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]

Frugal surely the capri pants come under your necessities budget,exercise clothes don't really count as fashion expenditure surely[at least not in my book].The dress is a mindful purchase,which are allowed under the thread rules[in moderation] and if its similar to that suit is truly lovely.You see,this is why i need a thread like this.
One little lady i'm glad you are having a better day.I like the sound of the Lilac skinnies.Today i have received the Pure catalogue and the Wrap one-both have been binned virtuously.I have also spent the day sorting out the Boys room.They have so much of everything and all they want to wear is t shirts and trackie bottoms.Also very industriously all my Cashmere sweaters have been combed and debobbled.I have a favourite black cashmere/wool coat that i was going to discard as the lining is ripped.Its 10 years old,but hardly worn as a lived in a hot country for 7 of those years.I've debobbled it and cleaned it and i think i'll get it relined as the shape is so good and the coat is lovely and lightweight.Isn't this how people lived in days gone by.

[VioletGoesVintage]

Yep, I binned the Pure catalogue today too, teta. Haven't had the Wrap one yet but I will and when I do, it will also go straight into the green bin. Next step will, I think, be to unsubscribe from, ooohhh, about 90% of all the stores and online places I am registered with.

Thanks for the blog recommendation, Frugal. I like her style, particularly the men's coats. I've sometimes bought men's sweaters as a men's XXS sometimes offers a better fit, especially if I'm after a slouchy one, whilst also being long enough in the arms and body. Have not, though, ever thought about branching out into men's coats (apart from a waterproof hiking jacket) but maybe I will in future.

Oh, and I like the sound of the "suit". It might not be an every day (or even an every week) outfit but it's nice to have the odd Really Special work outfit. Well, I think so anyway.

OneLittleLady - the skinnies sound like a good buy. If something makes you look and feel great, what's not to like? Just don't go out and buy several duplicates (because that's not something I'd do. Oh no).

[FrugalFashionista]

Thanks SMN, QC, Pretzel, Teta, Violet - appreciate your support! Didn't feel great yesterday and your support really made a difference!

OneLittleLady I'm 100% certain you look stunning in your mauve skinnies, so happy for you!

QoW my mother and DD2 are both 'diagonal' - cheekbones, heart-shaped face plus my mother is a classic hourglass too. They seem so much more three-dimensional than I do

Violet and Teta well done binning the catalogues! I did a huge unsubscription round last year when I first become aware of my overshopping tendencies and it has helped a lot. I don't get any catalogues as I opted out of nearly all admail some years ago - a superb way to declutter. There is one very stubborn shop left, should actually write them and ask them to stop). I have also installed AdBlock (can recommend!) and an ingenious selective web-surfing blocker on my browser (it's called Leechblock, you can selectively block shops, blogs, MN, FB and other time-sucking websites; it works with Firefox). It and has really increased my productivity at work. I haven't found a similar one for my iPhone - is anyone aware of a similar program?

And Teta well done debobbling! I did the same and my cashmeres are now ready for next winter unless the moths get to them. I'll do the big winter-summer wardrobe switch soon, day temperatures are hovering around 18C so it's about time!

In the longer, my goal is to kill off this thread (and focus on other more important things and relaxing like Pretzel ) - everyone will have sorted their style out and stopped mindless purchases

However, maybe I should just regard the relapse as a learning experience. I managed to have a full shopping-free month and learned so many great things during it and did a postmortem of the relapse triggers last night.

I still had very strong overshopping urges last night and was very tempted to click 'buy' multiple times but somehow managed to curb them. The critical thing was that I got an intriguing work-related e-mail that was able to shift my focus completely elsewhere. So distraction strategies actually work!

Justasecond I'll write a more detailed response to you later (yes cowls do work for lean columns)

[QueenofWhatever]

frugal the stuff you bought is not the end of the world. Also it will help your will power next time you're tempted as you'll remember how this incident has made you feel.

Personally I would cancel the orders if possible or return them as soon as they arrive. Maybe ask your DH or someone to do it for you so that you never actually see them and so they never become real.

Because of the way you've bought them, the emotional reaction will still be there when you wear them. They should be making you feel good every time you put them on and they're already associated with guilt.

QueenCadbury I really liked that blog you linked to. She has some really good articles on body shape and colour. I also found this blog myyearwithoutclothesshopping.com/ from another recovering shopaholic.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I've made a few purchases in the last week or so BUT they have been well thought out and mainly hugely discounted basics so I feel I have still kept to my own brief. I'm wearing more of my clothes now I've chueck out half of them and feeling better for it. Thanks FF!

[libertychick]

Oh Frugal (((hugs))) don't beat yourself up - in all endeavours there will be set backs.

[OneLittleLady]

Chin up frugal a slip up here and there is only human. You can always return them if you need to. Don't get down over it, no ones perfect.

[FrugalFashionista]

Thanks all! Still struggling with overshopping urges but starting to realize the process will be gradual. One of the triggers is that I'm currently spending most of my willpower working really hard (facing a hyper-demanding month). Plus I have made quite a bit progress in many areas that also tax my self control (meeting weekly exercise goals - am at my optimal pre-preg weight; being quite strict about alcohol; limiting time spent online; slowly decluttering the house). Shopping is an outlet to de-stress and I need to find other ways but it's a process.

Want to share a great blog -Miss Minimalist. If you have a Kindle, she has great eBooks, I read one of them (cost: 99 cents) and found parts of it extremely inspiring. She has great advice on decluttering and organizing.

[DigWeedSow]

Hello, after following this thread from the beginning I felt that it was about time that I de- lurked!

For a while I have been on a minimalist journey, trying to streamline my commitments, home and wardrobe so have found that the information shared on here very helpful.

Since the start of the year I have ebayed and donated more than 50% of my (already minimal) wardrobe. Anything that didn't fit correctly, was the wrong style or colour or just wasn't me has gone. As a result I have been left with a small selection of my favourite pieces however there are a few gaps that need re-filling! Hopefully armed with the right information I won't be making the same mistakes as I have before and ebaying items described as BNWT will be a thing of the past

With the help of this thread (some great links to very informative blogs btw) I have also looked at how I can rework some items and as I type I have a great fitting pair of jeans which have sadly faded in the washing machine with a dylon dye, very much in the spirit of frugal fashion!

[FrugalFashionista]

Welcome DigWeedSow!
A much better day today.
Two friends suggested getting together - right now when I really need it

(Social life, parties and eating out, reading books, and taking some time off to explore the city are things that I really enjoy. Doing all of the above has really helped.)

If you are feeling low, also try wearing your favorite color
Watermelon is mine...
I'm wearing a watermelon long and loose scoop-neck top.
Everything else is sky-blue and silver... (old of course)

It's warm and sunny. If I have the energy, I'll retrieve my summer clothes and put away woolens over the weekend.

I'd also need to do some further decluttering - my bathroom makeup cabinet is overflowing. I've decided to use up some old products - it's very satisfying to finish something with no need to repurchase - but I have to sort out the multiples.

I'm also working on emptying some kitchen cabinets. I'm a bit of a hoarder and have steadily been planning meals around using up the excess. The freezer is almost empty now
Will probably never be a true minimalist but love reclaimed empty space and decreased clutter.

How is it going ladies?

[OneLittleLady]

I fixed my jeans crisis. I went for skinny in all three pairs I've recently bought, fat thighs be damned. Other than that, I've bought very little except a few scarves and earrings that go with most of my wardrobe. Would be quite happy to have another spending ban though, it's made me much choosier about what I buy instead of picking up whatever catches my eye first.

[DigWeedSow]

Ooh I love a good declutter Frugal I find it very therapeutic, I too will never be a true minimalist, however having a mum with an OCD about cleaning and clutter has meant that I too can't deal with having too much "stuff" in the house (thankfully the habit of hoovering at 4am didn't rub off on me!).

Very happy with the results of dying my jeans, thankfully the stitching has retained it's original golden colour which I was worried about. Dying them cost me a tenth of the price of new pair!

[QueenofWhatever]

One of my favourite minimalist blogs is Be More With Less which is written by Courtney Carver, the woman behind Project 333. Today's post felt very apt to me and links with a lot of what we've been talking about on this thread: bemorewithless.com/fivestages/

I went to yoga on Tuesday and got chatting with a woman about the great bag she had. It was a brand I hadn't heard of and I need a new bag so I came home and started watching a few on eBay.

But then I thought, hang on, I'm gong through some big changes with regards to work since being made redundant so I don't even know what sort of bag I'll need in six months time.

It's made me stop and think about why I'm still thinking about things to buy. I don't need anything, I don't know yet exactly what colours and shapes as I'm still digesting a lot of the 'technical' information (colours, golden ratio, planes etc.). I don't spend as much as some of you but I still have plenty of items that aren't 8/10. Doing Project 333 means nothing is below a six or seven but I'm not there yet.

So I'm toying with the idea of giving myself a six month shopping ban until October. I don't think it'll be as hard as it seems, I had a shopping ban (although charity shops were exempt as it was more about money and consumerism in general) about five years ago. I planned it for a month and ended up doing for 14 months after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's book 'Not Buying It'.

[daimbardiva]

Hello everyone, sorry for disappearing. Am feeling particularly unstylish this week as I am sporting a cracker of a black eye after an unfortunate incident with corner of the bath!! Completely failed at my self-imposed no skinnies week...then started wondering why. Skinny jeans are such an easy choice for me as they actually really suit me - I'm tall, skinnier than I deserve to be and have long legs. I feel good in them, they're easy to wear and versatile so therefore have become my go to option. I have become lazy, would love to wear more skirts and dresses (which I do own) but find skirts really hard to style and am just not sure why!!! I mean why is it harder than trousers?!

The other area I'm struggling with is work wear. I'm lucky in that I work in an industry which is fairly casual so 'WORK WEAR' as such is not required, but this means I tend to laziness yet again and pretty much wear the same inside and outside of work. I'd like to have sone distinction between my work and not work wardrobes whilst still retaining my own style/character at work.

Suggestions on how to start sorting this without great expenditure gratefully received. To give you an idea of how I dress and in what I feel most comfortable, for work my favourite oufit is a nude light jumper w flamingos in from dp with black skinnies and brown brogues. Outside work, skinnies and a fitted checked shirt and ankle boots.

People whose style I admire include zooey deschanel, claudia winkleman, alexa chung.

[daimbardiva]

Also meant to say I've read 'You are what you wear' which was interesting reading, and much of it really resonated. An interesting part was where she recommends moving clothes down a level I.e. if you normally wear sonething for going out, start wearing it for smart everyday. It's made me realise that I have so many lovely formal dresses which really are appropriate only for weddings etc and just don't fit into my lifestyle otherwise at all.

[teta]

I succumbed today to the lure of internet shopping.I ordered 2 summer dresses.I received a sales code 3 weeks ago and have been very good at ignoring it.Today i decided to look and found out a lot of sizes had gone-in a frenzy i ordered them.I'm pretty certain they won't look right though[as i am a heifer at the mo.].They are not a lot of money and i refuse to feel guilty.I was still really in the mood to shop,so took dc's out and bought cool canvas sneakers and jeans for them.They needed them, and they were inexpensive[and i got a discount-20 % off].I do think shopping is a stress relieving activity and i am too asthmaticy to go the gym today[which is another stress relieving activity].This is the first lot of money spent in 4 weeks though,which isn't bad.
I do think if we are all 'shopaholics' we need constant reinforcement not to be.We will always have tendencies to 'revert' back.I for one would really like this thread to continue.I still value the support.I'm really not sure that this planet can sustain long-term the constant new things that we all desire.

[FrugalFashionista]

I hear you Teta! I think we need constant mutual support to stay mindful - we are surrounded by 'buy buy buy' and those messages are really hard to ignore. I blocked the online stores I like most from my browser (with Leechblock, you can selectively block sites and also choose hours when you block something). And unsubscribed the catalogue that keeps bombarding me. Hope that will help

QoW I'm in awe of your 6-month plan (and very sorry about the redundancy - hope things will work out)! I loved Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickled and Dimed - such an eye-opening book! (Have actually briefly met the author - she came to my university during her book tour). Here is an interview (audio) of 'Not Buying It - My year without purchases' (by Judith Levine - not sure if BE has written on the theme as well) - listened to it last night.

OneLittleLady you've made some good purchases but a new ban is a great idea too

DigWeedSow style guru Ines de la Fressange says in her book that everything can be dyed navy in the end
Stitching remains unchanged because most industrial stitching threads are made of polyester. Polyester is basically plastic, so a normal home dye won't take. I have a couple of faded white cotton items I might dye navy or cobalt. Italians do this a lot, every supermarket has a sizeable selection of washing machine dyes (beige, khaki and olive green are popular colors on the shelves) and they also have professionals who do this.

Daimbar nothing wrong with wearing skinnies if they suit you! I did complete my No Skinnies Week. My main motivation was to further develop my personal signature style and to 'diversify my portfolio'. At least the following combinations are suitable for my everyday life at home and with children:

1. dress + boots /flats
   
2. jeans/ciggies/widelegs + tee+ jacket
   
3. shorts + vest/tee + jacket
   
4. skirt + jacket/cardi/cardicoat
   
5. skirt + tee + bolero
   
6. flares+bolero/cropped jacket
   
7. coat dress + boots/flats
   
8. ankle boots+jeans+slim coat
   
9. ankle boots+straight/bootcut jeans+layered tops+ gilet
   

I accesorize everything with a big ring and a chunky bracelet - I'm not a big scarf wearer. Absolutely loving the many newfound options! Will still occasionally wear skinnies but won't rely heavily on them any more.

I also do a lot of clothes demoting: I wear my (knee-length) party dresses in my every day life (with bare legs and ballerinas or espadrilles in the summer), Chanel-type jackets with jeans, and some of the more casual tops become exercise clothes. But I try to avoid wearing clothes that make me feel scruffy and unkempt...

[mirpuppet]

Everyone seems to be doing so well. Some of us trip up but we get back up again.

Last night I realised I was falling into the online shopping trap. Boden sent voucher and although I was not buying for me I realised I had a full basket for my son although I planned to buy him one item. He even suggested we decide in the morning. even the young know late night online shopping is not good--

Then I saw clarks code and put a pair of sandals in my basket decided to wait and realised I have a pair that look the same. In addition I have 2 pairs of sandals I haven't worn yet which are ENOUGH how many sandals do i need for a Great British summer?--

Also doing a bit of declutter before the big Spring clean and wardrobe turn over. Freezing some woolens in the effort to kill any moth eggs.

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Checking in!

Struggling a bit with temptation too - maybe it's the sunshine and promise of warmer weather. Seen two things I really covet and they would be very useful and very me, and go with lots I already have. But finances are dire currently so have pinned and will hold out until the end of the month.

[libertychick]

My frugal moment this week - dyed my almost unworn Gap beige/cream trench coat navy. The threads are still cream but the effect looks good actually and this means I don't have to buy a spring/summer work coat.

[DigWeedSow]

libertychick I've been taking a look in my wardrobe to see what else I can dye! It's a great way of reviving unworn items. Wore my newly dyed skinnys today with a cream and navy Breton top and was asked where they were from I did fess up and said that they were my ancient slobbing around the house jeans.

After a month of no spends I have received my first purchase, a linen mix biker style cardigan. I'd seen it on the Mint Velvet site for £89 but managed to bag a brand new one on ebay for £24.99! Very, very happy with it and it will be worn a lot once the weather gets a little warmer.

I've decided that a shopping ban isn't really what I need as I buy very little anyway. My problem is with buying things that I regret purchasing and that then remain in my wardrobe unworn. Before making any further purchases I want to have a precise idea of what styles and colours suit me and I'm happy to spend a little more on a smaller, more considered wardrobe as long as everything in it suits me and works together well.

Speaking of colours that suit has anyone had their colours done?

[OneLittleLady]

I haven't had my colours done but I've worked out, mostly through trial and error what colours suit me. I'm no good in washed out colours, pastels or white but I look fab in dark and jewel colours. The only colour I haven't been able to find a suitable shade in is yellow, no matter what shade I try, it still makes me look terrible.

[DigWeedSow]

Some colours are tricky to wear aren't they! Black is my worst colour, it makes me look ill, infact I'm probably the opposite in colouring to you as dark colours seem to overpower me.

Some intersting info on colours here //www.thechicfashionista.com/your-best-perfect-colors.html

[OneLittleLady]

I always thought, before I hit my teenage (and on going!) goth phase that black was a terrible colour for me because I am really, really pale but it seems to work for me.

[DigWeedSow]

Ex goth here! Ex because I really did look like death warmed up in black I too am pale but sallow (sound lovely don't I!) I think if your skin tone is clear (porcelain as opposed to my yellow tone) black works very well.

I've just done the test on the colours page and think I've been getting it wrong!

I always assumed I was an Autumn (green eyes, chestnut hair) but looking at the quiz I come out as a soft summer.....argh!