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

[justasecond]

When I take something back I always come back with something else or I see it as money I can then spend on something else. I think I may be beyond help.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I don't even take things back. They just end up in a charity bag further down the line. My budget doesn't allow for this.

[FrugalFashionista]

Ladies, not sure whether you enjoy surveys but because there are so many of us, I designed a quick poll to better understand how to shape this thread! It's quick and anonymous, and I'll tell you the results. And I left on open fields so you can suggest new things too!

Survey here.

And please don't crucify me, I'm an amateur pollster. (MNHQ, no underlying commercial motives, just to develop this thread.)

[justasecond]

Thats a great idea FF I feel I am in good hands with you I love your posts!

[NickECave]

My name is NickECave and I have a knitted dress/sweater dress addiction. I've just bought another one today in the Fat Face sale, even though it will (hopefully) be too warm to wear it in a few weeks time. This is the 5th woolen dress I've bought this winter and I need to STOP.

[NomDeOrdinateur]

When I look properly at my wardrobe, I realise I've made some very smart clothes-buying decisions over the past couple of years:

• Skinny jeans: far more versatile than boot-legs, so all of my jumpers and shoes get far more wear and I need fewer of them (I just need some better pairs now that I'm finally convinced by the style);
  
• Leather a-line miniskirt: goes with practically everything I own, in very regular use between October and April;
  
• 2 slouchy, loose-knit jumpers from Wallis: silver grey and icy pink, look great with aforementioned jeans and leather skirt;
  
• 3/4 sleeve linen tops from Zara: beautiful colours, don't crease, look fantastic with jeans or leather skirt, always appropriate, fantastic prices, wear v well;
  
• Soft, drapey, back waterfall jacket from Wallis: layers brilliantly with aforementioned linen tops and vest tops, can look casual or dressed up;
  
• Sharkfin grey 3/4 sleeve relaxed blazer from M&S: great for smart casual with a strappy top underneath, looks good with jeans, leather skirt, or trousers;
  
• Dr Martens: bought due to necessity (crappy ankles), but look surprisingly good with everything other than calf-length skirts or capris;
  
• Black boiled wool blazer from Next (but v old): looks like Chanel, really wonderful quality, regularly get compliments on it and can be dressed up or down;
  
• Interesting skirts: mostly a-line to balance out the Docs, mostly black-and-ivory, but a couple in more interesting patterns/colours, good for any season and help to counterbalance my very conservative tastes so I don't look too formal or old-fashioned for my working environment;
  
• Jewellery: all great, worn regularly, makes me feel very good.
  

However, to make the most out of them I should probably fix the following issues:

• Bras: I've been wearing a 32F for years, turns out I probably need a 28HH/J so I do need to sort that out as the lines where the bra digs in show through most of my clothes and my overall shape could definitely be better in the right size;
  
• Tops: I never really bother much with tops because my boobs ruin all of them very fast, but I need to start wearing my very flattering Wallis ones with the twist detail at the bust (layered with a vest top and a blazer/cardigan), even if they ARE a bloody nuisance to iron;
  
• Summer colours: all of my clothes are dark, smokey or jewel tones and I really need something to "lift" them a bit for S/S. I think Limoncellolovely's suggestion is the way to go, which means I need to buy a couple of good quality pale vest tops and dig out a couple of little cardigan things I have to go with them;
  
• Scarves: I used to love them, but mine all seem horribly passe and it's nothing that dye can fix. Not sure what to do about scarves from now on - time to abandon them?

[QueenCadbury]

frugal I'm impressed!

[QueenCadbury]

Also, has the mnv thread disappeared?? I can't seem to find it.

[shopafrolic]

Love a good survey.... Done

[FrugalFashionista]

QC it's possible to hide threads accidentally on touch screen phones, MNV here.

Thanks for the survey responses, will get y'all a summary when everyone has had a chance to respond!

[Topazandpearl]

Hi all, someone else here who would like a foot in both camps! I've been trying to be more considered with my purchases and am finding that I actually have more to wear, whilst spending less overall. In fact I have become so fussy about natural fibres that I find it hard to part with my money sometimes! I love the inspiration on MNV but think I need this board to keep me grounded .

[ALittleOfWhatYouFancy]

so sorry. That should have been a pm.

[VioletGoesVintage]

(Standing) room for another?

I'm another S&B regular - under a name change - who really really really needs to buy less and use more.

I have an enormous wardrobe. Much of it was acquired pre-DC but an embarrassing amount has been bought since giving up the corporate job for something artsy. Trouble is, some part of my mind still presumes I have the corporate salary package!

As per my NN, I am a fan of vintage, particularly 20s flapper style clothes (I am tall and, well, if not exactly as ironing board-ish as I once was, still slim). I also like some 50s styles and recently bought a bargainous vintage circle skirt (handmade, from the 70s but 50s inspired) from EBay. It's lovely and totally unlike anything you can get in the shops. In fact it has inspired me to break out my sewing machine and see if I can make a couple for myself from fabric I already have. That's frugal, isn't it????

[Limoncellolovely]

NickECave I too am a serial purchaser I feel your pain. Today I took delivery of a pair of grey with white stars converse, I checked (thanks to this thread) and 'discovered' I already own a navy blue, dark grey, white (unworn) burgundy, beige and pale pink pairs of converse, plus two pairs of Ash bowies a pair of Ash virgins and a bronze pair and black sequin pair of pumps. AAAGH they are going back why did I buy them?? I clearly don't need them I live in UK fgs it rains all the time !!!!!

[lurkingaround]

Survey done Frugal. You're very motivated!
Busy here eh? We'll have to rent a bigger room!

I'll try and keep track of everyone's (loose) rules/ guidelines, and post every so often? Will do up a list tonight when all is quiet and see what people think.

Today wearing Gap straight black work trousers, (not a bad buy/fit for work clothes), and a Cos navy top with black leather collar. Black ankle boots with abit of gold detail, bit of el cheapo glitter on the wrist to brighten.

So will I link the first item i now won't be buying as a result of this thread? I love love love them, and they would match loads but I don't need them, and they are not perfect for my ankles. Will I link?

[FrugalFashionista]

Welcome everyone - great to have an in-house vintage expert!

Thanks everyone for taking the survey - still time to participate - you'll get an idea of the results tonight

[GeorginaWorsley]

I joined the original W and A thread years ago that began which 'buy less wear more' then morphed in to something else entirely!
Am guilty of buying something that I love then copying the style endlessly,so end up with 6 things that all look the same,IFYSWIM.
Am looking for 'different' trousers for spring/summer,ie perfect cigarette/straight cut but not having much luck.

[Awks]

Hi me too. I've lost 3 stone and am struggling/enjoying finding clothes to suit my shape as I still can't really believe that I am an ordinary size now.

I've got to get out of the shapeless and baggy frame of mind and am sure you chaps can help me do that.

I love this but am not buying it as I am not sure if it's a flash in the pan. www.riverisland.com/women/coats--jackets/biker-jackets/Black-and-white-tribal-print-biker-jacket-632310

[FrugalFashionista]

Lurking thanks so much!!! And fantastic, a craving curbed! (We have to invent a klaxon sound for this thread). Don't link (might be someone else's downfall) - but start a private Pinboard where you accumulate things you did not buy. (Can then do the totals after some time and feel v smug.)

You'll get SB/FF brownie points (please help me find a better name for this!) for
*curbed cravings
*returned items (if relapsing)
*old items that get prime time once again

• tweaks, adjustments, repairs and other ways of reinventing how to use an old item
  
• completed swaps
  *from giving an item a new life on eBay etc
  *from helping out a fellow frugalista in a way or another
  (Feel free to add to the list)
  

[cheeseandchive]

Congratulations Awks, well done you. I did the same thing a few years ago, even now I still take the larger sizes in to the changing rooms 'just in case'!

That jacket is lovely and Aztec/tribal print is quite fashionable this spring, but I agree it's probably a flash in the pan and I can imagine it dating fairly quickly once the trend passes.

[Awks]

Aw I like links, can't be bothered with pinterest. And have done survey and said that but being a democratic, reasonable type will go with the maj.

[QueenCadbury]

Anyone know if I've accidentally hidden the mnv thread how I un-hide it?

[Awks]

cheeseandchive oooh so are you used to your new size now?

[Ilovemyteddy]

Room for a little one?

My story is this: I've lost 74lbs since Jan 2012 and, for the first time in my life I have been able to walk into any shop and buy clothes which fit. And I've gone slightly nuts and have bought far too much. It started as a necessity as I lost weight and had to replace clothes. But now it's become an obsession and I'm buying clothes that I like, just because I can, with no thought of whether I need them, or whether I have anything to go with them.

I've been reading S&B for a while now, and think I've got to grips with my style and what suits me, and I now need to stop buying anything and everything so that I can save up for better quality clothes and accessories.

Having said that, I love a bargain and am a charity shop clothes buying junkie, which also needs to stop, but which is a great and cheap way of replenishing your wardrobe on a budget.

I would be very interested in a swap shop, through Pinterest or any other means you come up with.

And today I am wearing Matalan skinnies, a Braintree hemp tunic, a Reiss jacket (£4.50 charity shop find) and Toms.