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People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

theguardian.com

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Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#51

Post by jobog »

spodek wrote: post #33

A guest on my podcast -- Lorna Davis, the key leader behind the largest B Corp to date, Danone USA, and a c-suite executive from Danone and other multinationals -- committed not to buy clothes for a year. Within a few weeks she started getting rid of clothes she didn't wear and even relationships that were distracting her from more meaningful ones. Within months she was sending me contacts of other high-powered execu…

Good.

Now that has become fashionable among corporate robots, next can we get them to stop running marathons, climbing mountains etc. I mean my roof needs be repaired and my vegetable patch needs to be weeded and my loo needs to be cleaned. All that burns fat too.

Please tell them we need a TED talk where the CEO tells us how he switched from going to the gym to burn fat to cleaning the office and scrubbing the septic tanks.

Fucking corporate robots and their bullshit.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#52

Post by londons_explore »

HenryBemis wrote: post #38
kasey_junk wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me I have no problem wearing used clothes and grew up effectively always shopping second hand. My issue is _time_. I hate shopping for clothes. Finding something that fits, is in good condition and meets my needs involves searching for hours at second hand shops.

(Not promoting/affiliated to eBay) When I made the decision to buy second hand clothes, I only though of eBay (have been buying stuff since 2001(?). I always seem to find a nice sweater etc, I don't mind if the size is a bit off, I can always resell. I would love it if anyone can suggest any other online stores that sell 2nd hand clothes at the volume/options that eBay (it's sellers) can provide.

A consistent sizing code system would dramatically simplify online shopping for both new and 2nd hand clothes.

Imagine a system where say 10 critical dimensions of a bit of clothing could be embedded onto a QR code on the label. Then you could scan the code with some app which has your measurements (or potentially just take an average of the existing clothes in your wardrobe). It could tell you "Yes, this fits quite well but will be slightly baggy round the waist."

The dimensions could also include "stretchability" figures, so the software could know which dimensions are critical to be correct, and which are "fits all sizes".

The QR code could also include a manufacturer code, and blacklists could be made of manufacturers who mis-measure clothing.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#53

Post by jseliger »

londons_explore wrote: post #26
kasey_junk wrote: post #19

The biggest changes to my wardrobe and what require me to buy things most often are external factors. For instance I went from a business casual office environment to working form home, I lost a lot of weight, I took up a new sport, I have a new injury requiring different sorts of footwear. I’m not sure how to work around some of these issues without buying more clothes. My main rule is that if I buy a piece another…

The real solution is to buy 2nd hand clothes. Most people hate the idea of wearing someone else's clothes... Having visited a small town in south western Ukraine, no shops even sell new clothes - everywhere is selling 2nd hand clothes, and they sell it by weight. Underwear is one price per kilo, and everything else is a higher price per kilo. Even then, a kilo (2 lbs) of clothes (maybe 3 items) cost around $1.50, whi…

The real solution is to buy 2nd hand clothes.

A fantastic idea if you like doing so or the value of your time is low, but if your time is valuable, figure out the basics you like and buy those.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#54

Post by JKCalhoun »

londons_explore wrote: post #26
kasey_junk wrote: post #19

The biggest changes to my wardrobe and what require me to buy things most often are external factors. For instance I went from a business casual office environment to working form home, I lost a lot of weight, I took up a new sport, I have a new injury requiring different sorts of footwear. I’m not sure how to work around some of these issues without buying more clothes. My main rule is that if I buy a piece another…

The real solution is to buy 2nd hand clothes. Most people hate the idea of wearing someone else's clothes... Having visited a small town in south western Ukraine, no shops even sell new clothes - everywhere is selling 2nd hand clothes, and they sell it by weight. Underwear is one price per kilo, and everything else is a higher price per kilo. Even then, a kilo (2 lbs) of clothes (maybe 3 items) cost around $1.50, whi…

When I was in college I bought clothes from thrift stores. The initial hesitation I might have had in wearing someone else's clothes disappeared after the first wash/wear cycle of my own. Suddenly after that they were my clothes.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#55

Post by germinalphrase »

londons_explore wrote: post #52
HenryBemis wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Not promoting/affiliated to eBay) When I made the decision to buy second hand clothes, I only though of eBay (have been buying stuff since 2001(?). I always seem to find a nice sweater etc, I don't mind if the size is a bit off, I can always resell. I would love it if anyone can suggest any other online stores that sell 2nd hand clothes at the volume/options that eBay (it's sellers) can provide.

A consistent sizing code system would dramatically simplify online shopping for both new and 2nd hand clothes. Imagine a system where say 10 critical dimensions of a bit of clothing could be embedded onto a QR code on the label. Then you could scan the code with some app which has your measurements (or potentially just take an average of the existing clothes in your wardrobe). It could tell you "Yes, this fits quite…

I’m on board. I’m a small male, and buying clothes that fit is difficult in the US. Buying online is always a such a crapshoot, but at least smaller sizes are available.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#56

Post by germinalphrase »

austincheney wrote: post #34

My underwear was a decade old. It was in shambles. The wife finally convinced me to buy new underwear recently. This is boxer briefs and undershirts. I prefer heavier undershirts, kind of like t-shirts. My everyday shoes are suede military boots. I don’t think they last a decade but they last a long time and can take quite a beating. They are certainly worth the expensive retail price though I typically get mine for…

My issue with my Timex Ironman is that the pushers go mushy after a year or two. I would pay 4x for a quartz watch that was built with the pusher quality of a higher end mechanical. All the functionality I need is in the Timex, but modern tech button feel has ruined me.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#57

Post by bluntfang »

ghaff wrote: post #14
leemailll wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the quality of llbean is decreasing, they have a 10 year warranty, but I'm not sure whether they still hold it.

LL Bean used to have a "lifetime" guarantee but like others (e.g. REI) have backed off considerably. I'm not sure how much of that is because quality has in fact decreased as so many of these brands have shifted manufacturing to the Far East--and how much is because people in general are probably more willing to abuse things like return policies. I suspect it's a bit of each.

>people in general are probably more willing to abuse things like return policies.

Citation please? This seems like the Welfare Queen argument that has been disproved.

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#58

Post by dominotw »

HenryBemis wrote: post #37
spodek wrote: post #33

A guest on my podcast -- Lorna Davis, the key leader behind the largest B Corp to date, Danone USA, and a c-suite executive from Danone and other multinationals -- committed not to buy clothes for a year. Within a few weeks she started getting rid of clothes she didn't wear and even relationships that were distracting her from more meaningful ones. Within months she was sending me contacts of other high-powered execu…

For women: it may be worth your while checking out Project333. I have searched for a respective project for men, but haven't found something similar/worthy. When I finished listening to the Minimalists podcast (first 120 episodes) for the second time I was already immersed in minimalism. I donated 90% of my clothes, I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, and some snow/skiing…

> I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes

I take it you don't live in place with cold winters?

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#59

Post by jcheng »

ghaff wrote: post #14
leemailll wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the quality of llbean is decreasing, they have a 10 year warranty, but I'm not sure whether they still hold it.

LL Bean used to have a "lifetime" guarantee but like others (e.g. REI) have backed off considerably. I'm not sure how much of that is because quality has in fact decreased as so many of these brands have shifted manufacturing to the Far East--and how much is because people in general are probably more willing to abuse things like return policies. I suspect it's a bit of each.

They used to have lifetime returns! Regardless of condition, no questions asked!

This American Life did an interesting piece on it, I was surprised the degree to which people abused—or, I guess, took advantage of—the policy.

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/591/get-your-moneys-worth/a...

Re: People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

#60

Post by vsareto »

sjf wrote: post #3

I don't want to buy new clothes either. Where can I find clothes that will last 10 years. The article didn't help with any specifics.

All of my Darn Tough socks have lasted 5 years so far. Cheap retail store brands (Hanes, Fruit, etc.) have always been awful after about 6 months. They're expensive to lose though. I've yet to find the equivalent for T-shirts.
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