The Shopping Ban / Frugal Fashion Thread

[FrugalFashionista]

Tentatively dipping my toes in here ---
Do you love clothes, shoes, accessories, and beauty products - perhaps a bit too much?
Have you self-prescribed a shopping ban, are you on a strict budget, or are you trying to learn to shop more mindfully for other reasons? Are you a budding recessionista, thriftionista, frugal fashionista - or would you like to become one?
Would you like to do this with like-minded people, still looking stylish and up to date?

This thread could be a place for mutual support, inspiration and creative tweaks (planning outfits from what you already have; charity shopping, swaps, repurposing).

My personal goal: no more clothes, shoe or beauty purchases in March.

I'll tell you more about why I am here in true 12-step tradition, but we need a few like-minded people first

I like quality clothes, I just find myself suckered into buying cheaper things because they are a 'bargain'. I want to shop less but buy better. Plus it'd be useful to finally pick a style and stick to it, though to be honest, the old faithful is a slightly gothy style. I always go back to it no matter what else I try.

Loving this thread and musing? a wise and not so avid friend told me many years ago that when facing fashion temptation, she applies this strict criterion: will it make my top 10? ie, unless you're going to love a garment and want to wear it almost daily a lot, don't buy it.

Usually works for me.

Can anyone help me quickly with the Pinterest swap board? Issimma sent me the invite which I accepted but now I can't work out how to access the board.

What's it called or should it automatically appear to me (it's not)? I'm on Pinterest as Queen of Whatever.

I'm already getting that panicky feeling that I'm missing out on all these amazing clothes - not that I really need anything.

OneLittleLady I used to do that too. When I examine my charity bag contents, they tend to be synthetics /poorly made clothes /one season wonders. Years ago I had a phase of wearing mostly supermarket clothes. While that was cheap up-front, I never really loved those clothes and consequently did not feel great on them. If you can get hold of the book "Overdressed", via a library or otherwise (does anyone here have a spare copy?), it directly addresses this issue and can be very useful.

Mothermirth you are my hero! Hope I will get there too one day

I went to a party with lots of fashionable people last night and from what I saw, demure is back. Saw beige and nude below the knee or midcalf plissé polyester skirts. A very early 1980s secretary/librarian look - I am sure there are lots of skirts like that in any thrift/charity shop. A line is back too after a long break. And I can confirm that bootcuts are chichi fashion party appropriate if you wear them long and dark, pulled tight over high-heeled boots or wedges or platforms so that just the tip of the shoe is visible.

I wore a winter white A line mod style coatdress (an impulse purchase/relapse that inspired this thread: no use to cry over spilled milk - the coat will remind me of important self-discoveries and I am going to wear it until it is gray put it to hard work), a cream loose poly/viscose knit jumper underneath (impulse purchase last summer, binned after circa two wears - I found it in a bin bag in the walk-in closet and fixed the snags with a crochet needle), grey skinnies (a semi mistake purchase in the winter sales, something I didn't get around returning in time) and tall silver python print boots (2nd hand from eBay 2 years ago, boot shaft too loose, have been meaning to take them to the cobbler's, but now that Napoleon-type loose boots are trendy again, they looked just right). Felt good, received compliments and stood out in a good way (wear white or red to a party if you want to be noticed - most others will wear black and dark neutrals). Felt very smug about the thriftionista items

Anyone else found something forgotten and started wearing it again?

PM sent to QoW, we'll make the link public tonight.
Deep breaths, mindful swaps, use your mantras

Haha, it's hard to stick to, but once you get used to it, the top 10 rule does work. Especially if, like me, you're on a self-imposed no-spending ban until the end of 2013!

As I get more haggard older, I find another brilliant deterrent to spending is simply to try things on. As soon as I see how hideous the object of my desire looks, the urge to spend vanishes

I meant a self-imposed spending ban.

Quick instructions how to post swaps: get board access by PMing Issimma, upload a picture of an item that you want to snap to Pinterest via snapping a photo (using a smartphone / iPad Pinterest app) or by taking a photo, uploading it to a free image server (Photobucket, Flickr etc) and then pinning the photo URL to the board via the 'Pin It' button on the swapboard. Describe the item (size etc) and tell how you want to be contacted (I want to be contacted via PM on MN, but you can discuss the terms on Pin too using the commenting tool).

Going to work now, see you in the evening!

Wrt finding things you'd forgotten you had-

I re-found a pair of high waist black wide leg trousers. I was given them by my friend's mum when I was about 15. They are really flattering on me for some reason. They have an elasticated waist which sounds grim, but I'm a slim apple with size 8/10 hips and a 12 waist. Fitted trousers give me a saggy bum, but these seem to flatter my arse and tummy. Was looking for a black maxi skirt but these give a similar look so may hold out on the skirt for now.

Also a pair of champagne metallic plimsolls. Someone linked to something similar on another thread, I loved them, and then thought...hang on a minute

Love this thread. I love clothes, want to look stylish, like taking care of myself and interested in fashion and fashion history. Like others I have a fairly decent wardrobe, that could be improved by a bit of well planned gap filling.

A big issue for me is weddings etc. I panic and end up spending ££££ on some shite from Coast which a)I will never wear again, b) needs additional spend on shoes, cover up, bag etc and c) someone else will inevitably be wearing.

The third last wedding I went to there was a seriously stylish woman there, wearing a simple black backless jumpsuit and a chain strap handbag. She was just in a class apart from the rest of us in our 'event' clothing.

I vowed there and then never to return to my Coast days, and for the next wedding bought a simple, beautiful navy dress which I have worn many times since.

I want my whole wardrobe to be like that. I don't want to clothes-panic over a dinner date with friends, or a camping trip, or a night at the theatre. I'm getting there and this thread is helping hugely.
Wow, ramble over, must Hoover the floor.

Frugal On your advice I rescued 3 pairs of bootcuts from death row. One pair were perfect hardly been worn because they are so long but work very well with a slightly higher pair of shoes. The second pair are too short and I dont think bootcuts that flap about above the ankle will ever look good so I remember a tip from Trinny & Suzanna of all people about chopping them down into shorts they look fab (just need it to stop snowing). The 3rd pair were fine but were a strange colour then I remembered rescueing a much loved pair of DH jeans by dyeing them indigo. One pack of Dylon jeans blue dylon added to half a pack of black dylon machine wash gives a gorgeous dark indigo blue black colour, these were 7fam jeans so would not have been cheap to replace like for like !!!!!

Secondly a fellow inmate of my bootcuts on death row was a dark tan leather blazer I tried it on it still fits looks, nice feels good. Now I love a blazer and own them in everything from wool to denim even a bloomin' linen one in my wardrobe somewhere but what about leather ???? Looking around all there is biker style jackets I have a black one myself that I wear a lot but am a little bored with now. How do I style it ? I used wear it with bootcuts and a T. Nomdeordinateur helped my leather skirt get parole it even came out on day release Saturday with chunky boots woolly tights and a slouchy knit so thank you for that But what do I do abot the blazer can fellow frugalistas help me decide if it gets pardoned and released back into my wardrobe remain or on death row ?????

Billstickers Ramble on it is cathartic. Know exacxtly what you mean since starting on this thread and thinking A LOT more about about my shopping habits the best anti-shop mantra is thinking "Dont I have one of those already ????"

Coast do some lovely stuff BUT you always run the risk of turning up in the same dress as someone else and having to keep your coat on all day. I'd like to bet your stylish lady did not buy that outfit especially but had had it ages loved it and has worn it loads !!!!

Agree completely re:navy shift I wore one to a wedding must be 18 years ago comlpete with classic Audrey Hepburn style cream and navy hat and pearl necklace. Dh says it is his favourite photo of me has it up in his office and even when I look at it now I know I look nice and it still does not look dated !!!!

I'm going to summarize some of the points/aims/tips of this thread and link some reading material.

The aim of this thread is to help and support those of us wishing to curtail our clothes spending, stick to a budget, wear the lovely clothes we already have, re-jig old clothes, and stop impulse buying unnesessary clothes/accessories and compulsive repeat puchases

It's worth doing a bit of background reading on clothes/will power etc.
You are what you wear by Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner
Why self-control is the secret of success Roy F. Baumeister
To buy or not to buy
Overdressed: The shockingly high cost of cheap fashion

Recognise your weaknesses, like tiredness, or late night internet shopping and avoid these like the plague.

We have some helpful tips:
Examine your wardrobe, with a ruthless eye. This site might be useful.
See if you can re-hash or re-jig some of your older clothes. This site is worth a browse, this site or have a look on the net for ideas.
Project 333

Ebay/Charity/Swop unwnted items.

SHOPPING

A: It's worthwhile making a list of your aims e.g. no shopping in March/this year, or replace jeans, 3 new tops, new accessories etc.

B: Decide your budget and stick to it.

C: Ask yourself some worthwhile questions:

1. Do you love love love the item?
2. Do I have 3 other items in my wardrobe that I can wear with it?
3. Will it make my top 10 favourite list?
4. Will I wear it? (Where, when etc)
5. Can I afford it?

D: if you still want to buy, it might be useful to WAIT 5 DAYS and consider your purchase. Maybe pin it, polyvore it or post on the other Frugal thread for an arched-eyebrow honest review from fellow frugalistas.

E: Check your bank balance

F: See if you can source the item cheaper e.g. with a code, a sale etc

G: If you do buy, make sure you wear and enjoy with a guilt-free conscience that your item og clothing was a GOOD BUY!!

Hello Lurkingaround thank you for that post was just thinking we needed a reading list !!!! Is there anyway your above post could be attatched to the opening post so that it doesnt get lost and we all know where it is to refer to ??

Posted a bit too soon, Last sentence should be knowing that your item of clothing was a good buy.

Apologies the essay, but I thought it might be useful to have our 'reading-list' and hints/tips in a sort-of-list form.

Add if I've forgotten something!

I don't know how to do that Limoncello, it would be handy, I had to skim the thread a lot for the list!!

It would be worth adding a little description to each of the book titles. I didn't because I was terrified if I took any longer on the post it would whoosh disappear and I'd have to start all over again!

Have added the willpower one to my wish list, but might see if the library can order it in.

I am secretly thrilled that DH has to work all night tonight so I can spend it going through my wardrobe.

Great thread idea FF and can recommend the book Overdressed recommended by Frugal she has great taste in books

Love the idea of a clothes swap thing too.

Any other avid charity shoppers on this thread?

I am definitely an emotional shopper, it is a craving I get that fills some sort of void. Have been much more self controlled in past year than ever before and not bought very much at all. I love thrift shopping but have even got fussier with that in recent times saving it for stuff I really like. My plan is to get a sewing machine and start altering stuff myself. This has been a plan for about a year but feel closer to it now than before...

Have read You are What you Wear too. it was good, an easy read. Overdressed is very different book.

Think reading those two books had a big impact on my spending habits actually. Am a huge accessories fan particularly belts, shoes and jewellery.

Just been to the library to order Overdressed and all 3 southwest copies are out come on now own up!!!

I've listed my things onto the swapboard and I'm on there as Queen of Whatever. It's confusing when some people have got different names here and on Pinterest! Which one of you is Cee Cee Bloomngdale or skaen? You both have things I like.

If you have a Kindle, you can often download the first chapter of a book for free. I downloaded Jennifer Baumgartner's first chapter and am enjoying it.

Some of you seem to have more upscale lifestyles than me - parties and Glyndebourne! My life is nice and low key (pubs or seeing bands in terms of social life) but I still end up buying clothes that are too dressy. Advice on how to look my age (43), casual but elegant and also comfortable is always appreciated!

Am loving the swap board. I've a couple of things to list so ill try and do them over the next few days.
I'm giving up smoking this week so am going to use all that extra anger energy to start going through my clothes and putting outfits together, looking at what I can alter and highlighting any gaps so I can focus any future spending. Will have a look into the books too-which will hopefully help me keep focused.

Wowee, I must have missed this thread. Already up to 300 posts so its definitely a hot topic!

I have up shopping for lent.

It has seemingly gone ok. I have people around me who know and support me and guide me back when I am near to pressing that buy button.

I have decided that I can treat myself if I sell something 1st.

So far since the beginning of lent I have sold a pair of jeans and bought myself a blazer on eBay. (Reduced from £90 to £20!)