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

I like how the CPW calculation encourages me to wear my more expensive items more, rather than saving them for best. My LKB dress (bought at full price) is a good example. When I created the column, it was sitting at the top, reproaching me. Now that I have started wearing it more and the CPW is coming down to more reasonable levels, it feels like a good investment.
My best buys of the year, from a CPW point of view, were a merino cable jumper and a pair of 7FAM jeans from TKMaxx. My worst is my Whistles Bella dress, but after I have worn it to a couple of upcoming 'occasions', it will be demoted to workwear and the CPW will come down!
Dig, I hope you get an outfit sorted that ypu are happy with, and have a lovely time!

Topaz I have not got a CPW on my spreadsheet (but thinking now of adding one) but my 7FAM jeans from TKMaxx would also be the hands down winners I think - have worn them at least once every week since I bought them in January. Actually they would probably be the winners if I had paid full price I love them so much.

Another excellent CPW item was a navy and white stripe APC sweater - half price in NAP sale and worn a lot - even at half price it was £80 which is the most I have ever spent on a jumper but I have worn it so much and it washes really well so I know I will get at least 2 or 3 more winters out of it.

CPW is genius. The single most expensive item in my wardrobe is my leather leggings, but I wore them 2-3 times every single week from early November until late April, and have had them out occasionally since then as it's been so cold, so even after only one winter the CPW isn't half bad. My Me&Em dresses must be down to pennies per wear!

Goldsign jeans, Didrikson parka and my beloved fit flop polar sneakers are the best CPW items I have bought in the last year (and they're also clear indicators of the unglamorous reality of my life!). Agree that the worst items for CPW appear to be the impulse buys rather than the considered items...
Today I'm wearing Goldsign straight leg jeans, fit flops and an ancient but lovely and warm lambswool fairisle cardigan - which was my late grandmothers and probably pre-dates me! I've had it for at least 15 years, it's beautifully made and still in great condition as she only ever bought the very best quality. Am really starting to see that quality is what really counts when investing in clothing.

Dig I suffer with being horribly casual and get in a bit of a spin about clothes suitable for going out. I think what Teta says is spot on, wear the shapes you love but in luxe fabrics and (as I have magpie instincts) I would also sling on a big necklace or chandelier ear rings (but not both!!). I would much rather be a bit too casual than over dressed and uncomfy.

Thank you all for your words of wisdom, I love this thread

I have made two purchases today which I am very happy with, a pair of taupe cigarette pants in a fine fluid wool fabric and a pair of suede taupe heels. The trousers are a 10 out of 10, they skim and are very flattering and the shoes look good with jeans or the trousers. Buying new may not be in the spirit of this thread but I do think that they are investment pieces as they are very classic well made items and they plug a gap in my wardrobe. I'm already planning on wearing them tomorrow night (anniversary meal) with last years version of this top in ivory.

Dig I saw someone today looking very glamorous wearing taupe silk trousers and taupe heels! Sounds good, hope you'll enjoy them,

I broke my spending ban to purchase what I consider to be two very good items. I bought a pair of grey skinnies and a white shirt. Both of these are things I didn't already own and I have already come up with dozens of ways I can wear them both. They were also sale items so I saved there as well. The CPW of them will be pennies within a month or two as I will get a lot of wear out of them.

Thanks Frugal , Your list of evening outfits is very inspirational, you sound like you have a far more glamorous life than I do

Dig I often wear a fleece and bootcuts too (not together though)

Okay a confession - I had a very good day yesterday (renewal of work contract and promotion) and post going through this I sailed through a bunch of tempting shops on may way to meet some friends - trying on many things and buying nothing- except at the last stop, COS, where I couldn't resist a beautiful wool-silk shawl. Very good quality for high street and a inexpensive - and can be classified as an airline blanket I'm actually happy that I could control myself to that point. (Feeling really good is one of my overshopping triggers.) In previous similar situations I would have bought a bagful of items. Yesterday, I was very aware of the risks of walking through shops repeating 'you tend to overshop when feeling exuberant - do not do this today' and that actually helped. But I was hungry and shop by shop, my willpower gradually melted away. COS was the last stop before the restaurant... But somehow I was mindful throughout the process - observing what it felt like. That's a new thing... Hopefully things will get better. To compensate, I will return one of the tops I bought earlier this week.

OLL I wore my gray jeans quite a bit this spring, really liked them.

This summer, I'm in love with white, oatmeal, camel and taupe. They look so good together. Back at home, relaxing after a 4am start, wearing:
White jeans (CPW looking good already)
Camel cotton rayon knit top (new)
Oatmeal cocoon cardi (last year)
Marbled dark green scarf (new)
Silver diamante leather thong sandals (ca 5 years old)
Chunky smoke quartz cocktail ring (old)
Steel bracelet (last month)

Quite a few new or newish items, but I think many of these are going to be worn a lot (will start a shopping Excel to chart actual CPW). The vest tops were a good buy, they feel luxurious on and don't crease as easily as normal t-shirts.

What are you wearing/ will wear if going out? (I'm going to bed at 9pm)

Frugal that sounds enormously positive - you should feel proud!

Wore very old wide leg trousers today, with a recently dyed-black linen t-shirt and lemon/grey snake print scarf. Felt pretty fresh. I love wide legs - even though I'm an apple, if they're close fitting round the hips I think they're really flattering.

Not going out tonight, but planning my wedding anniversary outfit in a month's time. Off to a Michelin starred place near us. Thinking possibly black lace shorts with black wide-scoop neck top, jacket and heels. Or navy silk dress with cream/nude heels. Lovely decisions to make and I WILL NOT buy anything specifically for it.

Thanks Bill! And I love what you wore yesterday - the lemon-gray snale scarf sounds amazing! I have always loved wide-legs, they can be very flattering with a well-proportioned sleek top! And your plans for the outing sound stunning. The lace shorts sound particularly great and isn't it wonderful to find such lovely outfits among your existing clothes!

I wore a suit to my work meeting, but not the pretty green Chanel type suit I recently bought. I think it looked to frilly and dressed up - I wanted quiet authority and gravitas and picked a 6-year-old very sleek and fitted Armani type gray suit with subtle silver wowen in, worn with black sheers and black slim wedges and a taupe handbag. Got compliments both from the hairdresser and a bum on the streets - felt relaxed and in control during the meeting.

Now after circa 11 hrs of sleep thinking of wearing a bikini to the roof terrace...

Just a quick post to say that I have also received a response from People Tree.

"Thank you for your email and support of People Tree.

I will certainly pass your email on to the design department for their consideration. You aren't the only person who has requested this recently and I feel the same so I very much hope that we will run this in collections to come"......

Fingers crossed that they do actually listen.

Very wet and autumnal here today, I keep adding another layer, Frugal very at the chance to wear a bikini, I'd be happy if I could just turn the heating off

DigGreat! It sounds hopeful, since there are others who have made similar requests and even the person who replied to you agreed!

frugal congratulations on the contract renewal and promotion - I'm sure it's well deserved.

I went out last night to see Kate Tempest and was running late. I threw on a cream thermal top with a charcoal John Smedley cardigan half buttoned up. On the bottom I wore a red tartan skirt that I got recently and shortened with an animal print belt I picked up last week (£2.50, so no great guilt there!). It sounds a strange combination but it worked. It made me realise that these threads are encouraging me to be more creative with my outfits which is a nice feeling.

I went to the mall yesterday to return a couple of things to H&M, but annoyingly forgot the receipts. I then took a turn around John Lewis to look for trousers, but there was nothing. It was just endless skirts and dresses in flimsy fabrics, which is unrealistic for our climate. Shops really do just stock what sells, not what people need.

However I came across some Falke tights reduced by 50%. They had chocolate brown ones that I knew I would want in the winter, so I bought them as it felt like a sensible investment. However it was so cold last night I ended up wearing them. Bikini? Pah!

queen I don't think it does sell though hence the huge sale discounts and falling profits. Unless you're lucky enough to be going abroad, based on previous summers, we really don't need much summer clothing. I think retailers would do much better if they offered proper clothing (eg long sleeves, jumpers etc) all year round. And don't even get me started on kids retailers where the summer stock hits the rails in February . Even if we do ever do get a summer, come August the shops will be full of the autumn drop offs.

Hello, I need this thread! Have been lurking since the first one but haven't had time to post...but I have had time to shop. Your lists of spending this year made me do mine, I have bought 43 items and spent £1500

The worst is that I thought I had curbed my spending...plus a lot of the items I have not even worn. It really is the thrill of the chase with me. I have a wardrobe full of lovely clothes but I can't seem to enjoy them, I need to be onto the next thing...

I have really enjoyed the recovering shopaholic blog, so much of what she writes speaks directly to me.

I really need a change in spending habits and I think being mindful as suggested above is a good start.

Welcome! Following this thread has been v helpful for me. Hope it will be for you to.

I don't think summer stock is shifting well either (surprise surprise). There seem to be even more mid-season sales than ever this year. Although that could just be a misapprehension of mine, a bit like the way policemen seem to get ever younger.

I've been following everyone's purchase tallies with interest. Haven't done mine but am guessing at 25-30, which presumably means 30+. (I know I underestimate!) Two of these are bags, three footwear, two coats and two jewellery so that's 20ish items of clothing. Not great, and mostly not necessary either. Love the idea of a CPW list, and made my first entry yesterday with a new scarf. It's lovely, and I will wear it a lot - it's very "me", but did I need it? No. Would I have forgotten about it if I'd just walked away from it? Probably - I find there's very little that niggles away enough at me to make me really regret not buying it.

Wore skinny bootcuts both yesterday and today. I particularly liked yesterday's vintage wash pair, worn with a long-sleeved white tee (Baukjen, or Isabella Oliver, as was, which has been worn to death and now seems to have a small hole on the wrist), layered under a ruched and slouchy short-sleeved tee in a kind of navy/dark grey shade, the new scarf (white with a dark grey abstract giraffe print) and black & navy pointed flats. Definitely no bikinis here!

MrsRadicchio welcome! I'm definitely in the same boat, have a wardrobe full of lovely clothes but am somehow locked into always looking for more. It's been a relief to find so many like-minded people.

I have a strange feeling that this type of behavior is programmed or prescribed somehow. We all here seem to have a 'weekly fix' habit. Then when I read blogs it's a 'daily fix', and magazines prescribe edits and updates that essentially result in a total wardrobe makeover each season. And somehow, although deep down I don't believe in any of this, I have started doing this.

Changing my behavior has not been as easy as I thought. Simply stopping isn't easy - I can abstain for a couple of weeks but during them overshopping urges grow and relapses can be very damaging.

I think I need to find other solutions. I'll try limiting my time spent online, stay away from online stores and fashion magazines (will block even more online shops and try to cut back to one magazine per month) and try a blog-free week. I browse blogs and online shops when I'm stressed at work (it's a bit like a cigarette or a tea break) or when I'm tired and bored in the evening. I will need to find other equally relaxing replacement activities - do you have any ideas ladies?

Will start by rereading some chapters of 'To Shop or Not to Shop' - this post by RecShop about hiding and lying is sobering reading too. (I hope she has an agent and gets a book contract - she's an exceptional ability to describe emotions and behaviors that women don't usually talk about.)

Hmmm, I think I actually find that the longer I abstain from shopping, and the more I consider any potential purchases, the easier it is to keep doing so. It's getting into that frame of mind that's tricky. Stress or negative emotions tend to send me right back!

I'm also a bit of a magpie and new collections always seem so shiny and tempting. Am not so much of a sales shopper, unless it's something I really wanted at full price but couldn't afford or thought was over-priced. Avoiding new collections and the temptations they present means for me much as you say Frugal. I don't do any online browsing and I also avoid going to real shops other than the supermarket. Being busy work-wise helps massively, I find.

Anyway, the thing to remember is that this isn't a life or death thing. Slip ups are just that: slip ups.

Relaxing replacement activities in the evening - well this is what I do: Read novels, listen to great music, put together outfits, browse MN , browse other fun or interesting sites that has nothing to do with fashion. And yes being very busy with other things helps.

yes, shopping has almost become a recreational habit. I went with my mum yesterday and got seduced by the Clarins offer with free gifts and a nice bag (great for wool and my crochet habit). It will all be used but do I need it - no.

My dd also works temporarily for a certain company and at the moment I get a good discount so that makes it worse as I know I won't have it forever.

I also like buying things for my house

Ok ladies I need you today to keep me away from shopping. I'm in a bad place today emotionally (blame the hormones!) and feeling very stressed and low about myself. This is a trigger point to shop. And as you can imagine it gives me a short relief but then comes the guilt and the returning of what is usually a bad purchase!

Hang in there Queen! Is there something else you really enjoy doing that can make you feel better?

Eating chocolate ?

It's hard as dh is on call and at work at the moment. I'm currently in between ferrying dc around parties etc. it's sunny and I'm hoping later I can get out alone in the fresh air for some exercise which will make me feel better.