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

Loving this method of patching jeans. Did it on my favourite pair, which were totally worn through at the knees? and they look fantastic . It's a bit of a fiddle, but worth the effort

Apologies for not reading before posting. Feel my latest contribution was a bit frivolous in view of the last few posts Sorry

Great link mothermirth.

Keep the 'frivolous' posts coming. They're a great distraction.

Thanks for the tip Mirth and ladies if you want to be entertained take a look at other DIY projects on that site - some of them are truly bizarre ("Breaking Bad" terrarium!?)

YY to more frivolous tone. Will share my budget makeup tips later, but now to the park in an outfit where every item is at least 2 years old.

Got again lots of positive feedback on the streets yesterday for my 1990s navy coat + ultralong straight-legs + high-heeled suede boots combo. Skinny jeans exaggerate my slight pear shape (it leads the eye to the hip area which is often hidden under bulky layers) and truncate my legs; if I wear flares / bootcuts / straight legs pulled over chunky boots I create an optical illusion that makes my legs endless - the widest part is in the bottom so the visual triangle minimises my thighs and hips. I'm no supermodel but this visual trick creates supermodel legs. This works well for most tallish women - can recommend.

I'm studying outfit proportions on the streets - the locals here are masters in minimalism and chic neutrals. In a monochrome / duochrome outfit, they create visual interest by different lengths (coat length, bag placement, the loop of a necklace or scarf). Chunky scarves often create a visually messy look - here I see lots of slinky scarves and circular scarves, they make an interesting focal point in an otherwise simple and streamlined outfit.

Defo need some more frivolousness, that's why I'm here! Am hoping to start on a wardrobe sort this afternoon, I need to see what I could I possibly need for spring and summer, highly likely to be nothing....
Also looking for some basic sewing tutorials on line, love the jean patching one. Years ago I used to make lots of simple skirts, am going to drag out my seeing machine which hasn't seen the light of day for ages, and finally work out the tensioning. I also need to make and sew on elbow patches for a couple of favourite but ancient brora wool jumpers, I have some lovely tartan upholstery fabric which will work well, but I guess it needs overlooking/edging before I sew them on. Any top tips before I start?

Frugal you live in a more exciting place to people watch than me. I often wander around trying to spot someone that The Sartorialist would be able to take a picture of, but there is much fleece, and bad flappy jeans I think he would really struggle!

have been inspired to pull some old diesel bootcuts/flares out of the charity shop pile. not even sure they still fit but are in excellent condition despite the fact i bought them the year i graduated (2001!). will have a try on later i think, they won't be long enough to wear with heels but pointed flats may work.

Finally decided to delurk - I'm loving this thread. Resurrected a little navy jersey juicy couture dress that must be 5 years old, but too low - found a navy jigsaw vest bought but in sale but never worn and soft cardi - Love it.

Am planning a wardrobe clearout - I have loads of lovely things, but many bought for when I'm about 6lbs lighter, which I achieve for about quarter of the year. Is it possible to loose this weight and keep it off? Anyone managed to?

Also I do think purchase planning is key - identifying gaps and shopping with a purpose - would love some tips on how to get the right balance of outfits and how to identify what is needed, or links to some relevant websites.

shirley there is loads and loads of useful stuff on Pinterest for sewing. I've pinned about making skirts to my clothes board if you want to have a look.

I spent yesterday afternoon cutting out the fabric for a shoulder bag I'm going to make. I no longer have a sewing machine and despite bribing my friend with babysitting, we don't seem to be able to arrange a time for me to use hers. I'm watching a couple of machines on eBay at the moment.

I have saved two pairs of jeans from the recycling bag. I'm going to have a go at the boyfriend jeans tutorial issimma pinned and possibly turn the other into a pair of shorts.

I'm so glad lots of other people have the same dress buying/clothes that are too smart thing going on as well. It makes me feel like less of a mug.

I've been carrying out a mini-experiment and shops, websites, look books etc. all seem to promote tailored dresses. But when I go I out on the street, very few people are wearing dresses - if it's not trousers then it tends to be a skirt. But there's less thrill and pleasure in buying neutral coloured trousers than a nice summer dress I guess.

Oh my goodness just spent last few hours reading this thread and clicking on links ?wow. You're all so organised and good at this stuff. I'm going to go off and look through my wardrobe to see what I can do. My biggest problem is I had a hysterectomy 13 weeks ago and my poor tummy is still swollen and tender so I am living in leggings and long tops with riding boots and a long cardi. Don't really know what I need...I'm 5ft 10 and usually a 14 but can't currently get any of my bottom half clothes to fasten at least not without hurting

I did the quiz a few years ago and I'm a natural. Have pretty much sorted my basic

What I need to focus on now is accessories, as

Sorry, my baby grabbed my phone...

I need to focus on accessories to finish off my look. I think I may get a nice necklace to start.

This months purchase was a pair of black ballet pumps from next. I wanted a smart pair in leather and these fit the bill.

Thanks to lurking around on this thread, I have had a rummage about in my wardrobe and dug out some things I've not worn for ages. I found a grey short skirt and remembered that I really love it. So much so, that it gave me that feeling of new clothes and I walked around the shops having a lovely look at all the clothes but didn't buy anything

I have taken a few more skirts out of the wardrobe and will get rid of them if I don't wear them within the next week.

I have also been inspired to tackle the repairs pile and have a few more things back in use now.

Thank you all for the inspiration

Ooh loving the busy thrifty sorting/organizing/repurposing/mending vibe here!
(Ladies - I have a mending mushroom, tutorial here - perfect for darning slightly threadbare Falkes to save ££ - used it a lot during my cash-poor student days and about to get reacquainted )

Just a quick hello from the local playground (which is like a runway - people wear designer to park!). Ultra-long bootcuts (to the ground or one inch from the ground) are the look du jour. Pairings: brogues, chunky boots, flat desert boots in a contrasting color (taupe suede seems to be a favorite). Babysitters/house help/schoolgirls/old ladies (saw one tottering about in them!) have adopted the skinny jean look, so the fashion-forward local ladies are doing something different. Someone was wearing a black sweater, an opal white gilet, long bootcuts, kitten heeled pointy boots and big sunglasses and looked stunning...

Although people here are very style-conscious, they are more into quality than redoing their wardrobe each season. They acquire clothing items slowly, take good care of them (the cobbler downstairs is doing brisk business), storage the items that are not fashionable at the moment and aim to buy the best quality item they can afford. There is usually one or two trends that people riff on, but being too trendy or having two many new/branded/recognizable items is slightly declassé (did you amass your fortune yesterday? do you have nothing else to do?) and so people lovingly recycle classics and vintage items. Very frugal in a way, and I'm more and more trying to adopt the local mindset.

I really love the 'make the most of what you have' ideology. It's well in line with 'frugal' ideology but it's also a leading principle in most style books I've read. No need to be perfect - just find and accentuate the good bits, and nobody will notice the bad ones! We've already talked about color and personal style. The third important factor is body shape.

The better you know your body shape, the better you understand what to wear (and what to avoid). A piece of clothing that looks terrific on your friend may look awful on you and vice versa. Even professional models avoid certain looks because they accentuate their bad bits. (An no, I haven't met a woman yet who is entirely satisfied with her body - even Giselle Bündchen was told that her nose is too big and Miranda Kerr intially looked too ordinary/girl-next-door!)

If you haven't worked out your shape yet, some useful tools:
An overview of different body shapes here. A slightly different classification but good visual guides, lots of shapes and a quiz here. I find the visual guides (backed up with self-measurements) much more accurate than quizzes.

Knowing the your personal good shapes and pitfalls is helpful both during wardrobe building and wardrobe purges. A line looks great on me

As long as you don't adopt the mindset of snobbery towards 'the help' or the nouveau riche Frugal!

Body shape stuff is interesting. I know that I suit v-neck wrap dresses but I feel like I look too grown up in them! It's a bit sad to be 33 on the outside and 17 on the inside still!
Such a shame that the things I like, don't like me!

This weekend I have retrieved from my sister, two dresses that a month ago didn't fit me but now do. I am very pleased about getting one of the back as it was my favourite swishy going out in dress. I was so happy about fitting in it again that I couldn't speak and just made noises

Nah, didn't mean it that way Bleeding. But lots of fashion magazines give you the illusion that you have to dress like a movie star (going over budget) and spend a fortune on labels/designers/the newest trends/it bags and do a wardrobe makeover every season. It's not necessary - most quietly stylish people who purchase items with their own money don't do that and even frown upon it - they hold on to their good clothes or rotate them. (People who are given lots of stuff for promotional/endorsement purposes are a different crowd.)

We might find some peer advice re: shapes here. Belts are a totally redundant item in my wardrobe

Can anyone who wears V-necks and wrap dresses well advise Bleeding how to create a younger/ more casual look?

Issimma I share the growing out/ hand-me-down aversion... And cardigans tricky for me too. Fitted ones can work (but don't like them over dresses), but shapeless oversize/ boyfriend cardis

I love a good oversize cardi, I just sling a belt on with it to give it some shape otherwise I look twice as big as I really am. I do have a fairly defined waist though so belts really work for me.

I'm an apple so nothing belted and no wrap dresses or tops for me. I love huge slouchy tops but team with skinnies so I don't look massive all over. I'm short and although my legs aren't big I don't have very defined ankles so I need to be careful with cropped trousers. I can get away with them with the right shoe though.

I agree, particularly about beauty products, each new serum is the best ever and beauty editors use so many 'go-to' products if they are to be believed! Especially if it's advertised on a double page spread!
I didn't think you were being like that btw Frugal.

I like the idea of peer advice, thank you. I struggle as I have a large chest (32GG) and flattering cuts make me feel too exposed.

frugal I think you're a similar size and shape to me (I'm reasonably tall but slight and am a pear shape: note to self, stop wearing tunics). Why do you avoid cropped trousers? They seem to work for me.

issimma I have a good friend who is 6' and the best thing is that she's comfortable, even proud of her height. It makes such a difference. She's the only person who makes me feel short, especially when she wears heels.

bleedingheart I know that grown up feeling! I wear wrap dresses etc with a lace edged cami underneath. I have a coral White Stuff one I wear a lot as it makes it a softer look. I never wear necklaces with them as that makes me feel too 'mature'. BTW, I'm 43 and have given up ever feeling like a grown up lady .

I had to go to our local Tesco Extra today and I can report back that the style factor was nothing like frugal's playground. The horror, the horror...

I'm somewhere between a pear and a column. (Column on a good day - pear if I measure myself correctly ) Dressing rules for columns are helpful for me because they address the height / lankiness / lack of curves issues. And I follow some 'pear' rules (darker bottoms, balancing shoulders, and yes I really should burn my tunics QoW - but I really don't want to elongate my figure) to hide the fact that I in fact actually am one