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

[PineappleDanish]

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?

@17HowlsMovingBungalow yes. Singing from the same page

I’d struggle with this this year, only because after spending last summer 2 stone heavier than my normal weight (struggled to lose it after baby number 3) I gave all my summer clothes to charity, as I couldn’t bear to be that fat again/wear them again.
So I need a few summer dresses/pairs of shorts etc.
Otherwise I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

Oh and I desperately need some new bras.

Unfortunately we need money circulating in our society, so I don't think this is the way to go.

Fast fashion is bad for the environment, but not necessarily clothes, in general.

I think boycotting plastic packaging wherever possible and especially over Easter, is the way to go. So manufacturers get the message that the market from the West is changing.

Being prepared to spend more on meat, if you have to eat it and not eating at fast food places, would do more.

We need to stop using one use plastic cups, especially on holidays. Even if you wasn't going to book an All Inclusive, get involved in Emailing holiday providers to say how disappointed you are that they haven't changed to a ticket system.

I use public transport and haven't flown in years, I'm mostly vegan, so I'm not going to rely on second hand clothes. But I started the Kon Mari method a few years ago and that stops impulse buying.

Most people have overflowing wardrobes.
I have been trying to minimise my clothes buying for > 5 years. I've still got an overflowing wardrobe. I do wear it all... but I could get by on about 20-30% the amount of clothes I have.

Car boots are your friend if you are doing this. Over the last few years nearly all of my clothes have come from car boots and I have some beautiful things. I do buy underwear n some jeans new but that's it. If you go in the warmer months the car boots are chock full of clothes and in the winter some car boots retire to indoor venues

Anyone who can go a whole year without buying new clothes either has very high quality clothing, or owns a lot of clothing.

I have exactly two pairs of trousers that I bought four years ago. They both get worn at about the same rate, and they are both developing holes in similar places.

When they are finally no longer wearable except at home, I will have to buy new ones, and I expect that to be within a few months. That doesn't seem like an unreasonable rate of replacement (I just checked, they cost me £9 when I bought them), and if you average it over all the different types of items of clothing, it's certainly several purchases a year.

I think many of the people trying to do this are those, like me, with big wardrobes. Personally I'm hoping it will help to reset my bad habits; I don't intend to never buy clothes again or to only ever buy second hand. But I'm hoping a year of NOT going to the shops/hopping online and buying reams of stuff will help me to shop more carefully in future and allow me to get more use out of what I already have.

I already know I'm going to fail because I'm definitely buying a t-shirt at the next gig I go to, and I need some new boots as the two pairs I have both leak water when it's raining. Apart from that, who knows? I do buy from charity shops quite a lot though.

I’ve already broke it - bought myself a lovely puffa type jacket from Superdry in the Sale😂 I already had a similar one but in khaki and it was a heavier style but this one is perfect
I have loads and loads of clothes
I could probably go a few years without buying anything apart from underwear
But I like buying clothes and I can afford it so I don’t care

This thread is good, I found a pr of trousers that don't fit so gave away.

Remaining, I have 13 !
1 x walking trousers I bought for a trip to Africa 4 yrs ago
1 x full length sport leggings (used in very cold weather)
4 x soft leggings (I wear instead of tights)
2 black office pairs I bought 2nd hand for £4 each (needed smart for new job, 11m ago)
4 x jeans from charity shops
1 pr of jeans I bought new with gift vouchers in Next

It's gonna take me years to get thru all that.

I know when I buy less I become more creative with mixing and matching what I’ve got. I put together some good outfits I wouldn’t have normally thought of.

ps: I gave the don't-fit trousers to DD & she's chuffed! Says they are very in fashion (they are about 30 yrs old). Result.

In theory, I shouldn't need to buy any more leggings or trousers for another 10 yrs.

I don't buy masses of clothes but I do like to buy a few new pieces every season
Tend to buy a few expensive things rather than lots of cheaper things
Have a professional job and smart work clothes are essential

I men, up cycle, and turn old cotton clothes in to patchwork. After 16 years of pregnancies, breastfeeding and child rearing however most of my clothes are fit only for the rag bag. I realised today that my only good work dress has holes in....its just worn out. I hate shopping, so tend to wear things out and only shop when forced Some of my clothes I have owned for over 25 years, and they look like it too. I will be buying new clothes this year for sure as I need to look smart for work, and I think I'm getting too old to pull off the bohemian scruffy look!

That should say, I mend and upcycle.

I have an insane amount of clothes due to avid charity shopping and eBaying . I really want to wear my clothes this year, not keep adding to the stockpile.

I think it's more about not buying things you don't need rather than not buying anything at all and it's aimed more towards people (like me) who are interested in clothes and fashion and perhaps spend a large amount of their disposable income on it already and have an excess of clothes.
It obviously doesn't really apply if you need something, clearly there's nothing much wrong with replacing a pair of socks if they have holes in them or buying another pair of jeans it trousers if you only have one pair.

I'm up for this. Wardrobe bulging at the seams!

Oh, wait, I've blown in already! I looked at the Boden sale yesterday for the first time in years. Email to say it's with (a crap) delivery co. Oops!

Does making your own count as not buying, especially as I have all the fabric I'll ever need?!

I'm allowing myself to make stuff with my fabric stash.

Agree with pp...if you have barely any clothes this is not aimed at you, anymore than dry January is aimed at tea-total folk!

It's fine if you already have loads or if the stuff you have is good quality or, obviously if you haven't changed size.

I've had years when I've bought little because colours have been awful for me. I've chucked out a lot 9f stuff full of holes, this year, so thankfully there haas been some good colours.

All the car boots I've been to, recently, are full of foot spas and finding nemo dvds.

@TheDarkPassenger You're right I will be doing the same when mine grow up, I remember the days my arms would ache from shopping for myself pre DC.
Those who have to many clothes should do a clear out and offer them to a grateful same size mnetter within a short distance for courier costs.
I am not trying to bag a bargain I am not in the UK. It seems wasteful to have to much when others are trying to make a pair of jeans last a year.

Anyone who can go a whole year without buying new clothes either has very high quality clothing, or owns a lot of clothing.

Not true here. I didn't buy any clothes last year and, other than bras, I'm not planning on buying anything this year either.
That said, I wear a uniform for work, so that makes it a lot easier for me. I practically live in wellies/hiking boots at the weekend, and was lucky to be able to afford to invest in a good pair of both about 7 years ago, so they won't need replacing anytime soon. Coats have all been bought from charity shops, and are good makes so designed to last years.
Also, a fair few bits of clothing are frayed and/or have holes, but that doesn't bother me.

I don't own a lot of day to day clothing - 2 pairs of black jeans and maybe 5 t-shirts and 5 jumpers.

I do have expensive walking boots ( bought in 2015 ),waterproofs and various jackets/coats (Musto etc) for all types of weather because we hike and walk a lot and they are needed in our shitty weather - I expect these items to last for years and years.