Clothes in retirement

[REWahoo]

I've started to write the date of purchase on the label of new clothes. When they get too old to wear as "dress" clothes (normally after at least 5 years), I write a symbol on the label that means they're "hangin' around clothes" (so I can more quickly identify them in the closet.) When they pass the "hangin' around" stage, they become "work clothes" with yet another symbol on the label.

Cool - a Garanimals system for old folks.

 

[RunningBum]

I'll second Holabird sports, not only great prices but quick shipping with no errors. Another great place for running shoes and apparel is runningwarehouse.com. Free 2-day shipping if you spend more than $70, I think, and prices are great. Running and skiing gear is the weakness in my budget these days, but I run a lot so I wear shoes out quickly, and I've got different kinds for roads and different types of trails. 500 miles is supposed to be the upper limit but I find it hard to keep track since I try not to use the same shoes 2 days in a row to let the cushion recover. Anyway, I look for sales and stock up but don't skimp on quality on that stuff. No sense buying something that won't keep me warm and dry while skiing or chafes while running.

For everything else, I shop mostly Kohls and JC Penneys. Levi jeans fit me best so I don't bother with others. Haggar slacks seem to do well for me for golf/casual slacks. Collared shirts--pretty much whatever is priced right and doesn't feel too cheap. Same with shorts. T-shirts I always seem to accumulate from races, trips, etc. I work at home so I throw on shorts in summer or stay in PJs in winter until I go skiing.

 

[RunningBum]

I like jeans but they just don't have enough pockets. Wallet, cell phone, receipts, trash, change purse, notes.

So do you wear cargo pants?

Or, you could just throw away trash...

 

[Khan]

After I retired I lost a lot of weight. About half my current clothes were sent to me by an online friend ~2 years ago. Been telling myself for more than a year that I really need to buy a few things (beyond underwear and socks, which I mainly buy at the grocery store).

 

[JOHNNIE36]

One of my favorite places to shop is called "Just Men". It's a consignment shop that only handles the best slighty used clothes. Everything must be washed or drycleaned and pressed before they put it on display. Lot of top end stuff and some of it is new. Buy all my jeans there and most golf shirts. They even have shoes and all top quality. If I ever need a rain coat or such to travel north, that's the first place I'm going. Other than that I buy shorts at WalMart and their Puritan brand is great for the money.

DW is always out buying something new but doesn't spend much on clothes either except for purses. She loves the Brighton brand and they don't come cheap.

 

[harley]

After I retired I lost a lot of weight. About half my current clothes were sent to me by an online friend ~2 years ago. Been telling myself for more than a year that I really need to buy a few things (beyond underwear and socks, which I mainly buy at the grocery store).

 

[Rustic23]

Been retired about 5 years. I still have a closet full of clothes. In fact many of my long sleeve shirts have not even bee worn since. There is a VF Factory Outlet about 30 min. away VF Outlet. Great prices on just about anything I wear. Most of my cargo pants and shorts I bought there for less than $10 bucks a pair.

 

[Katsmeow]

I ESR'd 2 months ago. I go into the office once a week. So I had several suits (mostly from Talbots) and I had hoped to get rid of them but I kept them for the once a week appearances.

For years my wardrobe was almost entirely work closes (pantsuits -- I actually no longer own any skirts or dresses after years of wearing nothing else) and then home clothes. Home clothes are jeans, shorts and T shirts. I do have a fondness for T shirts and own quite a few of them.

For shoes I have shoes to exercise and the rest of my non-work shoes are a particular shoe that was made a few years ago by a company called Brown's Landing. These are slip on shoes, clogs, I guess that are wonderfully comfortable and I just adore them. Then, they suffered an accident and I looked everywhere for a replacement.

I found that Brown's Landing clogs are actually a small niche item and people look for them. Finally I found a pair on ebay and bought them. So happy. They were new and cost about $10.

Then when contractors were doing work on our house they moved the shoes which have never been found...sigh.

So I went on ebay and found another pair (don't like the color but can't have everything).

Now, I periodically search on ebay for the shoe and will buy any in the right size.

I do find that I need to buy some clothes. What I don't have are nice clothes that aren't work clothes. I've gone to a couple of functions (my sons' high school graduations, DH's retirement party and so on) that I had to wear work clothes to since jeans and T shirt weren't appropriate. I am looking forward to being able to buy some casual clothes that aren't quite as conservative (boring) as my work clothes.

 

[ksr]

So I went on ebay and found another pair (don't like the color but can't have everything).

Now, I periodically search on ebay for the shoe and will buy any in the right size.

Did you know that you can set up a "Saved Search" on eBay and be notified by email when an item matching your search shows up? I wear some hard-to-find tennis shoes and have done that, specifying the brand and size. I periodically get an email notification and then know to go look at the item and see if it's something I'm interested in. It's a lot easier than remembering to search ebay when I get around to it!

 

[Ronstar]

I used to buy my work clothes at Nordstrom. I guess it would be business casual. I'd buy a few new pairs of pants, a pair of shoes and maybe 3 shirts every 2 years and rotate the older stuff out. Now that I'm working 3 days a week, I've started wearing jeans a day here and there.

I buy most of my ESR wear at Kohl's. Jeans, shorts, running shoes. I have a huge supply of t-shirts from all over as well. Smartwool socks, sweatpants and sweatshirts in the winter. After these clothes wear out out, I start wearing them working in the yard and workshop. I probably buy 2 new pair of jeans and 2 new pair of running shoes per year.

 

[Dawg52]

Been retired 3 years and don't see a need to buy any dress clothes anytime soon. My closet is full of stuff that will be good for quite some time. The main items I need annually are golf shirts and shorts. I get good deals from the club pro at year end when he is getting rid of shirts. I really like the Under Armour brand as they are light and they look dry even if you are sweating like a pig. I also find some good brands at TJ Maxx on the cheap. And I buy some stuff online, mainly from Cabelas.

 

[Walt34]

About once every five or six years I'll trek to an outlet mall in Hagerstown, MD and buy a half-dozen pair of Levis jeans and a bunch of socks, shirts wherever I happen to find them if I need any.

When I went into the Fraud Section I had to go out and buy about a dozen new suits, most of which I still have and wear one or two about once a year. I was a little panicky about that - style? fashion? - this is a guy to whom "dressing up" meant leather shoes, pants that aren't made of denim, and a shirt with buttons.

The rest of the suits have dust on them, I guess I should throw them out. They're not good enough for donating since the linings have holes in them where the 9mm and radio wore holes.

 

[HFWR]

I spend so little on clothing that it hardly matters where I buy. But mostly, it's Kohl's for shirts, undies, socks, and shoes, Costco for jeans.

 

[Orchidflower]

Here's a tip for those who haven't thought of it...like me until I thought of it:
I under-pronate when I walk, which means I have a super-high arch and my feet walk on the little actual foot which touches the ground resulting in twisted ankles all the time (whoever said that high arches were such a positive were nuts!).
Anyway, I looked at the shoe reviews on Runners World magazine on the net, picked the Saucony brand knowing they last the longest as they are made for tennis players (concrete running) and found a pair on Amazon.com for $20 less with no tax or shipping costs. Paid $90 instead of $110.
Would have been $40 less if I had just bought them 2 weeks earlier, but didn't know about the deal. And they were the newest style they had, too! I love them! Could have been $70! Dang..day late and a dollar short here.

I have bought tons of stuff at Goodwill type stores over the years to the point my girlfriend would make fun of me, cause I'd have on a pair of Bruno Magli shoes for $250 with a $1K diamond tennis bracelet and a $2 skirt and a $5 shirt....but, hey, it worked well! Who would have known unless I told them anyway?

I'm just thrilled no more business suits or dresses. I couldn't "fake" those at work...darn it! And they were so darn pricey, too.

By the way, I got some Sanita clogs (3 pair) on sale from a company that lost it's Dankso contract to make for them for $39 each on ebay.com. Sanita clogs sell for usually around 3X that much normally.

 

[LOL!]

I get hand me down clothes from my son when he outgrows them. I get free T-shirts all the time from various volunteer activities.

And I am wearing camo cargo shorts right now.

If you have high arches, get those shoe inserts. I use the carbon-fiber (not rubber/plastic) ones that never wear out made by Spenco ThinSole, so they just get transferred to any new shoes I get from my son.

 

[travelover]

I spend so little on clothing that it hardly matters where I buy. But mostly, it's Kohl's for shirts, undies, socks, and shoes, Costco for jeans.

+1 on the Costco jeans. I like their socks and underwear, too, though I did get a bad batch of undies that shrunk. Took 'em back, no sweat.

 

[freebird5825]

If it were legal, I would have a $0.00 clothing bill.

I just gave away all of my formal w*rk clothes to my housecleaner and her friends. It was very gratifying to help these young ladies just starting out.

I am using my less formal w*rk clothes for everyday wear. I invested in some cotton sundresses at Beall's Outlet and a new bathing suit on last trip to FL.

I have too many shoes in my closet. All were bought off season on sale.
I need to weed out the size 9 1/2s and 10s from when I was heavier.

 

[Amethyst]

As usual, I am different. (Just look at my profile, if you don't believe that). I love dressy clothes and jewelry, and like to wear tailored suits with elegant lapel pins. When I do, it feels like I am making the most of myself.

Yes, I also love wearing jeans, shorts, and sleeveless tops, but still, I find it kind of depressing that once I retire, I'll have to dress casual year-round since the only places people dress well nowadays are work and possibly church. I don't want to feel out of place by over-dressing, but I also dislike the thought of going to seed. There ought to be a middle ground for those who want one.

(This does not keep me from wanting to retire as soon as practical, though!!)

Amethyst

 

[ls99]

DW never liked my selection of clothes, so she buys them when she sees fit. Does that make me a kept man?

 

[Moemg]

want to feel out of place by over-dressing, but I also dislike the thought of going to seed. There ought to be a middle ground for those who want one.

(This does not keep me from wanting to retire as soon as practical, though!!)

Amethyst

There are some very nice casual clothes that while not dressy are very well put together . I have assembled a whole uniform of casual clothes that looks good . Mix and match items from chico's with coordinating jewelry . Long knit sundresses with funky jewelry and a shawl if necessary . Tailored pants with a silk cami and co-ordinating sweater and more funky jewelry . I also have jeans and gym clothes but they are only for around the house or the gym . I do have nice jeans with white blouses or stretchy tees for occasional wear. So no you do not have to go to seed you just have to find your style .

 

[W2R]

As usual, I am different. (Just look at my profile, if you don't believe that). I love dressy clothes and jewelry, and like to wear tailored suits with elegant lapel pins. When I do, it feels like I am making the most of myself.

Yes, I also love wearing jeans, shorts, and sleeveless tops, but still, I find it kind of depressing that once I retire, I'll have to dress casual year-round since the only places people dress well nowadays are work and possibly church. I don't want to feel out of place by over-dressing, but I also dislike the thought of going to seed. There ought to be a middle ground for those who want one.

(This does not keep me from wanting to retire as soon as practical, though!!)

Amethyst

You can wear anything you want once you retire. Nobody will be telling you what to wear (or when to get up in the morning, or where to go). That's one of the truly great aspects of being retired.

Granted, you might feel a little strange going to the grocery store or other venue in dressy clothing and jewelry, but others will probably assume that you just came from a dressy event.

I think the reason that most retirees "dress down" is that we just feel more comfortable that way. That doesn't mean that you have to follow suit. Life is short and you have earned the right to dress nicely when you want to after retirement. Just be YOU, and enjoy your future retirement.

 

[Amethyst]

You're right as always, Moe, and I'll bet you are elegant too. I will put my imagination to work. Maybe I need to design a whole new line of clothing!

There are some very nice casual clothes that while not dressy are very well put together . I have assembled a whole uniform of casual clothes that looks good . Mix and match items from chico's with coordinating jewelry . Long knit sundresses with funky jewelry and a shawl if necessary . Tailored pants with a silk cami and co-ordinating sweater and more funky jewelry . I also have jeans and gym clothes but they are only for around the house or the gym . I do have nice jeans with white blouses or stretchy tees for occasional wear. So no you do not have to go to seed you just have to find your style .

 

[Amethyst]

Not unless you want to be one To me it sounds like you're one-half of an efficient team.

Amethyst

DW never liked my selection of clothes, so she buys them when she sees fit. Does that make me a kept man?

 

[Meadbh]

As usual, I am different. (Just look at my profile, if you don't believe that). I love dressy clothes and jewelry, and like to wear tailored suits with elegant lapel pins. When I do, it feels like I am making the most of myself.

Yes, I also love wearing jeans, shorts, and sleeveless tops, but still, I find it kind of depressing that once I retire, I'll have to dress casual year-round since the only places people dress well nowadays are work and possibly church. I don't want to feel out of place by over-dressing, but I also dislike the thought of going to seed. There ought to be a middle ground for those who want one.

(This does not keep me from wanting to retire as soon as practical, though!!)

Amethyst

You should consider moving to Europe.

 

[frayne]

Been retired for five years now and if I need clothes DW goes to our french taylor, JayCee Pennie and buys what I need. If she didn't I would wear my tattered rags forever.