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viva

Veteran

You probably know that I experience a fair amount of churn in my wardrobe. I am trying not to buy on sale (or because something is on sale) to keep from amassing too many things to begin with, but even still, I wear fairly fitted clothing and my body changes; I like to stay aware of trends and my tastes change; and all in all, it's quite common for me to pass something on (typically to consignment) after a couple of years.

But in the last couple of weeks I've experienced the real joy of wearing something out. It happened with makeup: a mascara, an eye shadow pencil, and eyebrow gel -- I used up the very last bit of each one and then trashed the containers. Then, I got rid of a BR top that I've worn so hard it's just riddled with tiny pills and no longer soft. And my snow boots (probably 7 years old, maybe more) finally bit the dust yesterday.

I realized that I don't have this experience nearly often enough. It feels good to have used up all the life in an object before being done with it. When I told my husband, he said (like any good Marie-Kondo-aware man would): Did you thank your stuff before you threw it out? I didn't, but I really wish I had.

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from anne

jill58

Veteran

I've thought about this a lot -- how rarely I wear an item until it wears out (although some of my clothes I've owned for many years). I know exactly what you mean about the satisfaction of actually doing so. So often with make-up the items dry up or become unusable in some way prior to my actually using them to the last....these things are so expensive and I tend not to invest heavily in make-up/beauty products as a result.

taylor

Veteran

I have an on-going love affair with my cosmetics, we never say goodbye, we say replace .
I never seem to wear my clothes out.

Sal

Veteran

It is a good feeling - I struggle to use up makeup (I do skin and haircare easily) - I rarely use up an eyeshadow or lipstick.... I am on a makeup ban actually to try and use up what I have and only buy replacements as I finish them up. It is mostly working in the last 12 months with exception of a new coloured eyeliner and a new foundation.... (other things I added such as brow pencil and mascara were replacements)

JAileen

Veteran

I had some jeans I really liked, and recently they developed a hole from wear. I’d been wearing them for five years or so. I was sad, actually. I had a bunch of charcoal long sleeve tees that wore out. I wear them nearly every day in cooler weather. I replaced them with new charcoal long sleeve tees.

kkards

Veteran

Good for you. But this thanking your stuff thing...I just don’t get it.
That being said...I’m one of those people who uses every drop of my makeup, shampoos and cleaners. It kills me to throw any of that out..

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I rarely wear out clothes but have done so for a few key shoes and jeans. I have a ridiculous number of lipsticks I never use, but stay true to the same sunscreen, cc cream, hair products, and serums and do use those up and keep a back up on hand. Do not thank any of them, but am thankful I am able to keep everything I want on hand.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have worn out jeans that I loved. I felt very sad. The jeans were very hard to replace. I have also worn out shoes. I am going to start buying duplicates of workhorses.
I always wear the same make-up. If it needs replacing then I might look for something different but not likely. Same with shampoo, conditioner, etc. I am very loyal to beauty products. I am thankful that I found ones that seem to work for me.

delurked

Veteran

Your words resonate deeply, and I agree too infrequently wear clothing out. I do have a handful of well worn items that have recently been removed from my wardrobe for that reason.

I also realized this is mostly limited to wardrobe items for me. I utilize other categories in my life much longer and don’t upgrade if the current item is still working. When I’ve moved out something to bring in something “better”, I’ve often regretted it because the older item worked better.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Certain cosmetics I never use up — eyeshadow is one. But by and large I have favorites that I buy and use up (and even stockpile because lip colors are hard for me and are often discontinued).

The clothes I actually wear out are basics like underwear and pajamas and socks. But I also wear out tees and knits too — they get pilly and not so fresh-looking anymore, and I consider them “worn out” even if they don’t have holes or stains. I will sometimes wear out shoes to the point where they look past their prime but rarely to the point where they have a disastrous breakdown. I do find it satisfying to get lots of wear out of something!

elpgal

Veteran

Oh I agree. I love the feeling of fully using up cosmetics and clothes. Also, spices though that happens rarely

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I like to use travel size makeup for this reason- it gets used up before it dries up or gets gross.
With favorite clothing I have a hard time letting go, even if there are pit stains or small holes I often pretend nobody will notice— not such a great practice!

smittie

Veteran

Well said, and thanks for the reminder.
Hard though, when you’re a fashion-lover. Easy when you’re not

Anonymous

I love the feeling of using something up . Wearing something out? That doesn't really happen, and a lot can be derived from that statement. I hope that that changes in the future , and that my clothes work a lot harder for me. Or that I become a tougher boss

rachylou

Veteran

Funny, I’m happy to use everything up but clothes... I miss my clothes when they’re gone...

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh yeah, I wear stuff out or use it up. A fair bit, not everything. I have had the same colour blusher for 29 years and I think am only on about my fourth container of it in that time? I was using one, then my sister left behind another the same when she moved to England in 1989. I used that up, then eventually had to buy more and I think am on the second container of that. It must be a different sort of similar colour I guess. They don’t keep making a cosmetic colour for 29 years!
I love to wear out clothes and shoes. I feel better about having bought them if I get so much use from them that they wear out!
I don’t thank them- but I’m grateful.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I tend to wear out/use up things that I wear casually (unless they turn out to be a style mistake): jeans, tees, flat boots, casual sweaters, shorts, flat sandals and PJs. I wear them to death. Especially in summer (lots of washing). Work and evening wear, not so much. I’m usually sorry when something wears out because that means it was a big part of my life and I will have to find a replacement. So the departure is often followed by a muttered curse and not a thank you

Anonymous

I should thank my clothes, especially my hard working shoes and leggings that need frequent replacement. But I admit I'm like Brooklyn-since replacements of shoes I love are not easily found.
Makeup I toss when expired, mascara in particular, but use up many things. I don't like to keep extras, so wait to replace till I have less than a month left.
DH has a bad habit of buying new things (hand lotion, shampoo, conditioner) and using the new instead of finishing the old-so I get stuck using the things up.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

chuckling at hubbies response,he’s either well informed or well trained!
I love the feeling of having worn something out although it’s usually a bittersweet feeling as it’s worn out because I loved it and wore it so much and will therefore miss it.I agree with many of your respondents,it’s definitely a feeling we should have more often if we want to be ethical consumers.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What a great post.

Viv, I cut the tubes of my cosmetics so that I can use every last bit!

RobinF

Veteran

I'm with those who are sad when I wear out a clothing item. If I have had it long enough to wear it out then I really love it. Makeup depends - I sometimes try things that don't work out and they tend to sit in a drawer. If I like it I use it up and buy replacements.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Use up: hair and skin products. A few years ago, I cleaned out my bathroom drawers, it was getting ridiculous with half used, unwanted products. I made a conscious decision to not buy something new to try before the old bottle or tube is finished. Angie - I cut my tubes, too. High five!
In the cosmetics department: I do use up my lipsticks. I mostly use liquid lipstick, so when they are done, you know it.
I have very seldom been able to finish a tube of mascara though. Eye products, especially mascara and eye line, need to be used in 6 months once they are opened, so even though I try to go a bit above that expiry date, I can never quite finish them.

Clothes: I've been doing better in this regard for the last few years as well. It starts with making good choices to begin with as to what you bring in to your wardrobe. I have worn out blouses (mostly due to deodorant stains that build up over time and can no longer be cleaned pristine - I count that in wearing out, because it means I've worn them many many times) and jeans (I've literally torn the knees of a pair of jeans this winter. I am giddy just thinking about it!).

Blazers, jackets, etc. really last a long time, and finally have had to give up on some due to weight fluctuations, and being out of fashion. There is more churn in my summer clothes: tees, shorts, shoes.
As I've hinted a few times, we have a new living situation this academic year. All three of us have basically very small capsule closets. so lounge wear, pyjamas and underwear have worn out as well.
But the crowning accomplishment has been my son's clothes. He's 4, and I am ashamed to say that he has so many clothes that until this winter, he could never wear them out, just grow out of them. We would pass them on to other kids, so no waste but still. For the first time this year, I had to replenish his tshirts and pants because they developed holes or tore at the knees. I am very happy about that too!

ClaraT

Veteran

I agree that it is good to wear/use things enough so that they are worn out! I do not enjoy shopping, so while I'm glad I got full value from worn out items, I usually mourn a little bit, too (alas, metallic booties, I can see you are nearing the end...)

Anonymous

You got me thinking! I tend to keep comfortable, useful things, or things I get a lot of compliments on, until they fall apart. My loungewear is pretty well-worn, and my fear is I'll have to run out of the house in an emergency and everyone will see what a sorry state my loungewear is in! (Some of my ensembles are pretty hilarious.) The stuff that's uncomfortable or just kind of meh usually has a shorter stay, then gets donated or consigned. If it works for me in some way, it will be with me until it's not worthy of passing along. I'm trying to be more careful about buying because I'm trying to keep things as long as possible for environmental reasons.

unfrumped

Veteran

Yes, I appreciate the sentiment.
I don’t wear out many very items except some shoes, t shirts, knitted things that pill.
I am not minimalist, but am culling more items since sometimes I add things I like but can’t wear them all regularly enough to justify keeping them and then finding something has changed, body or sense of style or whatever.
I’m getting more calculating on which items can serve kind of duplicate/ overlapping functions so can eliminate some “ super- dupes” but have some things that are a bit different in some way that is fun— like a different color that adds spice or a different pant style that adds variety but functions similarly in a coordinated outfit with topper - things that could be “ the same” in a pinch so if some does wear out or has an unexpected demise , it’s not a deal- breaker for an important daily style or outfit- completer so can take time to replace. Or a few styles that I love but COULD live without when something goes awry, and then shop “ slowly “ for either “ replacement “ or the next new thing. ( if I can live without it AND don’t love it, that’s where I’m putting my culling efforts). This is part of being able to say I can function fine and have a list of things I’d like to have IF the perfect version shoes up.

Not sure I explained that properly!

anne

Veteran

Well done Viv. I like using things up too. Two lipsticks are currently at the 'putting on with cotton bud" stage. I try to only buy enough so that the wear out coincides with me not wanting to wear them anymore, but that is can be hard to achieve . I confess I use eye make up way longer than the months Bella mentions - til the mascara gets too clumpy or runs out - but I've never had eye problems from it.

And my kids and DH annoy me by using the new (fruit, peanut butter etc) before the old ones are cut off. I also cut off tubes.