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Keeping clothes for 'best'......or not?

(21 Posts)
loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 17:53:15

Am I the only one who keeps clothes for 'best' or for work rather than wearing them everyday? I can understand my keeping some old jeans and tee shirts for gardening and decorating but when dressing smarter to go shopping I get home and change into old clothes - why?

Do you have clothes for lounging around in as well as other clothes?
I feel it stems from having few clothes when young but I'm now nearly 62, with too many clothes a large wardrobe.

Any thoughts and ideas very welcome, thank you.

hildajenniJ Tue 27-Oct-15 17:58:25

I have best trousers that I wear on high days, holidays and funerals. I also bought an outfit recently that I am keeping for Christmas, if that counts. I do wear something smarter to go out in, not if it's just into my local supermarket though.

Elrel Tue 27-Oct-15 18:09:31

I used to keep clothes for 'best' to the point where the season was over or they were out of fashion. Now I enjoy wearing them but usually change out of my 'good' clothes when I get back home. Maybe I'm just a messy cook and eater!!??

Lona Tue 27-Oct-15 18:10:32

loopy I'm exactly the same! I have lots of clothes that I just wear around the house, and I'm trying really hard to stop saving stuff 'for best'.
To this end, I've stopped spending fortunes on items and I'm just shopping at Tesco, Sainsburys, TKMaxx etc.
It's working too, and its much more fun than buying one expensive piece.

Ana Tue 27-Oct-15 18:19:26

Me too, especially since I retired at the end of last year! I seem to spend most of my time in old but comfy M&S jogging bottoms and whatever top goes with the season at home, although I do change into 'decent' clothes to go out, even if only to the supermarket.

It really is getting silly, though. I have wardrobes full of stuff, some I've never worn...blush If only I could be like one of those women who are immaculately dressed and made up all day long, even if they only ever see the postman...!

loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 19:46:59

All of your posts resonate with me thlgrin
There's no rational reason for doing what I do, the house is clean and tidy so it's not as if I live in squalor and clothes would get ruined!

Perhaps I need to ruthlessly throw out the 'old' clothes bar one lot for gardening etc. and get on with enjoying wearing smarter clothes at home?

stillhere Tue 27-Oct-15 19:54:39

I got fed up with being caught out by visitors in old disreputable clothing whilst gardening, so now I buy clothes that I can wear for gardening or out shopping or have a friend turn up unexpectedly, and lots of smart tops that I can quickly change into for choir/knitting club/book club/going out for a curry with friends or whatever. I think the only clothes I deliberately hang onto are those I do the painting in.

Lona Tue 27-Oct-15 19:56:16

Oh, I'd hate it, being smart at home! I used to live opposite a woman who wore high heels all day! thlshock
Life's too short, T-shirt and jeans is fine for me.

Ana Tue 27-Oct-15 20:03:26

Yes, but there are T-shirts and T-shirts, Lona, and jeans and jeans...wink

I do hate being caught out with scruffy hair and no makeup though.

loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 20:14:31

Ummmm.....makeup thlblush

I have lots of it, sitting in a drawer. I don't wear it because I'm too lazy if I'm honest , not even for work.

I need a kick up the backside I think and to get my act together. Until I left my previous highflying role I would slap on the lot but now .....

Right, I will get myself sorted this weekend or else!

Thank you everyone grin

rosequartz Tue 27-Oct-15 20:15:51

I keep clothes for best and have a wardrobe(s) full of stuff that is out of date. I'm trying to work through it and sending it off to the charity shop.
Today I bought a pair of trousers, two tops and a long cardigan. I'm going out with the DGDs tomorrow and thought 'Oh, I won't wear my new things in case I spoil them'. hmm
However, I do have a new pair of jeans so I'll wear those with a not so new top (but not the brand new one in case I snag it on the play apparatus).

I do hate being caught out with scruffy hair and no makeup though
I started out with some makeup and fairly groomed hair this morning, then it rained and I came home looking like something the cat had dragged in.

rosequartz Tue 27-Oct-15 20:16:52

I do like to be comfy at home (and all the time really)

Ana Tue 27-Oct-15 20:19:41

I do like to be comfy at home (and all the time really)

Yes, that's the problem...why is it that only my 'slobbing out' clothes are comfy? grin

loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 20:30:26

I know just what you mean rosequartz, on all counts with not wearing new clothes 'just in case',

I couldn't agree more, that's absolutely true Ana, unfortunately.

Oh dear, why aren't smart clothes necessarily 'comfortable'? Or would they become so if I wore them more?

Ana Tue 27-Oct-15 20:37:45

Probably, loopy. But then they'd lose their 'smartness' and become...slobby grin

loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 20:43:01

[grin[
Oh dear.....

rosequartz Tue 27-Oct-15 20:44:51

I should know better really, because I remember trawling around Cardiff with my MIL looking for a smart skirt in that particular shade of brown. She found one she was very pleased with. When I asked her if she was going to change into it on Christmas Day (at our house) she said, no, she might spoil it and spent the day in an old skirt. confused

loopylou Tue 27-Oct-15 20:49:12

What perverse logic we use!

M0nica Tue 27-Oct-15 21:14:24

I only have a small collection of clothes, it means I wear the clothes I have regularly so that garments wear out and are disposed of and replaced at regular intervals so that there is always something relatively new in my wardrobe if I do need to scrub up and go out looking smart.

I do have a couple of dressy dresses for smart evening events and an old track suit for those days when I am under the weather and would otherwise stay in my dressing gown and nightdress all day.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 27-Oct-15 21:14:26

I keep stuff for best. DD gets quite cross that she will buy me clothes for birthdays etc and then when she comes here I am in the same old clothes I usually wear. It just seems wrong to wear new things round the house. I have a wardrobe full of 'new' stuff. hmm

Greyduster Tue 27-Oct-15 21:16:06

I've never been very focussed on clothes, but I do have a few dresses and smart jackets that I keep for best and have fewer and fewer occasions to wear them. My best friend has asked us to lunch tomorrow and I was going to wear a pair of black trousers and a nice blue jacket until she rang up and said "please don't wear anything tidy; I'm looking after my daughter's dog and she's leaving hair all over the place - you'll get covered! Just come in jeans"! So that's another opportunity missed.