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?

My plan is to slim down in to all my pre baby stuff that has been waiting forlornly in my wardrobe through my 6 years of pregnant and breastfeeding!

I'm doing this and should be easy. I live in jeans from November to April and skorts or shorts through the summer. I might need to buy a couple of replacement bras and some ugly shoes for my buniony foot but that's it.

I've lost weight, and am working my way back down the sizes of things that I kept 'in case I ever fit again'.

Lots of compliments for things I've owned for years and years!

But I also had a dress made for a wedding last year, and mentioned I'd wear it to another wedding. FIL seized upon this comment as an excuse to moan to MIL about how she always needs a new outfit per wedding.

Now usually FIL is not my flavour of the month, but it does always bug me on MN when people talk about needing a new outfit for every wedding! My dress is amazing, why would I only wear it once?!

My plan is to only replace clothes and only then when needed. My trousers split over Christmas and they were a good three years old which isn’t bad considering I essentially rotate three pairs so I’ve ordered more. Last year I think I only bought socks. It’s not too difficult for me because I have debt to pay off and I hate shopping!

This would just be “business as usual” for me! I’m not at all interested in clothes and only buy when I have to. My “smart” winter coat was bought in 1999, and I still wear it. My everyday weather proof coat is about ten years old and still in good condition. I have some shirts from thirty five years ago, and trousers that are twenty years old.
My trainers last ten years, my shoes about six. My fleeces and jumpers are from ten to thirty years old.
The only items I bought last year were undies and socks, plus two smart evening tops for a cruise, to go with my 20 year old velvet trousers!

I certainly think people could reduce the amount of clothing they buy, if they’re fashion victims who ditch their whole wardrobe every season, but I struggle to see how I could reduce much further myself.

I've probably unintentionally done this for years. I've had the same t-shirts since I was about 14 and I'm nearly 30. I only really wear jeans and t-shirts, and the last pair of jeans I bought was about 4 years ago. The only time I've bought clothes that I can recall in the past few years was when pregnant. I do buy my children a lot of clothes though so that's my downfall.

I hardly ever buy clothes anyway so this would be easy for me. Last year I bought a five pack of knickers and my daughter bought me a new dressing gown for Christmas, nothing else. When we were purchasing the new dressing gown I was pondering how long I'd had the old one and she told me she didn't remember me ever having a different one. She's 24.

I also think I'm maybe lucky as I'm not 'hard' on clothes. Someone upthread mentioned 'buy cheap, buy twice' but even cheap clothes last me years. I have three pairs of cheap Primark leggings that I've had for at least five years which are still going strong and I cycle to ten miles to work when it's light enough, so March through October, yet still don't manage to wear them out.

I suspect I may need to replace my walking boots this year though so there's that.

Tbh I do this most years unless my weight changes significantly. I hate shopping and am handy with a needle and thread.

Currently pregnant, just wearing my leggings which are too big anyway so will stretch quite nicely, 6 months and still fit well. If I have to buy more so be it.