The things people do for/to their husbands, I’ll never understand. Smh.

You mention darning. I’m starting to wonder how much is too much repair Last year I had my Redwing boots fixed when the soles started to split, and new straps made for my Victoria Nash and Coach mini purses, which each cost around $100 new. I’ve just spoken with a shoemaker today about having zippers replaced in the Nash purse and one of the boots, for 55€ total. I like the character in the leather, but at what point is it too much?

Absolutely-shoes! If I love a pair I will repair them over and over till I can't anymore. Now my cobbler closed, so can't even do that. Good thing I don't go out much!

COBBLER. Thank you, Suntiger, I was completely blanking on the word for “Schuhster” in my native language.

Cat2, that’s very smart. My weight varies somewhat so I should do that, too.

Roberta, great minds think alike.

LaP, comfy shoes get worn. It breaks my heart when I get rid of them. I should only buy shoes that can be resoled, but more and more they aren’t.

FashIntern, I love vintage Coach bags, new ones less. The old ones are washable. Literally. I have some that are 40 years old, and look great, and have years and years of use ahead of them. Your tolerance for repair costs is individual. What you might think is too much, another person might think is doable.

I would love to do more repairs, but the cobbler and tailor here (we only have one of each, afaik, in our four-county region) have pretty limited hours in the best of circumstances. I haven't even tried this year.

I have a lot of shoes that are theoretically resolable. My Blundstones, for instance, which the local guy isn't interested in doing. I could send them somewhere specialized, but it would cost almost as much as a new pair of boots. It's a hard decision. Running shoes are the biggest problem for me because they rack up the most miles and aren't as durable as leather boots; I know some of the big sneaker manufacturers are working on recycled materials and circular production. Can't happen soon enough!

LaP, have you tried a shoe repair in a neighboring town? Ours is very good. I’ve taken in various things over the years and had great outcomes.

I wear out loungewear, gear and comfy shoes. I must be hard on my shoes, because I wear through sandals very quickly. Your new replacements are lovely and well deserved.

Slippers, socks and underwear, yes. For other clothes it’s been a while, though this year I found an elbow hole in a much worn cardi. I kept it, wondering if elbow patches would look good on a knit...

I prefer woven bathrobes and pyjamas. I still miss my batik robe that wore out 20 years ago — i used it through college and grad school and it had been my grandmother’s before that. It looks like your old bathrobe was woven as well. I’m glad you are pleased with your new knit robe. But sigh, it’s been so hard to find good woven items.

Bijou, I wear out shoes, too.

Liesbeth, I’ve had leather patches on a sweater. It made it last a lot longer.

Avicennia, I wanted a seersucker robe, but I couldn’t find one. Vermont Country store had a good possibility, but it wouldn’t be back in stock until January.

I have a couple of very fine, thin cotton nightgown tunics... they’re so fine, they both have a couple of tears. Nothing indiscreet so... I’m still wearing them, lol. Hard to find such fine cotton lawn now.

I am really tough on handbags. While I like really beautiful leather handbags, I know they may not be the best purchase for me. Thank goodness for Angie and YLF introducing me to guitar straps. I also seem to go through leggings and workout wear pretty quickly.

Rachy, Vermont Country store has over a dozen cotton lawn nightgowns. I don’t know if they’re what you’re looking for.

https://www.vermontcountrystor.....ct.active%

Oh! I always forget about Vermont Country Store. Mine are from India, but those could do. I just want the lightest possible cotton. Thanks!

Nuancedream, what about having new straps made?

Rachylou Victoria’s Secret used to have a poet’s shirt/nightgown of lawn. You might be able to find some online. But as you point out, the fabric wears through fast.

I love your new slippers and what good service your former dressing gown gave you!

I tend to wear shoes into the ground. Jeans too.

I love a long cotton lawn nightgown; I replaced the one I bought two or three years ago, with just one, earlier this year. It means I need to have a quick turnaround on wash days!

FashIntern, good ideas.

Jane, I hate wearing out favorite shoes. Replacements tend to be faint imitations.

Good job getting replacements!

I wear out sleepwear. Once I have something comfy, it’s easy to ignore the fraying and thinning until something gives way. Socks — I totally wear out socks. J has a photo of me in our hotel room in Prague from a couple of years ago, with socks that I wore through in both heels because we walked so much! And I’ll wear out jeans too — usually when they get to a certain degree of wear I’ll take them to the ranch where they are guaranteed to live out their final days.

I do wear out running and hiking shoes regularly. I don’t often wear out other footwear unless it’s super practical and comfy — certain sandals and boots have qualified. But I have enough good shoes that I distribute the wear amongst a lot of pairs, and end up taking a long time to actually wear them out.

Janet, when we went to Kauai, it was recommended that we take old hiking shoes because of the red dirt. I ended up leaving them on the beach for someone to find.

Jaileen, your new sleepers are so cute and your old ones remind me of my current ones as they seem to be the same vintage :0)

I usually wear out shoes and keep using them until someone(usually DH) refuses to go outside with me wearing them.

Celia, I don’t think my husband notices what shoes I wear. It suddenly turned very cold here, and my new slippers feel great with socks.

Last week I spoke to a woman at the pool and suggested she might want to use a different swim suit, since the one she was wearing was transparent in back and left nothing to the imagination! She thanked me and tossed it in the garbage on her way out. Afterwards I thought to evaluate my own suit! It is double layers in front, but a single layer in back. Yup! Time to consider a replacement!

Carla, years ago when I swam laps, I found out my suit had become transparent. It was mortifying!!!

I tend to wear jeans and slippers to the ground. My current slippers are in dire need of a replacement, but part of me wants to wait until Jan of next year!

I like to make alterations to extend the life of an item. I took to the tailor my 7 years old coat and asked to shorten it, it's now great for hicking and can see myself using it for a couple of years ! I have a bag of things that will need alterations before the next summer and I am watching lots of youtube courses... I hope I will be able to improve my sewing skills so that one day I can do it myself!

Minaminu, good for you to extend the life of your things by altering them! Youtube has everything, apparently. My son learned how to unclog a sink by watching a video.

Runcarla and Jaileen, yep, btdt with the suits where somehow the "stuff" fell out betwen the grid of fibers & it became transparent in back. I still wore it to practice for a while, as a drag suit with a couple other suits over/under it.

JAileen, I am a big fan of youtube... I leant to tile, sand a wooden worktop and cut tree branches with those videos!

FashIntern, my suit was a stretchy speedo, and looked okay dry, but became transparent when wet.

Minaminu, mostly with youtube I’m overwhelmed by the sheer amount available.