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Old but still plenty of life in them.

(60 Posts)
tanith Fri 16-Jun-23 12:48:19

How do other grans feel about getting rid of/donating clothes that are perfectly wearable?
I have a few Summer clothes that I like, fit me and have nothing wrong with them apart from the fact I’ve had some of them 6/7+ yrs some probably longer. I’m not bothered about what’s fashionable but people have no doubt seen me wearing these clothes lots of times before, I’m happy to donate them but it just seems so wasteful. I meet people who seem to wear new stuff every time I see them but I’m quite happy wearing things that I’ve had for donkeys.
How do you feel?

Caramme Fri 16-Jun-23 16:45:03

Some of my favourite clothes are at least ten years old. When I buy buy something new it is usually winter jumpers, which tend to pill, and leggings, which I wear round the house every day (but never, ever in public). Other than that my clothes tend to last and I don’t care whether they are fashionable or not, so long as they are comfortable and hide my lumpy bits.

Callistemon21 Fri 16-Jun-23 16:23:22

Georgesgran

I’ve got a Mac by a British company, famous for its checked lining. I bought it in 1989 and I expect it to ‘see me out’. I’m 72.

I had two then sent them to a charity shop when I left work.
Wish I'd kept them ☹

J52 Fri 16-Jun-23 16:22:26

Georgesgran

I’ve got a Mac by a British company, famous for its checked lining. I bought it in 1989 and I expect it to ‘see me out’. I’m 72.

I wear one given to me by an aunt, she bought it in 1960. It’s still perfect.

Callistemon21 Fri 16-Jun-23 16:20:58

Jaxjacky

I wear 90% of my clothes year in, year out. The 10% are long cotton dresses, only worn if I’m’ out’ when it’s very hot and a couple of pairs of boots which are worn for ice/snow.

only worn if I’m’ out’

Some of the stuff I wear if we go out out is really old!
No-one will remember it nor will they care.
If they do, it's their problem.

I do buy new casual clothes as I tend to wear them a lot and some linen or cotton can fade with frequent washing.

Kim19 Fri 16-Jun-23 16:11:52

I'm attending a special occasion lunch tomorrow. My jacket is 28 years old (bought whilst on a memorable holiday) trousers around 15, shirt somewhere in between and shoes 30 (yes 30!) and I will feel like a million dollars. Classics don't age methinks and, anyway, who cares? If you feel good, just go for it. Georgesgran, similar Mac to yours and ditto (except that, sadly, I'm a good bit older than you!👍). My little save the planet effort is not to buy new clothes. So far, 4 years 4 months. Yippee!

Jaxjacky Fri 16-Jun-23 16:03:42

I wear 90% of my clothes year in, year out. The 10% are long cotton dresses, only worn if I’m’ out’ when it’s very hot and a couple of pairs of boots which are worn for ice/snow.

JackyB Fri 16-Jun-23 15:55:47

People don't notice what you are wearing, or if they do, they don't remember. Think about people you have met recently - can you remember what they were wearing?

No one will mind if you wear some more than once, it's you they want to see, not an extensive wardrobe.

Callistemon21 Fri 16-Jun-23 15:52:54

I'm wearing a skirt which I bought at least 10 years ago.
As I rarely wear skirts it's like wearing something new 🙂

Greyduster Fri 16-Jun-23 15:50:15

I went out to an appointment with my DD and she said “that’s a nice shirt; is it new?” I told her no, it was one of the shirts I wore with my work suits. I retired seventeen years ago and still from time to time wear this pale blue twill double cuffed shirt that has a St Michael label on it! It will never be retired!

HelterSkelter1 Fri 16-Jun-23 15:39:29

I have a long wide tartan scarf which was part of an outfit by Emcar. It had a straight red and green tartan skirt, short almost mini, and a dark green tunic top. It would be sixty years old and sadly only the scarf remains. 100% wool and very warm.
And I still wear it in the winter. Most of my clothes are between 5 and 20 years old and still look fine. Well they do to me!! I like Seasalt now and have a few oldy bits as well.

Lathyrus Fri 16-Jun-23 15:35:45

Oh ok.

We wouldn’t be able to sell clothes with “plenty of life” that were dated unless they’d strayed into vintage. Even then they’d have to be pretty much as new.

But we have got several competing charity shops in town so buyers are spoilt fo choice.

Theexwife Fri 16-Jun-23 15:35:13

It is said that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.

Certainly true in my case, I have too many things that were expensive mistakes but I keep just in case, not knowing what the just in case actually is.

MerylStreep Fri 16-Jun-23 15:31:12

Lathyrus

To be honest, if you’re thinking of donating them to a Charity Shop, they will just go in the rag bag.

Nobody will buy them and the shop won’t want them taking up room on the rails.
People only buy “as new.”

Might as well hang on to them and wear them now and again.

Rubbish !!!
That might be the case in the charity shop you work in, do you? But it’s not the case in the one I’ve worked in for years.

Chanel19 Fri 16-Jun-23 15:15:46

Sorry I've added this incorrectly. I'll repost. New user!

Chanel19 Fri 16-Jun-23 15:14:22

Has anyone had bunion surgery, I'm looking at the recovery of the traditional method, versus the keyhole option, which is only available privately.
Which option seems best, they say keyhole but has anyone got experience of this. The cost for 1 foot is around £5,000, so not cheap

eazybee Fri 16-Jun-23 15:01:01

It depends.
The trouble with summer clothes is that they are not worn nearly as much as winter clothes but they are worn in hot sun and they tend to fade, particularly the uniform for Ladies of a Certain Age, navy blue and white stripes.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 16-Jun-23 14:59:41

Saved ‘for best’ I expect. So sad.

Blondiescot Fri 16-Jun-23 14:57:34

We're in the process of clearing out my inlaws' house and it's breaking my heart to see the amount of clothes they've had for years - brand new, never worn, many with the tags still on them. Many items were given as birthday or xmas presents, but never worn - and most are good quality, well-known brands. My daughter remarked that she could only ever remember her granny wearing the same four or five things, over and over again. I took ten large black bin bags full of clothes to our local recycling centre, where there are clothes banks. It's such a shame.

M0nica Fri 16-Jun-23 14:45:43

I can see no virtue in having wardrobes and drawers full of clothes you never wear. I keep clothes as long as they are fit to wear and I enjoy wearing them. Some items I have had for decades, other items find their way to a charity shop within a year or two.

What I do not do is stash clothes. All my clothes can be hung up or stored in one standard wardrobe and one large chest of drawers. I find having too many clothes, confusing and worrying. I do not buy new clothes unless I can see a clear place for them among the outfits I wear regularly.

I try to buy in charity shops and have had some renowned successes, but often when clothes shopping I am looking for something quite specific, a sweater a particular colour and style, not easy to do at a charity shop, but good for buying on ebay or other vintage sights.

AreWeThereYet Fri 16-Jun-23 13:36:17

My wardrobe is a mixed bag of secondhand, stuff over 20 years old and a few things bought in between. I've just spent two weeks taking in 6 pairs of jeggings that were too big for me and making a long maxi skirt into a midi wrap skirt. I'll carry on wearing them until they are too scruffy.

LRavenscroft Fri 16-Jun-23 13:35:28

Gosh! Some of my clothes are twenty years old and rising. I try to match things together and usually find something that looks fine. If an item is really threadbare/decrepit, I pass it on to the Salvation Army who arrange for it to be recycled.

Lathyrus Fri 16-Jun-23 13:30:00

To be honest, if you’re thinking of donating them to a Charity Shop, they will just go in the rag bag.

Nobody will buy them and the shop won’t want them taking up room on the rails.
People only buy “as new.”

Might as well hang on to them and wear them now and again.

Judy54 Fri 16-Jun-23 13:26:06

I update basic things like t shirts and every day trousers. There are many smart and dressy clothes in my wardrobe going back 25 years plus which I still wear when the occasion arises. No I don't like buying clothes for the sake of it and am not worried about what is in and out of fashion just about being comfortable and feeling good in the clothes that I have.

Georgesgran Fri 16-Jun-23 13:25:22

I’ve got a Mac by a British company, famous for its checked lining. I bought it in 1989 and I expect it to ‘see me out’. I’m 72.

seadragon Fri 16-Jun-23 13:23:15

My wardrobe is full of ancient garments; most are second hand - (at least) - as I discovered the joys of shopping in charity and vintage shops in the 1960's. Things were 'built to last' in those days....and often beautifully made. Mind you, I have succumbed to the charms of Lucy & Yak in recent years, not only because of the fabulous colours and designs but they make things in corduroy which vanished from all possible sources, including t'internet for what seemed like decades, probably because of it's durability.