Where fast fashion goes to die

[Anonymous]

I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

It would be cheaper for you to buy high-quality items once that you won’t have to constantly replace.

My thighs rub through EVERYTHING. Even when I weighed 130 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

Most people over the age of 12 don’t gain 100 lbs in a decade. I still have clothes that I bought ten or more years ago that have held up pretty well and I still wear.

Great. I gained it in 3 years. WFH has been terrible for my health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

Quite the opposite. Lots of people on here who are too scared or too good for thrift stores.

Then let them save the good clothes for people who need to thrift to afford anything approaching quality clothes.

I'd really love to know where all these quality, affordable thrift stores are. I generally find them to be a waste of time, and full of low quality items like Gap and Old Navy that are overpriced for what they are, but perhaps I am looking in the wrong places? I do buy things for my kids on Poshmark/Mercari, and occasionally for myself, but only things that I am 90% sure will fit.

What I am trying to do as I age is be more purposeful with what I buy. I work from home more these days and don't need as much work attire as I used to anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

I totally hear you- seems like brands are always adjusting their sizing/styles and its hard to know what will fit. I also feel like there are fewer middle options between the low priced fast fashion and the expensive brands than there used to be. My old J. Crew stuff lasted FOREVER. It doesn't anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

Quite the opposite. Lots of people on here who are too scared or too good for thrift stores.

Then let them save the good clothes for people who need to thrift to afford anything approaching quality clothes.

I'd really love to know where all these quality, affordable thrift stores are. I generally find them to be a waste of time, and full of low quality items like Gap and Old Navy that are overpriced for what they are, but perhaps I am looking in the wrong places? I do buy things for my kids on Poshmark/Mercari, and occasionally for myself, but only things that I am 90% sure will fit.

What I am trying to do as I age is be more purposeful with what I buy. I work from home more these days and don't need as much work attire as I used to anyway.

There is a difference between “consignment stores” that resell high-end, mostly designer clothing and thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I shop at the latter for my kids and have found North Face, Under Armour, Nike. I always take a look for myself while I’m there and usually don’t find anything of interest. I have seen some high end womens clothes at thrift stores but it’s like a diamond in the rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

Quite the opposite. Lots of people on here who are too scared or too good for thrift stores.

Then let them save the good clothes for people who need to thrift to afford anything approaching quality clothes.

I'd really love to know where all these quality, affordable thrift stores are. I generally find them to be a waste of time, and full of low quality items like Gap and Old Navy that are overpriced for what they are, but perhaps I am looking in the wrong places? I do buy things for my kids on Poshmark/Mercari, and occasionally for myself, but only things that I am 90% sure will fit.

What I am trying to do as I age is be more purposeful with what I buy. I work from home more these days and don't need as much work attire as I used to anyway.

There is a difference between “consignment stores” that resell high-end, mostly designer clothing and thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I shop at the latter for my kids and have found North Face, Under Armour, Nike. I always take a look for myself while I’m there and usually don’t find anything of interest. I have seen some high end womens clothes at thrift stores but it’s like a diamond in the rough.

I hate shopping, and there's no way I'm ever going to browse a thrift store. I only set out to buy stuff when I know what I need, and a thrift store might not even have it. But when I figure out what I want, I DO try to look on Poshmark to see if I can find a used version. It's easier for kids because I'm more confident of fit. Harder for clothes for me but if I know the brand and the sizing it can work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

That's great if your self-esteem can handle clothes with holes in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread. Don't return (even when your body is hard to fit!), don't buy clothes more than once every decade (who cares if you gained 100 lbs!), don't buy cheap fast fashion (spent $100 on a t-shirt to wear to work from home). My thighs wear holes in pants every 6 months. Should I patch them every time and wear my leggings until they're see-through, to just keep them from a landfill? Nonense.

Quite the opposite. Lots of people on here who are too scared or too good for thrift stores.

Then let them save the good clothes for people who need to thrift to afford anything approaching quality clothes.

I'd really love to know where all these quality, affordable thrift stores are. I generally find them to be a waste of time, and full of low quality items like Gap and Old Navy that are overpriced for what they are, but perhaps I am looking in the wrong places? I do buy things for my kids on Poshmark/Mercari, and occasionally for myself, but only things that I am 90% sure will fit.

What I am trying to do as I age is be more purposeful with what I buy. I work from home more these days and don't need as much work attire as I used to anyway.

There is a difference between “consignment stores” that resell high-end, mostly designer clothing and thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I shop at the latter for my kids and have found North Face, Under Armour, Nike. I always take a look for myself while I’m there and usually don’t find anything of interest. I have seen some high end womens clothes at thrift stores but it’s like a diamond in the rough.

I hate shopping, and there's no way I'm ever going to browse a thrift store. I only set out to buy stuff when I know what I need, and a thrift store might not even have it. But when I figure out what I want, I DO try to look on Poshmark to see if I can find a used version. It's easier for kids because I'm more confident of fit. Harder for clothes for me but if I know the brand and the sizing it can work.

Checking Poshmark is great! No one is saying you can never buy clothes online or from the mall again, the goal is to do it less frequently.

I see a lot of teens in the thrift stores looking for cool finds and I think it’s great that Gen Z has less of a stigma about buying secondhand and thrifting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

That's great if your self-esteem can handle clothes with holes in them.

Different poster here.

I have a lovely new cashmere sweater that unfortunately got moth holes.

I don't see anything wrong with keeping it for a chilly zoom day.

I hope you don't either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

That's great if your self-esteem can handle clothes with holes in them.

Different poster here.

I have a lovely new cashmere sweater that unfortunately got moth holes.

I don't see anything wrong with keeping it for a chilly zoom day.

I hope you don't either.

I struggle with keeping things like this, honestly. I have a history of OCD and can turn to hoarding very easily if I'm not careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a ton of clothes that I bought in the 90s that I still wear and I also wear vintage stuff that was my mom's from the 70s. But sadly in the last year or two middle age has hit me HARD and now I can't buy things fast enough to fit me. I'm sad to see the PPs saying the returning clothes is not good for the environment -- most stores have so little in stock (other than leisure wear) --- I ordered 8 pairs of black dress pants from 2-3 different vendors in different sizes at Christmas and could only find one pair that fit. The sizing was insane -- one pair of 8s from BR was too big, and another was too small. I had zero way of predicting what size I would be in any brand so just kept ordering different sizes. I would love to buy fewer clothes, better quality, but it's so hard to find anything. One thing I love about WFH is that I can wear the same pair of stretchy Land's End starfish pants every day and no one knows. I can even wear my sweater that has a big hole under the arm with it, and again no one knows.

That's great if your self-esteem can handle clothes with holes in them.

Different poster here.

I have a lovely new cashmere sweater that unfortunately got moth holes.

I don't see anything wrong with keeping it for a chilly zoom day.

I hope you don't either.

I struggle with keeping things like this, honestly. I have a history of OCD and can turn to hoarding very easily if I'm not careful.

I'm the previous hole in my sweater poster. I think the difference is if you can still wear it usefully, it makes sense to keep it. This sweater was one of my favorites and is really flattering on me. I can't wear it to the office because the holes are noticeable when I move around, but it still looks great on my on zoom (so is actually a plus for my self esteem!). It's also fine for wearing on Saturdays when I am just hanging around with the kids, or even wearing to Target is I'm wearing a jacket over it anyway. I actually tried to buy another version of it, but because it was cute and decently well made, of course the manufacturer doesn't make it anymore!

[Anonymous]

Why. should I kill myself looking for nice consignment stores or going through Poshmark when millions of Americans don't care about how much they waste? I only cannot do this. There is no point. I have better things to do with my time (yes, like post on DCUM)

[Anonymous]

It gotten even worse with all these "influencers" doing try on hauls for content. There are several who get and post about multiple fashion subscription boxes a week. Admittedly, I used to watch them when Stitch Fix and Trunk Club started gaining popularity and was interested in trying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It gotten even worse with all these "influencers" doing try on hauls for content. There are several who get and post about multiple fashion subscription boxes a week. Admittedly, I used to watch them when Stitch Fix and Trunk Club started gaining popularity and was interested in trying them.

I'm not affected by those influencers at all. I would never, never do a clothing subscription. Problem solved.