The Well Worn Wardrobe

[yfyf]

Mr Moo's recent thread "Your Sartorial Evolution" is a good one (both well de-railed and well re-railed) and something of a wake-up call for me. I went through a few years worth of old photos and dug some interesting stuff up each year from 2003-2007 (my pre-SF days) for my post. (http://www.styleforum.net/showpost.p...7&postcount=61)

I was struck by two things. One, how I got by with relatively little clothing and Two, how well worn and more importantly, how great it all looked together. Clothes look better with *use*, not necessarily age. Il Vecchio is one of the best examples of this. Well worn, but well cared for imparts so much cooler and more stylish an attitude than new and sparkly. Perhaps the real reason why cuff buttons are undone is to pretend the jacket was worn so much, the button fell off. We at SF become quite compulsive shoppers but in the end, our wardrobe rotations are so large that we can never wear-in our clothes. (or urine stain)

Care but don't fuss, wear with abandon and treat the deals as a safety net for when you need the eventual replacement.

 

[ysc]

Couldn't agree more, there is something very comforting about slipping into a really familiar garment, initial wear on something new can be irritating, but a bit more, so long as its not catastrophic gives it character.

I thought the sartorial evolution thread was interesting, and would have liked to have seen more peoples evolution.

 

[globetrotter]

I have about a dozen shirts now with well worn collars and cuffs, and most of my suits are a little worn. I couldn't agree wit you more. I see no reason not to wear a suit or a shirt for 20 years or more.

 

[youngScholar]

+1 to this thread, I agree completely.

So how far will many of you repair an article of clothing before throwing it out?

 

[constant struggle]

I really have not owned my "good stuff" long enough to really see the effects, as my oldest "good stuff" is now reaching around 1.5-2 years old... so far no signs of wear, except for this AE belt I have which looks like crap.

 

[GuidoWongolini]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Mr Moo's recent thread "Your Sartorial Evolution" is a good one (both well de-railed and well re-railed) and something of a wake-up call for me. I went through a few years worth of old photos and dug some interesting stuff up each year from 2003-2007 (my pre-SF days) for my post. (http://www.styleforum.net/showpost.p...7&postcount=61)

I was struck by two things. One, how I got by with relatively little clothing and Two, how well worn and more importantly, how great it all looked together. Clothes look better with *use*, not necessarily age. Il Vecchio is one of the best examples of this. Well worn, but well cared for imparts so much cooler and more stylish an attitude than new and sparkly. Perhaps the real reason why cuff buttons are undone is to pretend the jacket was worn so much, the button fell off. We at SF become quite compulsive shoppers but in the end, our wardrobe rotations are so large that we can never wear-in our clothes. (or urine stain)

Care but don't fuss, wear with abandon and treat the deals as a safety net for when you need the eventual replacement.
+1 BROTHER!
- I for one don't get those that treasure & not derive pleasure from use..
- also now with my limited space, I have had to really think hard what I packed with me to wear & make sure that they all compliment each other

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by youngScholar

So how far will many of you repair an article of clothing before throwing it out?

A long time.


- B

 

[james_timothy]

There is a lot to be said for the British idea of reverse snobbery- buy the very best, but use it untill it is old, use it beyond that, until it is completely worn out.

Part of this is budgetary- most people cannot afford the best of everything.

Part of this is sensibility- having a few of the very best keeps one attuned to what the high quality means.

Part of this is philosophical- it is a way to get beyond compulsive mass consumption of mass produced things.

And of course, it appeals to the British.

 

[T4phage]

I'm wearing cords that are 15 yrs old today.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by T4phage

I'm wearing cords that are 15 yrs old today.

I have teeth older than that.

 

[eg1]

I don't give a damn about the British.

That said, I do wear my clothing for the long haul -- typically wardrobe items will shift down from "business" to "casual" and thence to "yardwork".

 

[T4phage]

Originally Posted by dopey

I have teeth older than that.

dratz!

 

[bmulford]

I like threads that mention Il Vecchio

 

[ysc]

Originally Posted by james_timothy

There is a lot to be said for the British idea of reverse snobbery-

I don't think reverse snobbery is the term you are looking for, British reverse snobbery is, if anything, when a guy in a tracksuit yells abusively at a guy in a suit for his clothing choices.

The concept you describe is certainly one familiar in Britain, particularly with older people, but I wouldn't call it that.

 

[antirabbit]

Originally Posted by bmulford

I like threads that mention Il Vecchio

Can we make a shrine thread to Il Vecchio?