Jeans and shorts - the bum area thins out and eventually wears through. The items I wear gardening get a lot of wear in that area as I sit on rocks and paved areas to do low work. It can take from 2-5 years for this to occur.
Shoes - I walk a lot and not all footwear can be re-soled. Wear points are heels and soles, and the outside edge where my baby toes are. 3-5 years, though running shoes get replaced more frequently (around 500 miles.)
Socks - I have mostly Thorlo or Smartwool socks and it takes 5 years of more to wear them to a point of having holes. I recently retired 5 pair of Thorlo sockettes that I used for sports activities. They were 7 years old and I would speculate they had over 300 wears apiece.
I usually ruin a top before it wears out, and tend to discard them when they pill, fade, get stretched out or 'flabby'.
Gym gear - Lycra goes on forever, and I've had items that were 20 years old! I've had Speedo swim suits split seams after 4-5 years of lap swims, and I do a sheerness check on leggings and running shorts and discard when they show things they ought not! Every year I pick Through tops from my collection, added to over the year from races. What doesn't make the top 5 gets donated.
Outerwear - I tend to hold onto outerwear a long time. Often the pockets give out and have to be mended. I don't often see any poor condition until I take them out after they have been out of circulation as part of a seasonal rotation. My favourite winter coat is quite 'broken in' and comfortable but is showing wear at the bum, elbows, cuffs and front closure. It looks like the lining is showing signs of strain. I've had lining replaced on a beloved skirt and favourite jacket, but usually when the lining of a garment gives out, the garment is past its 'best before' date.
Leather items - gloves, bags, jackets - when the finish is worn off, or the corners and seams breakdown and 'shabby' outweighs worn in cool.
Wear patterns vary depending on activities. The commute I had 2014 through to this past spring was much harder on outer wear then my previous commute, and I did more walking in my work footwear than previously. These days my sneakers and hiking boots are getting more mileage, and casual bottoms. My somewhat small collection of items is seeing higher levels of rotation as well.
I do pass on clothes that I don't like or were mistakes well before they show wear, and others go out the door because they are showing wear, but not worn out. I usually don't feel bad about those items. I do mourn when a beloved garment has to be jettisoned due to wear.
