That "new clothes smell" feeling - YouLookFab Forum

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That "new clothes smell" feeling

K.M.

Veteran

I'm wondering if I'm the only one who has this issue. When I buy new clothes, I feel very elegant and crisp in them for the first few wears. Then after a while (wearing them a few times, maybe washing them), when I put them on, I don't feel as put-together anymore. It may be the exact same outfit, and there may be no visible damage to it, but it's just not the same fab feel anymore.
I don't know if it's because of the material signs of wear-and-tear, or if it's all in my head...
I definitely can't afford the money (or time) to keep changing my wardrobe, and I also enjoy having favorite pieces that become part of my style... I'm not about to give them all away! I just wish I could keep the fresh feeling for longer.

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from

The Cat

Veteran

Well, CAREFUL laundry may help. Do not wash the clothes unless it is necessary, choose low temperatures, wash with similar colours and fabrics, turn them inside out, and let them "air dry", perhaps on good hangers.

cindysmith

Veteran

I know what you mean (I think). The excitement wears off, or the honeymoon is over, or something. Some pieces stick around to become dear favorite friends, some don't.

kkards

Veteran

is it the crispness that you miss? the excitment of newness?

sylvie55

(website)

Spray starch and a good ironing job can help bring back that crisp feeling. Or is it more the psychological boost of wearing something new?

Jennib12

I've often felt this and can never quite put my finger on it! Sometimes I'll buy something and love it for a few wears, then...meh.

Do you think it has anything to do with little things you didn't notice at first? I've started a list in my phone of "things that annoy me in my wardrobe." Sometimes I get so blinded by a certain aspect of an item (That colour! That cut!) that I unconsciously convince myself it's perfect. It's only after a few wears that I realize the neckline is a little too wide, or the fabric is too wrinkly. I've started a list to double check in the changeroom to remind me of these things. No idea if it will work - I've just started!

Anonymous

You might try having your new things dry cleaned to keep the newness feel. A dear aunt did that. I tend to wash clothes before ever wearing them. Also, something new to me from thrifting or consignment gives me the same feeling as something new from a store. The new item to play with and style is fun either way.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Jennib12--I think you've hit on a big part of it, at least for me. I like the idea of keeping a list in the phone--turns random thought into actual knowledge. Upkeep is another part of it--I am not as good at ironing etc. as I should be. In this respect, sending items for professional laundering does seem to restore some of the magic.

binkle

Veteran

I know what you mean - for me,at least, I do think it is psychological - that "new car smell" effect! I even love it when a box arrives, and, if I've splurged at a fancier retailer, there's the ribbons, and layers of tissue, and that thrilling scent of the "kill", as it were, if you know what I mean. It is a bit sad when it wears off! Of course I still enjoy wearing the clothes, but I do try to be mindful if I'm starting to shop just for that rush of the new.

I just got some new boots delivered, and my happiness at "scoring" this purchase was magnified when I saw that no one had ever tried them on - they were still pristinely stuffed and swaddled in tissue and individual bags, even the buckles were covered in little pieces of the plastic film. And the new shoe smell of course. Oy!

And if anyone else is old enough to remember, there was that new record album smell when you opened the shrink wrap.
Go figure!

rachylou

Veteran

Well, you know new clothes are full of poisonous 'sizing' to make them crisp. They say you should wash before wearing for your endocrine health. I think spray starch is the only answer to bringing that crispness back.

...unless, of course, you already do that... so that's not the cause...

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I wash all new clothes and air dry. It's a thing for me but I understand. I used to get bored with my wadrobe very fast and that is why I'm such a great thrifter. I c. Find the most amazing pieces. Then I can resale or donate later on.

Gigi

Veteran

I think that, as other posters pointed out, it is usually either that the item lacks the crispness it had (this has been my problem) or that the novelty of the item has worn off. I have recently admitted to myself that I'm not going to be using starch and ironing stuff, so if I am tempted to get a shirt that requires such upkeep, I pass unless I'm absolutely in love. As for getting bored of an item, I'm making mental notes about what kinds of clothes I tire of easily so that I can limit those types of purchases. (I am finding that clothes that have a "cute" style usually don't keep their high initial happiness factor.)

Anonymous

Hmmm. I always washed my new clothing prior to wearing them. Then these past couple of months, I just got too lazy and stopped. Rachylou's post was a good reminder to me.

Oh, and I know exactly what Binkle means when she writes there's the ribbons, and layers of tissue, and that thrilling scent of the "kill". There is just something about ribbons and layers of tissue that excite me.

Gaylene

Veteran

Maybe it's the difference that a proper ironing/pressing can make in a garment? Clothes which are ironed/pressed DO feel and look different than ones which are machine dried or hung to dry--at least to my eye. They have a smoothness and crispness which other drying methods just can't replicate.

You could try to find a laundry which would just iron/press your freshly washed clothes--or check out some videos before setting up your own ironing board? I'm a committed ironer, though, so take that into account.

And I'm another one who washes my new purchases before wearing. Factories aren't the most pristine places and I figure manufacturers in tropical environments have to take some precautions to keep molds and insects away from bolts of fabric. And I never know how many people have "tested" my new-to-me item before returning it to the store.

K.M.

Veteran

The Cat, as a germaphobe I wash my clothes more often than
not… I might have to work on my tolerance for not-squeaky-clean clothes!

Cindysmith, your honeymoon analogy is perfect. And it’s
great to have dear favorite friends, but sometimes I long for that exciting
feeling of a new fashion love.

Kkards and Sylvie55, I think it’s more the crispness. I do
enjoy the novelty too, but my pieces all have a similar style, so it’s not like
I’m changing things up radically everytime. So yes, I’d say it’s the crispness,
the smooth perfect texture, the sharp lines… I do iron my clothes but I’ve
never used starch.

Jennib12, that’s a great idea! It might help me with future
purchases. Although usually when something bothers me in a piece, it bothers me
right away (online purchases that I end up not having time to return…)

K.M.

Veteran

Joy, I’ve had issues with some dry cleaners where my clothes come back looking more run down than when I dropped them. And some of them even shrunk. It’s happened with different dry cleaners, too. Not sure if they were laundering them instead of dry cleaning?... I also don’t find that they smell that good. Maybe I need to find a better dry cleaner…

Binkle, Yes, I think a lot of what I feel is related to what you described—even the smell! A simple t-shirt can feel fabulous just because it’s got zero miles on it. I wrote this post when I realized I was about to order a couple of pieces online not because I need them, but because of the rush. (I haven’t ordered them… yet!).

Rachylou, Yes, I do wash them all before I wear them, but I don’t use starch (never thought of it). I didn’t use to wash clothes before wearing them till I got pregnant and someone told me to wash my baby’s clothes because of how clothes are processed, stored, handled before we get them. So now I wash almost all of them except for very fine, special pieces.

Gaylene, I do iron some of my clothes, though not all. I’ve taken up ironing in the last couple of years only, so I’m not sure I’m doing it right. Although the clothes come out looking nice, I find that ironing can also change their texture and take away from the sleekness of the fabric. I’ve never starched though.

K.M.

Veteran

What I find mostly
is that eventually the fit just isn’t the same—sweaters stretch out a bit,
pants bag ever so slightly, a tiny thread comes undone, the sheen of the fabric gets a bit more muted…

Also, I wonder if it’s the quality of the clothes. My budget allows me to buy items from, say, Ann Taylor, J.Crew Factory, Gap; occasionally Boden or J.Crew on the pricier side (plus some H&M, Zara, and Old Navy, which surprisingly don’t always wear off faster than the others).

Gaylene

Veteran

K.M., your last question is pretty astute; the issue may very well lie with the quality of the fabrics and the construction techniques used by the manufacturers and designers commonly found at those retail outlets.

I used to sew and tailor my own clothes when I was just starting out in my career because I couldn't afford the pricepoint for the kind of clothing I wanted. I often remember wondering how retailers could sell items for less than I was paying for the raw materials which went into my sewing projects--prices which didn't even begin to reflect the hours I'd actually be spending constructing the garment.

My suggestion would be to spend some time at higher end clothing retailers checking out fabrics, designs, and construction methods to sharpen your eye to the quality differences at different price points. That swoonworthy $1200 pair of pants may not be in your budget, but you may find yourself less willing to purchase endless multiples of inexpensive pants and choosing instead to save up for one pair of higher quality pants.

In my experience, quality differences do become pretty noticeable after a few wearings and laundering. Good fabric and careful construction--and careful maintenance--keep items looking new for quite a while. And when those items age, they age gracefully so they still are beloved members of your wardrobe.

K.M.

Veteran

Gaylene, I wish I had learned how to sew! Now mostly because I would love to make clothes for my daughter Yes, the initial quality may be an issue. Thank you for the suggestions!

Anonymous

I always wash or dry clean my clothes before wearing them. I guess I don't understand what you mean about the new smell going away, ???

K.M.

Veteran

BC, I used "new clothes smell" more in a metaphorical way--comparing it to driving a new car, which has that "new car smell." So it's not the actual smell of the new clothes that excites me (because I also wash most of them before the first wear); it's the zero-mileage feeling. Does that make sense?

Anonymous

Yes it does. Thanks for clarifying.