Context: I noticed I have some clothes from 10 years ago that are still good to wear, and some newer things I have barely worn yet. I wondered if I reached a point where all the clothes I own would be enough to last for the rest of my life. There is a dresser and a closet worth of things.
For the sake of this question, let’s say you can’t buy, borrow, steal, receive as a gift, find, or make anything new to wear. All you get is what you have now. Is it enough?
No, I go through socks fast enough. Also I need new boots.
Yeah, socks and undies tend to disintegrate over time, so perhaps 4 years for socks, 6 for undies?
The rest of the wardrobe could (and has!) last decades.
I personally think spending enough money to get boots that can be re-soled is worth it, but then I have a local shop that does that sort of thing. If you don’t have a local bootshop, kind of a moot point, for sure.
It’s down to finding a pair that I like enough. I’ve got wide feet and fit is important, and really only need winter boots, so it comes up late December and by the time I get off my lazy butt, it’s spring and I don’t care anymore.
Maybe this year.
I have wide feet, and I can’t stand having my toes squeezed. What you want to look for is a boot with stitchdown construction. Your most common decent boots have either a storm welt or a Goodyear welt (basically the same thing, but storm welt is better in wet conditions). This involves the upper material wrapping most of the way around your foot and stitching it to the welt (a strip of material around the perimeter of the boot) and the midsole. The welt is then stitched to the outsole. Replacing the outsole then just involves popping those stitches. A cross section of the boot turned sideways looks like a “þ”.
Stitchdown, on the other hand, rather than wrapping in on your feet, turns outward before being stitched down to the midsole and outsole. This results in more of a “D” shape, which is nicer for wide feet.
Not to shill a particular brand, but Jim Green has a lot of good boots (of the work and casual variety) as well as shoes that have a nice, wide toe box, and would be repairable/resolable by any cobbler.
I think underwear and socks are some of the worst culprits for poor quality nowadays. socks especially seem to get threadbare so quickly
As I posited elsewhere in the thread (source: I’m old), a big part of that isn’t even reduction in quality of materials but rather change in type of materials as new textiles have been invented.
I can tell you, my socks and drawers may not last as long as they used to, but god damn it, they’re the most comfortable sets of them I’ve had in my entire life.
You don’t want to know how it was wearing boxers, briefs, and socks in the 80’s/90’s, because it was bad and uncomfortable. I remember being embarrassed because I felt like I was endlessly adjusting my dick in them due to discomfort.
Modern socks and underwear are made from much lighter and more comfortable material, which in turn means that they simply don’t last as long because the material just isn’t as sturdy.
I can tell you when I’m underwear shopping I aim for comfort over longevity of material, because I prioritize basic comfort over the underwear lasting forever. I’m sure I’m not the only person who approaches it this way, I’d wager the majority of folks prioritize comfort of undergarments over longevity.
It’s okay for some items to be “wear items” while others are held to a different standard.
I think there has definitely been a huge increase in the use of merino wool. It’s nice and soft, doesn’t stink, and handles moisture well, but the fibers are so much smaller than most other types of wool, that they aren’t nearly as durable or warm.
The biggest improvement in socks since the '80s was when they moved the seam from the end of the toe to the top of the toe. That seam was the bane of my existence.