Page 11 | To think this is why people buy all brand new clothes for holidays?

Kittythepink · 2020-08-08T19:33:29+00:00

We are going on a family holiday to the seaside tomorrow. I am so stressed under mountains of clothes to wash, iron and pack for five people. AIBU to think this is why so many people go holiday shopping for brand new clothes? Put them straight into the suitcase what a brilliant idea! [wink] Seriously though, does anyone buy all brand new clothes for going away? I used to know someone who bought all brand new underwear and socks for each holiday, so maybe it's a thing?

Ponoka7 · 09/08/2020 07:18

Also when I'm in places across Africa, the cleaning staff always appreciate being offered any clothes we've decided not to take home, especially children's clothes/sunglasses. I agree that they definitely shouldn't be left with our rubbish to dispose of.

itsgettingweird · 09/08/2020 07:19

But I do have to add it all gets washed and ironed before I pack it

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 09/08/2020 07:22

This was definitely a “thing” in the 90’s. Everyone I knew (up north in a underprivileged town) did it. It’s less so now.
I wonder if people are more concerned with the environmental impact fast fashion, less disposable income or that we’re going on more holidays so already have our “holiday wardrobes”.
There’s been a real culture change about it. Strangely, we are much more likely to see other people’s holiday photos than we would have been in the 90’s because of social media.

auberge · 09/08/2020 07:23

It would never occur to me to wash clothes before wearing them. So what if they've been dropped on the floor or touched other people's skin? What's actually going to happen to you as a result of this ? Obviously different if they're actually noticeably marked or smelly, but I've never had this. And as for the whole chemicals irritating your skin thing - fine if this happens to you, but it certainly doesn't happen to me.

Vik1ng · 09/08/2020 07:26

Don’t buy new! Wash what you are taking, hang dry, roll them up and pack them. No need for ironing.

squeekums · 09/08/2020 07:26

With the exception of knickers which go in wheelie bin, just about all my used clothes go to charity shop. Separate bags one for stuff that can be sold and one for rags that can be recycled

Here, no clothes I buy are suitable as rags, they don't soak up spills, more spread it. Local charity shop has a church tie, will never donate to them based on that. I won't be storing old cloths for weeks on end till we head off to city. Just a heap of extra work and mental energy. It's no secret people value convienence

Maybe one of the only upsides of coronavirus is to make people less consumer driven and to value world resources more
We shopped more since corona just more online. Bordem busting.
We not spending on petrol to go to this or that so have the extra cash, all events we would have saved up for are off so ebay it is. I've spent more on footy merch to support my team

auberge · 09/08/2020 07:31

I suppose there's slightly more need to buy new stuff if you live 'up north', but surely less so in these days of global warming, and only if you go on holiday to hot places and very rarely. Where I live it's been 35 degrees for the last 3 days. Back in May it was over 25 for about three weeks straight. I don't have any items if 'holiday clothing' that I wouldn't also have worn at home plenty this year (including my swimsuit - do people never swim in the UK??). In fact it was my jumpers I had to dig out to go on holiday this year.

BumblebeeBum · 09/08/2020 07:35

Unless the other four people going are all under 4 years old - Get them to pack their own stuff!

whatswithtodaytoday · 09/08/2020 07:38

That's a very strange idea to be, so no. I'm also amazed that people can find enough clothes they like to buy a whole new wardrobe - I need some new summer clothes (just some tops and maybe a dress or two) at the moment and am really struggling to find anything.

Toptotoeunicolour · 09/08/2020 07:47

Really not. My mum used to buy some new stuff for a holiday. I spend a lot on individual items but keep them for years and years.

BertieBotts · 09/08/2020 07:50

Green is absolutely right on the class observation! This is a fascinating thread.

BertieBotts · 09/08/2020 07:51

Although I've conversely always assumed it was people who have loads of money that do this.

countrygirl99 · 09/08/2020 07:53

Mumsnet is a weird place. I'm in my 60s and have seen a lot of life but I have never come across either a child free wedding or anyone who washes brand new clothes but this is the 2nd thread this week with the latter.

BertieBotts · 09/08/2020 07:54

But no, when going on holiday I generally start packing and cajole the others to about 4-5 days before, so that if anyone has a favourite and desperately needed item which needs to be washed I can do that on the first or second day and it will be dry by the time it's needed for packing.

We also lay out the outfit we'll travel in (chosen for comfort and sometimes to keep the bulk out of the suitcase, rather than any other reason)

mouse70 · 09/08/2020 07:56

I used to take old clothes(Tshirts Underwear) wear, then throw away before returning.If clean and unworn that trip would leave behind if travel was to less wealthy country.

stayathomer · 09/08/2020 07:57

I have done this but mainly because I have a pair of Jean's, a pair of trousers, a pair of tracksuit bottoms and I live in the same tee shirts so if we're going on holiday I like getting one or two summery tops or something and I'd always buy a 5 pack of socks and underwear. People can say about being green etc, but you'll find actually most possibly own/buy new clothes more regularly than the people who treat themselves if they're going away. I wear my clothes into the ground before I buy new ones!

Zenithbear · 09/08/2020 07:57

Our economies are built and sustained by consumerism

I'm happy to help sustain the economy but not by buying throw away crap. That's the part of the economy that imo we need to move away from. I'll happily eat out, go for coffee and cake, to the pub, pay for parking, buy presents especially consumerbles, clothes and other items of reasonable quality that will last a decent amount of time, holidays, gym membership, pay for activities and attractions, gigs, festivals etc etc which all have some positive and negative impacts but buying stuff that's made to be to thrown away a short time later does not make any sense to me.

WhatifIfeellikeacat · 09/08/2020 08:02

anyone who washes brand new clothes

I wouldn't wear t-shirts, vests or underwear without washing them first.

MySweatyPie · 09/08/2020 08:04

Sounds so lazy. You need do laundry anyway.

Blackbear19 · 09/08/2020 08:06

@auberge

I suppose there's slightly more need to buy new stuff if you live 'up north', but surely less so in these days of global warming, and only if you go on holiday to hot places and very rarely. Where I live it's been 35 degrees for the last 3 days. Back in May it was over 25 for about three weeks straight. I don't have any items if 'holiday clothing' that I wouldn't also have worn at home plenty this year (including my swimsuit - do people never swim in the UK??). In fact it was my jumpers I had to dig out to go on holiday this year.

May & June were awesome in Scotland too, but no where near 35deg. We think we've cracked it if its 20 deg. I know people who skipped homeschool for a few days because "it was too good a day to waste".

So yes people do end up with holiday clothes that don't see the light of day out with 2 weeks in the med.

drspouse · 09/08/2020 08:08

@squeekums when you donate "rags" they are not literally used for wiping up. They are recycled. I donate all my fabric scraps. Underwear can also be recycled.

tabulahrasa · 09/08/2020 08:10

@auberge

I suppose there's slightly more need to buy new stuff if you live 'up north', but surely less so in these days of global warming, and only if you go on holiday to hot places and very rarely. Where I live it's been 35 degrees for the last 3 days. Back in May it was over 25 for about three weeks straight. I don't have any items if 'holiday clothing' that I wouldn't also have worn at home plenty this year (including my swimsuit - do people never swim in the UK??). In fact it was my jumpers I had to dig out to go on holiday this year.

Yesterday was hot... it got to 19... it was the hottest day for weeks, in May we did get about 5 days of sunny weather in a row right enough, but it wasn’t 25 and it wasn’t for 3 weeks.

There’s still a fair bit of land to go once you hit what most people call the north.

I mean, I had to have my heating on at the beginning of this week, so I’m not really wandering about in summer clothes tbh.

borntobequiet · 09/08/2020 08:10

I take the minimum and buy new while on holiday, if needed. My favourite top in this weather is a blue linen one I bought in Portugal, cool, comfortable and a really nice souvenir. Ditto sandals bought in Menorca and stripey cutoffs bought in France.

iminatent · 09/08/2020 08:11

Hmm, I'm not convinced, stayathomer. I'm not sure I believe that people who are happy to buy a whole new wardrobe to go on holiday, or who will merrily chuck away a load of clothes at the end of a holiday rather than carry them home, are the types who won't buy anything new the rest of the year.

And if you're the type who wears clothes into the ground, then why don't you have a load of summery clothes from previous holidays (unless you don't go away much)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with buying a new top or two before you go away, or maybe a new summer dress, but I'm mystified by all the people who clearly go on holiday regularly but don't already have the bulk of what they need from previous years. What do people do to their clothes?? Some of my very favourite summer dresses and skirts are ones I've owned for a decade or more, and they're still in perfectly good condition because I don't wear them all that often, unlike jeans, say, which I do have to replace every year or so because I wear them into holes.

Divebar · 09/08/2020 08:15

My husband washes all his new clothes first but I refuse to take any part of it. If he wants the additional labour then more fool him. I definitely like to buy some new clothes for a holiday though - I don’t want to wear the same clothes that I go to the supermarket in I guess. Last year I went to California and probably bought 4 or 5 things to take. Style wise they weren't unusual in relation to the rest of my wardrobe so there’s no issue with them being worn again. I’m definitely attracted to the idea of new knickers though... definitely makes me feel special. Lol. No idea why. We’re only going to Cornwall this year so I’m making do this year though.