I came across a Gudrun Sjoden catalog (Fall 2015) which talked about extending the life of garments. I got curious and one of the things that I found to be true is that it’s “better to have fewer garments in a timeless design and good quality, than an entire wardrobe that barely survives one season.” It helps to wear what you love and feel great in as well. And… by taking care of what you have, you can use your clothes until they wear out. One important tip from designer Gudrun is don’t wash clothes too often. Americans do wash our clothes far more often than needed. Granted dirty clothes should be washed but pants can be worn multiple times before throwing into the hamper and even shirts can often be worn more than once. The trick is to let them air out on a hanger before returning to your closet.
If your favorite item is missing a button, take the time to sew on a new one. I have had my favorite jeans patched more times than I care to count. It’s a little embarrassing when my tailor knows what needs to be done before I say a word. Never mind, the best part is that I get to continue to wear my jeans almost as good as new.
Don’t forget to have your favorite shoes and boot heels replaced, if needed. For a newer look for an old pair of shoes, have them polished.