I was listening to a repeat of Woman's Hour (4-5 pm this Saturday afternoon) and one of the items was about how many times women wore a new dress or skirt.

A study was commissioned by Dr Barnados and they found it that most women under 30 think an article of clothing is old when they have worn it THREE times.

There was a discussion in the studio about the impact of social media and selfies and "looking just right"; and how many young women today in the UK have more on line "friends"; than ones in the real world - ring any bells?

It's partly how cheap new clothes are from places like Primani, partly the ever present i phone and also the need to have photos just so - that was the conclusion of the 3 women discussing why (not my conclusions). One of the women who worked for a woman's magazine said she was amazed how ordinary women spent ages getting the right shots at a bar/restaurant whatever and then ages on line the day after making sure her pix were like fashion shoots. The women discussing it all had good jobs and were in their 30s; they could not understand why ordinary women needed to have so many clothes.

Have to say that I am guilty of having too many outfits, so I am not being critical here. I have piles of clothes which will go either to E Bay or the charity shop.

My question is - how many times do you wear women's clothes before you either dump them or sell them?

hugs


Pauline xxx
This post was edited by Pauline Smith at August 1, 2015 5:42 PM BST

i do have a couple of favourite outfits which i will were quite often, but seeing as i don't really have much stuff compared to some, I will wear items untill the wear out or don't fit.
I do buy stuff i like and can mix and match with our items i have.

Were it not for the fact I am shameless, I could be a little red-faced about the absolutely astonishing amount of clothes and shoes (Imelda Marcos - eat your heart out) I have bought over the last 15 months; I have 3 large double wardrobes & 3 big chests of drawers absolutely stuffed with the latest fashions. All far too young for me of course but who cares? I certainly don't. Since I 'came out' in the village and started living as Trimes 24/7 I am socialising most days with various clubs, societies, pubs, church, friends & neighbours and I am trying to go through my wardrobe so I can appear in something different every time! Trines' trademark if you will. I think I can keep this up at least until the end of the year and I'm noting my calendar so I don't make any mistakes! Some women are already starting to moan saying I'm making them feel like the Charity Shop Brigade! To answer Pauline's question though, some outfits and ensembles make me feel great and I think I look really good in them; others can be quite the opposite and make me feel very thrown together and uncomfortable even though they are quality items which I am sure would suit others down to the ground. Then of course there are the items which in the cold light of the following day make me wonder why I ever bought them in the first place. I'm sure we've all done it. It's these latter groups of items that get thrown quite quickly but the items I feel really good in I will keep wearing until they fall apart. x x

While I sill have the first skirt and top I bought and went out, and wear them often. I have lately discovered the freedom of I don't care shopping. I recently bought 5 dresses including a tie die that I tried on, over my male clothes, in a tent at a festival. I need more skirts but my underware drawers are over full. Tops I just keep buying when I see them but more pants are a priority. My first outfit is 3 years old now and I hav bought some mistakes I need to re-cycle to someone the right size. I suppose the joy of shopping will pass before my Credit Union gets worried. But my wardrobe continues to grow exponentially.

Due to my circumstances my answer would have to be as often as possible.

I've acquired so many clothes from charity shops and car boot sales I could go out wearing a different outfit around fifty times. It's only the footwear that's limited to fifteen pairs. Only time will tell, but it wouldn't be surprising if just a few find favour. Now my ex is in on the act and actually dressing me, buying me clothes she wishes she could get in to. Looks like a clothing sale might be on the agenda soon. If it was left to me I'd probably wear them same few outfits over and over again. Having input from an army of female friends, all eager to stop me 'looking like a tart' will probably make me wear more varied outfits when going out. It's probably easy to find a few outfits we like, then stick with them for a while, or perhaps that's just me. When something really works I tend to stick with it, until it starts getting a bit worn or something new comes along.

I'm with Trines on just about every level and I completely agree with the very fact photos or selfies are taken as a matter of cause when I am out with friends , does mean that I may only wear something once !! in fact can only think of one out fit I have worn twice in the last 12 months !! How sad and yes rather vain . Just have to get out twice as often , has to be the obvious answer , doesn't it ?? !!!

As long as they are clean when I put them as many times as I can with my favourites as little as I can with things that looked good in the shop but awful on me. Of course if I had more money it may be a different story … xxx

been mean as many times as possible before they wear out!

I try very hard to match the outfit to the event to the weather, so all in all I don't wear the same outfit very often. BUT I do wear the same elements of an outfit a number of times, changing a blouse here etc. It's taken some time to get to my 'style' so I do have bits and pieces which I'm selling on eBay.

there was an article in the daily mail today about wearing the same outfit.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3185204/Could-dress-outfit-day-MONTH-Woman-wore-shirt-trousers-work.html


This post was edited by Sabrina T Flowers at August 5, 2015 9:51 PM BST

I suffer from getting that "buzz" when I buy an item of female clothing so I tend to buy clothes without a specific reason to wear them. Also my circumstances limit the number of times I can go out, so I can wear something new every time I go out if I want to. BUT, having said that I have a few outfits which I love to wear and which make me feel really special and so I have worn them more than 3 times. I also have a couple of outfits which I wear if I need a confidence boost and again I have worn them more than 3 times.
I also have quite a few outfits which I will never wear outside!! :-)

I have 2 wardrobes and umpteen boxes full of clothes and shoes, etc, etc, etc. I've been on an online spending spree for the last 3 years! I buy loads of outfits and then mix and match to try to get 'just the right look' I have as most of us have, done a purge (twice) but now I'm happy with who I am I NEVER throw anything away unless it's worn out, ripped or doesn't fit!

I am an avid Marisota catalogue shopper. I have just, in the last week, bought 5 dresses from them, all of which are lovely, and I intend to wear them all at the Northern Concord event in Chesterfield next month. But my main weakness is hosiery. I have 2 drawers full to bursting with tights and hold ups, Every now and then I have a purge of laddered nylons, but I merely replace them with more. I have one skirt which I wear most days around the house, but not outside - it'e a bit short and a bit tight, but I love it.
Devon, you are so stylish, I am jealous!

I love it when I've lost a bit of weight and can fit into my old clothes, quality clothes can last for years and you generally have more satisfaction wearing them

I do have a habit of buying clothes because I like them on the mannequins in shop windows or maybe because I've seen a girl wear something that I like the look of and just have to have it.
I have a few bits and pieces left from the "early days" that I should really let go but can't as I still like them although either don't wear them or can't fit into them anymore.
I recently had to bin a favourite fish tail pleat skirt as it had a hole in that I couldn't repair as it was too prominent. I was sad for days after and haven't been able to track a similar one down yet, but I'll keep hunting!
I suppose in response to Pauline's poser, I tend to keep clothes and sometimes they are worn more than a few times, sometimes only once.
I bought a red dress over two years ago for a night out and only wore it that night. I'm not sure I'll wear it again as I have other clothes I'd rather wear now and of course their are always shop windows to entice!