How long does a dress shirt last?

Doc4 · Apr 12, 2011

Wear it, wash it, iron it, repeat ... how many times can I repeat that?

I know, I know ... "it depends". Ah, the easy answer that doesn't actually say anything.

Different manufacturers, different fabrics, different results. But in general ... how many wearings and washings should one expect a dress shirt to survive in presentable form? If I have five dress shirts and wear them to work Monday-Friday and wash them Saturday, will they last me a year or a decade?

If, as is closer to the truth, I have 50 dress shirts and wear them Monday through Friday ... can I safely delete the shirtmaking websites from my browser favourites, and wait to see if my shirt collection outlives me?

I'm curious to know what your experiences are in this regard.

ter1413 · Apr 12, 2011

Depends...

Blackhood · Apr 12, 2011

Consider:

Brand
Cloth
Construction methods
Washing temperature
Washing power
Quality of iron
Amount you sweat
Amount of friction from your skin
Amount of hair on your body
Average temperature of your office

Those are just the obvious ones, you'll then need to look at the linings of your suits for friction, whether your car seats are cloth or leather, whether you are likely to brush past any woodwork or sharp edges.

So I guess it .. depends?

Cant kill da Rooster · Apr 12, 2011

Why do you need to know? Are you putting away the money now to replace one of the five shirts? How about you buy a 6th shirt and when one goes, you're covered.

NewYorkBuck · Apr 12, 2011

In my experience the single most important factor in determining the life of a shirt is the cleaners you decide to send them to.

DerekS · Apr 12, 2011

I have a shirt that I bought about 11 years ago that I still wear.

I also have a shirt I bought last year that already is too worn to wear.

so....this is your answer. between 1 and 10 years.

Master-Classter · Apr 12, 2011

Ianiceman · Apr 12, 2011

I have several Pierre Cardin poly cotton (I know I know) white dress shirts I got from Marshalls around 2000 for about $15 each. Rarely send them out, usually wash myself, scrub collars with bleach and a toothbrush pre wash, they still look as good as new after 11+ years of semi regular wear.

Cant kill da Rooster · Apr 12, 2011

That's because they are Poly.

Next!

Ataturk · Apr 12, 2011

As others have said, it depends. The only real rule is that white shirts usually won't stay white long enough to wear out.

changy · Apr 12, 2011

I have had shirts from the same tailor wear out in a year and others in 5. It depends

pebblegrain · Apr 12, 2011

every single one of my shirts last 112 wears (and washes). On the 113th wear the arms fall off and the back rips in half a la Lou Ferrigno

Geoff Gander · Apr 12, 2011

Originally Posted by Blackhood

Those are just the obvious ones, you'll then need to look at the linings of your suits for friction, whether your car seats are cloth or leather, whether you are likely to brush past any woodwork or sharp edges.

Walking through a hail of bullets and a shower of razor blades every morning tends to reduce the lifespan of the average shirt, too.

In all seriousness, there are too many variables. That being said, I read somewhere that shirts are *supposed* to last 50 washes or so, but then that doesn't factor fabric, frequency of wearing, storage, etc.

Personally, I think if you can get more than 5 years out of a shirt, you're doing well.

globetrotter · Apr 12, 2011

8 years

viator · Apr 12, 2011

Originally Posted by Geoff Gander

That being said, I read somewhere that shirts are *supposed* to last 50 washes or so, but then that doesn't factor fabric, frequency of wearing, storage, etc.
Hmm. That doesn't seem like very many to me. In a 10 shirt rotation, that's only 2 years.

How long does a dress shirt last?

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