperformers and a few that greatly exceed expectations.

Lucy

Veteran

Great question!
Most clothes I want to have for five years. Jeans, dressier work clothes, coats, cardigans, most shoes. I do tend to baby my clothes, and I wash them on gentle and hang them in the shade to dry.
The main exceptions would be tshirts and other casual tops (I'd like 2 years, but we need to wear a lot of sunscreen where I live and sometimes things get stained from that) and sandals (tropical wet weather is not kind to summer footwear).

cindysmith

Veteran

I am hard on clothes, so non denim pants usually don't last me very long. They always get rips in them and it makes me cry because they're always such perfect pants and I can't find good replacements. Then I find a good replacement and it inevitably gets ripped too I have one pair of pants that has lasted me several years and I'm already looking for a replacement for them in case something happens (if it doesn't, then I'll have two pairs yay!)

My jeans have been lasting me longer since I got pickier, and I'm so glad of it. I've got a pair that's over 2 years old and I still love love love them.

Blouses aren't something I do, unless I can count a knit top instead. I have one too from Babooshka that's a few years old and it's an outlier. My tops get stained or I get bored with them or they just wear out.

I've been trying to purchase all my clothes and shoes more mindfully so that things last me for years, but my lifestyle still just chews up clothes and shoes.

penelopestylishapples

it completely depends on how often I wear them. if it's the "it" pair of jeans that gets worn 1-3x/week...well, about a year, maybe two. For non-jean pants, I wear them less frequently, so I expect them to last for years.

I expect blouses to last a few years. I purge or convert to pajamas if they get pilled or, ripped, or stained.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I echo penelope here-- it depends how much I wear it! So there are no hard and fast rules. A person with a large wardrobe who does not engage in heavy-wear activities will get a longer life out of clothes than one who has an on-hands-and-knees job or one whose wardrobe is really tiny and whose clothes are in more frequent rotation. Weather conditions also play a role, I'm sure. My summer tops (blouses, shirts, tees) wear out much faster than my winter shirts (due to perspiration) whereas my winter knits get so much wear they can look very tired after two seasons.

So I might talk in terms of hopes vs. expectations.

For jeans -- 2 years to 8 years, depending on the style and type. Like Viva, I often have a few trend pairs which I might rotate through faster. But the elusive "perfect" pair of jeans is something to hang onto!

For non-denim pants...well, I don't have too many and don't wear too many, so it's not really a fair category for me. I might own dress pants for a decade without wearing them out -- I have to pass them on on the basis of style rather than wear.

Blouses and shirts -- it entirely depends. For certain summer tops, 1 year. For others -- 4. For winter ones? Those can last a long time in my closet.

lyn67

Veteran

I miss Claire, too:-) but to answer to your question, I'm Rachy's twin here, unfortunately, haha:-)).

Sisi

Veteran

Interesting question! In average, I would say that my clothes last 5-10 years. Except woolen pullovers (3 years or so) - even the best wool pills. And the occasional item that unexpectedly gets faded.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Depends entirely on the item and how often it's worn - so I'm nodding along with Viv, Lisa, Suz and Penelope.

Some of my ball parks IF YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR STUFF AND DON"T MESS THINGS UP IN THE LAUNDRY:

Smythe Equestrian Jackets - a lifetime.
Chanel, Prada and Valentino Bags - a lifetime.
Burberry Scarf - a lifetime
Burberry Coat - a lifetime
J.Crew Italian Wool coats - 10 years. (Mine are going on 8 years)
Soia & Kyo Coats - 10 years (Mine are going on 9 years)
Premium Jeans that are not torn - 5 years
Theory Suiting - 5 years
Designer Wool Trousers - 5 years

And the rest is a gamble - especially knits and knitwear:

Loungewear and sleeping tees - 1 year
White shirts - 1 to 2 years
T-shirts - sometimes a season.
Knitwear - 1 to 3 years
Silk Blouses - 2 to 3 years

Cannot comment on footwear. That's the biggest gamble.

Greenjeans

Veteran

FWIW, I have a tiny wardrobe so all my clothes, except for occasion-wear, get a lot of wear. I wear things into the ground and wash all my own clothes (no dry-cleaning). Here's what I've found:

Delicate synthetics like rayon and viscose are practically disposable. They do not wash well and don't stand up to a lot of wear.

Delicate silks are fragile (susceptible to tearing at stress points) but wash and iron beautifully.

Polyester seems to last forever but feels icky on the skin so I avoid unless I love the piece and then only wear for short outings (not all-day wear).

I love the way cotton molds to the body over time (think broken-in jeans). Alas, it deteriorates some with every wash/dry so isn't as long-lasting as I'd like. But I love it so I buy it anyway, duplicate, and seek to replace as items wear out.

Synthetic knits: not a fan because of static, pilling and odor. Often disappointed in how blended knits wear, although some are fine. This is a category that is hit or miss for me deepening on brand. To be safe, I stick with 100% natural fibers and only go for the blends if I fall in love with something and it is on super-sale.

Of course, there are exceptions. But knowing these things about my preferences (and how much I wear my clothes) helps me weed out a lot without even trying on.

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