It looks like I need to get some new white tube socks; the ones in the sock-drawer are looking rawther threadbare. I put the clean ones into the drawer on the right and I pull out a new set from the left so they tend to all wear out at the same time. My shirts and undergarments go in and out in a similar pattern and decline. I merely replace them with identical attire.
I cannot remember when I last bought new clothes. It bewilders me to read about folks who turn over their wardrobe at a shocking (to me) frequency. I take the ‘how long can I wear this before I have to replace this” approach. I hear tell it’s trendy now to wear the same clothes on a daily basis as a sort of uniform (think Mr. Jobs at Apple in his now-iconic attire). There are now rumblings about the high cost to the planet for new and frequently replaced clothes and it is better to hold onto them as long as you can. If so, then I was a ‘trend-setter” long before it became ‘hip’ to wear out the woolies. I am a believer in Goodwill-type stores for shirts and khakis, often getting things as a sensational price that look no worse for the wear. And it is jolly good fun too.
Once upon a time I thought it prudent to have one stylish outfit just in case I am invited to a swanky soiree, in which I would make an ingress, with heads turned and all mad-jealous at my appearance. This never happened – even before covid19 forced us to stay home in our jammies, so I never had such an outfit. I wonder though if thems ‘into clothes” are still buying such outfits, if they have no place to go.*
Last year the APA Secret Police sent out a bulletin reminding me I should always dress in contemporary professional attire on our zoom calls, but I’ve grown horribly sloppy. I often show up for appointments in my “Sitka Alaska” sweatshirt and cargo shorts (oh the embarrassment), and white tube socks (those without holes) but so far no one seems to give a hoot. Father taught me to emulate the dress-code of the man in charge; the Boss-man I have dresses like he just came in from working in the garden so I needn’t worry.
Back to the task of buying new clothes. It’s been ages since I stepped foot in a men’s department store. In my youth I patronized proper men’s stores with salesmen who actually knew their stuff and my tastes and provided service. Alas, that breed died out ages ago. I should go online to Lands End, which is reputable if a bit boring. Then again I am boring, at least in my daily attire.
I long for the days when I go to Palm Springs where I wear a newly made Spo-shirt and make an ingress with heads turned and all mad-jealous at my appearance. Come to think of it that never worked either.
*Perhaps they go out anyway or they wear their ensembles on Instagram. Spo-fans with Instagram accounts: please tell me what people wear there – or do there for that matter.
46 comments
February 22, 2021 at 9:52 AM
Sam
My clothes tend to be replaced-I rarely shop! I think I am part of your trend setting-keeping clothes as long as functional.
February 22, 2021 at 9:54 AM
Urspo
I wonder if the ‘99% – 1%’ matter about wealth applies to clothing viz. 99% of us wear out or clothes while 1% are in a continual turn over of the latest garments in a throw away routine.
February 22, 2021 at 10:06 AM
David Godfrey
With the last year, spinning by without leaving my bedroom, I am not wearing out work clothes. At this rate I may not need to buy another new dress shirt ever. As to turning heads, I loved the “dress code” at a previous job, it simply read “Don’t offend anyone with what you are wearing.” I have seen a clarification of business casual that read, “if you would wear it out to a club on Friday night, it is probably not appropriate to wear to the office.”
February 22, 2021 at 10:08 AM
Urspo
I hope this excludes bunny-slippers
February 22, 2021 at 10:07 AM
Lori
I have an Instagram account that I post to from time to time. I have never posted a picture of myself. Just things I see, or food I’ve had, etc. that get the hashtag #thingsthatmakemesmile.
February 22, 2021 at 10:08 AM
Urspo
that sounds pleasant. Perhaps someday I will go have a look-see at Instagram.
February 22, 2021 at 10:40 AM
Parnassus
I too am way overdue for some clothing replacement. It is hard because the clothes here are not made for people with American proportions. Also, it seems that I do not take a standard fit in any garment, so shopping is pure agony!
–Jim
February 22, 2021 at 10:55 AM
Urspo
I hadn’t thought of that.
Do you use catalogs much?
February 22, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Parnassus
I never use catalogs, because the fit is too questionable. I have to try the items on. Even in a store when I find my “size” most of the items don’t fit. –Jim
February 22, 2021 at 10:46 AM
Moving with Mitchell
My formal swank is a few years out of date, but still passes muster. Other than that I have a closet (and two dressers) full of nice casual and super casual that I’ve barely worn this year. I’m so excited to go out for coffee one morning a week. I shave, trim, and put on nice casual that one day. And I keep my ties, a suit, and a sports jacket in case there’s a funeral.
February 22, 2021 at 10:56 AM
Urspo
Good for you!
I sometimes tell my gentleman patients to always have a suit handy for funerals and interviews and such.
I suppose if I went out more I would be more likely to ‘dress up’ not so much vanity but a cheerful accouterment to the pleasure of the activity.
February 22, 2021 at 10:49 AM
Bob Slatten
I don’t have a lot of clothes, though the same cannot be said for shoes, but I have a few things I really like, and take very good care of, that last a while.
I don’t really follow any trends, but instead go for the more offbeat clothing that suits my offbeat personality; and as these clothes are older, they tend to be of a better quality and last a little longer.
Still, I could use a couple of updates!
February 22, 2021 at 10:57 AM
Urspo
It sounds like you have ‘style” rather than ‘fashion’; good for you!
February 22, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I’ve never been interested in clothes. I believe it shows. And now that I’m retired, I care even less. I live in t-shirts and jeans. I only bought one new t-shirt all year, so my clothes budget is very affordable, LOL!
February 22, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Urspo
I bet that T-shirt was fabulous!
February 22, 2021 at 12:59 PM
anne marie in philly
I don’t give five fat flying fucks about clothes; if I ruled the world, we would all be naked. that being said, I am like debra, minus the jeans. buy what you need online.
February 22, 2021 at 2:43 PM
Urspo
hohoho someday I am going to come up with something that you do give a toot about – it will be difficult I know, but I am going to try !
February 22, 2021 at 4:01 PM
anne marie in philly
bring it, friend! make it interesting! 🙂
February 22, 2021 at 2:58 PM
Old Lurker
I could have sworn you bought some new Derek Rose boxers just recently, but now I can’t find the entry. You did post entries in 2013 and 2016 entitled “Urspo buys some underwear” but surely you have gone shopping since?
I don’t know about Palm Springs, but it seems that Spo-fans all get mad-jealous when you show off a new Spo-shirt.
Between broken dryers and household chores and socks wearing out, maybe it is time to take Anne Marie’s advice and become a nudist. I am sure your patients won’t mind. Depending on their predilections your reviews on ratemypsychiatrist.com might even improve.
February 22, 2021 at 5:51 PM
Urspo
Whenever I scratch my head and wonder when did I last do something I should first contact you, for you are Achives-master, and can tell me these things. “Hey Lurker”, rather than Siri, ‘when did I last do so-and-so?”
February 22, 2021 at 8:34 PM
Old Lurker
Doing a search on your blog for “Urspo buys” is always entertaining. It looks as if you bought some trousers in 2019? https://sporeflections.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/urspo-buys-some-trousers-2/
There is another entry from 2011 also entitled “Urspo buys some trousers”. There, you claimed you enjoyed shopping at men’s shops. How things have changed.
February 22, 2021 at 8:44 PM
Old Lurker
Also there is this gem from 2013. How prophetic! https://sporeflections.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/urspo-buys-some-booze-suffer-donald/
(Okay. I will stop now.)
February 22, 2021 at 4:31 PM
Gigi Rambles
My husband is a “trend setter” in that he will wear his favorites until they are literally rags…as you might imagine, this makes me crazy. It’s one thing to wear them at home but to go out in public? But to that end, it’s eco-friendly, so there’s that, I suppose.
I have reached a point in my life where I only buy things that I absolutely love and will wear repeatedly. And if I don’t, off to Goodwill it goes and I note why that piece didn’t work for me for future reference.
As for Instagram…for me it’s all pretty pictures, fun things and a peek into some people’s lives. But, then again, my Instagram is a very small circle…on purpose.
February 22, 2021 at 5:52 PM
Urspo
In a few weeks The Veterans are coming by to take away 3 bags full of garments we are not using/wearing anymore. I hope someone can use them.
It feels also eco-friendly to recycle such.
February 22, 2021 at 5:02 PM
mcpersonalspace54
Funny, I wore a shirt today, and when I took it out of the closet, I thought, “This shirt must be at least 15 years old.” I am not a clothes horse by any means.
February 22, 2021 at 5:53 PM
Urspo
We sometimes try to guess how old our clothing is. Some of them are indeed 15 years old or more. It speaks to their endurance I suppose.
February 22, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Todd Gunther
It’s not clothes, but Warrior Queen does give a toot about fine gin.
February 22, 2021 at 8:52 PM
Urspo
sensible woman
February 23, 2021 at 6:25 AM
anne marie in philly
damn str8 (or gay)! no rubbish!
February 22, 2021 at 6:25 PM
jefferyrn
I hope to need new clothes because they are too big.
February 22, 2021 at 8:53 PM
Urspo
let us hope so
February 22, 2021 at 9:13 PM
Will Jay
My father always said “have some consideration for the people who have to look at you.” Both parents’ families made it through the Depression intact, so there was a strong ethic of purchasing the best affordable quality and wearing it out.This principle applied to clothes, automobiles, and appliances. So, I tend to wear things until they are just about ready to disintegrate. There are however a few items in the wardrobe that I don’t wear. These are shirts that my mother made for my father. I fit into them many years ago, but no longer do so. They are sentimental ornaments of a different time and place.
February 23, 2021 at 7:11 AM
Urspo
I have sentimental items of clothing too.
I am good at clearing out clothes I am not wearing, but these mawkish items (never to be worn) stay.
February 22, 2021 at 9:44 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I like clothes, but mostly ones I make. That said, things I buy are deep discount and classic. I really hate trendy clothing. Now, I will only buy cheap things for everyday in the house.
Take shirts you are giving away and cut napkins from fronts and backs and hem them. Take off the buttons and reuse them.
February 23, 2021 at 7:12 AM
Urspo
That sounds clever; I hadn’t thought of that.
February 22, 2021 at 11:31 PM
wcs
I keep one or two pairs of jeans out of the wearing cycle for those times I need to be seen, like going shopping or to the doctor’s office or to the neighbors’ for a drink. Also one pair of black slacks and one khaki for more formal occasions. And a black cashmere blazer which hasn’t been worn in twenty years. It’s still pristine. Otherwise, all my jeans have holes in various places where they shouldn’t. They’re for gardening and walking the dog. Let’s not discuss socks.
February 23, 2021 at 7:13 AM
Urspo
I still dress up to go to the doctor and the dentist. I find I am treated with more respect when I look like I am going to an interview.
Your jeans with the holes sound titillating.
February 23, 2021 at 2:57 AM
Ron
Most of us eventually arrive at that point in our lives when our everyday attire is sweatpants.
February 23, 2021 at 7:13 AM
Urspo
What a thought. Yes that is true.
February 23, 2021 at 4:24 AM
wickedhamster
I am most gruntled to hear someone else publicly admit they rotate their underwear, etc. to assure evenness of wear! 😊😊😊 Between retirement and Covid, I can’t remember last time I wore a shirt with buttons. I was pondering just the other day whether this experience will change our view of professional attire.
February 23, 2021 at 7:14 AM
Urspo
my mind runs wild what you are wearing nowadays. Polo shirts I suppose but my imagination went somewhere else first.
February 23, 2021 at 9:38 AM
wickedhamster
Sorry to let you down, but it’s either t-shirts or turtlenecks. BTW, I also rotate my bathroom towels. Do you?
February 23, 2021 at 9:43 AM
Urspo
Yes I do.
Just about everything in the house is rotated, including the glasses, mugs, dishes, etc.
February 25, 2021 at 6:26 AM
wickedhamster
I knew there was something I liked about you. I could just sense it…
February 23, 2021 at 9:03 PM
Robzilla, Native of Slam Diego
I keep mine until they’re no longer suitable for wearing outside the apartment. Then I’ll either throw them out or only wear them on days when I know I’m not stepping outside. It’s a telecommuting perk.
February 24, 2021 at 6:03 AM
Urspo
I too have a few garments ‘for the home’ I wouldn’t dare wear out of doors lest I am seen as a ‘charity case” as an aunt would call children in bad clothes.