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Wear on clothes and shoes...Tips and tricks

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

I was watching a VLog (Use less) last night and Signe commented how she is trying to get used to wearing clothes with more signs of wear. It made me think about this aspect of clothing.

I will wear shoes and jeans with signs of wear, and of course gear (raincoat/rain boots, skipants). I will layer over mis-shapen tees or tops with a small hole etc. I wear white sneakers with small marks on them, or sandals where the heel is aged and discoloured.

I am less likely to wear black pants with signs of wear, or a silk blouse though.

And it does depend on the occasion and the job - in some jobs it is not possible?

I am interested in how forum members:

maintain their clothes to keep them in good shape
choose clothes and shoes in the first place to allow for longevity (in terms of wear)
feel about wearing pieces with signs of wear.

I sometimes judge clothing at the time of purchase as to how I think it will wear - but I am not sure that I get it right?

I will add a post below with my methods!

Thanks in advance
Sally

Shopping

52 replies

Latest reply was from Daisy Avalin

Sal

Veteran

My methods

Shoes:

nugget, condition, spray and polish
Don't wear suede on wet days
reheel when possible
Browns/blacks and tans seem to last longer than whites/metallics and colours so often (not always) choose these. Is this right?

Knits:

Wash according to instructions
be careful how I hang them on the clothes rack or clothes line

Jeans:

Don't put in clothes dryer

Whites:

Oxyclean and sard soap are good
treat stains promptly
Try not to wear with spray sunscreens (I have damaged many white things with yellowing from sunscreen)

General:

Use good clothes hangars
Wovens are better lasting than knits
Sports gear is better washed with other sports gear and not towels

For me the areas that wear out are often hems and necks, or stains and holes on the front of tops. Knits (jersey and sweaters) become mis-shapen and stretched.

Learning not to spill coffee and wearing an apron while cooking would save lots of clothing for me!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great question, Sally.

In terms of maintenance, the best thing I've done is to wash almost all my clothing in delicate or cool and to avoid the dryer. I do wash my gear items and a few other durable pieces (mostly polyester) in the regular wash, but hanging or lying flat to dry seems to make a huge difference.

With footwear, I try to wipe off scuffs/ stains after each wear, but I confess I don't always manage to do this every time with my more casual options. I tolerate more signs of wear on a very casual shoe than on a dressier one. I regularly take shoes and boots to be re-heeled. I polish (where appropriate). I try to buy weatherproof footwear. I alternate shoes frequently and spend a disproportionate amount of my budget on footwear.

Buying clothes, I look for frayed seams, loose threads, fabric strength, fabric type, etc. Quality construction comes at all price points, and so, alas does poor construction. Just because it has a fancy label doesn't mean it's great value.

I don't have a lot of tolerance for sad looking pilled knits. I try to "groom" my sweaters regularly. But if they start pilling badly or bagging out of shape I don't keep them. I also pass on clothes with visible and unremovable stains.

I will tolerate a bit of "thinning" of fine woven wools (jackets where the very edges of the cuffs become shiny). Especially if I adore the item.

DonnaF

Veteran

Wash sparingly. Turn most clothes inside out before washing. Wash most on Delicate cycle and use lots of mesh bags. Dry most on low and remove before fully dry.

SarahD8

Veteran

This is such a great question.

I don't think I treat my clothes especially well but I am often surprised by how quickly other people say their clothes wear out. I think it's possible that my eye just has a different "set point" for wear?

I get a lot of my clothes secondhand and in fact I often find that a thing doesn't quite feel right to me until it is a little worn in.

Some things that I think work in my favor are that I choose a lot of natural fibers (pills are harder to remove from a synthetic/blend sweater than from cashmere for example), look for pieces that are well/traditionally constructed, and don't go in for embellishment/raw edges/other fussy stuff.

I look forward to reading others' tips!

anne

Veteran

Glad you raised the question Sal. It's one I think about too.
I resonate with some of what has been said already.
I have often thought, with SarahD8, that I am often surprised by how quickly other people say their clothes wear out. I think it's possible that my eye just has a different "set point" for wear?
Sometimes I think that many YLF people would come to my wardrobe and throw lots of it away as worn. Like Suz's, my 14 year old good wool charcoal suit is a little shiny in spots

Like you Sal, I polish (probably not enough) and get my leather shoes reheeled. I bought some nude mary janes a couple of years ago, and found that even the nude polish I bought doesn't really cover the scuffs and decided to just keep wearing them, but like you, am not sure that I'd buy that colour again. Patent shoes too, which I love the look of, don't wear well so I'm not going to buy them again.

I'm also with you, Donna and Suz on laundry stuff and with Donna on washing "sparingly"

Anonymous

I have a low tolerance for pilling—it bothers me a lot. but I grin and bear it. I think I have a higher tolerance on something that is clearly real wool and is chunky. I think I’m going to get new sweaters in cotton this year from LLBean as an experiment (I haven’t worn cotton sweaters in ages and am not sure I’ll enjoy them). They certainly cheap and durable and look “like new” for longer. I do prefer the look of wool though.

I have a low tolerance for dirty white or pastel shoes, both the leather and the sole. This means I don’t get a ton of wear out of them, unfortunately. I might need to rethink my strategy here...I don’t know though...my sneakers are clearly a trend item, so I expect them to be somewhat short-lived.

Yes, I think tan, black, brown and navy are better colours for longevity. I think the high-quality leather looks better longer. I think it’s worth the investment. (Unlike knitwear, which I can’t help but feel is a gouge.)

I try not to wear suede in the rain but it’s inevitable. I found my hand-waterproofed suede shoes still showed quite a few marks despite rarely being worn outdoors. That was very annoying considering I took such good care of them. So I’m off suede (for now)!

I wear tshirts on the weekends. I have 4 and they are going strong. This is year 2 and 3. The three-year-old ones are Kit and Ace. They have polyester in them I think. Very thin but no holes, touch wood! The other two are supima cotton from BR. These are a touch thicker than the KandA ones but still not man-heavy. I am completely not interested in buying tshirts, so I’m happy to continue to wear this collection for however long they last!

Wait!! I bought two tshirts from Michael stars. Angie bought them too. 60% cotton 40% nylon. Although I’ve only had them for 1 season, I can tell you without a doubt that these are long-lasting and mega-durable. It must be the nylon.

Anonymous

Great post.
I wash most of my clothes on delicate in cold water and inside out. I use a mesh laundry bag for bras/ panties. Line/ hanger dry all but casual home wear ( pjs, old tees etc) in cool seasons my sweaters are hand washed. I use “ grandmas spot remover” all the time because I am a stain magnet.
I am honestly not hard on clothes ( I sew and can do repairs and alterations) so I have some clothes forever..... or so it seems. I use a tiny crochet hook for knit issues like pulls. I do find that many of my go to stores seem to be carrying clothes of lesser quality in both fabric grade and construction lately so perhaps they won’t last as long. I know it sounds terrible but I never really pay full price for clothes. I have a limited color palette and a sporty/ classic style so if the last great, if not they get pitched or since most are natural fiber- the rag bag.
I am hard on shoes and since I have bad feet ( numerous surgeries since childhood) my shoes are expensive and must last so DH puts “taps” on heels and I make sure leather stays polished. I go through trainers like crazy because we walk for exercise but we found a place online that carries new balance for cheap and stock up. I don’t feel bad about spending money on shoes or trainers because I am happy to be walking with my feet.

Sal

Veteran

Will reply in more detail later but knits (wool, jersey, cotton and cotton mix tees ) etc are the most frustrating with pilling, holes and stretch. I agree price is not a good indicator here (whereas I think with shoes it often is).

Roberta

Veteran

A very interesting question. I find my clothes last much longer than my shoes. I walk to work and don't always want to carry another pair with me. Or leave all my favorite shoes at work either. I have resorted to Sharpie and nail polish many a time, but I seem to wear the toes out somehow, and that is more visible than heel wear. I condition and brush and even polish my shoes too. I stuff my boots with magazines or boot supports so they stand upright. A friend always puts heel and toe taps on her shoes to make them last longer.

I have a large wardrobe and this allows me to give garments a good (inside out) airing before wearing them again - less washing. And I do inspect fabrics, seams, linings, hems, etc. to gauge whether something is well made before I buy it. I take my work clothes off immediately (and hang them up) when I come home, because otherwise I will definitely splatter tomato sauce or salad dressing on them.

Tops have the shortest life because, face it, they get pitted out! But linen is a very strong fiber, and so my linen shirts hold up longer because they can take a good scrubbing. Ditto wool, which you don't scrub, but won't hold most odors and will last for years. I wore a red wool Talbots jacket until the poor lining just shredded one day. I have worn pajamas to rags. No one sees them!

I loathe pilling, but I am reckless with the shaver and have cut too close more than once.

Anonymous

I have no tolerance at all for wear and tear on clothes that I wear outside the home . Literally none . I will tolerate minor stains and some dirt on winter boots as it gets deep into the season , but even then I keep up with the cleaning and spraying . I’m not necessarily hard on clothes though and keep cleaning and washing to a minimum . Lots of spot cleaning and between-wear airing out . Pills on knits are a deal breaker - once it gets out of control and too time consuming to shave - out it goes . Denim or khakis and sneakers are pretty much the only thing I don’t mind wear and tear on .

KnittingGene

I love this conversation! Thanks, Sal! Like others, I do think the starting quality of the item makes an enormous difference whether I’m buying new or used.

I tend heavily toward natural fibers for my own internal climate control but also because most of them are easier to clean than synthetics. I use lots of mesh bags, only cold water wash and frequent use of the delicate cycle. I also hand wash more and more with Eucalan. We dry flat a lot of items. And, I agree with those above, only wash when necessary. Wool, in particular, airs out so well and I can spot clean for most problems.

My biggest problem with clothing are stains from eating. So annoying. I’m getting more careful and I’m trying to get better at treating the stains quickly with Oxyclean, I have been stupidly resistant.

I also am now in the habit of changing as soon as I get home from work. My cats are the main drivers of this good habit. Their claws have damaged a lot of nice items in the past.

I store all woolen and heavier knit tops in drawers and don’t find that stretching is much of a problem.

I’m trying to learn more about shoe care and prioritize maintenance. I always get heels replaced and I do clean and polish. Occasionally my husband and I will plan a saddle soap and polish night together. Cause we are sexy that way. I think I should be trying to wipes down light colored soles and platforms more regularly than I do.

I also try and not wear shoes and bras on consecutive days to allow them time to rest. I think I’ve heard that can be helpful with knits too?

I’m looking forward to more responses.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Buy second hand so I already know how the clothes will launder !
Hang dry most everything.
Hand wash bras.
Have sole protectors put on leather soles.
Spray suede with weather proofing. (Not so good at this but it is a goal.)
Rotate shoes frequently.
Will be examining this thread for more tips!

DonnaF

Veteran

I forgot to mention that I wear an apron almost all the time at home and always at meals (my bib!) and I hang my clothing on the shower bar to air out overnight (if they don’t go in the laundry) after I have misted them to smooth out the wrinkles. I will add that with age I perspire far, far less than in my youth so that has made a huge impact on how frequently I need to wash an item.

anne

Veteran

I meant to second the apron thing too - yes for cooking, meals and housework, plus I just forget to take it off at other times. And ha ha I often have my stuff hanging on the towel rail in the bathroom cos that's wear I took it off - my sports wear dries out there and often doesn't need to be washed again. (I wash it every week, but might use it 3 times)

Anonymous

I use most of the ideas mentioned..hand wash many things and hang to dry, always wool and silk as it weakens in water, wear aprons, try to keep shoes polished and clean, treat stains and rotate everything. I have used the freezer for expensive jeans rather than wash as often. I also nearly always wear a tank or cami to help prevent blood and perspiration stains on clothes. I am making a conscious effort to buy less but buy better quality, and buy more of my wardrobe second hand.

Lucy

Veteran

Great question, and so many interesting answers!

I have a very low tolerance for any kind of visible wear, but I also keep my clothes for quite a long time, so I am not sure how that works. I am just not very hard on clothes or shoes, I think.

I need to wash all of the time in a humid climate, but I do always wash everything on the delicate cycle - and the rest of the family are banned from washing my clothes! I mostly line dry in the shade or inside, as the Queensland sun is so very hot. If I do put my clothes out on the line in the sun, I try to remember to bring them in after an hour or two. And I usually change out of my work clothes when I get home, so I don't spill food on them...

jussie

Veteran

Great topic. I also absolutely minimize washing my proper clothes, and many I handwash. My main problem is small stains here and there that are always popping up.
I use leather conditioner frequently on shoes, but I still find lighter colours don’t wear so well.
I won’t buy anything that’s 100% polyester EXCEPT polyester chiffon which seems extremely durable for some reason.
Otherwise it always needs at least some percentage of natural fiber, or nylon is also very hard wearing.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Until recently I think I had too high of a tolerance for wear on clothing. I spent part of my childhood on a ranch so scuffs, stains and rips seemed completely normal (on casual clothes). Then suddenly I realized this doesn’t look very nice on an adult- I think for a kid it’s more OK. But now that I’m trying to be more neat, I find it so difficult! Maybe I’m extra klutzy but I am always snagging, scratching, staining, pulling, etc. And a lot of these problems are not so easy to repair to perfect condition.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes to minimising washing, cold water washing, turning inside out, hang drying. Also, admittedly, having a lot of clothes so I’m not wearing the same things every day, every week. Storage too matters. Not crushing everything, folding nicely, moving slow to put things away... I’ve snagged a few things slamming drawers and so forth.

Also: driving shoes. Car mats are dirty and mess up your heels, esp when you drive stick shift!

ChrisM

Veteran

Armpit stains from antiperspirant are the worst! I’ve ruined more light colored shirts than I can admit...

On cotton, I can use a paste of baking soda and water, scrub, then soak the area in vinegar (rinse, repeat) to get the stains out, but it’s a last resort because of how it wears on the fabric.

I also have no tolerance for pilling.

I keep a supply of “Shout” stain wipes and a “Tide” stain remover pen in my work bag for coffee dribbles, rogue ink marks, and lunch stains at work. Absolutely essential.

Before washing, I treat larger stains with a roll-on stain stick.

I’m pretty picky about the types of fabrics that I buy - no modal, rayon, tencel, or viscose for me. Just doesn’t hold up and I really don’t want to baby my clothes too much.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Which colors last best is probably a function of which you wear most often. I have tons of blue, in solids & patterns.

For myself, I like a “lived in” feeling, but I try to avoid wearing things that have obvious wear when I go out. That said, I just this summer cleared out more than one blue IKEA bag full of clothing that was worn out or somehow damaged, hadn’t been worn in ages, and wasn’t going to be worn again (in addition to stuff I donated!).

I almost never use the dryer, and usually have a top load washer without the agitator. (Do machines there have agotators? They’re evil).

cindysmith

Veteran

I am a total contradiction on this topic LOL. My life is uber casual, so I have work clothes (stuff I'm ok with destroying) and "nice" or not-work clothes (that I cry over when it gets damaged).

Regardless of which category a garment falls into, it gets washed on a cold water wash, generally on a delicate cycle. Most everything gets line/air dryed and never sees the inside of a machine. I believe how a garment is laundered has a lot to do with life expectancy. Even most of my fast-fashion things seem to age well when they are laundered carefully. I turn things inside out for laundry so that they don't get snagged in the machine and they don't fade from line drying in nature's bleach cycle (AKA the brutal Texas sun). If I get a stain on a garment, I try and treat it immediately with some Dawn dishwashing detergent. I figure if Dawn is good enough to wash oil spills off of wildlife, it's good enough to use on my clothes. Beyond the spot treatment of stains, I exclusively use soap nuts in place of store-bought detergent. I hand wash sweaters unless they have a stain I can't figure out, in which case a dry cleaner has been my last resort over the years. Dry cleaning is just so freaking harsh on the fibers of natural fabrics that I really really really try to avoid it.

Sweaters get de-pilled regularly. I use a pumice-stone-type sweater saver (like the pic) rather than a shaver or razor.

I clean & polish & moisturize my boots from time to time. Some of my boots are work boots, so I tolerate a lot more dirt & signs of wear on those pairs. Same for sneakers; some get the royal treatment and some get abused. I do keep a watchful eye on the soles of my shoes, and they go to the shoe repair man when I see the need.

As for signs of wear, I have some things that I will tolerate a LOT of wear & tear. Jeans generally fall into that category since I like RATE & dystopian stuff so much. Some knits fall into that category too. For my nicer/dressier clothing, I have a zero-tolerance policy (but those clothes also tend to get babied so that they don't start looking destroyed).

Diana

Veteran

I do wear clothing with signs of wear all the time. Frankly, if I love a piece I’ll wear it often, which wears it out, but because I love it I don’t want to give it up. I’m sentimental like that. I have a large closet but most of it lasts for years. At times I think I probably take it a little too far but hey my aesthetic is RATE anyway. No judgement on others but i personally feel sad and wasteful when I have to discard items after one season/few wears.

I know how to repair many small wear issues myself (e.g. stitch up busted seams, sew on buttons, etc) and otherwise spruce up older looking items. I go to the tailor for bigger things.

I destroy shoes faster than anything else because I walk a lot, but I also get more attached to them than most other things because I have such fussy feet. So I try to spruce them up as best I can. Doc Martens wonder balsam is great at removing scuffs. Regular old shoe polish is useful too. And finally I have the cobbler replace heel plates all the time. The one thing that can’t be fixed, from experience, is when the internal structure of the shoe starts to deteriorate - I know this is happening when my arches start to collapse or when I start turning my ankle, and then there’s nothing to be done but say goodbye.

Bijou

Veteran

For leather shoes and bags, I regularly moisturise them with a leather conditioner.

I hand wash my clothing in a wool mix detergent, with few items going into the washing machine. I tend to dry clothing on hangers and prefer washing clothing to dry cleaning, but the exception is woollen clothing that is dry clean only.

I refuse to wear anything that is stained or discoloured by under arm marks. I regularly update t-shirts and my white cotton shirts. I like my tops to look very pristine, so any wear and tear, and I will replace. For this reason, I don't like spending a lot of money on tops, I prefer to replace them regularly.

Coats, jackets, boots, bags - I will keep for years and see these as more investment pieces.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nodding with what Diana said about internal structure of footwear. Urban walking is really hard on shoes. I spend a huge part of my budget on footwear. At least with shoes, I always get a great CPW. Even with my dressy shoes, since those (lesser worn) last much longer.

Nodding also with those who say underarm stains are the worst! Ugh. I've had to say sad goodbyes to more than one white shirt/ blouse....

Wardrobe size definitely makes a difference, as does lifestyle, as Cindy says. I have a moderately large wardrobe now and it generally takes years for most items (except footwear and to some extent, knits) to show enough wear that I'd say they are "worn out." But when my wardrobe was small, I regularly wore a good proportion of it out every year. Meaning -- knits gone shapeless or overly pilled, jeans worn/ torn on inner thighs, etc. (For me, those are the two most-worn items, so that's probably why they were particularly prone to signs of stress.)

Smittie, I've been thinking about the knits thing. Like you, I often feel frustrated with how quickly knits seem to lose their freshness and how difficult it can be to tell in advance...the cost seems high for the level of delicacy. Ultimately, I'm starting to consider it yet another cost of living in a cold climate. Knits are the only things I can wear regularly in winter for my work-at-home life. I need to have them. I can do my best to find durable ones, but in the end, some won't work out for long.

Carla

Veteran

I read maintenance labels as part of the shopping process and the recommended cleaning method factors in to my decision to purchase or pass on a garment. I use various wash cycles, and appropriate soaps/solutions, turn garments inside out, and hang dry many things. DH does a lovely job with the ironing.

Footwear gets sprayed for waterproofing as appropriate, and I'm very good at polishing (it was my first job as a kid at 10cents a pair for mom and dad). I've put sneakers through the wash (air dry) with success. I don't mind some scuff marks, but Magic Erase is good for removing the worst. A sharpie works great on black. I wipe down purses, belts, and dusty or salt stained footwear with baby wipes.

Wearing an apron has saved a lot of clothes since oil stains from coolking splashes was probably the biggest culprit.

I consider clothes 'worn out' when colours are faded (black that starts to look violet, knees that are shades lighter than the rest of the leg), or fabric has worn thin from friction (the seat area of pants, skirts, dresses) or a tear that I can't mend (I just recently repaired some pocket liners that had given way). However some signs of wear or distressing can add to the appeal of a garment. The silver is wearing off my sneakers and the grey canvas is showing, but they now look interestingly tarnished. Of course jeans and jean jackets and some leather jackets get more interesting with wear.

Anonymous

I tolerate more wear on my hard to replace wardrobe essentials, non essentials normally get downgraded. That being said, the cobbler is my friend, bras and knickers go into lingerie bags, and work clothes (or anything else that may shrink) get hung to dry.

Diana

Veteran

Oh! Carla brings up a good point about cooking/cleaning stains. I NEVER wear my street clothes while cooking or cleaning (only loungewear) and that definitely helps prevent a lot of stains and smells. It also reduces the need for washing after every wear.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

One tip I don’t think I’ve seen mentioned is washing fabrics of similar weights together...no jeans with tissue tees, even if they’re both black. Also, making sure all zippers and snaps are done up so the poky bits don’t abrade the fabric.

ETA: oh also! I occasionally throw faded blacks into the washer with a package of black Rit dye. Easy refresh.

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