The Hall of Fame and Shame: The Pieces I Wore Until They Disintegrated

From 400+ Wears to Just 2: What My Wear Data Reveals

I recently purchased a few fast-fashion items, and it got me thinking about the longevity of these pieces versus more expensive designer items. As usual, I decided to look at the numbers - and having five years of clothing data tracked in Stylebook really helps.

I reviewed the pieces that I still liked and would have continued wearing had they not fallen apart. My goal was to identify the “winners” and the “losers” based on how many wears they ultimately delivered. The statistics are not always 100% accurate, as there are some gaps in my tracking, but by and large they are reliable.

I am including only the pieces that became unwearable due to wear and tear. These are not items I grew bored of, items that no longer fit, or pieces that stopped aligning with my style. In other words, these garments and accessories still had life left in them from my perspective—their lifespan was cut short by their condition.

As you will see, some pieces performed exceptionally well, while others did not last nearly as long as I had hoped. Anyway, let’s dive in!

Tibi Bebe Bag - 416 wears, €0.90 CPW

This bag really takes the crown when it comes to wearability. I somehow purchased it and then realized it worked with everything. Once I find something I love, I become extremely loyal to it, and that was certainly the case with this bag.

I remember wearing it everywhere when my daughter was small. Just a couple of weeks ago, I took it on a trip only to discover that the zipper had finally broken, in addition to the regular wear and tear. It may still be repairable, but this bag has unquestionably done its job.

Wandler Bag – 253 wears, €1.45 CPW

I purchased this bag after seeing it on Rosie Lai and immediately fell in love, which started my love affair with the brand. Wandler really understands color, and every season there are at least a few bags that make me stop and stare. The designs strike a rare balance between shape, quality, and wearability.

They are a little less relaxed than Tibi bags in their vibe, but more feminine and modern. This particular bag was incredible for me. The color looked divine with my navy coat, and I probably would have worn it even more had I not tried squeezing a laptop into it and carrying it around, which eventually distorted the shape.

Gia Borghini Slides – 125 wears, €3 CPW

I loved these slides so much that I wore them for two summers and then continued wearing them in the garden for another summer (which is not reflected in the tracking). The fact that they were brown certainly helped, as dirt was less visible, but overall I found the quality of this brand to be excellent. These held up remarkably well.

The Curated Sweater – 112 wears, €2.23 CPW

Another standout brand. Their cashmere is excellent - arguably better than Tibi’s, in my opinion - and sold at a fraction of the price. I loved this sweater. Wearing a piece over 100 times is huge for me, especially when it comes to clothing. It became my go-to turtleneck throughout the winter months. Eventually the threads started coming apart and I had to say goodbye, but I still think about it fondly.

Flattered Sara Loafers × 2 – 107 wears, €3.25 CPW

Mine were actually in brown, but here is the same loafer in burgundy

These were my first proper loafers, and I wore them so much that I eventually bought the exact same pair again. The wear count is therefore split across two pairs. I wore them everywhere and genuinely loved them. That said, the second pair eventually disintegrated while I was walking and the sole literally detached from my foot. They are not forever shoes by any means, but they had a very good run.

Aeyde Boots – 94 wears, €4.20 CPW

I bought these boots for winter and loved both the color and the shape. Unfortunately, they were not a good match for actual winter conditions. While marketed as winter boots, they simply could not handle snow. The leather started losing color surprisingly quickly. Looking back, 94 wears is still a respectable number, but the quality felt like it declined much faster than I expected. These days I focus almost exclusively on Scandinavian and Nordic brands for winter footwear.

Tibi Joggers – 93 wears, €4.20 CPW

These joggers were one of my early Tibi purchases, and I wore them constantly when my daughter was small. They were practically indestructible during my toddler years. I wore them for stroller walks, playground trips, flights, hikes - pretty much everything. The only thing I was never fully sold on was the nylon. It works well when you are moving around all day, though less so when sitting for extended periods. Overall, they had a very good run. The zippers have since browned, but I still wear them around the house sometimes.

COS Shoes – 58 wears, €2.15 CPW

I thought these shoes were genius and wore them all summer. The following year I bought the Le Monde Beryl version of the same idea. Unfortunately, one season was about all the Cos shoes could handle given my lifestyle and walking habits. Even so, I really loved the design - the round toe gives casual vibe, while the pointed vamp gives sharpness - a perfect mix.