Frugal Follow-up

[FrugalFashionista]

We've hopelessly lost the old thread. How are you doing ladies?

I need to reawaken the thread as I need to get back on the wagon. I decided to temporarily suspend my shopping ban - it's summery here and I've started wearing summer clothes and I decided to make some purchases now so that I can wear them all season long (in low 20s it's still a bit too cool for my routine sleeveless dress/bare legs summer look). Most of my old summer clothes are in great shape but this is what I needed to update them -

1. white jeans (have lots of denim shirts and blue tops) - straight-leg, non see-through
2. colorful printed cigarette pants (my wardrobe is mostly solid colors - I want to wear prints but not near my face) - found a pair in my favorite colors from MSMG
3. sandals (bored of ballet flats and Havaianas) - black cage wedges, low-rent child-friendly version of the Altuzarra look
4. slingbacks (found a lovely two-tone white/taupe pair on sale)
5. a few bracelets to liven things up

I'm still looking for a couple of high-quality white or cream tops, scoop neck if possible. They seem to be the hardest item to find, but my refound Zara poly-viscose top is surprisingly versatile. Still thinking about a long and narrow snakeprint silk scarf in my best blues and also need to make a decision regarding nude/taupe courts (to go with my summer cocktail dresses).

Spring lasted for 3-4 weeks here and coincided with my 1-month shopping ban. By thinking a bit harder and digging a bit deeper I was able to find all spring outfits I ever needed without any spending! Summer will be around until the end of October so I hope that I will get quite a lot of wear out of my mix of old and new. But I think I'm almost done with wardrobe updates and might go back to tight-fist mode very soon

interesting!

I have tracked my purchases ever since we started having an allowance for personal spends, so the start of 2011. before that every penny went on bills and food. my spreadsheet is split into three: household, DCs, me. I track everything to make sure i am in on budget each month, and plan clothes purchases as i identify gaps/desires/other loved items wear out.

in 2012 I have bought 30 items, the 6 biggest were funded through ebay sales of old clothes. 3 of those were made today and, if I keep them all, will see my may budget vamoosh.

looking over the list of pieces bought i can see two items out of those 30 i may not buy given the chance again. both of which were before I joined S&B.

i credit this board - esp the lovely MNVers - for keeping me on track and spending my money wisely

Traveling, so not able to write a detailed reply but simply wanted to say that I love this thread and your experiences and ideas!

Yay Yoni! Result! If they will do good quality plain basics I'll define start using them as my main supplier! (Will write to them when back at home.)

Outfit: 7-y-o straight leg jeans rolled up with one of my neglected blazers (heavenly blue corduroy), black tank and black ballet flats.

Vonne interesting that you have had some leather leggings altered. I have a leather jacket which is lovely and fitted in the body but the sleeves are too loose. I was going to ebay it later in the year and look for another one one but will investigate getting the sleeves altered now.

Yoni I've been meaning to email People Tree and your reply has prompted me to do so.

Looking at my purchases to date they are almost exclusively casual wear (one silk top was bought for a christening, two lace t's that are smart casual). This is fine, I work from home so don't need smart workwear but I have very little in the way of nice going out clothes. This has been brought to light as I am going out for a meal on Saturday night and have just received invitations to two parties and guess what I have nothing to wear!
I'm sure this is because I feel safe buying casual clothing so make repeat safe purchases, going out clothes are a little trickier for me to buy as I don't wear them as often. Any tips on what to buy would be greatly received

Teta you're right about the waste of time feeling. the shops are full of overpriced, bad quality tat. also you try and buy things to match up with your existing clothes but the styles and colours only go with current stuff etc.

Alot of tops look great over trousers but not so good with a skirt.

This week I have been wearing warmer clothing again so no yearning for more summer clothing.

QofW thanks for your advice, I think you're right, buying outfits is hard work, much easier to pick up singular items I love - looking back these are the things I've worn the most. I'm following you now on pinterest - feels a bit like stalking!

DWS I probably should give in to the trousers, maybe experiment with different shapes rather than skirts. I have the same problem regarding going out stuff I just ordered this www.massimodutti.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/duttigb/en/30359453/370509/1904070/COTTON%2BCROCHET%2BSHIRT which is really nice on and was planning to wear it with white 7/8 trjousers and little pointy heels for a birthday party.

FF I think I do need to spend more time looking at blogs. I spent quite a while on pinterest at the beginning of the year and this really helped me identify styles I liked, skinny jeans with boots, skinny jeans with ballet shoes, skinny jeans.... there were a few ideas for tops too! But it was the winter then, so I need to do it for the summer. And maybe more regularly.

I have kept track of my purchases too, excluding exercise stuff and underwear I've bought 33 items. I also rated them and have found that the stuff I bought earlier in the year was less successful than my recent purchases, I'm becoming much more selective and planning, so this thread has really helped me - thank you!

Sorry forgot to convert link

www.massimodutti.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/duttigb/en/30359453/370509/1904070/COTTON%2BCROCHET%2BSHIRT

Lovely top Just thankfully black is not my colour or I might be tempted
What I really need is a pair of really classy trousers, some nice heels and a jacket as I'm ok for tops, just need to spend some time working out my best colours and shape so that I can make an informed, wise purchase.

Count me in too, my tally is 23! Likewise, I was surprised and at my total (just over 1k). However, I have also been keeping a spreadsheet with a CPW column, which I update daily [massive geek], and I have found that most items are getting plenty of wear, except for an occasion dress. This will be worn again soon for an upcoming occasion.

Like Frugal, I wonder what I wore before if I am wearing my new purchases all the time now!

I am reading To die for and finding it very interesting and thought provoking. It is proving to be a good incentive to change my habits!

ohhh a CPW column! that is a FAB idea.

Brilliant....

So you have shamed me into writing all my clothing purchases down with dates and cost. Can't be arsed to do a spreadsheet, even though I'm very geeky.

Anyway, the good news is I have no real sense of time and some items I actually bought last year. So my total is 20 pieces of clothing plus two pairs of shoes, a belt, a scarf and a pair of slippers (which surely don't count).

Of these two were straight to eBay purchases, but the good news for me is that I haven't bought any dresses and only two summery skirts. I've posted before about buying for a lifestyle I want rather than the one I have and have a mental block with dresses and summer clothes. Note to self: I do not live on the beach in Thailand.

Interestingly I bought only two things in January and two in February. March was busy, then nothing for a month and then a flurry since having my colours done. In January and February, I was focusing on decluttering and minimising (also when I started Project 333) which I'm sure is no coincidence.

The good news (excepting the £70 pair of Merrells I bought which are insanely comfortable), I've spent about £238 on clothes, as only three items were directly from a shop and one of those was half price in the sale.

So, proof again that making myself sit down and do something I really didn't want to do has been really helpful.

digweedsow I wouldn't buy anything new for your social whirl, but try and up glam some existing outfits. Apparently it's all about the accessories (hate women's magazine talk).

Total spent this year is approximately £485.The coats and cashmere were heavily reduced items in TKMaxx,as were the silk tops.The basics were all bought very cheaply at Matalan[brilliant quality crew necks and vest tops-the best i've found-made in Cambodia].The price of sports bras shocked me though,2 bras = cashmere jumper.
Yes,don't buy anything new Dig.Do you have a silk camisole,blazer and possibly a statement necklace?Why not wear those[plus heels].

I don't want to think about how much I've spent this year alone
Just glad I'm in bit more control over it now. (?) At least four items never got any wear and were badly fitting impulse buys that I never returned, total waste of money.
Must dangerous times for me: 1. Sales 2. Feeling sad/stressed 3. Omg new season, look at all these new collections must buy something!!1

No idea what I've bought this year but I think kid myself that I buy sensible stuff most of the time. That is clothes I know will go with lots of things and that I will use. Most of my things are high st with the occasional splurge on something I'll wear a lot.
Lost 18 lb last year and got fit so my wardrobe has changed a lot over the last 18 months. Up till now I've held on to my old clothes that are now too big ( Incase I put it all back on)... Now I'm sorting through and Ebaying/ charity bagging stuff I know I won't wear again.

P.s it's amazing how much you can get into buying exercise clothing....never thought I'd get excited about Lycra!!!!!!

Marking place - am on maternity leave so clothing budget has been slashed to make a nappy budget

Up early with the baby so have made a spreadsheet with CPW column - great idea thank you

Interestingly, the two biggest purchases - bag and jacket - are down to £1.50 and £4 respectively CPW. These are the cheapest CPW items by far, except for a dirt cheap charity shop denim jacket.

Made me think that - for me - it's worth spending more on good quality every day stuff which I wear a lot. It's the £30 bits here and there which I buy mindlessly, add up quickly and don't have a good CPW that are a big issue for me. Plus those occasion dresses. I feel an ebaying 'wave' coming on!

Vonnegut thank you, that's really helpful!

Well done with the weight loss Dry get ebaying now (more incentive not to put any weight back on if you've nothing to wear that fits )

Thanks for the support regarding going out clothes Love Teta's outfit idea, unfortunately all those items are missing from my wardrobe including heels! I know the reason things have got soooo minimal is that I'm not confident buying going out clothing. In the past if I've had an invitation I've panic bought at last minute, worn the outfit for one night (and not really liked it) then ebayed or charity shopped it shortly after. It's a cycle that I really need to break out of.

Anyway, analysing session over! Meeting DM and DSis for lunch so wearing dyed navy skinnies, navy vest, oatmeal slouchy merino sweater and leopard print pumps today.

Dig it's worth trying to resolve the going-out problem for you as just one good outfit will make a difference (and stop the cycle of impulse buying and purging).

• which clothes make you feel confident?
• are there any people whose style you admire and would like to adopt?

I go to parties and restaurants quite often, but I don't do the basic top-jeans-heels look, ever. It just does not feel 'me'
Instead, I have a couple of looks I really love.

• an evening coat worn over tights or slim jeans, with boots (black, silver python) or flats
• cigarette trousers, a blazer and flats (materials make all the difference)
• a boucle jacket, silk shirt, jeans, cage sandals or slingbacks
• a cocktail dress, heels and a handbag
• a day dress worn with boots Dresses and evening coats are the simplest options as it's a one-step solution (coat great on cooler/rainier days). I add a bracelet and a pair of comfy party shoes (slim wegde heels, medium-height block heels, kitten-heel slingbacks)

If you think trousers will be the answer, experiment with trouser shapes - cigarette, peg leg, pajama, flowy floor-length wide-leg? Then decide whether to go neutral, try a print or one of the juicier summer colors. The rest of the outfit can be really simple. I like good materials, a simple shape that can look really tatty in viscose can look very good in a silk mix or crisp cotton.

Intrigued by your Excels ladies I should do the CPW too...

Hi frugal love your list of evening ideas, but whats an evening coat and what do you wear underneath? Do you keep it on all evening? Hope I don't sound thick

Cardi an evening coat is a lightweight/ dressy / embellished coat that people wear to the theatre, cocktail parties and openings. I refound them two years ago - needed something to wear to winter parties. It's warmer and more weather-resistant than a dress and more pulled-together than cardigan over dress. There are two main types - those worn closed (often belted) and those worn open. I prefer the former and usually wear something very simple and comfy underneath - a simple sweater dress, or a t shirt and a simple skirt. The trend for cocoon coat brought them back and quite a few from this Zara selection could be worn that way.

Oh, and I never take the evening coat off and whatever is underneath usually isn't visible. I wear them to restaurants and cocktail parties and cold-weather weddings etc.

For a dinner out, something super simple like this could work too (my cage wedges look like that but the heel is slightly lower).

Dig you need a smart outfit that you feel comfortable in and is not too dissimilar to your current style.So what do you like to wear?.Secondly what proportions are you?.Also what styles /fabrics make you feel good?For example my evening wear mostly consists of silks/velvets and suede/leather as i love textures and simple colours.

dig I tend to stick to black trousers for going out. My current favourites are just above ankle length. They're only from gap but fit me well. I have just recently bought navy ones too for the summer although haven't worn them yet. I have about 4 going out tops-a white one, a black one and a navy one and a black/stone one. I'd like to get a coloured one for summer too. I keep my going out clothes for 'best' as I like to differentiate between what I wear with hanging around the kids all day to going out and being grown up. I'm not one of these people who likes to dress things up or down. I like distinctions in my wardrobe. Shoe wise I have high heels (which require taxis and sitting down), block heels (can comfortably dance/walk in) and kitten heels. Sandal wise I have heeled peep toes and flat silver sandals. I probably go out 2-3 times/month so these all get worn fairly frequently but more importantly I don't tend to have the panic about what to wear anymore when I do get invited out.

Oh, I also have a black wrap dress too.