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Sudden workhorse: precious but not Precious

catgirl

Veteran

So my beautiful quilted convertible Burberry sat in the closet for a long time, being special but neglected. This winter has been mild (20s - 30s) and I decided to pull it out despite knowing it would get dirty from brushing against the car, hauling gear, and dog hair.

Once I broke that barrier I have been wearing it just about every day. And every time I see the lining or catch a glimpse in a mirror, it still feels special. Same with my citron Coach, which has gotten my usual abusive treatment and held up beautifully.

I am no longer going to worry about saving an item - sure it seems more rare that way, but maybe schlepping around is good enough.

Anyone else have the breakthrough to workhorse moment?

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Lyn D.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Not yet, but I hope to next weekend with my inaugural leather pants wearing. I plan on pulling out my not yet worn Spiegel lemming jacket for most of the weekend, as well. Of course, they both will then have to wait until I move back at the end of the year for more wear, so I don't know if the break-in effect will have worn off by then.

Gigi

Veteran

Not yet, but I plan to do this with my Aquatalia boots. I had problems with the heels getting water damage after just a few wears, but the cobbler fixed them. Now that I know there is a remedy, I can abuse them to my heart's content! Ha ha.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I've also been saving my green Burberry - I've worn it a couple times, but I'm so scared of getting it altered, even though I know I would wear it more often that way and all.

For most other things, I want to hurry up and use the heck out of them so I feel like I got my $$ worth!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I had to take a deep breath a couple of years ago when I bought my white dress & coat - otherwise they would still be sitting in the wardrobe - they have survived & so have I. This summer I bought a second white coat; yes I now have two white summer coats

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Like Caro, the big barrier for me is wearing white - particularly shirts. But I seem to want to do nothing but lately.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not yet a workhorse, but I started wearing my La Canadienne knee high grey boots at long last. Yes, they are supposed to be weatherproof. So you would think I'd have been wearing them from December on. But this winter has been SO brutal, with so much salt, sand, slush, snow, rain and ice that it just hasn't been feasible to wear a dressy heeled boot -- however comfortable -- in my walk-most-places lifestyle. Luckily I had a few days when I was driving so I found ways to wear them. I know they'll be workhorses in a different winter.

ironkurtin

Veteran

One of the women whose style I admire most wore beautiful, expensive things without worrying about them. Even to clean the kitchen (!). Somehow she had the magic ability to never spill, sweat, or smell funny. I unfortunately seem to have missed the fairy handing that out, but I wear nice thngs "just because" more often because of her.

JAileen

Veteran

My grey leather Scully jacket I got a couple months ago - I'm wearing it whenever I need just a little warmth. I love the color. Grey is my new favorite neutral. I like it with my silver hair. I've worn it to class, to church, to the grocery store, to the library, to lunch with friends. It looks nice dressed up or dressed down. It's working out exactly as I hoped.

Grey Rainbow

I finally bought myself a Burberry trench this year. Single most expensive clothing item ever. Perfect fit off the rack, and for that what broke the ice was a small rip on the inside pocket seam. Easy fix but it did make me think of it as less precious,

I have a bad habit of wanting to duplicate the things I really love, my uniform workhorses. Not just wanting to, I actually do this. Probably way too often. Which wouldn't be terrible if it were all Gap tees. Or if I had closet space in my tiny bungalow.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Apart from the smashing top I still have to post about (LACeleste, if you see this, sorry for the delay), very few things in my wardrobe are that special, pricey or extraordinary to not wear them. But, I would hesitate to wear something like your coat Una, so I'll be monitoring my habits when I eventually go back to work, and my lifestyle and budget change.

I wonder what you think about the your trench in terms of whether its legendary or expected quality is showing or will show over time - does it look like it will hold up well being in regular rotation and under treatment you give it? How much would you realistically expect it to last and behave given how much you paid for it? What did you expect from it when you bought it - in every way?

Lantana

Veteran

There are no aristocrats in my wardrobe so everything gets worn on a regular basis.
No, that's not true. I have a very special pearl ring that I wear often.
What'smore, my dream is to have a wardrobe full of top quality pieces and wear the heck out of them.

kkards

Veteran

i have a pair of manolo blahnik kitten heel pumps that i used to be that way about…i rarely wore them the 1st year. don't remember what cause me to change, but now 5 years in i wear them all the time. now my biggest concern is that i'll need to replace them soon, and i'll have to break in a new pair.

Anonymous

Yes, I've had that happen and it's a good feeling when it does. Life's too short eh?

viva

Veteran

Can't help but spin off a tiny bit on Grey Rainbow's Burberry trench story.

When we redid our kitchen many years ago, we put a gorgeous butcher block top on our island, to remind me of the island I grew up with and where my mother prepared many meals. We intended to use the butcher block so we knew it would eventually get very worn and cut, but on the first day of our new kitchen we were still enjoying its perfection and new luster. And then DD (about 12?), making tea, put the hot tea kettle right down on the wood. So it was perfect for a few hours, and then suddenly it had a big dark ring. We all took a breath, and then started using that butcher block as it had been intended -- and there was no looking back.

So important not to over-Precious things.

Marina

Alike to your Burberry coat, I am saving my Tommy Hilfiger bag (at the bottom of this page) It is white, and even in summer I cannot but neglect to take it every day on work, notwithsanding it is one of the biggest in my collection and thereby all things necessary might be put at once - iPad, phone, several notepads and even miniaudiere.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This is a fantastic breakthrough Una. Other than formal wear, I'm learning that there is really no reason to hold onto things for special occasions and for "good wear". We deserve to look and feel good ALL THE TIME!

D'Ellen

Veteran

Hi Una - I was just thinking about your Burberry the other day! I'm so glad you've been rockin' it. I don't really "save" anything anymore; I prefer to "savor". Life's just too short!

gryffin

Veteran

Una - I am careful with the things I really love. I do ration them, if they are in the special occasion capsule, but I try to wear everything. I have also duplicated if I really adore something and it's not cost prohibitive. I do find the first "ding" is the hardest. But doesn't it feel wonderful every time you wear something you really adore!! (PS that does not mean I wear my McQ gray leopard skull scarf out for italian!!)

catgirl

Veteran

Yay, Team Not-Too-Precious!

Ornella, I don't know what I expected, other than to feel terrific every time I wore it. Only I didn't wear it. And then suddenly I did, and now I feel terrific daily. It seems to be holding up really well against my carelessness, and I expect it to last a good while. I am hoping to find a way to use it in the cropped form once spring arrives (if ever)....

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the reply Una.

I'm glad it's living up to its terrificness expectations. I will certainly be interested to know how it's holding up in 1, 2 or 5 years.

As for the cropped look, the forum will have you sorted I'm sure, once the spring comes. I've had that same feeling last year, the winter dragged on forever and when the snow melted in mid April (yup, sorry) the forrest under my balcony blossomed in 2 weeks. As if the nature was holding up and then everything exploded overnight. Amazing to watch actually, but hayfever sufferers had very hard time.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Thanks for the reminder Una!
I am all for making occasions to wear the precious stuff and enjoying them whilst they still fit and haven't dated.