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"I no longer care about clothes, and it's a glorious, liberating feeling"

(78 Posts)
Grannyknot Tue 17-Mar-15 07:29:08

I read this article this morning, and - having "retired" (I still work part time from home) last year, I feel pretty much the same as this man smile

www.telegraph.co.uk/men/fashion-and-style/11465130/I-no-longer-care-about-clothes-and-its-a-glorious-liberating-feeling.html

When I was working I was forever buying a new top, or a pair of trousers or a jacket or scarf. No wonder I now seem to have more disposable cash than before, despite having less income. Not to mention way less washing.

Best I pull on my trackies and old T-shirt now and seize the day grin I've a pair of Reiker boots I bought 15 years ago that are without peer - they've outlasted all their "replacements" as I could never bear to part with them. I would draw the line at holey socks though!

Mamie Tue 17-Mar-15 08:03:41

I felt like that when I first retired GK! Then I got fed up slobbing around all the time and bought a load of new stuff. Then I lost weight and had to put all the size 16 stuff away and buy another whole new wardrobe in size 12.
I have found that I do much better in charity shops with size 12 though and I get some very nice cast-offs from my DD grin

petallus Tue 17-Mar-15 08:12:45

Easier for men though!

I have just resolved to stop hanging around in my dressing gown until mid morning every day but to get into proper clothes, jeans and jumper, face washed, earrings in. Hair clean, nails filed. That's enough for me most days.

I have read that corsets are making a comeback. What a pity I threw out my rubber Playtex girdle all those years ago.

ffinnochio Tue 17-Mar-15 08:30:29

I beg to differ. I think the article screams 'look at me'. The article shows that NL still cares about his clothes - mentioning at length the lasting quality and love of shoes/boots/jumpers and trousers. It's just that he now cares about different types of clothing and how and why they're worn.

Just think he's being a tad disingenuous, that's all. smile

Riverwalk Tue 17-Mar-15 08:34:52

I agree ffinn.

For anyone eating breakfast don't look, there's a disgusting photo of a fungal-infected toenail sticking out of a holey sock!

soontobe Tue 17-Mar-15 08:45:40

I wonder, whether in his case, he has spent so many years trying re fashion, that he is fed up, and tired.

rockgran Tue 17-Mar-15 08:51:12

My DH loves not having to wear a tie these days but try to get him to throw one out......! His wardrobe consists of many items bought before we were married (18 years). He really resists any attempts to smarten up around the house and wears whatever is at the top of the drawer or shelf. The concept of "worn out" seems lost on him. He will make an effort if we go out but only because he knows I'll give him grief if he shows me up! (I'm quite fond of him though.)

J52 Tue 17-Mar-15 09:09:41

DH wore suits for most of his working ( for other people) life, now he has a wide range of jeans and interesting jumpers.
His suits are now in lighter colours and a more modern cut.

For me clothes were an issue, when I was young. My mother preferred to buy for herself and although my clothes were good quality and well presented I had very few.

When I earnt my own money it was a real pleasure to choose, make and buy my own clothes. I still have an interest in fashion, although I know there are more worthy things to think about! x

Teetime Tue 17-Mar-15 09:09:45

I think I would be more offended by the state of this man toenails than his clothes!
I'm sure it is liberating but its not for everyone. I enjoy clothes and being well turned out and would be hugely uncomfortable in sports wear other than for sport. I had quite enough of second hand clothes as a child so I'm not going there. We are not particularly fashionable but clean clothes daily, matching underwear and good grooming are very important to DH and I. That is not to say we don't have days at home in jeans and t shirts doing jobs or hanging around the house but I wouldn't go out like it. I don't shop a lot preferring the internet so I can try things on at home but a day with one of my girls in the frock shops is a delight occasionally.

FlicketyB Tue 17-Mar-15 09:35:35

What is wrong in liking clothes and dressing well? There seems to be certain 'holier than thou' attitude about those claiming not to be interested in clothes anymore.

I love dressing and looking nice, which does not mean that my life is obsessed by either fashion or shopping, in fact I find shopping, even for clothes, very boring. I can get all the clothes I possess into one wardrobe and one chest of drawers.

Twice a year after a month of browsing through the colour supplements that come with the Sunday papers I will look at my clothes, assess what needs to go out and what needs replacing and spend an afternoon at my local shopping centre filling the gaps in my wardrobe and that's that.

Most people's wardrobe changes with their life circumstances. Before I retired I wore smart clothes to work, suits and the like. Now I am retired my clothes are more relaxed, jeans, leggings, sweaters, but I buy all my casual clothes with the same eye for colour, style and design that I exercised when I was buying suits and dresses for work.

I cannot imagine a time when I will be indifferent to what I am wearing.

loopylou Tue 17-Mar-15 09:41:35

I have two wardrobes full of mainly 'smart' clothes and since last September I've lost my way clothes-wise, no longer have a job requiring presenting a corporate image.
I wear the top/jeans/fleece combo most days, but make an effort if I go out.
I'd love someone to go through my wardrobe and sort me out! I seem to have lost the oomph and skills to look at dressing differently sad, clothes really no longer interest me.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Mar-15 09:44:50

I can't get the article. I have used up my free allowance. hmm

I like to look decent as an every day thing. It's good for the spirit. For going out, I like to look good.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Mar-15 09:45:56

I hate the feel of jeans. Round the house I wear black 'joggers' but not the ones that go in at the ankle. Smart looking ones.

Nelliemoser Tue 17-Mar-15 10:10:32

I have got into wearing jogging bottoms, and old jerseys when I am around the house. Only very rarely do I dash out to a local shop for a forgotten food item wearing such garments.

The odd trip to the tip in my gardening trousers I see as fair game. The muddy kneed trousers and wellies are a badge of authenticity.

My mum never helped me with regard to any inherited dress sense but that's another story. Several years ago I decided I really needed to up my game with regard to what I wore and I started to make sure I looked reasonably smart even when I went out on the supermarket run.

rockgran I have the same problem convincing OH that apart from weddings and funerals, that tie wearing is just not done these days.

Greyduster Tue 17-Mar-15 10:15:57

Like Rockgran's DH, mine has a wardrobe full of ties he never wears but will not part with, despite my best efforts, mostly representing every military unit he has ever served with but also from when he worked. He did suggest wearing one when we went to lunch with a friend on Friday, but then changed his mind. I am ashamed to say that since I retired, I spend very little on clothes, but have thought recently that I ought to stop slopping around in trousers and start wearing skirts - which means I will have to go out and buy new ones as the ones I am hanging onto no longer fit me. I had on a pair of straight leg jogging type trousers yesterday and only realised when I got to GS's school that I had forgotten to change them. I couldn't have felt worse if I'd been wearing pyjamas and couldn't wait to get back to the car!

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Mar-15 10:32:47

No one bats an eyelid about straight leg jogging trousers. How are they any different from any other trousers, apart from the fact they are warm?

rosequartz Tue 17-Mar-15 10:43:51

And they are very forgiving around the waist.

But perhaps that's a bad thing!

harrigran Tue 17-Mar-15 10:48:26

DH wears jogging bottoms all the time because for almost 50 years he had to wear a suit with a shirt and tie. I wear them around the house for comfort but always change before going out.

annodomini Tue 17-Mar-15 11:09:08

If you're over 70, you're invisible anyway. So why not wear what's comfortable as long as it's clean.?

rockgran Tue 17-Mar-15 11:15:34

Who said that?

Greyduster Tue 17-Mar-15 11:30:03

I love them around the house and garden but just prefer not to go out in them. God knows what the next step would be. Carpet slippers?

loopylou Tue 17-Mar-15 11:35:05

I couldn't believe my eyes earlier when a middle-aged woman with two daughters (I presumed they were in their 20's) were wandering around the supermarket with a fleece pulled on over their pyjamas!

soontobe Tue 17-Mar-15 11:36:38

I do think that a person can go too far with the "not caring" look.
I know someone who used to wear any old thing to funerals, when previously she cared what she wore, to a certain extent.

I think that the problem was, she had begun to stop caring about life in general, and her life in particular.
She has however, got through that phase of her life now.

Anya Tue 17-Mar-15 11:41:01

My look is 'casual chic' (without the chic).

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Mar-15 11:54:59

I have actually just changed out of my black joggers to nip into town. Into a pair of M and S elasticated waist straight legged pull-ons. grin