This seems to be a controversial topic to those used to washing their clothes every time they wear them, but that's a habit that needs to be broken. Nobody wants you to stink, but really think about it, every time you place a piece of clothing in the wash it gets tumbled around with other pieces, loosing its' colour wash by wash, getting stretched or tightened, you may not notice it at first, but over time it'll lose its' shape, it will fade and you will no longer want it. Unless something is clearly dirty or smelly, what I usually do is let it air out after wearing it, for maybe a day, and then put it back in the closet, ready to be worn again, at least two more times before going in the wash. Obviously, this doesn't apply to underwear and sweaty gym clothes.

After living with three other girls for three years during uni, I can tell you for sure not everyone knows how to do proper washing. Either they'd use the machine half empty, wasting water and other resources, or it would be way overcrowded, which can potentially ruin your clothes even faster. When washing, make sure there's enough space so your clothes aren't rubbing against each other too much. While we're on the subject of learning to wash, also remember to separate your darks, whites and colours; wash darks inside out so they won't fade as quickly; wash on cold, which is less damaging to your clothes and to the environment; learn to dry clean as little as possible, which will save you money, and save your clothes and the planet from the harsh chemicals used; and remember to use a delicates bag, trust me, you don't want your favourite lacey bra stuck on a zipper.

Apart from movies, before I started dating my boyfriend I had never actually seen a clothes dryer. All my life I've only ever used a clothesline or drying racks to dry my clothes, which is a lot nicer on your electricity bill than a dryer. Not only that, but by drying your whites in the sun they will become whiter, although any other colour should be dried inside out so as to not fade, and you'll avoid potential shrinking accidents and loss of elasticity in intimates, which happen so often when using the dryer. 

This may seem irrelevant, but it's a crucial part on this journey to make your clothes last longer. Heavy sweaters and cardigans should always be folded neatly, preferably on a shelf to air them out, but a drawer obviously works too. You should do this for one reason only: to prevent any stretching. Something else I like to do is keeping a little sachet of lavender buds and loose cedar wood next to my knits, the first keeps them smelling lovely and the second prevents any unwanted moth holes.

When it comes to shirts, coats and jackets, which you mostly should hang to prevent lines and creases which take a long time to disappear, make sure to use good hangers. Now, I'm not saying to go away and throw away all your plastic hangers and buy new wooden ones, that would be expensive and wasteful, but you should definitely buy a few at least for heavier coats to prevent the shoulders from stretching and getting ruined. 

If you'd asked me a few years ago what I'd do if a sweater had a small moth hole, I would probably tell you I would throw it away. Loose straps and buttons I would fix, but anything other than that would be a step away from going into landfill, and just thinking about how wasteful that is makes me immensely angry. On the other hand, last year I found a secondhand Burberry merino wool sweater for 5€ which actually came with quite a few moth holes, instead of tossing it away I quickly mended it and wore it proudly. Learn a few basics when it comes to mending and sewing, and you'll be able to keep your clothes for longer, save money and help the planet. 

The idea of owning a lot of clothes used to excite me, but now thinking of having a closet full of items I don't wear frightens me a little. So, once you've exhausted all the steps above and still find yourself needing something new, buy quality pieces. The idea of spending lots of money on one single piece can be scary, but if you can save up for it, it feels even better than going into a shop and spending that much money on several pieces you'll only wear once or twice. I remember one of the first things my brother bought when he got his first paycheck at 16 or 17 was a leather jacket, my parents weren't super happy about it, but he's now 32 and he still owns and wears it, what a great investment that was! Me, on the other hand, before I bought a real leather jacket, owned two cheap faux leather jackets in a 7 year period. 

At the end of the day, it may be more expensive at first, but it'll pay off in the long run to really invest in your wardrobe staples, it'll be better for your wallet, the planet and its' inhabitants, but they will also last longer as they're made with quality materials plus, if you care for them as I've taught you above, you're guaranteed to have certain pieces last decades!

Do you have any tips on how to make your clothes last longer that I didn't mention? Share them in the comments below so we can all do our part!