Socks, footwear, exercise gear, T-shirts, lounge wear, and jeans is my quick response.
But, reading through the thread made me realize how careful we need to be when we try to compare ourselves. After all, what I consider “worn out” could be considered totally wearable by someone who has different priorities and expectations. I now realize my “still wearable” 10-year-old Levis which I referred to in another discussion were not an appropriate example. Hang in with me, while I explain how my “worn out” list now is coming with some major caveats:
Socks:
I walk a lot; I also have long toes and narrow heels which rather quickly create thin spots and holes in my favourite wool socks. If I have to remove my shoes—common inside homes here—I feel awkward if my toes are visible, so my sock equation reads “Thin spots showing toes or heels=Worn Out”.
Footwear:
My aging feet and joints need good support and cushioning if I am to walk my customary 10-15 thousand steps a day. I also require good traction on the soles to avoid falls on slippery sidewalks and uneven terrain. I can’t afford to compromise here, so I’ll put the “worn out” tag on any shoe or boot which starts to break down internally even if outwardly the shoes or boots look perfectly fine.
T-shirts, Exercise gear
At 70, I’m often the oldest person in my gym and yoga classes. It’s hard enough on my ego realizing I’m now struggling with exercises and poses which used to be a slam dunk so I don’t need my outfit making me feel even more demoralized when I see myself in the mirror. If my workout gear gives off even a whiff of looking tired and defeated, it is “worn out” and needs to be replaced ASAP.
Lounge wear
Living in a condo means people see me when I get the mail, take out the garbage, or go to the storage locker. I hate feeling apologetic about what I’m wearing when I stop to talk so I now think of my “lounge wear” as “public” wear and apply that standard. Since “at-home” garments get laundered regularly, they are prone to early fading, pilling, and stretching thereby becoming “worn out” quite quickly if I’m applying a “public wear” standard.
Jeans
I’m finally realizing how subjective this whole “worn out” thing actually is once I look all the qualifications I’m making here. And I’m feeling more than a little apologetic about the implications in my comment on another thread about the lifespan of a pair of jeans.
My initial reaction on that thread was to think my 10-year Levi jeans which have been worn frequently, laundered often, and subject to hard use during camping, hiking, and outdoor chores but which are still in regular rotation are not “worn out”. I adore their soft, faded comfort and the way the fabric has molded to my body, and I’m adamant those jeans will have more years in my closet before they become “worn out”.
But, I also think, on a fashion forum, I’m using a highly questionable standard here. The rigid, heavy-weight (14oz), 100% cotton denim fabric of these men’s Levi’s (which took me almost a year of constant wear to soften!) is hardly the norm for most women’s jeans. And, to be truthful, I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those beloved jeans to a fashionable restaurant or for a day of city shopping. Viewed in that context, those 10-year-old jeans are definitely “worn out”. My “nice” jeans get replaced much more often because I prefer them in a darker wash, a more refined denim fabric (with 1-2% Lycra for comfort!), and non-baggy fit. Applying this standard, after 2-3 years of regular wear, my “nice” jeans are definitely “worn out”.
Thinking about this question of when something is “worn out” made me realize, at least in my case, it’s hardly ever an objective decision. Someone might see lots of wear left in my “worn out” footwear, while I might be (secretly) aghast at the thought of someone discarding what seems to me to be perfectly good sweater because of a small (and, to me, easily repairable) moth hole. As Angie is constantly reminding us, though, how we manage our wardrobes will always be subject to our personal needs and feelings regardless of how we launder our clothing, rotate our wears, or choose an expiry date for our clothing.
