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

Oh and a public service announcement: we need a volunteer moderator for the Pinterest swapboard (ie a person whom anyone who wants to swap items can contact here via PM - she will control access to the swapboard. I've thought out a system already and set the board up, but as you can see, this thread is becoming a full-time occupation for me...)

I also very warmly recommend Dr Jennifer Baumgartner' You are what you wear to anyone decluttering/reorganizing/rebuilding her wardrobe or trying to learn to dress one's age. She's a real psychologist, interview here and Psychology today colunms here (both free!).

Hello Frugal wholeheartedly agree with you about beauty magazines can definitely see the connection between reading beauty magazines and rampant spending in Boots. It seems so obvious now about the advertising how a years subscription can be given away for peanuts along with usually a fab subscriber gift I got a pair of GHD's for £50 a few years ago with my subscription to Zest magazine. I would urge anyone before they splurge on a skincare item check out reviews on Makeupalley it is American but most of the main and many of the niche ranges from over here are represented and it has unbiased reviews on them. Oh and don't be scared to ask for testers most counters will happily hand them over if possible try and get at least a weeks worth I find that with most skincare there is a noticeable result after a couple of uses but then that is it but it is often enough to seduce you into buying it a week or two of use gives you a better of idea about whether it is for you or not.

I used to work as a department manager for a well known high street store and as I am sure you all know very week we would have a top ten best sellers which we would make sure were prominently displayed and always well stocked, I remember once comparing top tens from that week to the same week the previous year and they were surprisingly similar and really quite dull !!! it got to the point I thought that there could not be a woman in the UK who did not own a certain top or pair of jeans !!! Didn't really matter how much new stuff was put out there is a certain core of items per season that sell no matter what and rarely I may add end up in the sale. So I completely agree we think we want choice but actually we do stick to the same stuff. I look at an overfull wardrobe where actually it is all quite similar with the odd anomaly here and there so it FEELS as though I have nothing to wear.

VGV YYY to trying stuff on IN SHOPS it is all to easy to click and buy then try on at home not be 100 percent about it but then cant be arsed forget to return or think oh well I just need to get X to go with it. From my time on the coalface of the fitting room I can confirm that people who try stuff on will reject a lot of items but will generally be happier and make better choices.

Oh I'll join the out of hand online spending crowd too!

Can't get to shops easily o it's all online.

hello, can i join the out of control spending section! have tons in wardrobe unworm and keep on buying! am trying to ebay stuff to pay for new stuff but i found shopping a claming experience after a harrowing year

I am another guilty of using shopping as a distraction/de-stressor. All those lovely clothes soothe my mind. I am totally aware of this fact, but it's like a well travelled road, and so easy to visit it, works immediately to distract, gives me a break from life stresses. But this needs to change. I have a heap of stuff. I don't need any more, and its not healthy. I love hopefully's capsule wardrobe.

I'm going to read some of the recommended books.
I came across this algorithm for de-cluttering your wardrobe, it's from a blog, so I hope it's ok to link. Might be useful for some.

Here it is.

It's free listing on Ebay this weekend - so I'm going to get to work on the pile of stuff sitting beside me and see if I can recoup some cash. I very rarely go to the shops but find online shopping just so blooming easy and addictive. I love the excitement of parcels arriving, less so the returns.
I have read To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop - may need to revisit it!

And yes, yes, shopping is definitely a distraction for me - I work from home, and would much rather browse Zara online or look at all the style blogs than write a boring work letter, reply to some difficult emails or call someone awkward. I know would work much more efficiently (and have more free time in the evening) if I could learn to switch off the internet....but I am seriously hooked. Right back later when listings (with delayed starts) completed.

Ooh ladies loving the collective input!

I have a copy of "To Buy Or Not To Buy" and because there are cuite a few impulsive/compulsive/lift-the-mood/fill-the-void overshoppers here, I'll post a few quotes from it here tonight (Or would you like to Shirley).

Lurking the decluttering diagram is very helpful (yy to good links like that).
And Limoncello has great insider info.

Ladies, take advantage of the free listing opportunity on eBay! A chance to convert some skeletons in the closet into starting capital for smart, premeditated purchases.

I going to keep a huge, empty, brown shopping bag in my bedroom over the weekend. It's a daily reminder of what I'm not supposed to do.

I'm wearing a mixture of older / charity shopped / hand-me-down clothes and accessories today and I think it looks fresh, edgy and stunning . I came up with a new formula a few days ago that allows me to rerun a lot of forgotten items. I think the look is laidback luxe and it revolves around old bootcuts and a dressy 2nd hand cream silk shirt.

What a brilliant thread. I'm terrible about buying online and not bothering to return because I really will wear it or I'll get it altered etc and being half asleep in front of cbeebies is a particularly bad time.

This morning I got up even earlier than the children and went swimming so gave managed to keep away from the buy now button!

I am looking for a nude silk shirt - have been for yonks but it has to be perfect and fit my long, gorilla like arms. Am jealous of yours. Like the laid back luxe idea, but if that involves those vile Ash wedges then I'll think again

Gallivanting I really identify with what you are saying there and thank you, Frugal for that insight. I too find getting dressed each morning overwhelming because of the choice in my wardrobe. I hate the feeling of being desperate for the next 'thing' and know it is something that my DH finds less than appealing.

I know if I were to focus a little more on my body, I would feel happier about how I looked day to day - let's face it, you cannot polish a turd! Anyone else in that club? Have resurrected the Shred in a last minute attempt to sort myself out for a holiday in two weeks time.

Frugal I would be happy to pitch in with admin if you need it on a swap board.

We need to keep reading list too. Will skim thread and list later.

Please can I join - together with three friends we have been trying not to but new clothes since last summer but 1 or 2 of us have been dropping off the wagon a bit recently.

Looking for inspiration, validation, and a bit of chat !

buy

Do you all read the fashion blogs sometimes mentioned on here? I started to read them and almost convinced myself that what these women were saying looked good, was desirable to me. But what I'd missed was that yes sometimes they did look good, but more often than not it wouldn't work on me. So the trying stuff on actually in shops (which was something I never did when 3 stone heavier) is the key.

I like taking an armful of different clothes into a changing room, seeing them on me and them fitting. It's like I get the rush from the clothes without actually spending any money. Now I've read that, I sound weird but ikwim

Thankfully I am not a beauty product addict, and am hugely sceptical of the industry. I am incredibly sensible when it comes to beauty products. You really need very few products. Post about your latest longing and I will be very happy to burst your bubble!

Any room for me?? (Grin)
I've read through this thread nodding & thinking " yes, that's me"
Money's quite tight for me but I love clothes & want stuff to work with older clothes in my wardrobe. I started a Pinterest board this week but haven't got to grips with it yet, seems great though!
russianred I need to lose a stone so I'm up for supporting you (smile)
So...this weekend I'm going to list some stuff on eBay I don't wear any more & try to find time to look at different clothes combinations- with stuff I've already got.
Am really up for this so thanks frugal for starting the thread (thanks)

Wouldn't be seen dead in A* w*s. I know they have very many fans but they are simply not my style which is granny chic. Actually wearing my mother's hand-me-down suede loafers

Ladies, knowing your personal style well can help to control spending. You will have an automatic knee-jerk 'no' response to many trends and popular styles. It also helps with the long-term planning.

Awks my silk blouse is probably from someone's work wardrobe, possibly never worn. Slightly old-ladyish, with a pussy bow (I wear it untied). Recommend charity and consignment shops near big banks and in affluent areas

Any nude silk blouses in the swap pile? Leather skirts would also have some takers!

Skaen well done - displacement activities are good!

Bloody iPad!

I agree with the trying on clothes thing. Sometimes it's like a bucket of cold water when you see it on you irl.

Lurking Need to get that diagram tattooed on the inside of my eyelids to be able to refer to every time I do some internet shopping browsing !!!

Frugal Bootcuts flattering comfortable why the bloody hell don't I wear them then ??? Initial response was to start shopping when I actually have 3 pairs already !!!

FF phew. Now brogues, they are lovely. Lurking I know. I think I will go into town later and spend half hour in Topshop thinking wtf is that all about Internet shopping doesn't appeal to me at all - I'm from yorkshire, i have to feel the cloth - it's in my genes!

The leather skirt thing I completely get - what inspired me to loose weight was I bought a leather tunic pinafore dress thing for a fiver in the sale. lived it but couldnt fit into it. Now it's too big but I still wear it as it is so versatile.

Can I join in?
After wearing maternity clothes for the last four years I'm a bit out of the loop.
I'm looking to replace 2x skinny jeans with navy and pale khaki.
I need tops I have little.
I need another cardie probably a navy or oatmeal one.

I'm up for a Pinterest board I have lots of clothes I never wear!

Welcome all new people! Yes there is still room!
Main points - some of us struggle with online shopping issues so no direct links to stores please. And scroll back a few pages for more guidelines and info.

Loving everyone's input once again.

Thanks Russian you'd be the right woman for the swapboard! Will PM you!!!

Russian I think that it's normal to gain a bit weight during the winter months. I have a range of clothes that allows my body to fluctuate within my natural range (about 3-5 kgs) but I mainly invest in preventing future weight gain. I don't do crash diets but have a bit of a healthy theme going on right now (no alcohol, more fruit+veg, try to do long walks nearly every day).

Lurking yy to bursting the beauty product pseudoscience bubble! I've recently drastically simplified my beauty routines and my skin is better than ever! I think the main things are avoiding UV exposure and not smoking anyway. I have some hormonal breakouts and no-nonsense salicylate (=Aspirin derivative) products have really helped.