Wardobe. Do you replace yours seasonally?

[JulieDB]

When I was growing up we always replaced our wardrobe seasonally. Not that I had a lot of clothes. Because I didn't.

Girls could only wear dresses or skirts to school back then. At the start of the school year I would get two new dresses. Usually picked from the cheapest available in the Sears catalog. But at times I was hard to fit. I was tall and very thin. So my mom made a lot of my clothes. I would also have a dressier dress for church. We went every Sunday. At times I had a skirt or jumper as well. Once I had a kilt with a big gold pin on it. Eek! Not my choice at all. I was in choir and played orchestra so for those things I needed a white blouse and dark skirt or jumper. I would get a new pair of shoes at this time too.

As winter approached, I would get a new coat and usually some gloves or mittens and a hat. Boots in those days were not insulated but just rubber things that fit over our shoes. We did wear extra socks with them.

For Christmas we always got pajamas and a robe, slippers, undies, maybe a sweater and once in a while I got a fancy winter dress.

When Spring came, I got an Easter dress and a pair of white shoes. Usually a bonnet and a white purse. Yes, I did carry a purse even as a child.

As summer approached I would get a pair of sandals or flip flops, some Keds (canvas sneakers) a pair or two of shorts and a couple of tops. I usually also had a pair or two of long pants or pedal pushers (depending on what was in style) that I was required to change into after school. These were my play clothes. If we went out to eat (which we often did) I had to put my dress back on. My mom didn't think it was appropriate to go out in public wearing shorts. And she didn't think females should wear pants too often.

The only time I remember getting really excited about clothes as a child was when the White Front store went out of business. They were selling everything for cheap and I was allowed to pick out whatever I wanted. I got two dresses, one of which came with a necklace. So that year I didn't have to alternate between the two dresses.

By Junior High I was finally allowed to wear pants to school. The school didn't care but for that first year my mom only allowed the pants twice a week. So I only owned two pairs of pants. Hideous jeans that she chose for me. One was white with red paisley and the other was stripes of orange, green and some other nasty colors.

By the next year I was put on a clothing allowance. It wasn't much money so I still couldn't buy much but at least I felt I was wearing more stylish things. My mom still had this seasonal rule about clothing. She liked us to wear cordouroy or wool pants in the fall and winter. And of course sweaters.

Not long after I was working so could buy more clothing for myself.

I moved out at 19 and got my first appartment. Because I was required to wear somewhat dressy clothes to work, I made do with two pairs of pants, two blouses and one pair of shoes. Then I got transferred to the Garden Shop where I was allowed to wear jeans and more casual things.

Not long after that I finally was making more money and was able to buy all the clothes I wanted. But... I guess I am somewhat of a cheapskate when it comes to clothes, preferring to things I can get on clearance or at least on sale. Once in a while I will buy something nice and expensive. But not too often. I don't like cheap quality clothing though. I do own some things that are cheap. Like tank tops to wear under a sheer shirt.

However, my wardrobe these days is not seasonal. Here in the Pacific Northwest it usually doesn't get too hot. We didn't have much of a summer. It usually doesn't get really cold in the winter but we have had some cold weather in past winters. I do not normally wear a coat. I own coats and will take one with me but it is rare for me to actually put one on. More likely if I do wear something over my clothes, it will be a sweater. I am usually wearing long sleeves these days because it is more chilly. But for the most part my pants are the same. I tend to wear leggings, knit pants, jogging pants (not too heavy weight) or less often, jeans.

My mom however still does the seasonal thing. She likes to wear matchy matchy stuff. Sag Harbor is a favorite brand of hers. She will buy the pants, top and jacket all to match. And she has her Spring/Summer wardrobe and her Fall/Winter one. She acutally boxes stuff up and puts it away somewhere. And my dad does the same.

Now I could see this when we lived in NY. I actually had a huge closet with front and back rods. I would merely switch what I was currently wearing to the front rod. But when we lived in CA it was pretty much 70 degrees year round. I think I kept a lightweight jacket around if I needed it and all of my winter stuff remained boxed up.

I tend to buy clothes when I see them for a really good price or when I need them. I don't often actually need them much because I have a ton of clothes now. But I do like black pants so do keep many pairs of those. And I will replace nightgowns, socks and undies when I need to.

But what I don't do is just replace my entire wardrobe. I can see doing that as a kid. Kids grow. However my daughter rarely ever outgrew everything in her closet all at once. And I have never really bought clothes seaonally for her. I buy them when I get a good deal or when she asks for something which is rarely. She is 13 and not yet into fashion.

My mom though does replace her entire wardrobe every few years. To me this seems very wasteful. Yes I can see getting rid of something if it isn't flattering. If you gained or lost weight and it no longer fits. If it is worn out. Or if it was a bad buy and you never were able to find anything to go with it. But the entire wardrobe? That just seems weird to me.

So... Do you do this? If so, how often?

[momof2inohio]

I hardly ever buy clothes for myself. I have nice clothes but they are from gifts or when DH buys me stuff. He is always getting me giftcards and telling me to spend it on myself but I never do. I just have a really hard time spending money on myself I would much rather spend it on my kids.

So...my kids do get new clothes every season. I buy them a new coat and gloves/hats every winter. They get new jeans, pants, sweatshirts, shirts every fall and winter. Every summer they get new swimsuits, shorts and t-shirts and every spring they get new shirts and shorts as well.

[lasab]

I don't buy a new wardrobe every season, but I do try to update it every season. I try to get a couple of new pieces that will keep me a little more current. Because I am only buying a few items I don't worry as much about the cost because it isn't going to be a lot anyway.

[kschick96]

I hardly ever buy clothes for myself. I have nice clothes but they are from gifts or when DH buys me stuff. He is always getting me giftcards and telling me to spend it on myself but I never do. I just have a really hard time spending money on myself I would much rather spend it on my kids.

So...my kids do get new clothes every season. I buy them a new coat and gloves/hats every winter. They get new jeans, pants, sweatshirts, shirts every fall and winter. Every summer they get new swimsuits, shorts and t-shirts and every spring they get new shirts and shorts as well.

This is me too! I could have written this post! lol!

DS is an only child and his cousin's (with the exception of a 3 year old girl) are all teens or tweens-so no hand me down's there. I probably spend too much-but he always looks so cute (I like to dress him sporty)!

[thickbluebug]

I do this

,,,,,,,. Yes I can see getting rid of something if it isn't flattering. If you gained or lost weight and it no longer fits. If it is worn out. Or if it was a bad buy and you never were able to find anything to go with it.

No on this -
But the entire wardrobe? That just seems weird to me.

[434Teresa]

I do this to

,,,,,,,. Yes I can see getting rid of something if it isn't flattering. If you gained or lost weight and it no longer fits. If it is worn out. Or if it was a bad buy and you never were able to find anything to go with it.

other than that no I dont I recylce the ones from last year and might buy one or things to replace some that is wore out.

The kids however do get new clothes for most of the time they have out grown the ones from the year before

[Rene S]

I don't buy a new wardrobe every season, but I do try to update it every season. I try to get a couple of new pieces that will keep me a little more current. Because I am only buying a few items I don't worry as much about the cost because it isn't going to be a lot anyway.

Me too, though I buy most of my work clothes at thrift stores to keep costs down. I can buy several trendier brand-name pieces and not spend very much.

[bali1228]

Told someone the other day - I am the only person in the world that is 5'4 and needs tall clothes.
Guess I am mix of 6ft plus grandparents/great grand parents and a short dad.

You sound like my dh. He's 5'9" (on his best day ), and he wears 32' length pant's. My 6' brother only wears a 30" length lol. He has his dad's very short torso (fil is at most 5'5") and mil side long legs (his mums side is all quite tall), add to that he's barrel chested....poor guy is so hard to fit!

I do put up my clothes seasonally (I wish I had that closet w/the double rod!), but I'm in the northeast so it is a bit of a necessity. However, I only buy clothes as needed/on sale for self/dh/dd. I think purchasing habits are quite different then they were years ago, and that may account for the difference in the way OP's mother handles her wardrobe. It seems common for older folks to do it that way.

[Doglover8180]

I love expanding my wardrobe....any season.. :)

[Macaela25]

Our weather is hot 2/3 of the year, and sweater/jacket weather the most of the rest of the time. It might get really cold (20s-30s) two or three weeks out of the entire year, so owning a coat here is kinda ridiculous. We just layer when it's cold.

So, long story short, we don't have seasonal clothes...mainly cause we really don't have seasons. I wear flipflops year round. I am going to need to buy DS a jacket or hoodie or something though...he outgrew his.