How long do you keep clothes for?

Posted by Simple-Noise-6745@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 361 comments

I feel like I know some people who only wear an item once or twice before it’s never seen again. Are you this type of person? Are you storing them away for maybe another wear or two, next year? Are you throwing/donating them away once you’ve abandoned them? Are you just slowly building a mountain of clothes that you’ll realistically never wear again? Or, like me, you wear them to death? Currently wearing socks with holes in them because I keep forgetting to throw them away. After a wash, I feel like I should give it one last wear. Been through this cycle 3 times now.

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361 Comments

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apeliott@reddit

Until they fall apart, I get bored of them, or I decide I never really liked them in the first place.

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DementedDon@reddit

My Silver Shadow gave it up. They're a pair of trainers. This pair are older than my last marriage. Maybe 25yrs? Several tubes of uglue.

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mike9874@reddit

You don't just store the things you don't like indefinitely? How do you fill your drawer to exploding point?

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Phil1889Blades@reddit

You do if you don’t buy any new clothes.

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littletorreira@reddit

Until it's overwhelming. I haven't worked in a business casual office since pre COVID and I still have 3 pairs of work trousers just in case. But I did manage to get rid of 8 pairs already.

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salty-bubbles@reddit

The struggle with this. "I *might* get an in-office job soon and I'll need something to wear!" -me every month for the last four years. Oddly, the few times I have had to go into the office , I didnt even wear anything I had kept for that very reason. I biught two new pairs of pants and three shirts...

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littletorreira@reddit

This is my thought. A) I'm bigger than I was and B) style has changed.

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DeifniteProfessional@reddit

My drawers overfilled, so I put some in a suitcase in the shed, but then my drawers filled up again, so now my "actively worn" clothes live on top of the drawers

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apeliott@reddit

My wife is very good at throwing out my old clothes.

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

Or they no longer fit and there's no reasonable chance of them fitting again

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cyberllama@reddit

I keep things that haven't fitted in over a decade in the hope I may acquire some kind of wasting away disease. I tried having cancer but that just made me fatter :(

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lipperinlupin@reddit

😅

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DementedDon@reddit

Got some band t-shirts that must be 30 yrs old. Not really clothing, but I have a knapsack my dad bought me over 40 yrs ago. I had to change the straps and a couple of other buckles, but it's still the same knapsack.

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EmmaInFrance@reddit

Same here. I have band T shirts from the early 90s that I still wear. And it sounds like you have the beginnings of Theseus' knapsack there :-)

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DementedDon@reddit

Had to look him up, I take it you're referring to his ship which the Athenians apparently preserved/maintained for a few centuries. There's a Terry Pratchet discworld novel where a dwarf tells the story of his axe, passed down for generations, new handles and heads, but maintaining it was the axe of his ancestors. Can't remember the title.

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EmmaInFrance@reddit

I can't remember which one it was either but that's probably where I first read about it, years and years ago. I have come across the reference over and over again, since then, both when reading novels and here on Reddit :-) But I also just like it, because I love the idea of lovingly repairing things. I have handknit my own socks now for over 20+ years. Some are knit from shop bought yarn, some from yarn that I spun from commercially dyed and prepared wool and some from wool that I dyed myself. These are the only socks that I wear each winter, although I do have a few pairs of shop bought cotton socks for summer. Each autumn, I grab my pile of socks with holes in the bottom of the heels or ball of the foot and darn them, sometimes I'm darning holes in already darned patches! They're starting to become the Socks of Theseus :-) I still have the very first socks I knit from over 20 years ago, surprisingly, they only just needed darning this year. Obligatory: GNU Sir Terry Pratchett

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IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit

See also: Triggers broom

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Tumeni1959@reddit

.. until they show excessive wear or damage. Then they get relegated to lounging around the house wear, then painting or workwear. When they outlive this, I tear them up for rags in the garage. Then the rags and tatters go in the bin.

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commanderdiana@reddit

I wear clothes until death, or until they no longer fit me, unless I really really don’t like them, in which case I’ll donate to charity shops or sell it on Vinted if it’s worth it. Anything I get too big/small for goes to charity shop/vinted too. I have found that I do hoard things that don’t fit me. But, I’ve recently started fitting into my band shirts I wore as a teenager again, which is awesome, makes me feel less guilty for hanging onto them all this time!

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Mzszandor@reddit

Until they no longer fit or they fall apart. Every season I put them away so my winter clothes go up in the loft in summer and so on. Keeps things tidy and feels like I’ve got new clothes because I often forget what I have!

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benketeke@reddit

Decades

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Extreme-Kangaroo-842@reddit

I wore a t shirt the other day that is 30 years old and I've worn it regularly for three decades because I like it. It's comfortable and has a hot Uma Thurman. I know it's thirty years old because it's a Pulp Fiction t-shirt that I got free with the movie CD soundtrack I bought in 1994.

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presterjohn7171@reddit

I recently changed my bathrobe. It was fine and still looked OK but it had dawned on me that it was a gift for my 21st birthday. I'm 58.

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CheeseToasties_@reddit

I’ve got boxers from like 2014, and they’re not even a decent make. I find it hard to find the right style and material, they are extremely comfortable and I will be gutted when they’re all gone.

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Raryl@reddit

Somehow I'm still wearing tshirts and jumpers my mum got for me as a child. I'll be 30 in 4 months. Generally I wear them to death.

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Level_Blackberry6409@reddit

I have clothes that are 20 years old, and I've bought everything second hand for years (except underwear and t shirts).

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Massaging_Spermaceti@reddit

My wife recently saw a photo of me as a teenager from 18 years ago and recognised both the T-shirt and jumper I had on in it - the T-shirt I actually got rid of earlier this year after it developed too many holes, but the jumper is still going strong. It winds her up, because she loves buying clothes and I have underwear older than our 13-year long relationship, but I just don't really care about clothes. So long as they're clean, whole and fit me, they're good enough.

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Level_Blackberry6409@reddit

I feel exactly the same, and I'm a woman. I'm never scruffy unless I'm doing the gardening. I darn jumpers if they get holes in them for as long as I can get away with it. I have tailored suits in classic styles that are 20 years old and still look great. I generally look nice, I just don't care to spend money that way. I think women are generally susceptible to the lie that they can't wear the same thing twice and everyone will notice and care! Probably men too. Don't mean to be sexist.

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thegamebws@reddit

I have clothes over 10+ years a while back actually realised buying quality clothes is actually cheaper that buying cheap clothes that ruin after couple wears. 10 years+ clothes still look new never bought clothes for over 8 years

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Competitive-Fact-820@reddit

I still have two jumpers that my grandmother knitted me when I was 16 - I'm now 54. No idea what she knitted them from but somehow they still fit comfortably despite my body size and shape being move ovoid than it was when she made them. Yes, yes, I do still wear them - treated them to a shave the other week and they are more than acceptable to wear outside the house.

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spookyflamingo17@reddit

I have a jumper that my nana knitted for my grandad about 40 years ago! Somehow still going strong and somehow fits me well considering my grandad never had the same body type as well, his boobs were much smaller.

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Splodge89@reddit

I have cheap clothes that Iv had for a decade and worn to death and they’re still fine. I have also had expensive clothes last five minutes. Once spent £150 on a shit (the most expensive shirt I have EVER bought) and the buttons literally came off after I had washed it once. When you look into it, it’s the same factories producing the bulk of the clothing on the market, from top brands to cheap trash - all made by the same people on the same machines. Often, The only real difference is the label in the back.

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littletorreira@reddit

Tbf I own 7 Primark t-shirts I've had for 8 years. They are still great.

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0ttoChriek@reddit

I started just buying Sainsburys t-shirts a couple of years ago, and the quality is fine. They withstand multiple washes without fading, shrinking or losing their shape. Their jogging pants are great for lounging around the house in as well.

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0ttoChriek@reddit

I started just buying Sainsburys t-shirts a couple of years ago, and the quality is fine. They withstand multiple washes without fading, shrinking or losing their shape. Their jogging pants are great for lounging around the house in as well.

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Fullonrhubarb1@reddit

I've got quite a few Primark things that have been going for years too. It's strange to me when people say it all falls apart after a few uses. I guess 'fast fashion' doesn't work on everyone...?

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Littleloula@reddit

Same but I also bought a skirt there once with sequins on it which started falling apart within months. I think if it's something simple like a jumper or t shirt nothing much can go wrong. Things like trousers which get more strain on the seams as you walk, sit and stand (etc) provably don't last as well

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Littleloula@reddit

I've got stuff even from cheap places like h&m which has lasted for 8-10 years

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Cabbagecatss@reddit

My favourite knitwear jumper is from h+m and I got it when I was 14. I’m 31 now and still wear it, that’s not bad! For a £16.99 (if that) knitwear jumper

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Askduds@reddit

The Vimes Boot theory (if you're the one person on the internet that doesn't know it) is near universal.

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Randy_The_Guppy@reddit

I was just remarking yesterday that my move to 'BIL' products started with boots. I went from spending £100 or so every couple of years on boots for work/going out to spending more on a quality pair of boots that I've had for nearly 10 years and have needed zero repairs and look great still.

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Affectionate_Ad_3722@reddit

Bill the speans, what brand is worth the expense?

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Randy_The_Guppy@reddit

I went with Red Wing and paid about £300. Definitely fancier brands out there but these have been solid ever since.

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Affectionate_Ad_3722@reddit

They look pretty cool, I've been looking for some fancy going out boots. Think I'll stick to my Magnums for work boots though.

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Randy_The_Guppy@reddit

Also check the moc toe boots, I bought a pair in 2019 and love them too.

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Geekonomicon@reddit

I tend to buy army surplus boots. I do a fair amount of walking but they still last me 3 or 4 years before I have to replace them. I always find that the sole splits where the ball of my foot rests. I paid £60 for my current pair; had them a year already and still in great condition.

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Collymonster@reddit

I use those theory all the time, it's so bloody true. GNU STP

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Charyou_Tree_19@reddit

GNU STP

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eletheelephant@reddit

Which brands do you find are good quality and worth the extra money?

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Terrible-Buy-9630@reddit

Post a selfie in your favourite 10+ year attire, please 🙏

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stinkypugs@reddit

This is the way. I bought a load of label clothes a few years ago off ebay (Fred Perry, Lacoste etc.) for about £5-£10 each second hand and they still look new today.

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Mr-Stripes@reddit

Hate to admit, but as someone turning 38.... I think I'm the same. There's quite a few shirts that I can think of that still good condition, but kinda makes some pictures hard to age in a way.

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Simple-Noise-6745@reddit (OP)

Very admirable.

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Level_Blackberry6409@reddit

Its not admirable, I just couldn't afford to do anything else!

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Ubistiff@reddit

Very honest!

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ramapyjamadingdong@reddit

Until they are worn out or no longer suitable. I have some clothes that don't fit right, they go to charity shop. Others have been in my wardrobe for decades. My husband makes me throw my pj tops out once the holes account for more than 20% of the garment. My favourite cardigan was a gift from my grandma when I was a teen. I'm nearly 40.

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Flapparachi@reddit

Apparently the average garment only gets worn 4 times before it is disposed of in the UK. I can’t remember where, but I was reading an article on fast fashion at the time. I get emotionally attached to clothes and wear them until they literally fall apart at the seams. I also fixate on clothes and will wear the same item multiple times a week until for a few weeks. Not sure if this is a neurospicy thing though.

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Callis_tow@reddit

Until they fall apart. If I decide they really don't suit me, I'll (eventually) donate them to charity. I keep clothes I like. If they don't fit, I have a "fat bird/skinny bird" section in my wardrobe.

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irishgollum@reddit

My aunt bought me a sweatshirt when started uni in 1996. I still have it.

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Cyber-Axe@reddit

I keep them and reuse them Indefinitely until they are too damaged to wear or no longer fit, its rare anything I buy these days is anything I'd stop wearing because I didnt like it, o ly my older clothes, some of which I keep around for emergencies or if I need something I dont care about

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redditstorytime216@reddit

Until they don’t fit right? I don’t understand people just getting rid of clothes when they still fit/ aren’t broke .

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concrete_marshmallow@reddit

I don't throw them out, my gf decodeds when "it's time" and turns them into cleaning rags. Generally between 3-7 years.

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Willing-Cell-1613@reddit

The oldest piece of clothing I still wear is four years old. I bought it aged 13, stopped growing a year later. I tend to give clothes I no longer like (14-year-old me had a wildly different fashion sense) to cousins etc. and buy clothes as and when needed. But most of my clothes are from the year I stopped growing and are in decent condition. I intend to keep them as long as they’ll last.

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Nine_Eye_Ron@reddit

You can get rid of clothes?

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wonkyworldly@reddit

I'm not very good at putting my clean clothes away, so it is obvious to me what clothes I actually wear and those that I don't wear. I get rid of all clothes I don't wear unless they are specific holiday/wedding/funeral clothes that only get used occasionally. I don't have space to store useless clothing.

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nervous_veggie@reddit

I’d on,y throw out clothes if they were literally unwearable

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Chris_M1991@reddit

I’ve got a few festival and tour shirts from my teens that are approaching 20 years old.

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tallpaullewis@reddit

Funnily enough, the t-shirt I am wearing right now. It's a round-the-house one. My daughter pointed out that there is a photo of me on the wall holding her as a baby and I'm wearing it there, before it was relegated to the lower drawers. She'll be 15yrs old in a few months 😅

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AlRedux@reddit

I still wear a t-shirt I had in 1989, many, many more that are at least 30 years old

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buy_me_a_pint@reddit

I got t-shirts which I had 20+ years

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mikolv2@reddit

I wear them to death, then repair them and wear them to death again.

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DizzyMine4964@reddit

Forever, unless they get torn or dirty or stop fitting me.

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Miss_Type@reddit

I'm lucky that I have enough disposable income to buy quality clothes that will stay wearable for years. I don't follow fashion and never have, so I'm not always buying the next new thing. I know what I like, and what suits me. I tend to buy several of something, because if I like it, I'm going to wear it a lot. So I have identical dungarees and jumpers for instance, just in different colours. So I keep clothes for years. If there is anything I've gone off, I donate to a charity shop. About twice a year I go through everything and pick out things I haven't worn much.

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OdBlow@reddit

Until it falls apart (holes, look tatty) or no longer fits. Although that said, I did get a different style of work trousers recently because the other ones I had I don’t think suit me anymore. So a couple of years for those that are in the charity shop now (still fine, just wrong style!)

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Ok-fine-man@reddit

>look tatty I'd say clothed have about a year life cycle before looking tatty, these days

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OdBlow@reddit

Depends what you’re doing to them and how you care for them I guess. Mine don’t but I don’t get fast fashion things and I wash/dry them properly.

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winkyslapper@reddit

A long long time.

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oktimeforplanz@reddit

Underwear, socks, pyjamas, jeans, etc. get worn to death. For jeans, that means when the inner thigh finally becomes so thin that going outside invites a significant risk of the fabric finally giving way in public. Tshirts and casual clothes transition from 'outside' clothes to pyjamas/loungewear when they're too worn to be worn outside, but not unwearable where nobody can see me - exception being if I've got a surplus of pyjamas, then they go to the textile bin. Dresses and other more 'formal' clothes are more likely to go before they're completely worn - eg. I just got rid of a lot of work clothes because I now almost exclusively WFH - so they go to a charity shop. I used to sell them on Vinted but it's a lot of aggravation for a pretty immaterial amount of money as nothing I have is high end and I often got them on Vinted for less than a fiver to begin with.

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Cyberhaggis@reddit

I've got clothes older than some of the people I work with. I'm wearing a hoody from 1999 as I type this.

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Phil1889Blades@reddit

My oldest jumper will be 30 years old next year.

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ennuiacres@reddit

Decades lol

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allthingskerri@reddit

Until they fall apart, get too bobbled or I don't fit in it.

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Forfina@reddit

Depends on how comfortable they are. I have gym leggjngs I've had for 6 years.

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Cliffoakley@reddit

Years

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atlervetok@reddit

Uhm aslong as they fit and are in decent condition. I got some bits ive only just had to throw out after 12+years

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Ok-Decision403@reddit

My mother still has - and wears - clothes she went up to London to buy when I was in Sixth Form. I'm 50.

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Littleloula@reddit

Impressive that she's managed to stay the same size. Fighting your bodys urge to store fat during the menopause is really tough

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Ok-Decision403@reddit

Ugh, tell me about it. I am *not* the same size that I was in 1992. (I also wish I could go back and give myself a good shake - I was nowhere near as fat as I believed myself to be...)

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fbruk@reddit

Same I thought I was fat in highschool...but the late nineties earlier 2000s were a super skinny era.

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Scarboroughwarning@reddit

I have clothes 20yrs old

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redterror5@reddit

I have clothes that I remember buying the same summer I met my wife. And I still wear them regularly. So, up to and above 24 years, I guess. I have T-shirts that are over five years old that I still consider my new T-shirts.

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RagingFuckNuggets@reddit

Whenever I buy something new, like jeans, I'll get rid of a pair of jeans I rarely wear or don't like. Same goes for all items. My only exceptions are coats and shoes. I'll buy them and not get rid of an old one, just chuck them once there knackered.

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bluebellwould@reddit

Until they fall apart...

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Happy-Hone@reddit

Jeans I wash only when necessary - if there's a particular bit that needs cleaning, spot cleaned. T shirts wear for 1-3 days depending what I'm doing. If I'm sat inside all day not moving around much, it lasts more than a day. If I'm building up a sweat in the garden, gets swapped out same day. Socks and underwear clean every day. Though my hiking socks (comfy af merino wool) I air at the end of the day and stick them back on again in the morning, wash them in a stream if it's been a particularly hot day. Most outdoor waterproof gear I just clean when they get dirty. Always always air them so they'll last me another 15 years.

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coffinflopenjoyer@reddit

Until the holes become noticeable

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MahatmaKhote@reddit

Still regulars wearing some of the London 2012 tops I bought.

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CyndersParadigm@reddit

Some of my T-shirts are 15+ years old. They still fit, they don't have holes in them, so why get rid of them?

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Hampy1972@reddit

I'm lucky that my clothes from the 90s still fit me. 😄

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theegrimrobe@reddit

until holes or they stop fitting

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poppyo13@reddit

Till visible holes

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Kcmg1985@reddit

I keep them until my wife tells me to throw them away 😂 I can usually get 10 years out of them.

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jamesbrown2500@reddit

I buy Carhartt, O'Neil, Pepe Jeans and Timberland. I have things with 30 years.

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No-Structure-8125@reddit

The sock thing is exactly the same as what I do! Plan on throwing them, forget and wash them, then wear them because it feels like a waste to throw away freshly washed clothes. But yeah I keep clothes for a long time, I have stuff in my wardrobe that I've probably had for about 10 years. I'm not big into fashion, usually just a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, or a summer dress if I'm feeling fancy and the weather is nice. I'm just not good at putting an outfit together, so spending loads of money on clothes would be a waste for me.

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Simple-Noise-6745@reddit (OP)

Your comment has reminded me to take my socks off. If i don’t do it now, I’m going to put it in the wash again.

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NecroVelcro@reddit

Some of my clothes are decades old. I wear my favourite clothes to death but I've got so many in total that it's pretty out of control. None were extravagant purchases, many of them coming from charity shops. Not seeing the updated weather forecast before a trip a few weeks ago led to me rushing around in search of a coat in the 20 minutes or so I had left to catch the bus. I got a raincoat for a bargainous 4 quid and have been wearing it regularly ever since.

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dallasp2468@reddit

wear them to death, then they become decorating or gardening clothes, then once they are no longer fit for purpose I throw them in the recycling bag for textiles

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Sir-SH@reddit

It depends. Usually once they look worn in (in my perception) I sell them on eBay or Vinted, and use the money to buy new clothes again. I try to never buy cheap or poor quality, and tend to stay away from certain fashion trends, preferring more classic, premium and timeless clothing, that look and fit me good. This means I have no issue selling them on when I consider them past their best days. Jeans are different though, I might have them for 2-4 years (sometimes more) before I sell them on. Then hoodies and t shirts usually 1-3 years.

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Timmy_the_tortoise@reddit

Till they have holes in them that cannot be repaired.

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Ouakha@reddit

To the death! My death, that is.

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TheArtfullTodger@reddit

I'll keep all and any clothes till they show signs of wear. How long that takes depends on how often I wear them. I do occasionally keep a few worn clothes as well though for both reasons of not give a fuck comfort or because I need something I don't mind ruining even more when I'm doing a task that could potentially damage better conditioned clothes. I mean back in the day people used to tear up old shirts for rags. I dont know anyone that does that anymore. But I remember my parents doing that to make cleaning cloths

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theresOnlyNow@reddit

Until they break beyond a state that could even begin to be considered fashionably trashed or I decide to donate them

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davmrey@reddit

I wear most clothes till they start falling apart then I'll patch them and wear them some more.

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UniquePotato@reddit

Until its worn out or doesn’t fit. Work shirts usually end up with food stains. I’m not fashion conscious.

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the-bid-d@reddit

I'll just wear them to the point where they have more holes than it should have

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Glittering-Camera968@reddit

I will either wear them to death or donate. I only throw them away if they have been worn to death. The only reason I dont wear all of my clothes until they have holes in is if I don't like them anymore and I mean as in, I bought them on a whim and haven't worn them once or I wore them once and then haven't since. If its still a relatively new one, I'll keep it until the following year and if I still haven't worn it then I won't keep it. I used to be a "just in case" person but that just led to me hoarding clothes I never wore. I'd much rather donate them and have somebody get some actual use out of it.

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RevolutionaryPace167@reddit

I buy a lot of clothes but I am also a hoarder

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McDeathUK@reddit

Until they fall apart. I WFH a lot so dont need that many 'outdoor' clothes :-D So they stay immacualte where as another group of daily clothes makes me look like an unkept hobo :-D

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Yourepissed@reddit

Keeping them forever and ever and ever and ever. Unless it’s completely not my style and was from a time in my life when I was pretending to be someone I’m not. Then I’ll get rid of them. But anything that can and will be layered is kept and will be layered.

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HistoricalAd5761@reddit

Geez, all the landfills are full , donate clothes you dont wear . Also , use old clothes while you paint , or, other kind of work you might get dirty

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Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit

Wearing it once or twice is either: 1) for the very wealthy lol 2) because it’s something like a prom dress / wedding dress 3) because I really didn’t like it on me so I gave it away / it got damaged whilst wearing or something Other than those rare occurrences I’ll keep them until I literally have no space for them any more or I get too small for them (lost some weight in the last year or so they hang weirdly). I don’t discard them just because they go out of style and I tend to buy higher quality clothes so they have great longevity. I have an extraordinary amount of clothes so I have to pack my winter clothes away when it’s summer and vice versa etc.

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dontspeaktomeright@reddit

I know people who aren't wealthy that only wear clothes once or twice because you can buy clothes for virtually nothing from shein, wish, temu whatever This is definitely a shopping addiction on their part, they love getting the notifications about the shipping ect

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No_Step9082@reddit

if you have that many clothes, do you even get to wear each item more than a few times? Especially if they are getting packed away after a season

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Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit

I agree it’s not efficient at all but I don’t tend to give away / chuck my clothes often so over a few years they’ll get a good wearing.

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amimaybeiam@reddit

It depends. If it’s purely a dopamine purchase I may wear it a short while and then never again. If it’s a comfort clothing I’ll wear it til it falls off me and then replace it with a duplicate.

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Hopeful_Potatoes@reddit

Depends where I've bought the clothes from. Cheap clothes don't last very long and feel uncomfortable after a good few washes. But other items I've kept for over 10 years and they still feel lovely, so I'm not getting rid of them based on the fact they're old. I don't like to waste anything though.

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thesleeplessj@reddit

I’ll look at an old picture and wonder where the hell did that shirt go? I don’t chuck anything, some of my t-shirts are 8 years old, but once they are no longer fit for public they become DIY clobber.

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Intruder313@reddit

Many years and I was just thinking about this today: I have on a T-Shirt I was given by a workplace 30 years ago when I was a Temp. The material is still fully intact and the colour has barely faded and even the printed logo stuff is intact. I normally find that 'Merch' falls apart fast and fancy logos come off in the wash! So generally I wear stuff to death but I do have a mountain of clothes I've not worn for years and should probably dig out and throw out.

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JTitch420@reddit

I work in construction… it goes nice wardrobe to work wardrobe then wear it until it falls off

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DeifniteProfessional@reddit

Basically endlessly, once ever 3-4 years though I may throw out/donate some things I've not worn in a very long time If an item of clothing is absolutely shagged, like full of holes, especially pants and socks, they get binned as and when

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TraditionalCandy8428@reddit

Until they disintegrate basically, I was overweight as a child so I still fit into basically everything I’ve bought since I was 14. Unfortunately I had no taste then so most of them are designated for when I’m getting mucky (gardening, painting, etc). Same for shoes, my work shoes were my year 9 PE shoes.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

I have clothes I have owned for 40 years.

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mk6971@reddit

I have a T-shirt I bought for the London Paralympics in 2012. I still wear it every now and then.

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Delicious-Cut-7911@reddit

I have a coat that is 40yrs old and still fashionable.

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Euffy@reddit

Pretty much forever for most stuff, but I also look after my clothes. I would not be wearing socks with holes in. That takes quite a while though.

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R0gu3tr4d3r@reddit

Until they fall apart, even then they become gardening or DIY clothes.

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SmoothlyAbrasive@reddit

I have clothing I got when I was 12 that I still throw on now and again, and I am 40 next year. Until it's in such tatters as it can't be put on without disintegrating, it'll be worn.

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MrDankky@reddit

I’ve got way too many clothes so every few years I do a purge. I also fluctuate in size a lot depending on if I’m hitting gym so large bits go to my dad medium go to my bro and the rest go to my mate who runs an eBay store, anything that doesn’t sell goes to charity.

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KingofCalais@reddit

Until i die. Even if they are ripped or stained they are good for painting or work clothes.

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heretolurk24@reddit

I am 28. I wore a hoodie yesterday that I have owned since I was 15.

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anti-sugar_dependant@reddit

I have about 25 t-shirts that fit, and I wear them on rotation every day. Some of them are more than 11 years old. I know because I was wearing one of them in my last passport photo, taken in 2013. When they get holes in, I repair them. I really hate clothes shopping, plus I can't afford to buy clothes I don't need.

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SeaworthinessOdd9380@reddit

I wear my everyday clothes to death, I have some more fancier stuff for events that come out a couple times a year. I have donated or sold stuff that I know I won't wear, but that's been uncommon.

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Sasspishus@reddit

>Currently wearing socks with holes in them because I keep forgetting to throw them away. After a wash, I feel like I should give it one last wear. Been through this cycle 3 times now. Are you me?? To answer your question though, I have some things I store away until next year (summer/winter clothes), and the rest I either wear to death or donate if I realise I'm never actually wearing it

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WhoLets1968@reddit

Until I can neither fit into them or they wear out My tuxedo,which I wear at least twice a year, so not much wear and tear, I bought in 2002... Still fits Still looks good..even if I say so myself I have teeshirts and jumpers that are 10yrs old

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BackgroundGate3@reddit

I have tons of clothes and can go for months without wearing the same thing twice. I buy clothes all the time, but I rarely discard anything, so I might be wearing a top I bought last week with trousers I've had for fifteen years.

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sosodedelilw@reddit

Who is able to afford wearing something once or twice? I feel like this isn’t a thing or is very rare. I’ve heard of anyone doing this irl.

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SilkySmoothRalph@reddit

Depends on the clothes. Some I’ve “grown” out of. Some are just dated and I don’t like them. But I’ve also got some gym/running shorts that are from the mid-90s. Don’t think there’s any rule or standard.

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Limp-Coconut3740@reddit

I’m currently wearing my husband’s sweatshirt which he bought when he was a sixth former. He’s now 47 so this sweatshirt must be 30ish years old. Can’t remember the last time I bought new clothes although that’s mostly due to lack of disposable income

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ninja_chinchilla@reddit

I wear stuff to death unless I've gained/lost weight. My mum, for the past few years, has set herself a challenge of not buying brand new clothes (apart from underwear/socks) and trawls the charity shops instead. She's got some lovely stuff from there and if I had the time to do this, I'd give it a shot too.

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thenewfirm@reddit

I've set myself a very similar personal challenge this year and I've saved loads and managed to get much nicer quality than the cheap Primark or supermarket stuff I was wearing before. Recommend vinted or eBay. I started looking for brands I knew and went from there.

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folklovermore_@reddit

My version of this is 'no new clothes I didn't make myself' (again with socks/underwear as the exception). It's killing two birds with one stone as it's cutting down the amount of clothes I've bought and also helping me develop my sewing skills and slowly get through my fabric stash!

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Loose_Acanthaceae201@reddit

Nothing brand new (except underwear) was my NY resolution in 2022 and I'm still going because it's surprisingly easy to follow. It helps that I do make some of my own clothes. I do buy new clothes for my children when they want/need them, but I'm a big fan of second-hand uniform in particular because *fuck*.

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imjustjurking@reddit

I stayed roughly the same weight for much of my teen to adult life and then I suddenly gained a huge amount of weight (thanks steroids). So I had to buy new clothes and I hated it, I couldn't get out to the charity shops because of being unwell and I had to buy stuff online. Now I'm losing weight and having to give stuff away but the quality is so poor that most of it isn't even worth donating even though I've only had it a few years! When I gained weight and I got rid of some of my smaller clothes, I'd had some of that stuff 10+ years and it was in great condition. I felt absolutely fine donating it, I debobbled some stuff but that was about it. When I get down to my goal weight I'm sewing my own clothes.

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Wormella@reddit

No brand new clothes was my new years resoloution too - vinted and charity shops make for the best hunting grounds

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nandu_sabka_bandhoo@reddit

I have a quarter zip hoodie that I bought in 2007. I think even the company BHS London ... is gone now

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Geekonomicon@reddit

I wear my clothes until they fall apart. I've got t-shirts older than my partner's son who's just turned 20.

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peekachou@reddit

Until they fall apart or its got to the point where I just haven't worn them in a year or so, then I'll donate

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crozuk@reddit

I’ve got a pair of blue Nike shorts that were produced a few years before 9/11… (1998-ish?) school PE kit nicked from the lost and found. Faithful servants to this day and probably one of my oldest possessions. Far from mint condition but still do the job! Thanks to whoever lost them in the first place!

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stinkypugs@reddit

I nicked a pair of Adidas tracksuit bottoms from the lost and found in school that were decent, I ended up using them for several years after. Best find ever

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crozuk@reddit

I bought a coat in 2007… was a bit big… still haven’t grown into it!

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stinkypugs@reddit

Brilliant haha! It may briefly fit after this years Christmas dinner

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BasisOk4268@reddit

Usually 10 years

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DaVirus@reddit

I have clothes that belonged to my uncle. I have clothes that I bought at 16. If it fits me, and if there are no stains, it stays. The main thing that ruins my clothes is deodorant stains.

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Realposhnosh@reddit

Believe in the adverts, Vanish Oxy man. It is the shit.

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Designer-Historian40@reddit

I think you can do a lot for pit stains with citric acid (neat or from lemons). Or white vinegar, if you let them soak before washing.

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punekar_2018@reddit

Until they fade Some of my shirts are 10 years old because they look fine.

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Monkeyboogaloo@reddit

Until they are no l9nger wearable. My core style has been the same for an age so I think nothing of putting on a shirt I got 12 years ago. Tshirts have a higher turn over although I wear one from 2002. Skme of my pieces are vintage so they will go on for ever.

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Vin10000@reddit

I have not bough any Clothing for the past 3 years and I've been wearing most of my clothes probably when I was still teenager or prior to my teenage years. For example a swimming trunks that I've got when I was 13 I still have it and I am turning 25 next month 😂 still wears it. Most of the clothing that holds a sentimental value also still around but some of it was lost due to moving to abroad and my relatives had taken over of my old sentimental clothing. 😩 I have given some of it to the charity and some been thrown too. There's nothing wrong with wearing a decade old shirt. The one's I bought from sale a few years back I rarely worn it cause it's just seasonal and only wears it during winter season. There's few pieces that I don't like it that much before but priorities have changed and sometimes wearing it. 😂

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Competitive-Fact-820@reddit

I hate buying clothes and live in jeans and t-shirts/hoodies/jumpers. They only get replaced when they no longer fit nicely or when they get past repairing. Ones that are getting a bit tatty become home wear only. I just got 2 new pairs of jeans as my current ones are 6 years old and starting to show it. T-Shirts I probably buy 3 or 4 a year if I see a print that takes my fancy (over fond of a band tee).

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chroniccomplexcase@reddit

If I find I haven’t worn an item of clothing for 6+ months (unless it’s really seasonal) I sell it on eBay. Do a big purge twice a year and sell them (usually wait until they do free selling) that way. I then donate a portion of the profits to charity and keep the rest. I also buy a lot of my clothes off eBay. I never donate to charity shops as so little actually ends up being sold here and lots ends up in landfill here or abroad. Selling on eBay I know it’s being bought by someone who actually wants it and is going to wear it. Buying off eBay, I get better made clothes (from brands I wouldn’t afford to buy new), am not buying new and can sell them on when I’ve finished. Win win win as far as I’m concerned.

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Ok-Advantage3180@reddit

I wear mine for years until I hate them, they don’t fit, or if there’s a hole that can’t be fixed

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peculiar-pirate@reddit

I used to buy more clothes but now I only buy something when I need it or I know I really like it. Sometimes I come across old clothes I bought and wear them. I donate the stuff I don't like anymore.

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bduk92@reddit

Generally I keep clothes until they start to lose their shape, then they'll be demoted to "work clothes" for a few months or so before I finally throw them away. I've got a pair of cargo shorts I bought from Asda about 12 years ago that are still going strong.

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A_Chicken_Called_Kip@reddit

I keep them for about six months *after* they've started falling apart.

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rmajor86@reddit

I wear a leather belt basically every day. I got it for free on a pair of jeans from (probably) Next nearly 20 years ago. It’s still going strong. I have no idea how it’s lasted so long.

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mcwibs@reddit

Until they've totally fallen apart. If they no longer fit, I keep them for when they do fit again.

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Puzzleheaded_4779@reddit

I wear my stuff to death or until it doesn’t fit. Clothes that are too holey/bad condition for wearing in public I save for decorating or dirty jobs around the house and if they get stained I don’t feel wasteful binning them.

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KobiDnB@reddit

Forever

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Littleloula@reddit

I've got some jumpers, cardigans, jeans, skirts and work dresses that are over 10 years old. Trousers and most t shirts don't seem to last as long though but even still I probably get 4 years out of t shirts

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MrPogoUK@reddit

I tend to have a small number of “everyday” items in rotation until holes develop, then something I deem more of a “looking good/special occasion” can get worn periodically for years, or even decades. On the rare super hot days I’ll still bring out NBA basketball tops I bought in the mid-90s that still look brand new.

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LadyMirkwood@reddit

I will wear clothes until they fall apart. I have an old holey tshirt I wear around the house, I won't bin it yet because it's comfortable. My husband calls it the Shroud of Turin.

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Lewis19962010@reddit

Half my clothes are about 10+ years old, mostly the hoodies etc, had to keep them under lock and key during the dating stage of relationships though or they'd go missing and I'd need to go retrieve them 😂 no one gets my hoodies.

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turkishhousefan@reddit

I have ADHD and therefore have no concept of time. My wardrobe is full of redundant items that seem barely worn or still have tags on them and things that are in ruins, mostly socks with holes in them and t-shirts with cardboard armpits.

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Hopeful_Strategy8282@reddit

At the height of my depression I could wear the same shirt for weeks at a time. Horribly unhygienic but it wasn’t leaving the house either, so it wasn’t a problem for anyone else at least. These days I’ll take a shirt off the morning after the one I put it on

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Thepizzadude01@reddit

Tshirts and shirts a day due to potential boomerang smell, underwear a day. Jeans and joggers usually a few days.

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turkishhousefan@reddit

That must cost you a fortune!

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My_Knee_is_a_Ship@reddit

I have jeans, t-shirts and hoodies I've had, and worn, since I was around 13. I'm now 36. But I'm pretty autistic and have sensory issues, so textiles are pretty important and hard to get used to.

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XihuanNi-6784@reddit

Until they wear out or they look tatty. So for many items it's around 5+ years or more. I'm a man though and I hear that a lot of women's clothing is a lot more flimsy so that can affect things too.

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Broken_Lampshade@reddit

I wear clothes until they're unwearable. I've had shoes with no soles and the bottom ripped off and still wore them because I didn't want to have to ask for new ones

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StandardBanger@reddit

I’ve still got clothes from when I was a teen & band merch from way back. Some things are too good to lob out.

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Wellidrivea190e@reddit

Years. I have t shirts that are 20 years old.

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pencilrain99@reddit

Until my Wife throws them out, I've still got some tshirts from the early 90s though

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VanNavig8or42@reddit

Don't let your wife throw out your special 90s T shirts. Stay strong big boy.

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cyberllama@reddit

At the very least, sell them on Ebay before she gets to them. If they're a bit tatty, just say they're distressed.

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BritishBlitz87@reddit

They're vintage now. Tell your wife you're just keeping up with fashion

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Interesting-Biscotti@reddit

I wear it until it falls apart. I can't understand the wear it once or twice thing myself. If I don't love it, it gets repaired by me. If I do love it someone who knows what they're doing does (currently a coat I've worn solidly for the past 25 years is being repaired by someone more skilled than me). I've got a coat of my grandfather's that is older than I am. Super cosy and warm. Wool lined suede. I usually wear it camping and at barbecues. I don't think the brand is around anymore I've just googled the style and horrified myself on how much a replacement is going to cost me if it dies.

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oudcedar@reddit

I was saddened to wear a T shirt for the last time a couple of days ago. I noticed some fraying around the collar then realised it was a Kangol V neck from about 2000. As ubiquitous then as it isn’t now. I suspect I have some much older ones in the drawer.

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mycatiscalledFrodo@reddit

Wear until it's dead or I put on weight

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Ambitious_Clue1037@reddit

I have had clothes for over 10 years that I still wear daily, I buy clothes fairly regular for a guy (2/3 times per year) but I buy decent quality stuff that I know will last. I own a t shirt that was my granddad’s that is at least 25 years old that I wear all the time.

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Hyperblue8@reddit

darn those socks! They have years left! Repair your clothes people.

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Quattro_s3_8Y@reddit

Differs for everyone I’m guessing

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WiccanPixxie@reddit

I wear the same clothes over and over. Usually in the autumn I’ll pull all my clothes out of the wardrobe and anything I haven’t worn in the last twelve months gets tossed. If it’s in good condition it goes to a charity shop, if it’s tatty/worn out then it goes in the bin.

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TwirlipoftheMists@reddit

I try to only buy stuff that will last a long time (preferably ‘for life’) and don’t dipose of it unless it’s fallen apart beyond the point of no return. Although I haven’t bought much in ages. I bought a rain hat in February and last year I got a tweed jacket from a vintage shop.

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MyUnsername@reddit

Bought a load of shirts in 2019. Have been wearing them pretty much every day since. No plans to change that. I do need to buy some new trousers some time soon though

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Gunbladelad@reddit

I wear clothes to destruction- I still have T-Shirts well over 20 years old that are still in good condition. Boots and trainers last a couple of years at most (I walk - a LOT)

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itsableeder@reddit

I'm currently wearing a t-shirt that I bought at a gig in 1994 that's still in great condition

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RowRow1990@reddit

Until they're falling apart or I finally admit they're never going to fit me again.

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LilacRose32@reddit

I give away items that no longer fit and get rid of those with holes. Theoretically anyway, there’s a bit of a backlog

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Affectionate_Ad_3722@reddit

Holes in socks - throw them in the bin as soon as noticed. No "one last wear" - chuck them immediately. Same with underwear. Holes = bin. Or garage rags LOL.

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Kitty-Gecko@reddit

My wardrobe system works like this: Buy clothes (usually second hand unless it's underwear or tights or something) Check I like clothes (try them on) if not, sell on (or return if they are from a shop.) Every 6 months, swap which clothes are in wardrobe (summer wardrobe / winter wardrobe. Out of season clothes stay in a massive box at the bottom of my wardrobe as there isn't room to hang all seasons up at once in there. When swapping between seasons, assess any clothes I feel didn't get worn much or I may not fit anymore etc. Try them on again and decide whether to keep. Sell any that get evicted from my collection, or donate to charity if not likely to be worth selling. Or take to clothes swap event. Wear things I love till they fall to bits. Try and mend.

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Until they wear out, then bin them and replace them. Sometimes it's decades, sometimes just a few months.

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superkinks@reddit

Most things I wear until they really fall apart. I can repair small holes but once it gets beyond that it goes. Alternatively if it doesn’t fit anymore or it’s not something I’d wear again because it’s been 10 years and it isn’t in fashion anymore, I donate it. I don’t keep things that I’m not realistically going to wear, but I do have a few formal dresses that I wear very infrequently

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Brorkarin@reddit

It totally depends on the quality i have for example a T-shirt that is like new but its over 10years old and i use it like every week 😀

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highrouleur@reddit

I've got a t-shirt, now relegated to workwear that I bought at a Flaming Lips gig in 2006. Somewhere I've got a long sleeve from the 1994 reading festival, but that is falling apart

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kitknit81@reddit

I only this year got rid of my winter jumpers which I’d been wearing for 7 years. They had just got to the stage of looking awful and didn’t wash well anymore (never quite smelled fresh) so I’ve invested this year in a bunch of new ones. Jeans usually last me many years as my weight doesn’t fluctuate. I have a couple pieces I’ve had for like 15 years that still get worn, though only occasionally. And there are other items that only last a season or a year like leggings and vest tops as they get washed and worn to death.

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ASpookyBitch@reddit

So because I have a particular style I follow I tend to have a lot of stuff that I don’t wear but won’t get rid of XD either because “it’s too nice” was too expensive or is just a bit too “much” but I still think they’re beautiful. Prime example, I have the most gorgeous black and white striped knitted jumper. It was on sale and got it for a LOT cheaper than it was worth… but I’m always too hot so I don’t wear it lol There’s stuff that I swear I will wear when I have the right occasion or once I get round to making those alterations… or I’ve lost that bit of weight or whatever it is. Because of this I’ve started buying stuff from SHEIN. It’s pretty, it fits and it’s inexpensive so I don’t worry about it getting ruined so I actually WEAR it. That being said, the stuff I don’t wear but won’t get rid of is in tiers - stuff I wear rarely is in a drawer if its own. Everything else is in a big plastic box for safety. I do purge my stuff once in a while though…

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thefastandthecuruous@reddit

I've still got t-shirts from when I was about 15 I'm 32 now

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Delicious_Opposite55@reddit

I still have clothes I bought in 1998. No need to throw them away if they're still wearable

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Elegant-Campaign-572@reddit

I once, quite successfully, super glued a t-shirt back together where it came apart as a result of carrying my backpack on that shoulder. Until it falls off!

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LithiuMart@reddit

I have a Mansun t-shirt I bought at a gig in 1997. It's torn, faded and long since been relegated to a "t-shirt for work", but I still wear it nonetheless.

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thingymajig@reddit

I have summer dresses I wore last month that I'm pretty sure I bought when I was 22. Twenty years ago. If it has a function and is still wearable, then I keep it. I'm the opposite of a hoarder for everything except for clothes. I struggle to get rid of them and have sizes from 6-14. I'm actually meant to be clearing my wardrobe today, but I'm procrastinating on reddit. It's weird to see this post.

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iRobyn@reddit

I have a skirt I bought 18 years ago, that I can’t throw away because I want to turn it into a bag, but I don’t even know how to stitch or use a sewing machine so it sits in my drawer until I do. I few up with a grandmother who worked in the Singer Sewing Machine factories, she would have killed me for throwing away perfectly good clothes that maybe just needed a stitch or two to fix.

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Renegade9582@reddit

Until they rip apart,as the distressed trend will never disappear. 🤔

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AnxiousAppointment70@reddit

Til they fall apart or no longer fit. I send almost all to charity so they can sell or send for fabric recycling

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PositivelyAcademical@reddit

Until they wear out or don’t fit (it’s surprising how many shirts shrink lengthwise doing laundry).

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MrsPettygroove@reddit

I still have concert t-shirts from the 1970's But other than that, I keep clothes till they're falling off me. Then they rags, or patches.

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WillingJudgment517@reddit

Hehe not until they fall apart but until they are wearable and I feel comfortable in them

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love_Carlotta@reddit

I only expand my wardrobe... I still have items I bought over 10 years ago when I was a teenager

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Funky_monkey2026@reddit

I wear them until they're covered in holes, then keep them for the garden/fishing etc.

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Oster-P@reddit

I mainly wear plain joggers of different colours depending on the outfit. So as long as they're not stained or worn in any way, then I'll keep them for as long as they last. I also only wear plain black t shirts around the house and under other things, same rule above applies. Most of my clothing budget goes on good quality hoodies, I collect higher end stuff so they get used in rotation when I feel like wearing them, the older more worn ones become my daily drivers for going to work, newer stuff is saved for things like days out. If a hoodie becomes faded/worn, I would look into dying to freshen it up and possibly repair depending on the damage. Baseball caps are also a big one for me, usually keep them until they start to get stained or sun bleached, then will either toss them or keep a couple for dog walks or if I'm in the garden in summer Trainers and shoes I keep as long as they're not worn, I sometimes look into reselling some trainers I no longer enjoy wearing, depending on how expensive they were, I try to take really good care of my footwear, I'm constantly aware of where I'm walking so I don't get them too dirty. I did go from 118kg down to 69kg so I do have a varying range of sizes in clothes. I've put a lot of my basics in storage just in case my weight fluctuates and I need them again.

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IndustrialPet@reddit

Until they fall apart/are too small if I like them, and I'll mend them as much as I can. If I notice I'm not wearing them I'll donate after a year to allow a full cycle of seasons and see if I warm to them again.

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martyrees76@reddit

Wear them to death. I’ve got a U2 T-shirt from 1992 that I’ll wear when I’m painting (which if I’d kept in good condition might be worth a bit - one is going for £158 on Vinted) Socks and undies I’ll keep until they no longer resemble what they are supposed to be

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Kermit_Wazowski@reddit

Until it breaks

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Dazzling-Event-2450@reddit

Have tiers of clothes, new clothes would be worn on holiday, then they will become clothes for going out etc, after that they become clothes for dossing in at home, and they finally end up as gardening / decorating clothes.

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Difficult-Broccoli65@reddit

I'm a man, so until they literally fall apart.

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Fun_Accountant_653@reddit

I'm wearing a t-shirt I bought in July 1995

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Head_Priority5152@reddit

I'm not exaggerating when I say a large amount of my clothes are between 10-15 years old. Easily over half are of this age. Most of my basics are still serviceable and in reality knowing me they probably were second hand when I bought them. But if it still fits I'll keep it. I don't really keep up with shats in fashion and my personal style obviously hasn't changed much. Black black and more black never going out of fashion right? Id say I pick up maybe 5 new clothing items a year while chucking out the ones that are stained or got holes in them. I have recently purchased 4 whole new tops at the same time and I feel guilty about this despite knowing they will probably stay with me for at very least 5 years. But still I can't remember the last time I actually went out to purchase clothes rather than the odd pick up item from a sale or charity shop.

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Athena_x@reddit

It depends. Some things just don't look nice anymore after being washed a few times, so they go in the charity bag or in the clothes recycling bins at the tip. On the other hand, I have one jumper from H&M that's at least 13 years old. Usually if it's a top I like that's got a bit scruffy looking (e.g. black tops that are looking faded), it'll get relegated to being house clothes. This year I'm trying to make a proper effort to buy quality clothes that will last for years, instead of ones that get bobbly and stretched out after a few wears.

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Designer-Historian40@reddit

You probably should also make sure you're washing things correctly. A cool wash with air drying does wonders.

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Athena_x@reddit

I do that already, a lot of things just aren't made of good material anymore.

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Designer-Historian40@reddit

I personally stick to woven, natural fabrics. I do remember having a number of jersey items about a decade ago that did this. Woven fabrics are the way to go, besides knitwear like jumpers and hats.

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Athena_x@reddit

Where do you buy your jumpers from? I am on the hunt for some good quality ones this year 😊

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Designer-Historian40@reddit

I knit my own these days. But I quite like my Uniqlo lambs wool jumper. I've had it 3 or 4 years, have darned the elbows, de-fluffed it a couple times (take a razor and run it over the surface, being careful not to snag it). It's a bit ratty and stained looking now, so it's an at home jumper. I hate to be *that* redditor who raves about uniqlo, but they do some good all natural fibre things that last really well, and they have the same basics back year after year so you can be assured of sizing and consistency. I love their linen shirts, and their wool jumpers. Not everything is great from there, but the natural fibre stuff I like.

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CrabmanGaming@reddit

Current pajama top, 16 years and counting.

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easyjet@reddit

Me - until they are hanging off my body and everyone comments that I look like a tramp. My gf - Mostly never, (400 dresses unworn currently) then maybe once. Then they go in the bin/vinted/charity.

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Gullible_Wind_3777@reddit

I would buy a new outfit for every occasion. Not casually Daily wear. That was if I had any spare money 😂 But nights out, a whole new outfit inc acs and shoes and bag!! Even weddings, funerals, christenings etc. But I’m a mum of four now. I walk around in my husbands joggers and t shirts all Day, every day. ( don’t worry I get dressed if I leave the house haha but that’s rare ) I have holes in my socks!! So my husband bought me some new ones. I haven’t bought anything , I mean anything for myself in just under 11 years. I forever donate, or throw away clothing. I get bored easily. All I have is undies, pjs, husband old clothes. And a handful of casual ( outside in public ) clothes. I don’t mind feeling poor asf aslong as I know my children look like they’ve busted out of Buckingham palace 👌😂 pristine

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

Until they're either falling apart or they no longer fit comfortably.

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sakmentoloki@reddit

I still wear a shirt I got 18 years ago. If it fits and isn't Swiss cheese Im going to still wear it

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britbabebecky@reddit

If it's stuff I wear, I keep them until they're no longer wearable. If it's stuff I have buyers regret for, it goes to the charity shop.

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ketamineandkebabs@reddit

Normally I wear my clothes until they look a bit washed out, then they become work clothes until they end up with holes, then I use them for working in the garden, decorating or working on the car. After that it's time for the bin lol.

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King_0f_Nothing@reddit

Until they either don't fit or it has holes/is too bad to wear.

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JohnRCC@reddit

Went to a festival recently with a few pals I've known for years. Looking through the photos, I noticed on one day we were both wearing the exact t-shirts we wore on the same day of that festival when we first attended, in 2012. So that long at least

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insertitherenow@reddit

Apart from socks and pants I wear stuff till it’s falling apart, much to the annoyance of my wife. I have clothes I still wear from the 90’s.

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Difficult_Cat_7287@reddit

I have a mountain of clothes, but I do wear them all until they're either worn out or my weight has changed. I then give them to my mum or charity. I'm currently procrastinating because I've got 3 bin bags full of clothes that are too big and I need to take them to a charity shop 🤣

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dedfrog@reddit

I (a woman in my 40s) have two pairs of jeans I bought about three years ago and I still consider them 'my new jeans'. I don't buy clothes often. The only thing I bought last year was a dress for my sister's wedding. Oh and a Simpson's T-shirt hehe. I work from home, on rotation in 3 pairs of tracksuit pants and 3 tracksuit tops I bought online during the pandemic, and a selection of random baggy T-shirts of the sort you just end up with somehow. They're all fairly good quality, all still perfectly fine.

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Foundation_Wrong@reddit

We have clothes that are 20 plus years old. Quality stuff only worn occasionally.

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stinkypugs@reddit

I pretty much keep them, in my adult life I haven’t changed size and after a while stopped buying any new clothes. My older clothes are relegated to the “dossing around the house” pile though.

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Beneficial-Mousse852@reddit

Until it is visibly raggedly or fallen apart

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Wavesmith@reddit

I wear things until they break or get stained to the point of being unwearable (I have a toddler). Or I notice it’s been languishing in the wardrobe and I never want to wear it. Then it goes on Vinted or to the charity shop.

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SamVimesBootTheory@reddit

For as long as possible but I will go through my wardrobe from time to time to see if there's anything I'm not wearing and then will donate or put it on vinted if I decide someone else would like it more

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No-Jicama-6523@reddit

Depends on the category of clothing. I’m not going to wear the same black tie dress to an event with the same set of people. Formal wear is the only category where something might get worn only once.

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smushs88@reddit

For things I wear more often such as t-shirts, I’ll wear them until they start of get a little bobbly / past their best, they then go from wearing out tops to ‘lounge tops’. Jeans / Chinos / Shorts basically until they develop holes Jackets usually until I get bored of them, got one that usually only gets one or two outings a year (when it’s super cold as it’s so warm) had it for must be 15 odd years now.

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GeordieAl@reddit

1. Until I wear them out, but then will wear them a bit longer as round the house clothes, gardening clothes, or working in my garage clothes. 2. Until I become to fat to ever realistically fit in them again, although some clothes survive this as “motivational clothes” 3. Until I lose so much weight that they look like I’m wearing a tent or clown pants. Did actually happen once

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Font_Factor_1984@reddit

I wear them until they don't look good anymore... then I wear them as 'house clothes' until they look worse, then I wear them for painting and decorating.

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Greg-Normal@reddit

It's a transition - Sunday Best, everyday out, lounging around, DIY, wrestle them off my Wife as she tries to chuck them !

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mootrun@reddit

I'm in my 30s and recently threw away a pair of trousers I bought at 17, because there was a hole in the crotch. I still miss them, they were great trousers.

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FeralSquirrels@reddit

>Are you this type of person? I feel attacked. I _do_ have clothes I only wear rarely and to be honest, when I "change for the season" as part of an annual event, if I look at something as I swap out Summer/Winter stuff and realise it hasn't been worn more than once, will often get shot of it. There's a few things I kept for a while for sentimental reasons but did eventually get rid of as just accepted I'm _too_ sentimental and had memories so didn't need the clothes to go with them! >Currently wearing socks with holes in them because I keep forgetting to throw them away. After a wash, I feel like I should give it one last wear. Been through this cycle 3 times now. I initially did this but prior to the holes - was going to give a load of stuff a wash then toss in the Sally' Army' bin. I never did. They got holes. I felt bad, so bought some new and tossed them in anyway.

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Expensive-Bed-9169@reddit

One shirt that I bought in 1993 finally became ready to throw out last year. I do have a pile of clothes that I don't wear and I give them to charity every 5 or 10 years, 😂

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Swimming_Possible_68@reddit

I have a fleece I bought in 1991 I wear every winter....

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Key-Somewhere-1607@reddit

I bought my main gym set and sports bra when I was 16, I’m now 28. They get cleaned, the elastic is still intact and they do the job fine. Same with all my other clothes, unless it breaks or becomes so worn it is unwearable, I keep it.

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Mkid73@reddit

I still have T shirts from the late 90s

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uncle_monty@reddit

Depends on the clothes. If it's something I don't wear often, I'll get rid regardless of condition. Other items I'll wear until they're literally falling apart. Outside clothes become inside clothes when they become scruffy, then get binned when they develop holes. Some things I'll keep for literally decades. I've got a pair of Adidas joggers that I bought with money from my first job in '96. I've got a windbreaker I bought around 2000.

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Minimum_Leopard_2698@reddit

I have a rule (because I have too much stuff) If I haven’t worn or used the thing in one year - it’s got to be sold or donated. One year gives me approximately 3 months of each season to wear or use the thing, which covers the usual special events and random things happening. Then I sell on Vinted, save up some cash on there and treat myself to something really nice when I see it

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tacticall0tion@reddit

Until they're so battered they can't even be used as wipe down rags.

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Collymonster@reddit

Until they're threadbare and holey. Usually even then I still wear them and just throw a hoodie on over the top. I can't afford to buy new clothes, a bought some new jeans this month as a necessity and it about broke the bank. I also can't stand fast fashion so even if I could afford new clothes all the time I just couldn't justify it.

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Narrow_Maximum7@reddit

I'm the same with clothes! Once it's been through the wash it needs a wear

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Whitelakebrazen@reddit

I keep clothes for as long as I like them and wear them. My oldest item of clothing is a jumper I've had for 12 years, and I still wear it. Once I no longer wear something, it usually goes to the charity shop, or fabric recycling if it's no longer wearable. I buy most of my clothes secondhand, although I do buy new clothes too.

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blameitontheboogie92@reddit

im a bodybuilder and very large man. i go as low as 18st when cut and as high as 22st when bulking. this means i have two sets of clothes at different sizes . i use the bulk clothes to death. the smaller clothes get less miles in them and tend to last way longer. apart form the odd joggers or shoes ive not bought any clothes for five years. i think rotating them like id o helps with the wear and tear

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Simple-Noise-6745@reddit (OP)

Interesting perspective

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SwordTaster@reddit

I've still got stuff from high school. I'm now 30

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bumblebeesanddaisies@reddit

Until they wear out generally. Trousers don't seem to do so well (no thigh gap here🙄) but dresses, skirts and tops I've had for years!!

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GamerHumphrey@reddit

I only recently threw away a hoodie I've had since I was 15. I'm 29.

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rubber-bumpers@reddit

Every week I wear a shitty university Ski Society t-shirt from 2014 that’s a bit faded but still going strong. Also have a Bob Marley t-shirt I got as a gift from my ex 12 years ago that I wear occasionally

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Bacon4Lyf@reddit

Currently cleaning out my drawers and closet and I’m finding jeans that are a 28 waist. I’m a 36 now and haven’t been a 28 in about 8 years. My problem is I only wear the same rotation of two pairs of trousers and three T-shirts, and majority of these are always in the wash, however for some reason my chest of drawers and wardrobe are completely full to the brim? What could they possibly contain if all the clothes I actually wear are on the laundry chair

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Gnome_Father@reddit

I'm pretty hard on clothes. I war jeans an shirts predominantly and they tend to last a couple of years.

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thatscotbird@reddit

I have clothes that I’ve owned for years & years. I wore a dress at the weekend to a wedding that’ll be on my Vinted soon to sell on. Definitely got lots of things in my wardrobe that I’ve only worn once or twice

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Gloomy_Custard_3914@reddit

Until they disintegrate. For example my shirt life cycle is this wear out, house shirt, sleeping shirt, cleaning rag, bin. If I don't like them anymore or don't fit I would sell on vinted or donate if in good condition.

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justanoldwoman@reddit

The life-cycle of my clothes "Good/new(ish)" worn until repairs become noticable, "House" only to be worn at home not "out". "Gardening/Diy" they're basically falling apart but still qualify as clothing so can be worn when doing dirty work. "Rags" cut up and used as patches for newer items or for cleaning.

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Scarboroughwarning@reddit

I have 23yr old t shirts... Wear, and if possible (jeans usually), repair.

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Honest-Lunch870@reddit

Until they fall off me in rags

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HmNotToday1308@reddit

I have a coat that is like 16 years old...

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Usual-Sky6568@reddit

I bought my leather jacket on Carnaby street in 1992. On the other hand I had to buy a suit to get married in a few years ago, wore it once and is now stuck in the back of the wardrobe and will probably stay there.

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ShootyBumPains@reddit

I just bought a second rail to keep my Autumn/Winter stuff on so I have a rail for spring/summer too. Then I have baskets for undies, pj's etc. I also have a rail for coats and jackets plus "posh" stuff in garment bags. Then I have essentially all of that in a smaller size in storage as I'm currently fat 😂 I only throw things out if they get damaged.

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IAmLaureline@reddit

I wear most of my clothes until they fall apart. I rarely buy clothes I don't wear although I do have a bit of a selection of Work Wear that's been barely used since March 2020. I was a director and needed to 'dress the part' several days a week (yawn). I've completely changed the work I do since then but I'm reluctant to chuck them out. Or the shoes which I never liked anyway. And the 7 denier rights are happily rotting in the corner of the drawer. Cardigans, leggings and chunky boots FTW.

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Monkeylovesfood@reddit

Until they fall apart. My kids are now wearing some of my old clothes and I still wear some of my mum's old clothes which I'll pass down in a few years too. One of my hobbies is dressmaking so I tend to only buy or make quality clothing in classic styles which last.

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CiderDrinker2@reddit

I buy clothes about once every 5 years and wear them until they are worn out.

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justhereforthecrac@reddit

r/anticonsumption

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minnieha@reddit

I think I have found my tribe!

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Saxon2060@reddit

I would throw away clothes when they became damaged or stained. If they didn't, indefinitely. The average age of the clothes I regularly wear is probably a few years. Jeans and t shirts tend to wear out in that time. My belt is about 14 years old. Some button down shirts and jackets about 15 years old (as long as I've been an adult and so the same size). They're good quality and not faded/stretched or damaged, so why would I throw them away? On the other hand if I spent £500 on a shirt and then stained it or got a hole in it the same day I would throw it away (or use it for DIY, but I already have some.) I would be *really* pissed off but wearing damaged or stained clothes regularly is not good.

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GRAWRGER@reddit

i keep them until i don't have the space or i tire of the clutter enough to sort through them and make the tough decisions. its hard to get rid of perfectly good items, even if you don't wear them.

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Glandular-Slaughter@reddit

I once threw a fleece in the garage rags bag. A couple of years later dragged it out, thought akshully that doesn’t look too bad, and started wearing it again.

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De_Dominator69@reddit

Until they no longer fit, are falling apart, or are too worn out. Socks I like to replace as soon as they get a hole in them,.mostly just because I like the feeling of new socks so will take any excuse to get some.

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knight-under-stars@reddit

I'm not going to pretend I'm some robot who doesn't care at all what clothes look like on me but I am someone who has very little interest at all in clothing beyond its practical uses. For that reason 95% of the clothes I own is basically outdoor gear - hard wearing, quick drying, comfortable, lots of pockets, moisture wicking etc etc. I wear my clothes until they wear out and then I replace them. I have a single pair of Kirkland jeans, a pair of Doc Martens and 3 checked shirts which are my "smart" clothes.

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She_hopes@reddit

Until they have holes in them or look too run down then they get downgraded to home clothes

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CrystalinaKingfisher@reddit

Until they’re beyond repair, some of my clothes are over 15 years old; I just wear em til I can’t

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whatever0813@reddit

I wear my clothes until they don’t fit anymore or have holes etc. there have been circumstances where I really only wore something once but that usually has a reason, for example I have a lovely coat that’s sadly dry cleaning only. I don’t want to wear it because I cba to bring it to the cleaners. But yea I can’t afford to go with the newest trends and buy new clothes for every season.

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restless-researcher@reddit

Spot clean, air outside to freshen up :) I dry clean my dry clean only coats once in a blue moon haha

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SpudFire@reddit

I've got t-shirts that are over 10 years old. Literally all my clothes are worn until they die. Old t-shirts that I don't wear much, maybe because they're a tad too small or have become too discoloured will get relegated to pyjama top duty. I had an ex that would only wear night-out clothes once and then refuse to wear them again because it was apparently a crime to be seen in the same outfit twice. The only people that would notice were her friends, and they reused the same few outfits so it really didn't make sense. Such a waste of money and that's completely ignoring the ethical side of it.

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kylehyde84@reddit

I still have a jumper I bought when I was 15. I'm now 40

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Ok_Adhesiveness_8637@reddit

I still have clothes from 2001... Somehow they still "fit" I have a rotation of around 6 t-shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of "work trousers" (work from home 99% of the time so no need for more) and like 4 trackie bottoms. I didn't get any socks for xmas for 2 years now (as you can tell by that comment I'm a guy), so I'm wearing the same set of bamboo/hemp socks from like 4 years ago, 2 pairs have a slight hole in them but you cant see that when I'm wearing trainers so who cares really!

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AudioLlama@reddit

Unless I really don't like them I wear most of my clothes to death. Stuff I don't like so much either gets charity shopped or relegated to messy jobs in the house. I don't spend a vast amount on clothes, other than for outdoors/cycling gear.

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MountainMuffin1980@reddit

I wear them to death. In fact I'm like a cartoon character. I have 6 of the same pair of trousers, and I buy all my white t-shirts (with different pictures and patterns on) from the same shop. It makes decisions on what to wear so much easier.

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ExtremeTiredness@reddit

I sell last seasons clothes online to make room for the next seasons haul.

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Icy-Tower3037@reddit

I’ll wear it till it’s got holes on it, or I’ve been wearing for 10 years and I’m now bored. I’m not a slave of the current system. I feel sorry for those who keep buying new clothes to keep up with fashion etc and then they’re thinking about how to pay the rent and bills. I know so many people like that. If I don’t wanna wear those clothes anymore and they’re fine, I wash and iron them and then donate ..

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Ok-Barnacle7667@reddit

My partner buys clothes and never wears them as she's "Saving them for a special occasion." The amount we have thrown away because she goes off them or they have become too small/too big. I'm the opposite. I buy something, wear it to death and then move onto something new and forget about it. I still own stuff that's 20+ years.

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Designer-Historian40@reddit

I personally spend a fair amount of time repairing my clothes. Currently sitting in a pair of corduroy trousers that have a fair amount of reinforcement and repair stitching in them. I tend to do a wardrobe weeding once a year at new years to get rid of things I don't wear. Usually, they're in good enough condition for donation if they go at this time of year, otherwise they go into my rag pile. I've got a coat that I have been thinking of getting rid of for a while, as it's still in good nick but it isn't very warm. Turns out, it's perfect for the current weather, so it's sticking around longer (had it for the best part of a decade now).

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_Jay-Garage-A-Roo_@reddit

I would say 70% of my wardrobe is 10+ years old, and, as 90% is thrifted, loathe older.

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Crab-Turbulent@reddit

Who has the money to only wear an item once, unless it’s for special events, but even then I try to buy an item of clothing that is practical and flexible for other things. I store summer wear and winter wear to save up wardrobe space but I wear my clothes until they are genuinely falling apart. With some shirts, if they have a stain that cannot be removed, they get turned into indoor/cleaning around clothes. But yeah I don’t have enough money to buy everyday clothes that will only get worn once.

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

A good shirt is a good shirt. It might leave the rotation for a while, but it'll be back. Once in a very long while I'll review the wardrobe and get rid of stuff I haven't worn in five years.

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bladefiddler@reddit

Wear stuff to death! I lolled at the re-wearing socks you meant to throw out think, as I've done the same with slightly tatty drawers! You think 'oh, last wear and they can go in the bin rather than the wash' then forget & put them in the wash -so round they go. Other tatty, but not seriously failed clothes generally turn into gardening / decorating wear or just rags for the garage. Thoroughly endorse donating /selling and buying second hand quality clobber for those more considerate of style etc. Fast fashion is so damn wasteful.

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morecbt@reddit

I only just threw away my Primal Scream Screamadelica t-shirt as it was really ragged and had holes in it. I bought it in 1991.

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anonoaw@reddit

Until they no longer fit, are totally worn out, or I haven’t worn them like 6-12 months. The exception is I have a hard time letting go of ‘formal’ clothes that still fit. Realistically with my life I do not need more than like 2 dresses suitable for nice events, but they’re so pretty and often expensive so I end up keeping them around longer than I really need to.

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Melodic_Button_8993@reddit

I have clothes from when I was a child that I still wear sometimes and I’m currently mid 20s 😂

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rainbosandvich@reddit

I still wear "I survived the Full Moon Rave - January 2015" It's my oldest tshirt that hasn't fallen to bits. Other clothes I cling to in the hope that I will eventually lose two stone and fit into them again.

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GuiltyStrawberry5253@reddit

I have a winter and summer wardrobe, breaks my heart to think I need to do the change over soon! So in each set I’ll either wear an item to death or if I decide I’m no longer keen on something I’ll list on Vinted (if it’s not worth selling I’ll collect old clothes until one of the charity bags is posted through or put in a textile bin)

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Houseofsun5@reddit

I recently moved into a new Barbour jacket, well when I say recently 5 years ago, I had the previous one since I was around 18 yo ...I am now nearly 50. My Alpinestars leather jacket for my motorcycle is around 25 Years old. The advantage of remaining more or less the same size my whole life at 34/34 means I have jeans well over 10 years old.

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another_online_idiot@reddit

Until the item is falling apart usually - or until it no longer fits or has faded so much I have forgotten what colour it was originally supposed to be. I am very annoyed as well as socks just don't last like they used to. I bought some new socks at the end of April and most of them had holes around the heel area by the end of August.

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Gazmeister_Wongatron@reddit

I only ever throw clothes out if they're ripped, moth-eaten or badly stained. The oldest item of clothing I have in regular rotation at the moment is a grey zip up hoody I bought from Next about 15 years ago. The quality is so good there's literally not a stitch out of place on it even after all this time of almost daily wear and countless washes.

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wicked_lazy@reddit

I have a 15 year old Primark cardigan which I think it the single best quality item Primark have ever made.

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Additional_Apple5837@reddit

I'm 44 - There are shirts I still wear that I used to wear in 6th form... If you didn't know, you wouldn't know. They are still perfectly fine. Some are slightly faded, but it's a light blue shirt, and not a dark blue one. When the clothing eventually becomes unwearable because a hole has worn it's way in, I still keep it... It becomes a cleaning cloth, or a cloth to mop up oil spills, or polishing the car etc. Anyone who wears an item of clothing once only, is either massively over-wealthy or just really shallow (Worrying that someone has seen you wear it before?)

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10642alh@reddit

If I buy an outfit for an occasion, like a wedding, I only wear it once. Then I give it to my sister. If I like an item, I wear it until it looks tatty and then I try to buy it again! I live in Spain so I really do have a summer and a winter wardrobe. I forget what I have the next time the season comes round!

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thermalcat@reddit

I'm annoyed that a t-shirt I got over a decade ago has developed a tiny hole in the middle of the chest... Jeans I keep as long as they aren't holey. That might be 6 months or 2 years, all depends on the quality of the denim. I have a hoodie from first year uni that's still in regular rotation (bought 2007).

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ReporterOk4531@reddit

I have a ton of clothes, about 90% of it is vintage from the 60s and 70s. I take good care of them, repair them where needed and will wear them until they are completely dead. I'd only get rid of some (By selling them) if they no longer fit, which may happen as I age. The small percentage left that is fast fashion, I would also keep it for a really long time but the shelf life can be much slower. Many of the clothes I had that were in a great shape were already sold online. Overall, once I buy something it will be with me for its whole life (And I will try to extend that life lmao)

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Crayons42@reddit

I keep them as long as they last/still fit. Anything still in reasonable condition goes to the charity shop or a clothes collection bin.

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katie-kaboom@reddit

If I like it, I wear it until it's not wearable anymore (unremovable stains, unrepairable holes, annoying texture problem). If I don't like it, I try to move it on rather than warehousing it by selling on Vinted if really good or donate otherwise.

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itsshakespeare@reddit

I keep them until I can’t mend them any more. I have a summer dress I love (I think it’s about ten years old) and because it’s very soft fabric, it gets little holes sometimes. I have sewn up four of them and I think it’s getting to the end of its time. My oldest item of clothing is a dress going back to 1993, but I only wear it in very hot weather

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BobBobBobBobBobDave@reddit

I have a clear out periodically as I have hoarder tendencies and I used to have piles of stuff I never wore. But generally, I wear stuff as often as I feel like it until it is worn out. I have plenty of shirts and a few tshirts over a decade old. Unfortunately jeans tend to get holes in them well before that. I also buy good shoes that can be mended, and I think I have quite a few pairs of shoes that I have worn pretty regularly for a decade or more. The shoes I wore to a meeting last week are the same shoes I wore to a friend's wedding in 2008.

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misterhumpf@reddit

I like to buy decent quality clothes and wear them till they're old and faded. Boden, White Stuff and Fatface are usually good for that. I've got White Stuff and Boden tops that must be twenty years old. I'm pretty good at clearing stuff out that I don't wear anymore. If it's ruined it'll go straight in the bin. If it's still got life in it, I'll take it to the charity shop.

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Stripycardigans@reddit

I wear mine to death, my boyfriend wears jos beyond death (so many holes) But I used to have a housemate who constantly got new clothes. I'm talking multiple ASOS packaged a week. Part of it was feeling he needed to wear something new for every night out, and part of it was that he was very careless with his clothes (getting anti-climb paint on new jeans, spilling tomato sauce on a brand new white jumper etc) so they quickly looked naff.

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jonathing@reddit

I just threw away some clothes that were older than my colleagues

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Big_Visual7968@reddit

I'm 57 years old. Still wearing a t-shirt that I bought at Primark when I was in 6th form. That particular t-shirt seems to be immortal but yes, generally speaking I wear (and repeatedly wash) clothes until they start falling apart.

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durkheim98@reddit

I tend to put a fair bit of thought into buying in the first place, some of it is high-end fashion. So most of my wardrobe I'll keep as long as possible. I'll things repaired. I'll also keep things for nostalgic reasons. If I have no other choice, I use old stuff as cleaning rags.

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mimi2001f@reddit

my T-shirts end up as pyjama tops the majority of the time. I will buy basic crop tops, baggy t shirts etc usually plain so that I’m able to wear them again and again. I don’t like getting rid of clothes I’ve worn / not worn because a couple years later I know I will need them 😭 this has happened too many times! if I do get rid of clothes then my sisters will be first & then charity shops :)

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gbeo21@reddit

Until they fall apart. For example, last week I threw out a pair of primark leggings that I’d had since my son was born in 2016, just because there was multiple holes in them and husband said you could see my pants 🫣 A lot of my clothes are 6+ years old. Some items are over 10 years old. I only ever get new clothes when I need to replace things, or I get given vouchers or something at birthday/xmas

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bigfathairybollocks@reddit

I have a tshirt i like to sleep in thats about 15 years old. Its torn down one side halfway and the neck is stretched so far i barely stays on but its really comfy to sleep in or sit and play games all day.

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axalilsk@reddit

Well it depends, I can repair my own clothes but if I haven’t worn them in a year and they’re not too expensive I’ll donate them or ask friends of a similar size if they like any of the clothes x

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FlatTyres@reddit

I still wear clothes with holes in them. They either become sleep wear or casual wear when they get holes or rips. Socks with holes won't stay in my clothes drawer though.

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KTbluedraon@reddit

I wear stuff until its falling apart. Then I patch it and keep wearing it. I only dispose of clothes I cannot wear any more, usually by using them to patch other clothes. I have made a few bags out of old clothes, and I donate the children’s clothes.

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xjess_cx@reddit

>Are you just slowly building a mountain of clothes that you’ll realistically never wear again? This one. I know I'll never fit in them again. But maybe.

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Tehir@reddit

I hate shopping and also deeply resent consumerism. Why should anyone even think of throwing away perfectly good thing? If it still fits and is repairable/washable, I wear it until it falls apart.

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hellhound28@reddit

I keep things as long as I can use them in some way. Tee shirts I buy for dog walking end up as pyjama tops. If they are too far gone, they are donated. I rarely throw away or donate occasion wear. I have a skirt/blouse combo that I've worn to weddings since 2005 because it's well made, and rather timeless fashion-wise. It would be appropriate in just about every decade since 1940. In general, though, I do a wardrobe clear out every 6 months to a year. If I haven't worn something that doesn't fall into the abovementioned categories in over 6 months, I probably never will, so it goes to donation.

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Ashen_One86@reddit

As long as possible. Got clothes that are 10 plus years old :)

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ATSOAS87@reddit

As long as it lasts and is still acceptable. I've been wearing the same suit to a wedding since about 2017. And being able to fit into it is something that I used to measure my general state.

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rivieradog@reddit

I have some clothes I have had for a long, long time. I try to keep things for as long as I can but if I’m not wearing them then I will donate or sell so someone else can get some use out of it. I have had clothes that I have bought and thought would last me a while, but when I have worn it couple of times, I have noticed it’s not right and it’s too late to send back. I used to love fast fashion clothes and would buy something new all the time but now i’m a bit more meaningful with what I buy. I buy things that I hope I will want to wear for a long time, with more sustainable materials.

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kairu99877@reddit

Until they have holes, fall apart or I have no way to avoid replacing them.

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LiorahLights@reddit

Depends what it's for. I WFH and my daily clothes get worn until I can't wear them again. Clothes for events get worn once and then donated. My nice going-out clothes get worn until I get bored of them and then donated if they're in good condition or stuck in a textile recycling bin.

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TheShakyHandsMan@reddit

When they’re no longer fit for purpose. As clothes get old and tatty I tend to use them for other things. I’ve got a couple of pairs of jeans that I use for work when I know I’m going to be getting dusty and dirty. Same with shoes as well. Socks and pants I used to keep wearing if they had a few holes. My fiancée now tends to literally rip them off me if she sees me wearing a holey pair.

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samfitnessthrowaway@reddit

Until they fall apart or I no longer fit them. I \*do\* donate stuff that I don't like any more, but generally it's worn until I or moths put a hole in it. Then worn some more, then thrown away when I split it down a seam somewhere.

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MitchellsTruck@reddit

I have *so many* clothes. Mainly because I never buy anything of poor quality, so they last. And because I've spent decent money on them, I'm loathe to throw them away. But I started buying my own clothes when I was a Men's Medium in most things, 32" waist. By 2020 I had ballooned to a XXL, 38-20" waist. Since, I've lost 22kg and counting, and am back down to a Large. So I have good clothes in all the sizes in between, and my baggy stuff from the early 2000s is coming back into fashion now. I should get onto Vinted and sell some of the bigger stuff, I never want to get that big again, but what if I do, and I've sold all my expensive clobber for a pittance?

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AtillaThePundit@reddit

I have a polo shirt tha I got free while working in a bar that is 25 years old. It’s about 9000x thicker than anything I’ve seen or bought in the last decade , looks fine , probably been washed 2000 times and isn’t faded. Now I buy clothes and expect them to last a year or two , except jeans I want a decade out of those and coats 5 years

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Front-Pomelo-4367@reddit

There's definitely *some* items being abandoned in the back of my wardrobe, but a lot of it gets reworn to death. I've got loads of stuff that I bought back when I was 15 or 16, and I'm in my mid-20s now. Winter wardrobe's had more of a refresh because I finally admitted to myself that I loathe jeans and have rebuilt it around leggings and long skirts plus woolen tights

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