In years past, every woman and many a man took time to mend clothes, polish shoes, brush hats, raise and lower hemlines according to current style, and darn socks. Rather than throw away a favorite dress when it began to look old-fashioned, a woman re-worked it to bring it up-to-date.

Formerly, people owned fewer garments than we do nowadays. They kept them longer, as well. They sewed or bought the best quality items they could afford. They invested the effort to keep their wardrobes looking fresh and stylish for as long as possible.

Those had the means hired someone to do their mending and other maintenance. Otherwise, they turned their own hands to the task.

Now, given the abudnance of ready-made clothing and our culture's throw-away mentality, few people take the time to care fo their clothing properly. I know this is one area I need to tend to, myself. I do not keep my things as neatly as my parents' generation did.

I should point out that to some extent, our time has now become more valuable than much of our clothing, particularly when it comes to less-expensive, casual wear. A T-shirt bought at Wal-Mart isn't worth hours of upkeep, for instance. Also, fashion trends change quickly now, and faddish clothing becomes outdated in one season. (That's why its best to invest in classic wardrobe basics.)

So, given all this, we do have to weigh the cost of time spent mending versus the cost of buying something new. However, as the economy is changing, the cost-benefits of mending and shoe maintenance are looking better and better right now.

I've learned the hard way that waht our mothers taught us is true: It is more economical to buy or sew fewer -- but better quality items -- than it is to stuff a closet full of trendy, but ill-constructed garments. Well-kept, timeless classics will last you and your family for years to come. You can build a flattering wardrobe around the classic items and add one or two up-to-the-minute accessories each season. Of course, you do need to give a nod to what is going on in the fashion world if you want to be relatable, but that does not mean you need tdo be a slave to trends or to stuff your closet til the door bows.

I've also learned (again, the hard way), that keeping up a wardrobe shouldn't take much time if you pay attention to problems as soon as they develop. A scuff, a stain, and a tear are best treated before they get out of control. A stitch in time really does save nine.

Families with growing childeren, especially, will find that skilled mending problongs the life of clothing. It's expensive to outfit a child from birth to college, and helping a child to care for his clothing pays off in the end.

Of course, mending and maintenance of a wardrobe saves us money that we can use to take care of our own financial needs. It's also thoughtful of others. In a world with limited resources, it's wise to reconsider the throw-away consumption of clothing. Give some thought to your personal and your family clothing budget. You might decide to keep yoru closet pared down to items that you absolutely need and love in order to save money to clothe those who don't have access to affordable things to wear.

This doesn't mean that we have to go about looking like plain Janes. If we are creative, we can build a stunning, yet streamlined wardrobe on a budget. And, with careful maintenance, we can keep it looking beautiful.