People making comments about how many clothes you have

[ElephantSuperhero]

Sorry about thread title, I really couldn't think how to word it!

I love clothes, and have a lot of them. I don't spend a fortune and do buy and sell a lot on Ebay and also buy from places like Primark and NewLook a fair bit too. I just love putting outfits together, looking nice, and taking a pride in my appearance.

I get totally fed up with getting comments from people about how many clothes I have. It's always in a sort of put down way rather than an 'I love your top/dress/coat' kind of way.

There is a mum at my DCs school who comments again and again, always things like "Oh gosh, ANOTHER top, HOW many tops do you need?" and "Exactly HOW many coats do you have, Elephant?"

Work colleagues comment too in the vein of oh god not more new clothes eh, Elephant.

And my mum is the absolute worst. She thinks that looking nice is pure vanity and is something to be ashamed of, and makes comments in front of my kids with an eye roll, things like "Mum must have a lot of money to waste, buying new things again", if I'm wearing something new or that she hasn't seen before. Or "If only you put the money you spend into tarting yourself up into doing more worthwhile things".

I don't mean this to come across as a brag. As I said before, I do not spent a fortune by any means, I just love clothes.

Does anyone else get constant snipey comments from others about choosing to look nice and have lots of clothes?

[Oly5]

I have loads of clothes and like you, love putting outfits together. My mum used to say "you don't need any more clothes" but I always ignored her as they are my thing. I barely spend a penny in bars and pubs... Each to their own I say.
Sounds like the mum at your child's school is jealous... And can't keep her rude comments to herself.
I would reply "you can never have too many coats/tops, I love them!" And laugh it off.
She sounds rude and obnoxious tbh

[Oly5]

Ps I also have a work colleague who detests shopping and always comments on my new purchases... But I don't tell him to stop going to the pub every night do I?
Sod them

[nickdrakeslovechild]

Oh god Yes! But the older I get, the less I give a shit what people think or say!

I love clothes and accessories (shoes are my favourite) tying on and putting outfits together, and as long as I can afford them I will carry on. And make up too, love trying new looks.

[Greengardenpixie]

I get this mostly from my mum. Some people say 'oh that's a nice top' bla bla...on a few occasions. I have had comments when I worked in a different work place that made me very conscious of not to wear new things. My mum would often say to me, don't wear new things all the time as people will pass comment.
Really is no ones business though. Its just so rude. Why should anyone care anyway? Why does it affect them. Why they feel the need to pass a comment to you in such a negative way can only mean one thing. They are feeling a bit jealous of you.

[ElephantSuperhero]

Glad it's not just me it happens to! It's just so annoying isn't it! Thanks for the replies

Greengarden, exactly! Why does it even affect them? It's not like we'd go up to someone who's not into clothes and say 'Wearing that same old top AGAIN, are we?' as that would be rude but because we choose to buy and wear new things a lot then we are fair game to be commented on.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Yeah, that's just rude.

Unfortunately, I am the opposite - feel like I wear the same old shite everywhere. I'd love to be thought of as someone who had an extensive wardrobe!

[Jmangel]

I think there is a shaming that goes around that we are supposed to not think about clothes and that we are somehow materialistic and shallow if we place too much emphasis on them. I love clothes too, it's my thing. I don't necessarily look really different all the time, it's more variations on a theme but if it makes me happy and I'm not neglecting any other part of my life or getting into debt, then fair play to me. I've found a great mum at dd's school run who also loves clothes and we have brilliant chats about new season looks etc. I find it lovely and really bonding. Stay away from the misery guts! -

[Nabootique]

I don't have it with clothes, but I do get it about skincare, nail polish and makeup (which are my personal obsessions). I tend to respond with "Well, it's fun and I like to look after myself". I think some of them get offended, as if I'm implying that they don't look after themselves, but I care not after they've started it. Particularly get pissed off with them insinuating I must have too much free time on my hands (literally, in the case of my nails). No, quite the opposite, actually, but I MAKE time to do something nice for myself.

[LaurieLemons]

Weird and rude, no one would say 'isn't it time you get a new coat now?' would they? I would be the same if I had more spare cash!

[BrendasGotABaby]

I get it a lot from the women I work with. I was told recently by a colleague in a semi-joking sort of way 'Work isn't a fashion parade you know' .

Well excuse me for wanting to look nice!

I dont bother with 'investment' pieces, because I like having fun with clothes and always having new stuff to try out, so I tend to buy quite a few things each month from cheaper shops/Ebay/charity shops, and people really notice in a rather strange, slightly catty way.

Ach well. Wont stop me

[Floisme]

You should try liking clothes and football. Makes me shallow and a sociopath.

Mind you they could be right.

[annandale]

Isn't that sad, and so BRITISH. General attitude in this country that wearing anything other than a fleece sack is a sin and only whores wear nice clothes. As a pP said, enjoy yourself and flash any naysayers a big smile and do a twirl. You might even persuade them to have a go themselves. (BTW I'm saying this wearing a fleece sack myself and wishing I were a better dresser).

[SexNamesRFab]

I deliberately try to limit the amount if new stuff I wear in front of my mum lately, as I know she'll notice and make sone kind of catty/sarcastic remark. It's taken me ages to realise but I think it's probably a little bit of jealousy as when she was my age she'd given up work to bring up her family and didn't have money to spend on herself. It's a shame as she loves clothes too and if she didn't make me feel so guilty we could bond over it.

[amarmai]

yep-jealousy. Ignore them ,op and have fun . My rational for buying random clothing items is - it will go with something.

[JaceLancs]

Coats seem to raise most comment in my world
I have lots of coats and jackets, and some people only seem to have one or two and say things which come across quite negatively
One in particular often gets commented on as it is very flattering and classic but in an unusual colour - I've had it for 25 years and wear it 3-4 times a year when the mood or occasion requires
Yes I do have lots of clothes but I don't buy them all at once!!

[MrsLogicFromViz]

I have loads of clothes, I love them and like many PPs I adore styling outfits. I rarely eat out, drink alcohol or do stuff like that, so clothes/shoes/accessories are a bit of a treat. Ditto shopping on eBay/charity shops/sales etc.

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

I sound like you, OP. I have so-oo-oo many clothes, but I do wear them. Almost all from high street shops, sales, eBay.

I have a "friend" who makes comments like this. But she wears a fleece with bootcut jeans all the time, so I think it's best to ignore her. I also have other friends who are as bad as me and will be pleased to see a new item.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I'm the same as you OP. Addicted to clothes, well dresses. . I work hard enough for them.
I've never had any rude comments though, well to my face at least. However what gets me is. How do people especially mums at the school even notice things like this. I mean I wouldn't know. If someone had a new top/dress ect. Fortunately Im not bored enough to take a blind bit of notice. Do these mothers not have a life.

[StewedFruit]

My mum does this to me too, whenever I go to visit instead of a 'come in, lovely to see you, cup of tea??'etc., I get a huffy 'new shoes?? Not seen that top before' with eye roll. So I make a point of not wearing anything new round there as it makes me feel like an irresponsible spendthrift.

[1moreglassplease]

I'm in this club too, especially from one particular 'friend' who claims to only have enough clothes for five days and thinks that spending any money on herself is a waste. She regularly makes catty remarks about the amount I spend and how many I have - which is funny as she's never seem my wardrobes and has no idea how many clothes I have.

I ignore the comments and always mention when I'm wearing something new now, just to annoy her.

[annandale]

God I remember going for a group interview for a course, there were 16 of us, 15 of us in black suits with white tops and one in a fantastic dress that made you feel better just to look at it. We looked like undertakers interrupted by Jesus, or more cheerfully like the background people in the Material Girl video. Anyway, no shock that the person in the dress was amazing and of course got a place.

[Claraoswald36]

Yanbu. I can't take here of anyone who actually uses the phrase 'fashion parade' in the serious and very condescending sense. Go polish your fucking austerity halo.
Op my mother does this too and pretty much about any effort I put in to myself clothes or other. As if I'm simply not worth it.
I find it especially offensive since I've been a lone parent, manage a limited income and don't drink or smoke or spend on anything much for me plus i have no credit cards nor have o been overdrawn etc etc but the shit I got from DM when I spent 150 on some boots - well I'm sure you can imagine.
I might start really responding to the clothes comments soon.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Weird and rude, no one would say 'isn't it time you get a new coat now?' would they?"

Oh yes, they would. To be fair, I do wear coats that are well past their best before, but I find it hard to find new ones I like.

[Casmama]

I would just reply "goodness, I can't imagine why you are so interested in my clothes, don't you have more important things to worry about"

[NewYearSameMe]

To the ones who say "Another X, how many clothes do you need?" you should reply, "Another unsolicited comment about my clothing, how many comments do you need?"