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

teta with your Maxmara and Jaegar skirts vs. DC and dog, it might unfortunately be time to be realistic. Those labels will fetch good money online and you could spend the money on some similar skirts that are more suited to your current life, I.e. machine washable and don't need ironing.

And then think of the joy in a few years time when the kids are older and life is well, less messy and you can go and buy those quality labels again. Personally I think life is too short for dry cleaning (and it's terrible for the environment)!

Spring dressing still not an issue here due to the cold wind. I am getting so sick of wearing my winter coat and fur lined boots, lovely as they are.

My children are just old enough that I can wear civilized clothes again.
But it's worth thinking what you can and will really wear Teta!

Well done organizing CeeCee!
Drywhite follow one of Polyvore boards/feeds on Pin first? I get a lot of ideas there - when I see a set created around an item resembling one I already own it's really useful.

Bill I have a winter wardrobe and a summer wardrobe. I started doing the Polyvores to find transitional winter to summer items without the need to buy new ones. Whites, creams, coral in heavier materials (wool, thick cotton) work for me. Gray skinnies, lighter denim, blazers, cardigan-jackets and leather skirts worn with opaques and tall or ankle boots.

Exhausted from work, going to a concert. Evening coats are a lifesaver on chilly nights

Thanks Frugal have followed a polyvore board to get some ideas.

Enjoy the concert! It's chucking it down here now but we've had some lovely rainbows

And thanks from me too - my new sweater via frugal arrived today - very pleased!

I'm glad the parcels arrived so quickly - good postal service karma?
I ironed the clothes before sending them out but they creased in the process of course so hang them in the bathroom after showering if wool (usually refreshes wool and takes the creases out) or reiron them (if viscose).

Issimma eBay is a mixed bag. I've found it good for BNWT and unworn items and sometimes vintage designer accessories. Also for children's clothes (nearly always buy DD's school shoes there). But much prefer clothes swaps with you ladies

I also like charity shops and our local recycling center. What the fabric feels like is super-important to me - until about 5 years ago, you could get fantastic quality fibers on the high street

I've already banished the wrong size/color items from my wardrobe. Now if something is merely out of fashion I storage it - fashion is cyclical and most looks will eventually be back. I like good quality in clothes and that's difficult on the high street at the moment. It's sad but 50p items from the recycling center are often better-made than high end clothes these days (I was lusting over a Balmain top - ??? and 100% polyester ).

Teta solutions for skirts creeping up here and OneLittleLady faux fur sounds fab! And love the busy organizing vibe. I don't even remember my spending ban, am enjoying my newfound / restyled clothes so much!

Oh and Teta you can always revisit the classic country styles and do your own versions of them. (I loved my Miss Marple cardigan with leather skirt and will at some point test whether some discreet biker style studded leather cuffs toughen it up.) Midi is very chic at the moment, quite a few style icons have embraced it and I see it on the street all the time. Saw a girl at our local bar wearing monochrome black with an asymmetric hem midi skirt, super simple and visually stunning.

Enjoying catching up with the posts. Shirley will definitely take a read of what you mention. Stripe tops are another guilty pleasure of mine!!
I have had one little lapse and bought a pink neon spot linen T. I do love it and it will get worn loads in the summer. I am not on a total ban, just want to stick within a sensible budget and not impulse buy for emotional reasons.
That aside have been trying to wear things in my wardrobe I wouldn't normally wear or styling things in a different way.
Yesterday for work I dug out a black pencil skirt and tucked a printed shirt into it. Discovered I have a scarf in the same mustard hue and topped it off with a neon pink skinny belt. The Husband loves a pencil skirt so was all over me like a rash!!! Also some positive comments from 2 female colleagues and a woman I ran into who works in the local Topshop!! The positive feedback felt good and made me realise I don't have to buy new to look and feel confident.

Am inspired so going to delurk and sort through my wardrobe today. Haven't got much as had a purge when I lost weight but still got some quality pieces I ought years ago that are just no me anymore

Might I join the swap board? I have a medley of nice cashmeres in decent colours that someone might like.

to issimma and shopafrolic - top and jeans arrived yesterday and I love them.

Thank you

have cleared out - with a bag to the 50p a kilo clothes shop, one to the charity shop, one for my family and lots for ebay

thats this weeks task.

Although if any ladies would like to buy some designer jeans - mainly 7 for all mankind in various styles (mainly standard bootcut) in a size 28 or 31 longer leg please let me know and we can gladly come to some arrangement

also boden trousers as on pinterest are still available

Roll up roll up to the great Chablis Clearout! (need to pay for summer holidays!)

Thanks to CeeCee I have a brilliant new leather skirt

Babs welcome and Cory get pinning!

I've dug out an old pair of skinny jeans that I've not worn for a while. They used to be my staple for every night out so I got bored with them.
They look ok with flat pumps and a long length top. If I try them with a different top they will probably look better but I am just studying today so don't comfort is key!
It has meant I don't feel the need to buy a new pair of jeans though .
O

Second attempt!

Changed my drab top for a white long t shirt, a taupe cardigan and a taupe and coral scarf. Also put on some leopard print flats rather than plain tan.

Look and feel so much better. It's not a groundbreaking outfit but probably a combination I have pinned at some point without realising I have the different elements already!

Frugal top posted to you today. Can you move it onto the completed swaps board? Hope you enjoy!

This thread is great for tips, thanks all!

I have another frugal fashion success story, I hope!

A group of us are going out on saturday night and I have plumbed the depths of my wardrobe and come up with the following outfit from old clothes.

Gold seqin mini skirt. (wanted one for at least a year but held out and got one for £12 in the sales)

Basic grey v neck tee

Black blazer with thin pointy shoulder pads a la Balmain

Black opaque tights (waaay too cold for bare legs)

Black brothel creepers

However, I'll be carrying my new handbag. I have been looking for a black leather bag for a long time and bought it for myself when I had completed a particularly shitty work project.

I ordered it online and when I got it I realised it's very much like the Celine Mini Luggage tote. My dream bag, happy days and a good endorsement for waiting until you find exactly the right thing.

Glad you love the jeans Chablis. Any size 31 straight leg 7FAMs?

Thanks to Frugal I have a new jumper.

Thank you for posting so quickly and wrapping so nicely. As it is cotton it will feature in my Spring wardrobe plans whenever Spring arrives.

Shopafrolic - will have a look I know there are A pocket design in a 31 and standard boot cut ones in a 32 I think.

Aphra, Scarlet, QL great styling! Very inspiring. And very happy that the parcels have arrived!

I was inspired by Teta's country musings and today's outfit is a country mashup. When I thought about traditional country outfits, I thought about tweeds, fox fur tippets and sensible shoes Then I saw my feather vest draped over my newfound greige Miss Marple cardigan - the colors and textured looked really good together. So it is a nude feather vest over conservative cardigan, with a black A line miniskirt, opaques and tall brown boots. Loving the outfit, not formulaic and feels lovely on a cold and rainy day and a bit eccentric too (am so tired of cookie-cutter outfits) . I have a gray rather formal boucle suit , could probably style it this way too.

Shop - No standard boot in a 32.

Have a James jean flare in a 31 though.

Shop - Oh and a pocket in a 31
And a next jeans flare in a size 12

There may be more as the box is big!

No worries Chablis thanks for looking.

If I find any I will let you know

My jeans collection is wide and varied

What leg length do you need?

I NEED some new jeans. they are going to be my one purchase this month as I really do need them. I have three pairs of jeans currently, two black pairs, one skinny, one bootcut and a cornflower blue pair of skinnies. I'm thinking more bootcuts but in blue. Ladies, is this justifiable?