Learning moments in my denim journey

[goosehd]

@Brandrea Early 90’s in Gananoque and eerily similar story and conditions.

[Brandrea]

As far as my denim in journey goes.

I’m very new to the world of selvedge denim and the like. I’d say for me, my mistake (if you can call it that) was to buy too much all at once instead of going a bit more slowly and enjoying each piece for what it is.

I have a bunch, and I mean a bunch of stuff I’ve barely even worn (some still have the tags on). I’m not sure why this is….

I think I need to learn how to find that happy medium between want and need. Inevitably, my right brain tells me I “need” everything lol.

[Oaktavia]

@pechelman I have a fresh, unworn pair of the same denim ready to fade for high contrast fades this fall. Had I not purchased a new pair, no way would I have done this lol.

@68degreesorless much of the color loss was from relentless and deliberate washing and drying. They looked different every time I pulled them out like a shriveled old banana peel.

[RobeOfTheMagi]

@Brandrea I set myself a denim budget for the whole year, that allows me to purchase only a well-considered selection of items - which can be quite tough since ... IH ... . But I do actually enjoy the part of the hobby that I can only wear a smaller selection of items. Last year I have heavily committed to wearing my 526L-od. It's nice that one can have as much enjoyment out of this hobby on a smaller budget as someone who has greater financial freedom :).

[T4920]

@RobeOfTheMagi I definitely spent a little more than I could really afford to in my first couple of years frequenting this forum (two year anniversary tomorrow, woo) but now I've established a solid wardrobe, I can take things a little easier, and be more conscientious about the exact pieces I purchase.

I find it most difficult to resist bargains on the secondary market ...

Happy to allow myself one or two full price items a year though!

[ARNC]

@RobeOfTheMagi @Brandrea @T4920 I’m not saying I haven’t over purchased (I most certainly have) but I’ve learned that my initial reaction to a product announcement may change. There are definitely items that I can relegate to “really cool but not for me” and other stealth releases that lurk in the background until they suddenly become “must haves”. I don’t have a budget as such, but I try to ask myself questions like: does this fill a gap in my wardrobe? Do I know how I’ll wear this? What would this be competing with for wear time that I already have? This may mean I pass on some things, but others camp out in my head and haunt my dreams until I buy them

[Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot]

Learning to trust measurements over tag sizes was something that shouldn’t have taken me as long as it did. Slow learner, eventually beaten into submission….

[goosehd]

Tag sizes are only meant to be a guide and absolutely mean nothing when comparing different brands to each other...glad you see the light!

[Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot]

Even after I knew this, I would sometimes find I was trying to convince myself I could make something work. Strange.

[Brandrea]

@ARNC I’d very much like to adopt this line of thinking going forward.

I have to admit, that when I first discovered this forum, I had a feeling of missing out on certain items when they are launched. I mean, I like the majority of new releases so it’s difficult to narrow it down. Especially when you’re new to this whole thing. Combine that with not having bought new cloths in literally a couple, of decades and it’s a recipe for over consumption lol.

What tends to happen is that I hover over my size and see the stock dwindling before me very eyes and I say fu*% it, and I’d hit the buy button.

I need to adopt a more thoughtful approach because I just end up with 3 of a certain item in different colors, (not that there’s anything wrong with that I guess).

[Brandrea]

@RobeOfTheMagi

I need to do this as well. Set a budget and learn to separate wants and needs.

I did a better job of that this year, but still need to exercise more self control. IH just has so many nice things …

EDIT: and of course there’s the “What are you wearing” thread which is the ultimate enabler.

[T4920]

@ARNC said in Learning moments in my denim journey:

but others camp out in my head and haunt my dreams until I buy them

Ahhh I hate this feeling, I'll sometimes become so fixated on something it'll manifest in my dreams... (Leather T3 most recently...)

[ARNC]

@Brandrea I can definitely relate (and I sometimes follow the n + 1 argument that’s often advanced here). Sometimes it’s a huge relief when the dimensions don’t work for me. I don’t mind having a good selection of items I will wear and enjoy, but I don’t want loads of stuff I never wear. I’m building a wardrobe not an IH museum

[ARNC]

@T4920 that worked out splendidly so keep dreaming!

[RobeOfTheMagi]

I think it's difficult not to get into denim and boots at the same time. Is that a mistake one could make? Maybe I need to convince myself that there should be a separated boot budget next to my clothing budget xD.

Important rule: Always find a loophole in your own logic.

[T4920]

@RobeOfTheMagi boots have been calling me too... but for now, my Red Wings from eBay are a sound compromise

[Tobi]

My main learning moment (other than not to soak your Pale Rider) is that I realize more and more that the addiction to buying new IH clothing too fast leads to a shitload of shirts and trousers that almost do not fade at all, since they get worn so little. The trick (too late for me) is to start young, slow the shopping and wear each item exclusively for some months.
On the other side: if you start too young you will soon realize that the tag 32 jeans of your 20's will not work for middle age (spread)

[seawolf]

@mclaincausey That's a great idea. Honestly though, the phones keep getting incrementally bigger, and to be fair so do I , but there's just not a ton of room in my front pockets. Also, the phone going in and out of the pocket all the time puts unnecessary wear on the pocket seam/edge, and not doing so saves me from having to make repairs to the top of the pocket bag that inevitably develops a hole. My hanky lives in the back pocket opposite my wallet.

[seawolf]

@Tobi said in Learning moments in my denim journey:

The trick (too late for me) is to start young, slow the shopping and wear each item exclusively for some months.

This is the real deal right here.

[mclaincausey]

@seawolf said in Learning moments in my denim journey:

@mclaincausey . My hanky lives in the back pocket opposite my wallet.

Same. And my phone lives there in short stints from time to time.