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 love Clarks shoes I have to be honest. They have some really nice stuff and it's nearly always really comfy. I have terrible collapsed arches and my podiatrist friend despairs of me but approves of my Clarks shoes.

I've got some patent purple heels on the Pinterest swapboard which are Clarks and they are one of only two pairs of heels I've ever been able to wear. The other ones were some random £6 wedges off eBay which I can dance in all night.

Fairyliz have you played with online e-stylists like Joy of clothes or Dressipi (I prefer the former?

Reading the news, NY Times talks about the new era of frugality in Vatican - Pope Francis, I really loved your simple crucifix (other cardinal wore glitzy g- if you need to redo your work wardrobe on a shoestring, you are always welcome here Michelle Obama welcome too ;)

Sorry, meant glitzy gold (on the phone, ham-handed)...

I just did the Joy of Clothes quiz.

Anyone else do it? did it tell you anything about your style personality I got this general blather which I did not finde helpful.

FIND COMFORT IN YOUR STYLE PERSONALITY

"Style is very different from fashion. Once you find something that works, keep it" Tom Ford

Your personality is what pulls your whole look together. It's your personality that dictates your style, which is your own interpretation of fashion and how you like to wear clothes together. If you ignore your personality and only buy clothes because they are the latest must haves or trends of the season, you will lose your identity and your look will lack focus and your personal signature style.

As a result of this you won't get the best value for your investment buys, because you've tried to copy a look which might be great on others but isn't right for you. The clothes you wear and how you wear them are influenced by factors such as: age, build, life style, environment, budget, culture and personal preferences.

As you progress through life, your look will change many times. Knowing your style personality will enable you to feel comfortable in your outfit, whatever the occasion.

mirpuppet me too. Didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know!

I'm glad -- I thought they were trying to tell me I'm dull or unfocused.

So it seems the first part of the quiz is pointless.

Sorry if I recommended a bad site. I did not find the verbal feedback too compelling, but the 'Style Me' and 'Body Shape' recommendations and all the visual things (outfit builders etc) were quite accurate and fascinating

grin Limon great swap idea!

FrugalFashionista it is not a bad site.

I think they just got a bit lazy.

The main purpose of those sites are to sell clothes; hopefully that are flattering.

The designer of the quiz just got lazy with the answers to style personality.

I liked seeing what my celebrity style icons were wearing. And I like the cartoon like drawings

Very true Mir.
Here is a style personality quiz (not a shopping site) I found genuinely helpful when I revamped my wardrobe. The House of Colour uses a related but different system. The style personality stuff is useful because it helps to understand why there are unworn clothes in your wardrobe made of good materials and in colors that in theory flatter you. They just don't get worn.

My style personality is classic (I like both minimalism and high fashion) but I also feel good in some other styles. I feel awful in 'natural', boho and very sporty/casual clothes.

Redid the quiz and I actually get more 'Dramatic' than 'Classic' answers I think this is a sign how my personal style is evolving. I like the versatility and timelessness of classic clothes (something that can be worn for decades is very frugal) but get bored with demure neutrals but I am an extrovert and like to be the center of attention (ie, love to wear red or white when everyone else wears black or neutrals) and am getting bolder with this trait: l love colors that represent authority and tend to accessorize with big rings and bracelets. But classic clothes and neutral colors are a good fall-back option and I'm still learning how to use them.

How about you ladies - have you found your style personality?

Oh and still on the wagon - it's been over a week now and I can honestly say I've enjoyed rethinking/reorganizing/swapping/sharing much more than I ever enjoyed mindless shopping. Still very early days but feeling that this thread is taking me to the right direction. Everybody for has helped:

I am creative according to the quiz. A bit of high fashion thrown in. This explains a lot of things. Good advice for me to include some clean lines - though I find this difficult as I am fairly slim but v curvy. Hmm. Good thoughts. I don't ever get rid of many clothes unless they are worn out - I think that's a good frugal measure. I put things away and know I will fknd a way to wear them in future. I don't believe in capsule wardrobes unless the capsule bit is some basics that you can build different looks around with lots of other items - not so frugal!

frugal it wasn't a bad site. I loved the figures wearing the different shapes of jeans and it confirmed that for me that straight cut are better than skinnies.

I also did the quiz and came out with d's and a few e's.I do love the fact that Jennifer Ariston always looks comfortable in her clothes-i even liked the red Valentino dress that was criticised so much recently.My idea of hell would be dressing like a Kardashian-it looks so hard and painful and very structured.
Banked a cheque from the dress agency yesterday and returned some multiple purchases to T K Maxx.Reinvested wisely [i think] in a stretch denim shirt that will go with summer maxis[for very little].Though it has very tight arms,so i will test it today.My burnt orange sheepskin jacket didn't sell sadly, so am perusing pininterest avidly for ideas on how to wear it.

The personality style quiz had me spot on as an equal classic and natural. As it says I can have a tendency to look plain and boring and need to inject more colour. I'm hoping having my colours done next month will help with this!

I love shopping around charity shops for bargains so the idea of clothes swaps sounds really good. When I buy new I always try and get the best quality for my money as I think it saves money in the long run. Shops like TKMaxx are great as well for buying designer clothes cheaper. I've recently started using cashback sites when I buy stuff online they are great as they let you use coupons and then you get some money back. Although the temptation is to buy stuff you wouldn't have. Also stocking up when special offers are on tends to save money on everyday stuff, but only if you were going to buy the product anyway.

All swaps shipped ladies!

I never found a good fit in the HoC style system, but the website quiz describes me exactly and pinpoints my Achilles heel, the need to stand out, and when failing to do so, a tendency be boring to play it too safe.

Playing off that, I'm experimenting with a dull and too safe past mistake purchase, a greige (mix of muted gold, camel and gray) Chanel type knit jacket with navy trim and bronze buttons. In theory, comfy and easy to wear. In practice, dull, formal and middle aged. Combined with a pencil skirt and courts/laceups and pearls I would enter Mrs Marple territory So decided to style it younger with a simple navy silk tee (COS, sales last year; tucked in at back to keep jean pockets visible), a big smoke quartz silver ring, slim-cut ultralong straight-leg indigo jeans, and high-heeled chunky navy suede boots (another mistake made a year ago serial non-returner ; could have combined with brown cuban heel boots too but getting bored of that shape ). And because it's chilly outside, put on my slim navy coat from 1990s and lightened the navy monotone with a taupe bag. Loved the overall slim and streamlined and leg-lengthening silhouette - it didn't look middle-aged at all. Actually got winks and double-takes from younger men and really good service at the post office . Eat your heart out Mrs Marple!

frugal can't remember when I last got winks and double takes especially from younger men

QC I'm no Claudia Schiffer but I tend to get immediate feedback when I get it right. Most days though I'm an invisible slightly frazzled mum

TiC HoC not available where I live but when I've tried to categorize myself using their system I end up looking like Angela Merkel Any attempts to categorize/stereotype people will always result in poor fit for some individuals and I seem to fall between seasons (my color consultant confirmed this) and styles. But agree getting it professionally done much better.

Have purchased the willpower book will enjoy that.
Yesterday was a bad day. I left work to go shopping to calm myself down i thought, its been ages, I deserve it. Well would you believe it calmed me down but didn?t feel tempted to actually buy. Saw (and tried) some lovely things that I will ponder upon for a while longer before committing. I really think I have cracked this ?over?-shopping thing you know.

I came out as a combination of almost all the types which probably explains why I am here.
I'm enjoying this thread and being so much more 'mindful.'
I have rescued a black tube skirt and khaki long line cardie from death row, worn with a khaki & coral scarf, opaques and black slippers I feel smart and comfortable today.
I have been trying to shy away from black because I felt I 'should' but I do feel it suits me really and I will reassess my wardrobe now.
I made two purchases this week to fill a dress and trouser shaped hole but also returned 6 items ordered before this thread started. Thanks again for starting this Frugal.