The Long Goodbye: GAP Merino Wool V-Neck, circa 2000 – $30.00?
Dress Shirt: Nordstrom Smartcare Trim Fit – $49.50
We all have favorite articles of clothing. Maybe it’s an old t-shirt, a suit, or like this… a sweater that fits so well it’s been worn well past any stage of respectable presentation.
I’ve certainly gotten my money out of this 10-year-old GAP Merino Wool V-neck. It’s not bulky, it fits close to the body, and unlike the scratchy sweaters of our youth, it’s not itchy. And I’ve worn the hell out of it. This thing was probably one of the first pieces of clothing that after I put it on and looked in the mirror, I began to realize that dressing “up” didn’t have to equal being uncomfortable all day.
I purchased it soon after I had moved across the country to an area with more moths and less window screens than I was used to. I didn’t know much about how to store clothes, so I put it on an open shelf on it’s own, and the bugs got to it in two places. The sleeve, and the upper right torso. (It was a tiny hole at first that has since obviously grown through numerous snags to un-ignorable proportions).
I used to be able to effectively hide those holes with a blazer, but in the past year I blew out the arm pit and now this thing is slowly turning itself into a sweater vest. I’d donate it like I do all my other clothes I don’t wear anymore, but it’s unwearable.
Looks like it’s time to retire it to the garbage can… Sniff…
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Who am I kidding. I’ll probably wear it this weekend.
So when do you know it’s time to toss a garment? And have you been holding onto an old favorite unreasonably long? Leave it all in the comments section below…
I know your pain Joe! Sometimes it almost feels like a betrayal to simply trash a peice of clothing that has earned its place in your lineup year after year. Thats why I dont. I’m fortunate enough to have an extra drawer or two in my dresser. I call it the “retirement home”. Sometimes I open the drawer and I can actually smell the last ten years of my life 😉
Follow the rules and think of the space saved in your closet – toss it. The pain will pass and you’ll soon have a new favorite. I recently did this with a really old pair of dark brown suede loafers worn beyond the point of respectability yet oh so comfortable. These have been succeeded by an old pair of brown deck shoes that can be worn in public without shame.
I have a small box in the bottom of a spare closet. If I’m thinking if retiring an item, it goes in the box. If after a year, I havent missed the stuff in the box, it all gets tossed or donated.
Helps ease the pain.
I’m all about re-tooling. I’m not sure what to do with a chewed up sweater, but I’ve made hand-rolled pocket squares from a dress shirt that shrank too much, and from a pair of boxers with a frayed waistband. If my Pendleton wool shirt ever wears out, I’ll probably try to make a bow tie out of it!
Depends on the article of clothing. Generally I am not sentimental at all and will toss as soon as there is the slugfest sign of wear. There is that one tshirt however…
We all. ALL… have a “Wilson.” I’m one of the least sentimental guys you’ll ever meet. But I sure like that sweater.
My favorite shoes’ soles are definitely very worn out… I think I’m going to buy another pair just like it though. Also have a Hugo Boss shirt that doesn’t fit anymore, so I’ve been wearing it casually unbuttoned with a v-neck underneath… doesn’t look too bad
I’ve had two pair of flannel wool slacks that I’ve worn through the seat. One pair was black and I didn’t realize that I’d worn through them until I took them off one day and the seat almost looked sheer. Luckily I had on black underwear that day. The other pair is a tweedish color and I’m trying to hold onto them until the very end because I can’t seem to find suitable replacements.