So, I made these cropped trousers last year, using the Closet Case Patterns Sasha trousers pattern, and a khaki/grey stretch gabardine from Fabulous Fabrics; and they have been heavily worn over the past year, so heavily in fact that they have reached the ecologically recommended magic number of thirty wears in less than one year’s residence in my wardrobe! That’s pretty amazing, I think! It’s funny to me, because I actually wasn’t 100% keen on them when I first made them; thinking the fabric was a tad on the thin and plasticky side. I liked my blue version more, in a more satisfyingly heftier-weight fabric. However! I just wore them and wore them and WORE THEM! The fabric was very comfortable, but I think never destined for a long life; by the end of it they were getting quite stretched out but I forced them into just a coupla extra wears more than they should have had, just so I could say they got up to that magic number 30. I don’t know if it’s just me, but that 30 wears thing? has totally guilt-tripped me into being unable to even think of tossing a thing out, unless I can be quite sure it’s had that number of wears. I know, seems like such a good idea, ecologically sound and all that, but feels little silly in execution?! Mmm-hmm!
So I know they got 30 wears, thanks to my handy dandy stylebook app which counts it up for you, and also my ootd blog, which I update like the awkwardly passe blogger that I am. Does anyone even keep ootd blogs any more…? that’s a rhetorical question btw, since I’m pretty sure the answer is no! Another awkwardly passe thing to do of course, is to talk about “how to style” an item of clothing, which I shall now proceed to go ahead and do, ahem…
So. My 6 favourite outfits with the trousers, and btw, all items I’ve made are linked to their original construction post:
Below, at left; they were light, warm, and stretchy, making them comfortable and practical enough for hiking during the winter, a thing we do on the regular believe it or not. Here, I’m wearing them with one of my warmer jumpers and scarves, hand knit socks, and my trusty old hiking boots which have very sadly also bitten the dust during the year, sob! It’s funny that the grey in the trousers didn’t match up with any of the colours in this crazy jumper, and yet I still think it all worked quite well!
At right, I think out of all these, this outfit was my absolute favourite; worn with my Carolyn white cotton shirt and my apricot split top, sockettes and white sandshoes. This exact outfit had multiple repeat days.
Below, at left; I think this outfit got a few repeats too. My khaki suede, baggy oversized tunic top felt like a perfect match for the sleek grey trousers. Worn also with my raspberry tee which I thought a nice zing! of colour, and the same sockettes and sneaks.
At right; I chose this outfit after one night going through, and getting inspired by, the archives of a favourite ex-blogger of mine, who had a style I LOVED. I think she’s let her archives go, or made them private or something since then though, so I can’t link. Blue check shirt that I originally made for Tim and he grew out of it and gave it back to me – score!, and my little blue/grey cardi that has surprisingly been one of the most useful things I’ve EVER made. And sockettes and sneaks.
Below left; this funny mish-mash of grey/navy blue/mushroomy pink seems like it should be a) a disaster, and b) shouldn’t suit me at all; but I inexplicably loved it! worn with my navy blue merino tee, my tie-dye cardigan and a scarf that Tim gave to me for Christmas a few years ago… Oh, and the sockettes and sneaks like before. I have to admit, these sneakers were like the perfect shoe for the trousers, and I wore them together most of the time. I apologise for the lack of shoe variety!
At right; I love red and grey paired with each other! otherwise simple and basic, but then simple and basic is a nice safe no-brainer isn’t it?! My scarlett Miette hand knit cardi, my cream drape-y tee, and my old blue thongs that also went kaput during the year after a few years’ excellent service. I know! it’s been a year of several old favourites going kaput on me, which is pretty sad. A moment’s silence, please…
So farewell, ye old grey trousers! Your life was short, but practical, and I thank you for going the prescribed thirty-wears distance!
I actually think wearing an item of clothing only 30 times is pretty wasteful. What’s with the constant desire to chuck out something perfectly usable and get something new? We can do better.
Especially if something still looks good, fits and is comfortable why should I go with an arbitrary number?
Even if something doesn’t look good anymore one can keep it a bit longer to wear around the house and do dirty work.
It’s true, Estelle, that some fabrics are far more durable than others; in my experience natural fibres like cotton, linen and wool last for ages, sometimes decades, and far longer than 30 wears. Some of my older dresses I’ve worn over 50times, my raincoat has been worn over 100 times and they are still going strong. Trousers/jeans do not fair as well as dresses/skirts, and a pair of thin, synthetic, stretchy fitted trousers; well 30 wears is pushing it. If you actually try adding up how often you wear things, well it can be an eye-opening exercise!
Yes, you are definitely leading the pack when it comes to keeping track and posting outfits! Lots of readers seem to enjoy it so who cares whether it’s outdated?
Thanks for your detailed reply, those are some things to mull about. And I am so sorry about the over 100 days of pouring rain!
I noticed my trousers breaking much faster than skirts as well if only because the inner thighs will rub together or rub on the bicycle seat. All the things you have to consider when choosing clothes!
I love that triangle sweater outfit! The sweater itself is so fabulous, plus with the slim trousers and chunky scarf–basically all I want to wear in the winter!
thanks so much Meira! I love that triangle sweater too, it was knitted from scraps so felt like it was basically free!
Actually I don’t care if “how to style” is an “awkwardly passe” thing to blog. I always enjoy these posts! Love all the looks you’ve put together here.
30 wears is a bit arbitrary and it does so depend on how well the fabric wears. Actually, I think my favourites get loads more wears than this and I keep practical clothing around long after it’s past its best for wearing in the garden etc.
I’ve missed your 6 ways posts! Passe or not, I do wish more people would reflect on the clothes they make more often. I find it very interesting to see how versatile a garment can be! Outfit #1 is my favorite! (But it’s also freezing and raining where I am right now!)
I love your posts of six ways of wearing a garment. Sadly, myself I wear the same combinations most of the times. Your grey Sasha trousers looked so well. Your hiking outfit is probably my favorite, and then the French one with the red cardigan as well as the white shirt and the blue shirt one….
There is nothing passe about your creations and the inspired garments that you so generously share with all of us. I agree with your assessment of synthetic blend fabric, they have never lasted long in my wardrobe. Those little stretch fibers lose their memory and let me down so now it is easier for me to just use naturals.
Keep posting six ways to style, they are great.
I have been reading your blog for a while but cannot remember where you came up with the number 30. Could you explain again?
Reason is that I cannot seem to get rid of clothes that are only beginning to look worn — it seems wasteful and sad to throw away things unless they are totally used up. Good clothing donated to Goodwill is easy to do; it’s the stuff that I know are on the edge of looking good that is hard to dump in the trash. I have too many gardening/dirty work clothes. Any suggestions?
I didn’t come up with the number 30 myself, and I’m not sure where it can from either! It’s just a concept floating around right now, that you should aim to wear your clothes at least 30times, the idea is to stamp out the insidious fast-fashion trend of wearing something only once or twice and then throwing it away. If you don’t wish to get rid of clothes in which the fabric is still in good condition, have you considered making it into something else? refashioning the fabric and making something new from old 🙂
Thank you for your kind reply! I admire how you refashion your clothes and have thought about it but have yet to put that thought into action 🙁 I have only recycled old kimono I purchased mainly for scarves. Great fun!
I found by using my Stylebook app that I thought I wore my clothing much more than I actually did which is quite the revelation. I agree that 30 wears is quite arbitrary but it is amazing with a well stocked wardrobe how long that takes to wrack up. I have very few items that have made this lofty goal in the last two years. Most of those items are shoes so I must be doing something right there. With my clothing though, I really need to do better. My Sasha’s are my favourites as well and any pants that are in neutral colours seem to get the most wear.
Don’t feel guilty about 30 wears. If it doesn’t work for you, pass it on to someone else who can use it.
Im happy you are still blogging and will try to blog more often in 2019. I need to get off IG.