I am working on 4 mages and a priest, do I need to bother with gear while levling to 70? How important is this pre 70 while leveling?

I am just level 22 now, but all I have been equipping is the quest gear I get. I was thinking for laughs I might just level them in tuxedos or heck, maybe even nakid. :lol:

I read somewhere someone didn't even bother repairing their gear while leveling? Is this true?