to think buying no new clothes in 2020 shouldn't be too hard?

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Lots of people seem to be adopting this as their new year's resolution. Not buying any new clothes in 2020. Exception made for things like underwear or tights which really can't be repaired, and which you might not want to buy used.

But no new tops, jeans, dresses, shoes, coats etc. If you have some sort of occasion which you genuinely have nothing suitable for, you borrow from a friend or buy second hand.

Now I don't have an enormous wardrobe, but probably could get through the whole year with what I have already and without buying more. I think all of us have got into the habit of buying new just because it's cheap, or just because we can, or because we don't fancy wearing something we've already got, or it's not the latest fashion, or just because we fancy something new, or because there are apparently some people who can't be seen wearing the same thing more than once on social media.

Obviously with kids it's tricky as they tend to grow. But for adults who have a wardrobe full of stuff already, how hard can it be not to buy more? Or mend things rather than chuck them out?

I think this is a fine and laudable policy to adopt, on the proviso of one thing which some people who broadcast this policy fail to take into account -

That the person doing this resolution remains the same size throughout the year or has multiple sizes in their wardrobe to draw upon.

I'd find it hard because I hate shopping so do not have a wardrobe full of clothes.
I've blown it anyway as I've bought 2 pairs of everyday trousers from M&S as my penultimate pair went into holes over Christmas.

It really depends on the quality clothing you have. There is truth in buy cheap buy twice, unfortunately lots of people can't afford expensive clothing.
I go through a lot of leggings, Jean's and knitwear not so much.
I could probably do it with the tops and shoes I have right now.

No I don't like shopping either. But over the years you accumulate them. I have things in my wardrobe which are 20 years old, received for Christmas and all ages in between. I don't shop as a hobby but I do have plenty to wear (a fair proportion of which was bought second hand anyway).

I don't see anything problematic with buying a new pair of trousers which you wear for years and keep until they fall to pieces and are only fit for the textile bin.

It is a good idea but things get holes in etc... so sometimes unavoidable to not replace!

Jeans - I own four pairs of jeans (two blue, two black), all from Asda. Were not expensive at all, probably about £12 each. I wear jeans all the time and the four pairs have been going strong for at least 2 years. Jeans don't have to be expensive to be hardwearing and are probably one of the very worst things in terms of environmental damage to make them. so I'm keeping these until they are at the threadbare stage.

I'm aiming to do this. My only concession will be tshirts if my existing ones go manky with deodorant, or if my shoes wear out. I've so many beautiful clothes that I don't wear.

I did this a previous year - didn’t manage no spend but managed very very low spend. I’m doing it again this year.

I almost certainly wont manage this.
My entire wardrobe (including shoes, bags and coats) fitted in a 23kg suitcase, with one bag for life of bits when i moved this summer.
If I want or need new clothes, I will buy them.

On shoes wearing out - I have a pair of chelsea boot style DMs (bought in a charity shop) which are amazing quality but the sole is wearing down. Eventually I'll be looking at having them resoled if possible. The boots are such good quality that it'll be worth it even if it costs £40 for new soles.

I’d find it hard. I have 3 pairs of trousers. All worn and washed every week. It’s likely at least one pair will wear out. Ditto tops, I replace when they get holes. The fabric is too ruined to mend (ie 5 holes up along a seam). Plus my kids are fast growing teens. So I need to buy clothes unfortunately.

I did this in 2018 and saved quite alot of money. Last year I didnt do it at all although I was alot more careful (and I returned things). Gonna do it this year!

I also buy a high percentage second hand. But I’m lucky to live near excellent charity shops.

Surely a lot depends on the person's lifestyle and their job?

I cycle rather than drive, which means that my jeans and trousers tend to wear away quickly where they rub against my bike seat. And no, I really don't fancy wearing padded lycra on the school run.

My job means that my clothes tend to get dirty easily, which means that they get washed more often than perhaps someone who sits down all day. The extra washing also has an effect on how long they last and how long they will remain suitable to wear at work.

My clothes are all practical and I have zero interest in the latest fashions. The chances of me making it through to the end of the year without needing anything new are somewhere between slim and none.

I’m doing this - on my buying clothes for kids when and if needed.

Hmm. I probably could but do like a few new outfits to start the winter / summer and also tend to ruin boots. I’m not sure what I do to them but end up having to buy new almost every year whether they’re cheap / expensive / whatever. I often buy from eBay and depop and charity shop my old stuff when it’s decent.

I buy a lot second hand, I'm tall and I have a great Facebook group where we sell each other the clothes we've bought over the years just because they fit rather than because we like them (finding clothes that fit is a novelty when you're 6ft with comically long limbs...)

I rarely buy clothes partly because I hate clothes shopping and partly because I can't really afford to.

I have clothes that I still wear that are between 5 and 10 years old. They were only cheap when bought (most from charity shops or markets) so cheap clothes can last.

I have a few nice tops and dresses which I wear if I need to look smart.

I don't work so don't have to worry about work clothes. Shoes last me years even though, again, I only really buy cheap ones.

Last year I think I bought 2 T shirts and 2 jumpers plus 2 bras and some knickers. This year I don't intend buying anything

I tend to only buy clothes when I need them anyway. I do sometimes buy tops from the charity shops but trousers are more difficult as I am a short leg, so it is always easier to buy them new.

This is the problem with these resolutions, people say "no new clothes at all. Nothing. Ever." when for most people it would be impossible to go 12 months without needing something new. Rather than trying to buy nothing at all (and failing) it's better to set strict limits to any purchases.

I didnt do it as a new year's resolution but as a way to cut down on unnecessary spending last year and decided that I was limiting my spending to necessities.

This meant I don't buy anything new unless the existing one I owned was unrepairable/beyond repair - laddered tights or my raincoat was no longer waterproof; was needed for work - I wear black trousers for work and always like to have at least 3 pairs to make washing easier; or there is no way to borrow an item - eg I am plus size so when I needed an outfit for my brothers wedding I had nothing formal enough in my wardrobe but nobody in my friends/family are the same size so I had to buy a dress.

Also, if there was stuff I wasn't wearing, I would occassionally sell it online and allowed myself to use that money to buy new things, but no more.

I don’t buy clothes very often. Consequently I don’t have a huge wardrobe to fall back on if something gets a hole in it. And while I will darn the odd item, it’s not possible with all fabrics and I need smart clothes for work, so doubt I would be able to make it through the year without buying something.

I'm doing this.

Will it be logistically difficult? Probably not, I have a huge wardrobe. But it will be emotionally difficult- i shop as a hobby, when I'm stressed, to reward myself...much like many people use wine, I use shopping. So it will be a huge change.

Good for you if you would find it easy, but many of those adopting it won't.

Agree that it might be better to rephrase as no impulse purchases, only buy to replace something worn out, try to buy second hand and repair wherever possible.

I think we should all be a lot more mindful about what we buy in terms of clothes.

I hardly buy clothes I have a few dresses for work and smart bits. I have a few occasion dresses. Clothes day to day is some jeans and nice tops. When I buy I tend to buy from charity shops not always second hand but with the tags on for hardley anything I ahev some excellent charity shops near me recently picked up reiss, m and s and hobbs dresses for 2 quit. All with tags. Very strange but lucky me.

I spent years not being able to afford anything at all when the kids were little and didn’t buy clothes for a verrrry long time (my mum would buy me an occasional dress or something) so I won’t be doing this, it feels nice to me to be able to buy myself nice clothes and I feel I deserve it now :)