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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

545 replies

Kittythepink · 08/08/2020 20:33

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?

OP posts:
Feefsie · 09/08/2020 22:19

The week before our holidays I start to pack my sons clothes and take the nicest shorts, t shirts etc out of circulation. They have to decide what they want to take on holiday. This is easier in term time when they are wearing uniform every day. I have never packed for my DH - he does his own. I buy some new things but have some holiday dresses that I only wear abroad

Ellia28 · 09/08/2020 22:25

N

kennycat · 09/08/2020 22:35

I don’t buy new stuff. We only Ever holiday In the uk so we just wear our normal clothes. We actually don’t own many clothes though so the few days before holiday we wear our absolute worst clothes because the ones we want to take away with us are in the wash or packed!

I imagine there are loads of people who love an excuse to buy new clothes. I’m not one of those people.

kennycat · 09/08/2020 22:37

I read about a famous actress who said she never packed to go on holiday and just bought from charity shops once she got there. Not the worst idea I’ve ever heard...

honeygirlz · 09/08/2020 22:47

@kennycat yikes that wouldn''t do for me, what if you couldn't find anything comfortable that fits? I need my softest, most comfortable clothes for holidays, especially in hot weather.

starlight13 · 09/08/2020 22:50

More the opposite really. I pack things for all the family that are likely to get trashed at the beach, hiking, activities etc so that I don't have the hassle of bringing them home. Same for toiletries etc - anything that is nearly used up goes in the case.
I seriously don't know how people can afford a holiday + all new clothes etc.

SkinnywannabeKBH · 09/08/2020 23:16

I normally only buy new holiday clothes because my old ones don't fit me. My kids normally get a couple of new things but mainly hand-me-downs.

GlamGiraffe · 10/08/2020 00:43

But clothes need to be washed before they are worn for the first time.

And dry cleaned too?

Where are all these dirty clothes coming from?

I've never found I needed to wash anything when I got it home.

I don't understand this.

GlamGiraffe · 10/08/2020 00:54

I have never heard of anyone taking a whole case if new things on holiday before. I've owned many of my clothes for 20+ years. I buy new ones if I find something I like and get rid of things eventually, but I really like all the items I buy, haven't really changed size or shape so they all still fit me.I like wearing them so I wouldnt want to wear something else in preference for clothes I've chosen because I really like them and that have nothing at all wrong with them.
It's not that much of an issue keep your dresses ironed in the wardrobe so they just get neatly folded into a case etc, surely the shopping trips would take just as long as any routine washing or ironing you would need to do?

user1490954378 · 10/08/2020 01:26

I wouldn't buy new clothes just because of going on holiday. I would only buy bits and pieces that I think the kids might need because they have outgrown some of their things. They usually grow out of clothes about every two years or so, and often I end up buying new Summer or Winter clothes. During summer, that might typically be before a holiday, but only because I always they need enough clothes to go away with, which for me, means packing most of their clothes, when in reality they usually wear less than half of what is packed, the whole time we are away. I used to spend days ironing and packing, but it's honestly easier to start packing their clothes the day before, as most of their stuff is being rotated in the wash, and being dried up until then anyway. I don't iron clothes to go away unless they are hideously creased. Usually if clothes have been shaken out and dried on the line/airer they are then good to go into their cases. There was an iron and ironing board where we stayed this year, so I could have done ironing there, but I didn't really need to. I don't really care too much about a few creases in clothes if we are on holiday tbh. Who cares what people who we will probably never see again, thinks?! Also beach clothes tend to be old stuff as otherwise they get stained from all the sun cream. As a child I remember really roughing it on camping holidays, including one where me and my sister slept in a 2 man tent with the dog while our mum and dad slept in the car. We washed in a grotty toilets and sinks block, with no working lights. At night we used a torch and we cooked with my dad holding an umbrella over the camp stove! I think people are often spoilt (myself now included) when they go on holidays these days, and most will never really know the true meaning of really appreciating a holiday during which they have had to TRULY rough it, and sacrifice having any luxuries whatsoever when they are away, just so that they are able to have a holiday. When I was a kid, I would have laughed my head off if someone had asked if I had new clothes bought for going away.

MrsAvocet · 10/08/2020 01:33

I've been wearing the same clothes on holiday for years now. Living in The Frozen North, my summer clothes get so little use that I can rarely justify buying anything new. I'm not a big follower of fashion so don't care about the latest trends and my holiday wardrobe consists of a few pairs of shorts, half a dozen t shirts a couple of pairs of smartish linen trousers and one sundress, all between 5 and 10 years old. I've recently lost a lot of weight though so have been caught out by the current hot weather. All my shorts are literally falling off me, which is great, but simultaneously extremely irritating. I've just ordered some new ones, the arrival of which will no doubt herald the start of a long cold rainy spell - sorry everyoneHmm
I do however, buy a new pair of sandals before every summer holiday, in the vain hope that one day I will find a pair that look nice but don't cut my feet to ribbons. I should have learned by now!
I guess if we had different types of holidays I would need more clothes but we prefer to self cater, usually off the beaten track so no need for anything posh and its easy to wash and re wear outfits a few times. Arriving home with cases full of dirty clothes is something that really puts me off hotel holidays actually. I like to wash and iron as much as possible before the end of our holiday so that I can put all the summer clothes away as soon as we get home , ready for next year,

yellowbananass · 10/08/2020 01:34

How was the seaside? Was thinking to go somewhere soon with family, especially after lockdown.

I wouldn't buy like full outfits, but here and there eg underwear, leggings.
But hopefully you managed in time kitty and the family had a great time!GrinGrin

Alongcameacat · 10/08/2020 01:51

Why would anyone iron children's clothes?

For under 12 months, I agree but as soon as they start wearing little dresses, depending on the material. they don’t look great if not ironed.

It’s feasible to golf some clothes though.
As they get older, the clothes get bigger and once they start primary, the clothes are too big to get away with not ironing.

Alongcameacat · 10/08/2020 01:52

Fold not golf!!!

Deidre21 · 10/08/2020 07:57

Surely you wash clothes that are new befits buying it? People have tried on things in the store and in this current climate if Covid that we are in, surely you should wash items.

LaurieMarlow · 10/08/2020 07:58

Surely you wash clothes that are new befits buying it? People have tried on things in the store and in this current climate if Covid that we are in, surely you should wash items.

I haven’t been to a single store post Covid where you can try something on.

Deidre21 · 10/08/2020 07:58

*wash clothes that are new AFTER buying it

Deidre21 · 10/08/2020 07:59

I’d still be careful but that’s me.

Deidre21 · 10/08/2020 08:04

And then there are returns that come back to the store that are put back on to the shop floor for sale..,
I think if you generally do have the habit of washing new clothes before wearing them, then packing clothes for a trip isn’t normally an issue, skip the ironing part as most to all places (hotels / B&B / self catering) have irons available

SaddestDay · 10/08/2020 08:07

Tend to take older stuff that I don't mind getting yellowed with sun cream.

But a new nice outfit for the couple of evening meals we have.

And generally a new swimming costume/bikini.

Our abroad holidays both got cancelled this year so off to Wales for a week so have bought wetsuits new so that some sea swimming/body boarding can actually happen.

LaurieMarlow · 10/08/2020 08:10

And then there are returns that come back to the store that are put back on to the shop floor for sale

CV does not live long at all on soft surfaces. It’s metal you have to worry about.

UnfinishedSymphon · 10/08/2020 08:11

We have clothes we only use on holiday.

We always get accommodation with a washing machine so the bulk of the clothes are washed and put out to dry on our last day. Once home, any remaining bits and bobs are washed and everything is put back in the case(s), with a few dryer sheets until the next holiday. I roll our clothes too, far less creases and because everything is packed in tight, it rarely moves in the case despite all the chucking about by the handlers

MinorArcana · 10/08/2020 08:15

We keep most of our clothes folded in drawers, so provided we keep on top of our washing, it’s very easy to just grab folded clothes out of the drawers and stick them straight in the suitcase.

If I buy new clothes for a holiday in advance then it’s because the clothes we need don’t fit anymore, rather than buying new clothes for the sake of it.

What’s happened more often though, is I get distracted halfway through packing, don’t put everything in the suitcase, and then have to pop to a shop to buy more clothes.
Like the time last year when we went to Scotland for a week and realised I hadn’t packed any pyjamas or pants for DC2. Blush

Blondebombsite83 · 10/08/2020 08:27

Always new underwear-it’s a treat! My weight fluctuates a lot so I will often have to buy a few bits but not a whole case as I tend to wear floaty stuff in the sun anyway. My husband irons it because he knows I won’t do it well Smile
Children get new stuff purely because they’ve grown a year and if we’ve not had hot weather then I won’t have bought it yet. Multipacks of children’s t shirts do make packing quicker for me than trying to find enough for the week in one go out of drawers. They will then get used when we get back though. As for washing new clothes? I worked in retail for many years. Clothes sell fast and often go from stockroom to till in a day or two. They arrive steamed and packed in plastic. You can usually judge what’s been tried on if it bothers you. I’d rather have the nice fresh clothes feeling for the first time I wear them and I don’t wear them straight after buying so viruses wouldn’t be an issue.

helpIhateclothesshopping · 10/08/2020 08:31

I can't really understand why people buy a whole load of new stuff for holidays. I nearly always pack my oldest underwear etc. That way, if my luggage gets lost or I run out of space, I can leave something behind. I did buy a few new bits, such as a bikini though as I didn't have one. I bought my kids new walking boots as their old ones had worn or grown out. We usually travel hand luggage only so space is at a premium. We are going away next week with under seat bags only. Which would probably be fine if we were going on a beach holiday but we're not. It's going to be a tight squeeze packing.