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

[bleedingheart]

I'd like to join too please.
My problem is accessories; I have dozens of scarves, bags and pieces of jewellery!
I find clothes so hard to invest in but I have so many it's depressing me. Ironically by viewing this thread I have realised how much of my wardrobe would be pulled together by a leather skirt! I work from home and live in jeans but want to branch out.
I like so many styles and can't settle on one, that's half the problem!
Apologies for the mini-essay!

[blueberry2310]

I'd love to join too. I live Southern Hemisphere so go crazy in the UK sales online (end of your season is the start of ours). This means I often end up with things that don't fit and with high postage costs to return I never bother. Recently lost £50 returning a coat. I am in the process of clearing out my packed wardrobe and need some help to not start filling it again.

I am currently debating on whether or not to buy a bikini. It will get lots of wear but expensive and have to be sure.

My mantra is to buy one good quality thing rather than lots of cheaper versions of the same thing in a mission to find the perfect one (I'm looking at you five Breton tops).

Will take the survey now.

[FrugalFashionista]

Am going to run the survey results - hope most of you got to chip in - 61 responders so far! x 61

[awaywego1]

Oh lord, am totally in, I'm a clothing disaster. Buy tons of ill fitting cheap crappy clothes from charity shops and eBay, wear about 5% of it and feel constantly that I have nothing to wear. My bedroom is totally cluttered with clothes. I have some lovely things but tend toward safe and comfy too often.

[awaywego1]

Ooh I just did survey-may be a little late.

[ShirleySharpeyes]

Jumping in with both feet without checking if there's room for another? I might just sit at the back and take notes....as I'm probably a lost cause. I was meant to be limiting my clothing expenditure this year, but so far appear to have spent almost double my budget (mainly in the on line sales but still toooo much, having said that I have worn all of it, time after time so can justify it all, honest ).
I have started keeping a little notebook where I list everything I buy (and return, I do spend a lot of time at the post office with returns) and also everything I ebay...it helps me keep track of the dosh I fritter away, and kerbs my spending a little (it can horrify me when I look at it and realise I have forgotten about some of the stuff I have bought only a month earlier).
I find S&B on Mumsnet my biggest influence/undoing - I am clearly so easily influenced - so somewhere to sit and discuss not buying stuff with people that understand how difficult it is to not buy stuff would be very welcome for me.

[skaen]

Hello, could I join? I had a bit if a shock last year - I knew I'd been fairly extravagant but i went through all my cc statements and found I'd spent a ridiculous amount if money on clothes, many if which I've never worn (beautiful forest green skinnies from Zara which make my legs look beyond dreadful). Is there room for me?

Workwear inspiration would be particularly welcome!

[ShirleySharpeyes]

I have completed the survey for completeness, although realise I'm probably too late to the party.

[FrugalFashionista]

POLL RESULTS
Topics that should be covered here
92.2%  want information on current trends and how to tweak old clothes
81.9%  want help with styling outfits from the existing wardrobe
81.9% want help with using money wisely
81.3%  want budget style/beauty tips
74.6% want help with wardrobe clearouts/organizing
64.1% want help with style self-diagnosis (body type, color & style analysis)
64.1%  want style book / other resource recommendations
60.9%  want clothing / beauty product swaps possibly via Pinterest
55.7%  want 2nd opinions on planned purchases
55.7% want tips how to repair/maintain/alter clothes
44.3%  want outfit-of-the-day posts (people tell what they are wearing)
 
Other suggestions for topics to be covered here:
*Introducing more variety  to day-to-day dressing (using the existing wardrobe more creatively)
*Talking about the psychology of shopping/consumption
*Talking about the environmental impact of shopping
*Learn to adapt clothes to suit most seasons.
*Learn to dress one's age
 
What not to discuss on this thread, based on 25 open-ended suggestions

• 10 responders  feel  there should not be any direct-to-stores links (sales often difficult)
  
• 2 responders wanted links, 2 were undecided and 1 asked for complete freedom of expression
  
• 2 responders asked that Net-a-Porter not be mentioned
  
• 2 responders asked that designer names not be mentioned
  
• 2 responders wanted to discuss what to do with discount codes - to post or not to post them?
  
• one responder hoped that this thread would cover a wide range of budgets and styles
   
  The responders' monthly S&B budget
  7%: £0-10
  35%: £10-50
  27% £50-100
  24% £100-200
  11% >£200
  
  Take home?
  We are a group of people who are interested in fashion trends but want to create them mostly from our existing wardrobes, improving our skills to use money wisely? We value budget S&B tips. And quite a few of us would like a swapboard. Outfit-of-the-day posts were the least popular topic: almost 20% of responders were not interested in them), and 15% of responders were not interested in hearing 2nd opinions on purchases. Maybe we should be careful with these topics as they can be divisive. It's easy to start a new thread on S&B to solicit advice on potential purchases, but maybe we should allow people tell about their outfits particularly when they are integrating old/repurposed/tweaked items - or swaps!
  
  A substantial minority has problems with direct-to-stores links, so perhaps we should respect that.
  
  Our monthly budgets vary a lot, but the biggest individual group (more than a third of us) want to spend a maximum of £50 on clothes and beauty per month.
  
  The floor is open for your comments! Thanks again for voting!

[scarlet76]

Room for 1 more?! My name's Scarlet and I love shopping a little bit too much.

I am a big online shopper and far too click happy. I use shopping as a pick me up and buy far more than I need.

But. This must change. I need to spend some proper money on the house this year. I also want to be less wasteful.
I have set myself a budget of £70 per month which is to cover clothes, beauty and sportswear.

I have been ebaying impulse purchases and getting rid of the crap. I'm left with some quite decent stuff I think:

LE bottle green parka down coat, Next smart wool coat, Boden wool blazer, ASOS leather jacket, LE black gilet.
Next black lace dress, Next spotty dress, Boden jersey day dress,
5 pairs jeans in various colours in skinny and slim fit. Next cigarette style pants in grey and black.
Next cord skirt. M&S black jersey pencil skirt.
Next white shirt, Boden spot shirt, LE spot shirt, Next denim shirt, H&M blouse, Next black frill blouse, Boden pink blouse.
Next black cardigan, Next cream cardigan, Boden yellow cardigan, M&S cream cashmere jumper, Boden button back jumper.

2 breton tops, 6 linen style T-shirts, 6
vests, 3 heat tec tops.
15 pairs of shoes and boots. Jigsaw tan leather bag, Boden black leather bag. Cath Kidston spotty tote.
Lots of scarves.

surely I should be able to throw together some outfits from that lot to keep me going.

[lurkingaround]

So. Guidelines for us judicious frugalistas.

Identify a gap/genuine want in your wardrobe. Decide your budget for this item.
It might help to post here, describe what you're looking for, where it might fit in your wardrobe, where you'll wear it etc. You might be surprised what may turn up, what store has a sale etc

When you see something, first ask: do I need this? Then: can I afford this?

Before you part with your hard earned money:

1. Do I love love love this item?
   
2. Can I wear it with at least 3 other items of clothing I already own?
   

If the answer is YES to all of the above: WAIT 5 days before buying.

When posting here for advice (plus or minus links depending on Survey) on said perfect potential purchase, it is fellow frugalistas responsibility to examine said potential purchase with an arched brow. There will be no (or at least very little!) enabling.

Finally, see if you can source the item cheaper elsewhere - post here maybe, look for discount codes, wait for a sale etc..
When you do buy, wear wear wear and enjoy!

What do you think? Anyone have others useful tips or guidelines? Anything to change?

[NomDeOrdinateur]

Wow Frugal - thank you for all of your hard work!

I think one of the most important challenges/goals is making this thread sit comfortably in between the MN Vogue and "supermarket style" threads, and I agree with you that focusing on learning to make the best use of what we have rather than allowing it to veer off into conspicuous consumption is the way forward. Nothing against NAP and designer names, but the constant references to them and the relentless fashion lingo does make MN Vogue seem rather exclusive (although not deliberately exclusionary) to people who need to budget differently. Since that kind of discussion already has its own place in S&B, I really hope this thread won't morph into that.

IME, direct links to specific items is a direct route to spending a lot of money on things you wouldn't have looked twice at in other circumstances, so I would prefer not to have those. Links to sales, discount codes etc don't seem to have that effect on me so I'd really appreciate them - do other people feel the same way?

One suggestion - I can see how "outfit of the day" posts would clutter up the thread, but how about "best outfit of the week" posts? That would make the thread more readable, and it would encourage us to think carefully about whether we're making the most of our clothes (are we repeating the same things because they work well for us or because we're in a rut, etc).

[Hopefully]

This has to be the most organised thread ever

I'd like to join in too please. I have had to build up a work wardrobe over the past year, so the lid has big time been off the spending pot, but now it is firmly back on and I have plenty of other things to save for (house deposit. Sigh). I have a pretty capsule wardrobe, but am very up for any ideas to use what I have and also inspiration for a few clever purchases for spring summer to help me not feel like my clothes are all old and tired.

By the by, re linking and what to link to, I assume everyone realises that Pinterest links will just link to shops anyway? Not sure how easy it will be in reality to discuss clothes without ever linking any. But I'm prepared to give it a go!

And of course I will be the misery in the corner when you are all self-diagnosing colours and styles, informing you it is more or less impossible to self diagnose. But I will take being completely ignored with good grace.

[CointreauVersial]

Wow, what a great thread.

I must say, I love many of the S&B threads, and read quite a few blogs, but I have developed a habit of buying stuff that people have linked to, and my budget is a little strained at the moment.

BUT I do have a very good nose for a charity shop bargain, and am handy with a sewing machine, so can customise/adjust stuff to suit. Recently I bought a couple of Per Una cardis for about a fiver each, the sort with the big comedy buttons. Removing the buttons and sewing back the stupid plackets on the front has given me two cute knitted collarless jackets, almost identical to those on sale in the high street at the moment. I have also found some old straight-leg jeans, to be given the roll-and-distress "boyfriend" treatment.

The key for me is finding ways to style (or adjust) items already in my wardrobe, so I don't have to buy more. And to stop opening tempting links!

[shopafrolic]

In one day we have achieved more on here than I could get a team of Marketeers to achieve in two weeks! Just brilliant! I am one of the £0-50 spenders now as a result of my DH being about to be made redundant (sole breadwinner). I love clothes, but am starting to play with my wardrobe to create new outfits, and play with my make up too.....
If I sell something on EBay I can reinvest that money for clothes but outside that - no more purchases for me.
I have a Pinterest board where historically I would pin pics of items I was considering. They never looked as good after a few days. I'm going to keep pinning to that board but not shopping. It's going to be tough!
In my twenties my shopping got me seriously into debt. I am much better at what I buy now, no disposable fashion, investment items, the best quality I can afford at the time. I've tried charity shops and TK Maxx with little success - I think success in those stores depends on geographical location as much as anything.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Job well done Frugal. This is going to be fun!

[Hopefully]

Re NAP etc, can I just add in for discussion the way I shop? I buy clothes really infrequently (purchases this year: one pair of legwarmers, in the sale), so I do sometimes save up for something more expensive over time. I have found that this really pays off for me, but I am actually not spending more than most high st shopping budgets. I promise not to link unless expressly invited, but I think it's worth holding in mind the whole buy less, buy better type mindset as well. Erm. I probably just made my point really badly, especially given previous eBay only post, but there may be others of the same thinking.

[Hopefully]

shop I think pin is a great passion killer too! Sometimes I look at something that I absolutely needed a few days ago, and am completely meh about it. But without reminding myself that it wasn't that great, I would continue to feel deprived?

[shopafrolic]

One of the interesting things the ladies on the MNV thread did was to look at an item of clothing I have on my Pin boards and suggest new ways to wear it. Really helpful to have other people open the doors to my virtual wardrobe and give fresh inspiration - difficult if not everyone is on Pin tho.....

[Hopefully]

Ooh, that would be good.

I need to lose about 5lbs too, as part of the reason I am struggling with my wardrobe at the moment is that everything is just a fraction too tight and uncomfortable.

Frugal fashion tip: don't get fat.

[lurkingaround]

Thanks Frugal!

I'm one of those that likes links, I find it hard to put the words of clothes into a picture, if I'm making sense at all (kids up at 5.30am, am a bit worn), but I'm sure with practice I would get better at it.

(Loving the blog Hopefully) Buy less, buy better, yes, the way forward.

[Matsikula]

Can I join in? I am Matsi and I have a shopping problem.

I have been making a conscious effort for a year to be more judicious in my spending, but keep falling off the wagon. I am worse than I was in my 20s. I had tonnes of time to shop then and would only buy stuff that was perfect. Since having kids I get to the shops so rarely that I feel I have to get something or it is a wasted trip, so I end up with a fair few mistakes and not time to return them.

It is not so much the money that bothers me as my overall spending isn't crazy, it's the waste, and also the fact that I end up wearing stuff I don't love.

My subsidiary problem is that my lovely mum likes buying me things but is 40 years older with quite ladylike taste whereas I am a bit more of a tomboy.

[PretzelTime]

I really need to join this...
Good initiative OP!

[FrugalFashionista]

In the morning I was planning to give individual feedback to everyone but there are well over 60 75 of us right now - welcome everyone!

So it may take a while until we learn to know each other - be patient, help each other out, answer people's questions and don't be afraid to repeat your questions if they are ignored. Today so many excellent questions have not been answered - we are doing the introductions and it's a bit chaotic

Hi, I'm Frugal, ex Material Girl , I a shopaholic and my story is nothing special. Over the past years, my life has been quite limited because of small children and various other constraints. I work, mostly full time, but maternity leaves and several years of p/t work have slowly but steadily depleted my savings. After childbirths, I had the usual frumpy phase and then underwent a joyful gradual transformation - I lost the baby weight, found my style, colors, favorite shops etc etc. But once you get started it's not so easy to stop. I have a tendency to use shopping as an outlet and a way to fill a void. Sometime last year I realized that this cannot continue and that I have to do something about it. I have taken steps in the right direction (can really recommend the book "To Buy Or Not To Buy" - if you overshop, it's very compassionate and it really helps), but am still vulnerable and in need of support. I want to look good and really love fashion, but also want to put money into my pension plan and break free from the strong pressure to consume. Things (not to mention my bank balance) have been improving a lot this year, but I had a big relapse yesterday. And here we are, AA style

Lurking thanks for the tentative guidelines! (You can repeat them every now and then as new people are still joining). Many of us struggle with habitual overshopping or have to adhere to very limited budgets - hence please limit direct links to shops and avoid discussing expensive designers/stores/brand names.

It is good sense and judgment to invest in good quality clothing and make planned purchases (Hopefully does this very well), but we just got started so maybe everyone can draw a collective breath and not blow the monthly budget tomorrow in shops or tonight online.

[awaywego1]

Ooh I'm particularly interested in sharing tips on how to rejig/customise clothes to make them work better. This week I dyed a pink cardigan grey and changed the buttons to pretty covered ones. I have a clothes swap every year but aside from this I'd like to try and buy less but better quality and that inspires me to wear something I don't already wear from my wardrobe. although I'm going to a jumble sale tommorow so for help me