worn

My clothes closet in the tiny house.

• My one pair of “good” jeans were still in excellent condition when I left WA but wearing them all year turned them into another pair of thin and faded work jeans.  I bought a replacement pair in April (second-hand, $5).
• I didn’t have enough long-sleeve cotton t-shirts for winter.  I bought second-hand.
• My well-used flip flops, flat black shoes, and house slippers did not come east with me and were missed.  I ended up replacing the flip flops and slippers with exactly the same model*.
• For new clothing, I continue to look for items made in Canada, USA, or fair trade.
• I got FREE clothes using up a generous amount of REI gift cards and dividends.  I will not have this advantage and pleasure next year.
• I don’t have any clothes that need to be hand-washed, ironed, or dry-cleaned.
• I expect my excellent quality winter outerwear to last many more years.
• I use bins for organizing the clothes in the tiny house.  I only hang up outerwear (jackets/pants).

Added June to December 2017, mostly in preparation for winter:

• Winter boots ($).  Model made in Canada.  I wore them every day for five months.
• House slippers ($).  My second pair of this model.
• New clothing ($): PJs (flannel for winter nights in a tiny house).
• Second-hand clothing ($): 3 long-sleeve cotton t-shirts.
• Sneakers (FREE**).  My fourth pair of this brand.
• New clothing (FREE**): socks, long underwear.
• Other (FREE): hand-me-down work jacket, gifted socks, a volunteer t-shirt.

Added January to June 2018 (total $113.99 in this year’s SLSR budget):

• Flip flops ($).  Made from yoga mats.  My third pair of this model.  Sooo comfy.
• New clothing ($): underwear.
• Second-hand clothing ($): jeans, 2 short-sleeve cotton t-shirts, 2 long-sleeve cotton t-shirts.
• Black shoes (FREE**).  Before getting these, I had to wear my new bright blue sneakers with my dress or skirts to social events.
• New clothing (FREE**): hiking pants, t-shirt, sunhat.
• Other (FREE): hand-me-down skirt.

Plaid shorts at the Grand Canyon, June 2009.

Most of the items I brought with me when I moved are good quality and are lasting well (even those getting washed at a laundromat).  The four pair of expensive made-in-the-USA tights I bought in 2014-2015 are all still going strong with no tears in them.  I have three pairs of plaid shorts that are the same model in different coloUrs that are almost 10 years old and seem indestructible—I plan to wear them every day until October.  In the 1990’s, I bought most of my clothing second-hand and I’m comfortable going back to that.  When I was taking inventory for this post, I realized it’s odd that I haven’t donated any clothes in the past year—but everything is being worn!

* Locating footwear that is vegan can be challenging so I generally buy from the same brands.  The manufacturer of my previous pair of house slippers is no longer making them so I ended up buying a (new) pair through Amazon at a much higher cost than my first pair.

**FREE because they were purchased with REI gift cards or dividends.

References and related links:

• REI: Recreational Equipment, Inc.
• SLSR: simpler living semi-retirement.
• simpler wardrobe: 6-month update (post #36)
• the intentional closet (post #12)