The idea of wearing an outfit too many times is unappealing to Americans, to say the least. When I was in high school, I planned my outfits to rotate in a two week cycle. More if things from the previous year still fit. There was a distinct social pressure to not wear clothing that often and not repeat outfits because of how it might reflect on your monetary situation.

It really is stupid. I get it though. That matters when you are young but that doesn’t mean it isn’t stupid.

A kid I went to school with was poor. For Christmas one year he got a football jersey and he wore it everyday. Everyday. We picked on him because we are jerks (to put it mildly). Later in school, when he was still wearing this jersey, I stood up for him a few times but not as often as I should have.

But you know what? Football jerseys are expensive. He appreciated that article of clothing. He loved it. He felt like himself in it. Good on him. He got something he loved and he wore the hell out of it. We all should take lessons from that kid.

Historically, regular people didn’t have a ton of clothes. It was meaningless if you saw someone in the same outfit. Women for example would have one, maybe two going out dresses. This is a dress they wore to run errands or go shopping. So if you only saw Mrs. Smith at the department store then you probably only saw her in one outfit.

Don’t mistake the sentiment “didn’t have a ton of clothes” to mean they had like two things. Clothes they wore work (yes, women worked and for much less than men made while still paying for childcare), an outfit or two for going out. Depending on their financial situation they may have a dress outfit for church or special occasions. They may have had traveling clothes as well if they were going somewhere.

It was common practice to keep up with fashion by altering what you already had. Fabric was expensive afterall. By keeping the base layer of something, you’d only have to change details with maybe a new ribbon, new small amounts of fabric or if you were good at embroidery you could embellish your own clothing.

In period movies you will often hear female characters make reference to new ribbons. THIS WAS THEIR FASHION! They took what they already had and made small changes so the clothing felt new or looked more fashionable.

This isn’t about the rich and clothing they wore because that is something different. Normal, regular people didn’t have a ton of clothing because it wasn’t as important to keep impressing with new clothing. That phenomenon emerged post World War II and during the consumerism rage of the 50’s and 60’s. Marketing does work.

My closet is seven feet long and I share it with my husband. I am not the woman who buys a tons of clothes and has a closet full of disappointments. I wear essentially the same thing every day anyway.

Black knee length skirt, black shirt, black flip flops.

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