Gosh I love clothes.

[OneOfTheGrundys]

That is all.
They’re a hobby when I’ve free time, my armour when I’m feeling low and just all round fun too.
Ebay and charity shops are my favoured hunting grounds as I love a good rag pick but clothes shopping on the high st I also enjoy.
Just had to share. 😊

[TheMarbleFaun]

Me too!
Thankfully I work in a charity shop so have access to all manner of things

[MrOnionsBumperRoller]

I feel this way about handbags.

[MrOnionsBumperRoller]

(And they never judge me when i put on weight!).

[LunaTheCat]

I do too, love the creative aspect and being whom I want to be, it is fun and I love the dressing up. I try to be sensible and not overspend. The world is divided into 2 sorts - those who love clothes and those who don’t.

[cloudybuns]

Me too!

Clothes (and shopping 😬) make me so happy.

[Goawayquickly]

Oh me too, clothes and bags and jewellery. Not so much shoes although I love boots.

[Timetobegood]

Not keen on real life shopping but I love looking at clothes online (and ordering and sending back.)

[Floisme]

Me too. I love thinking about how they look and feel, working out how to wear them and trying new things. I love rummaging in 2nd hand shops.
I've always wished I was more artistic but I cannot draw, paint or sing a note. Clothes give me an outlet. I think I'd enjoy making them too - need to do something about that.

I also love real shops where you can feel the fabrics and try clothes on before handing over your money. I worry they might not be around for much longer.

[CatInTheDaytime]

What a nice thread :) I feel the same but also feel a bit guilty about it, although rationally I don't think I should. I love textiles and the feeling I get from particular fabrics and prints - that feeling of "rightness" and that they express who I want to be on that day. I'm always seeking after clothes that make me feel like that, and fabric I can use to make something as I'm a sewer.

I also try not to spend a lot and love ebay and charity shops, and sewing saves money. But I also like a few more ££££ shops like Ganni and American Vintage. I love hunting things down in sales. I love it when I decide I have a hankering after a particular style or item, then go on the hunt for it. I enjoy the hunt as much as the buying, which means the fun can be free!

I have a pair of new boots at the moment that bring me much joy as they are so exactly what I wanted. I first envisaged what I wanted at least 5 years ago and didn't find it until this year.

[Deathraystare]

Glad some are happy with clothes shopping! There is another thread which is the exact opposite!

[confusedmaybe]

I do too. If people knew how much mental, physical and emotional energy I invest in clothes they'd be disgusted I'm sure. It's the one thing I do for myself. I even love having to return stuff because then it frees up funds so I can try something else.

[SurpriseSparDay]

I’m pretty much obsessed! And can’t comprehend the mindset of people who see clothing in the basest utilitarian terms - not worthy of money or time or thought.

People spit out the word ‘fashion’ with such contempt. What could be more fascinating than thousands of years of evolving understanding of who we are, individually and collectively, portrayed through the things we put on our bodies?

No one could be unaware of the exploitation inherent in the clothing industry - but that shouldn’t wipe out any acknowledgement of the role the greatest designers have played in shaping human beings’ perception of what we can be.

[JaceLancs]

I think I’m addicted to shopping but it’s more about the thrill of the chase and I enjoy looking as much as buying
I even volunteer to shop for others who either don’t enjoy it, have less time etc

[JaceLancs]

I enjoy shopping more in real life as I like to feel the fabrics and look at the quality of things

[Floisme]

I think it's interesting that so many of us feel guilty about it. I'm very conscious of the ethical issues around fast fashion, nevertheless I have yet to meet a man who says he feels disgusted by his made-in-China gadgets or his season ticket.

[CatInTheDaytime]

Agree surprise - clothing style and design and how it affects us, is no different from other areas of design like architecture, interior design, typography etc. Not essential in a utilitarian way, but extremely important culturally and in the effect they have on wellbeing. But fashion is associates with women and so trivialised. (Wrongly IMO - men care about clothes a lot, they just tend to be socialised into a more narrow uniform idea of what they should wear.)

Fast fashion is not a good thing and doesn't really tie in with how I feel about clothes. While I'm interested in trends and pick up on the ones I like, what I really want is things that are "me" and that I'll love and wear for years - so I would rather avoid low quality. I love ebay because you can get good quality for a bargain, and you're re-using as well.

[CatInTheDaytime]

I find RL shopping more stressful as it's very hard to find what I want - not only do I have quirky taste, but I'm tall with big feet! And I'm far London where you can find most of the less mainstream brands. Online shopping, including ebay, is a much bigger adventure with so much more to find.

[CatInTheDaytime]

far away from London

[OneOfTheGrundys]

Hello fellow fans!
Yes... the idea of an ‘adventure’ is just what I like. I’m not fashionable really. I do like nice things, patterns, fabrics. I wouldn’t even say I’m well dressed. Just enjoying myself, that’s all.
And yes re fast fashion being shameful but gadgets not. Surely a little of that with other ways of buying is ok? I definitely ‘explain away’ my huge wardrobe at work. Buying clothes IS my vice but as I don’t drink/smoke whatever I think I’m allowed something??

[OneOfTheGrundys]

And a size 8 foot here. Can be hard to find decent styles but surprising how fast 8s sell out sometimes.

[Oly4]

Me too but in my case it can be unhealthy and leads to over-shopping. I’m trying to free myself from it!

[SurpriseSparDay]

Buying clothes IS my vice but as I don’t drink/smoke whatever I think I’m allowed something??

No one questions a man who drinks and smokes and drives a ‘nice’ car ...

[CatInTheDaytime]

Great reasoning Grundys! I also don't smoke, don't drink much, and I rarely go out or for weekends away, as a single mum. Second-hand car and phone. My clothes habit is starting to look positively restrained :)

[OneOfTheGrundys]

I question men like that Surprise ... Fair few where I work I reckon. Probably on about 15k more a year too! 😡
Good for you Cat all that 2nd hand here too! Fabulous items just cheer me up!

[XingMing]

Coming back to read this properly.