When do new clothes become old ones?

You shouldn't criticise yourself for liking new things - after all life is short especially at our time of life so if you can afford something nice why not just get it. You might not actually need it but so what - enjoy wearing it. Trouble is they are only really new the first time you wear them!

Since I did the Mari Kondo on my wardrobe, I have stopped categorising clothes into old a new. Today, even though I am going nowhere, I am wearing one of my new tops.

I have got rid of anything that is uncomfortable, does not fit or is showing wear and tear.

My clothes now fit onto one rail and I really enjoy opening the wardrobe and seeing only clothes that 'spark joy'

I have a wardrobeful of beautiful dresses which are so little worn and so cared for that they still look and smell new.

However, I have bought a new 'new' dress for a special occasion coming up. I suppose it is the novelty which appeals. I really should have grown out of such childish notions.

When? I guess the point when you no longer class them as your favourites. Three categories work, dress up and leisure. I have favourites in each category. A favourite is usually the last new buy, but demoted quickly if not classed as a favourite. Long winded explanation...

I have a wardrobe full of 'occasion wear' collected over the years. But I'll lay a pound to a penny that whatever I chuck out, I'll need it the following week for some unforeseen special 'do' that has popped up.

My DS recently sent me some photos of us on an outing 9 years ago; I replied saying, 'Gosh, I'm still wearing that top regularly - and it cost £5 from Matalan...' To say that he was horrified is an understatement
I'm with Indiana's DH on this -- if something is still in good condition, and I like it, why on earth would I throw it away? (On the other hand, I probably wouldn't wear it to a wedding..!!)

If that question were to be put to my DH, the answer would be 'Never". I have holiday photos of him wearing the same polo shirts 10 or even 15 years apart . As long as an item of clothing is OK, clean, still in decent, wearable condition, he sees no reason to throw it out.
TBH I wish I could be more like him, but I love having new things. I'm so shallow

It's complex Elegran.
It partly depends on the purpose of the clothing - for example, if I have bought a pair of technical trousers to go walking in, there's no point in saving them for 'best', but simply wear them the next time I go walking. I may feel that thrill of wearing something new, but I don't feel particularly fetching in them and it certainly doesn't bother me if my friend's dog jumps up at me leaving muddy paw marks everywhere.
Conversely, if I buy a dress primarily to go out in for a special occasion, it will still feel new and special some years down the line, especially if it hasn't 'dated'.
I suspect however your question really applies to the genre of 'smart casual' - the concept of which I am still struggling to get my head round.
It's these items - smart shirts, edgy knits, trousers other than jeans or tracksuit bottoms, casual dresses - that seem quite presentable to go out in for a while, but when you know yourself that the 'cost per wear' has been greatly reduced by the number of times you've worn them, you find yourself thinking, for example prior to a Gransnet meet-up, 'Oh but I can't possibly wear that old thing again', although the garment might be perfectly OK in which to entertain one's neighbour for a cup of tea.
So it's a combination of purpose of garment; age of garment; and occasion on which garment will be worn.
Cost is also a factor - a £4 t-shirt from Tesco will perhaps be viewed as 'old' more quickly than an expensive dress.

Nannylovesshopping I do that all the time. Gravy and soup are favourite closely followed by red wine. Think it's time to recycle grandchild 's bib .

New clothes become old clothes for me when something I remember feeling the bees knees in last year, makes me recoil at the reflection of a frumpy old bag lady looking back at me from a random shop window.
Sometimes it doesn't even take a year

If there is any fault like bobbling or a tear (cant bear repaired things) or a stain - that's it they are in the charity bag (they still get cash for old worn out things which go to recycling). Other than that if I haven't worn something for two years (unless its a special thing like evening/occasion wear) then its out. I work on the principle that if I have some spare hangars its legitimate to go and buy something new.

Depends how much I like them and if they still fit!!!

I've got things I think of as my 'new' this or that then, when I think about it, I realise that they are now several years old. I suppose the key thing is not to think about it. La la la not thinking!

When I've thrown half a glass of something all down myself, how I can miss my mouth, I've no idea

It takes about a dozen washes for me to decide that the clothes that say Don't Tumble Dry can now be tumble dried. So far nothing has suffered from it.

Clothes staying new depends on how much I like them. I have some garments that are several years old but are still cared for lovingly. I've got others where the novelty has worn off after a couple of months and they rapidly work their way down to the charity bag.

I sorted out some "old" clothes to donate to charity and put them in the spare room. The warmer weather came and I went into the spare room and dug out the rejected summer dresses to wear again....not old after all!