Considering a year of no new clothes for 2016

[GoneAndDone]

Anyone else done it or considering it?

I buy a lot of clothes so it would be a huge challenge. But I own so many that I'm quite ashamed of it... Could easily not buy any for a year and still have something for every occasion.

I'm afraid I've been a bit rubbish. I'm guilty of a few eBay "oh its only a fivet and it'll be so useful" type purchases. I think I need to ban online shopping, half of it doesn't fit/flatter and the other half I never needed anyway...

I think I need to get past the idea that just this one little thing will complete my wardrobe. It never does, does it!

I convinced DD3 to do a clear out of her drawers and I now have a bag to donate and another to send to my niece. I am thinking positive thoughts about clear spaces, fresh air, and drawers that can be closed because they are not bulging with clothes. Next up this coming weekend is my bin of stored winter clothes. I am going to be ruthless. My thought here is that I will not be tempted to buy anything to replace things I get rid of as I intend to keep on seeing nice neat drawers in my head.

mathanxiety I am sure you will find the clearing out is incredibly cathartic. Nice that you have some to donate and some to pass on to your niece - no doubt she will be very grateful. It's lovely to be able to pass something on to someone else and see them get a lot of pleasure out of wearing it.

maybemyrtle if you are shopping less than before then its going in the right direction. I'm yet to convince myself I can go completely cold turkey, but, like giving up smoking or dieting, I'm not going to let the odd slip up ruin everything as can so easily happen. Draw a line under it. Don't feel guilty. Start again.

I'm doing ok at the moment, nothing bought since 1 Nov. I need to clear a credit card, so I'm eBaying as much excess as I can. I'm trying to keep in mind what I previously said about only being physically able to wear a certain amount of what I have. I have been very guilty of buying for a lifestyle I don't have, so I'm thinking hard about my actual, real life and what I've got coming up. I'm getting rid of all my "just in case I'll be doing xyz" type items. For example I have a lot of smart and smart-casual clothes, but I'm at home all day, I live in quite a laid back town so don't need to dress up masses to go out, and I have no smart events coming up, even over xmas. I'm keeping one outfit which I can dress up or down with different shoes and accessories if the need does arise. I live in parkas and waterproof coats, so apart from one all my wool coats are going.

What is also getting me through is the realisation that the shops will never run out of clothes I like. I can take a break from shopping, and I can get rid of all the stuff I don't wear, because it is all replaceable, as and when I regain control and can afford to buy without going overboard. If you like to keep up to date (vaguely) with fashion, then the perfect capsule wardrobe simply does not exist. There will ALWAYS be something I want, I don't need to have it all now.

So far, so good nothing at all so far this month. Although I do think my shopping fix is probably fulfilled by Christmas shopping and I'm sure it will get much harder going into the new year.

I have ordered DD some bits from Boden and Joules though - I think I just like shopping not sure it matters who for.

Some terrific food for thought there, Louloubelle.

You have made me realise why my mum goes out and buys herself a new coat or jacket every single year and tells me how perfect each new thing is, year in and year out. SO perfect in fact, that she needs a new, improved version the following year . She also tries to send me new jackets or coats even though I have exactly what I need and I keep on telling her that.

louloubelle can I just say that you have a really smart approach and you make it sound so obvious and easy! Definitely food for thought.

I'm loving this thread and have resisted several buys over the last couple of weeks. I went around the shops with my DH yesterday (our one pre-Xmas day together without kids) and spent money on a nice lunch and a pot of paint instead of clothes and make-up.
As I was wandering around the shops I kept thinking 'what a load of Xmas rubbish that will probably end up in landfill' - there was just so much pointless nonsense out there.

Sorry I didn't come back sooner to say thank you mathanxiety and maybemyrtle, I don't feel very much like I'm much help to anyone over this issue, as I feel really very foolish about the amount I've over spent and bought in recent years. I know what drove it originally, which I won't go into, but what shocks me is how easily as a (supposedly) intelligent person I let myself get so sucked into this instant gratification cycle. An expensive one at that.

But, I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I'm really trying hard to turn a corner. Still no purchases but I'm a bit nervous of the upcoming Black Friday deals. I also got my favourite annual 30% off voucher today which I had forgotton I subscribe to as they don't send that many emails out. It's going to be a hard one to resist.

I came across this instagram photo today. I think the whole minimalist, Project 33 type ideas are for a different thread, but visually I thought this was quite an eye opener on the amount of clothes it is more than possible to live with. I haven't read her blog and only a quick skim of the instagram, but she's nearly two months in I think (hope the link works, if not its the second photo on the feed showing her wardrobe) I counted about 27 hangers, so I presume this is the entire collection she has chosen to stick with:

www.instagram.com/p/8NNJuMBM31/?taken-by=style_code

Gingefringe you are so right. I hate the xmas departments that crop up, Boots, M&S, BHS being big offenders, filled with over packaged useless crap. Miniature beauty products that are far better value in the everyday sizes, cheap plastic sweet dispensers, novelty joke toys for adults/family that will only be played with xmas day. And having keen golfers, cooks and gardeners in the family, I know they find most of the stuff sold in this section as for them pretty pointless and not very durable.

BUT I do love a xmas decoration department in a garden centre. Had a (purchase free) wander round the xmas bauble bit in Liberty recently and have to admit I was filled with festive cheer :)

It's been about a month without buying any clothes/shoes for me now. I can't remember when I've gone this long without before so it's a bit of an achievement, although obviously still 11 months to go! I've been enjoying wearing some things that haven't been worn for a while. And I've put £100 in a savings account as well.

I've realised I get my shopping inspiration absolutely everywhere. Not just the obvious clothing catalogues, Instagram etc. but anywhere and everywhere. I've become more aware of the thought process that normally sends me online to look for that perfect item I've seen.

Earlier I walked past a woman wearing burgundy trainers and immediately thought how nice they looked and how they would go so well with lots of things I own. The other day it was someone's jumper on TV, I found myself thinking how nice it would look with skinny jeans. Before that, a nice shirt someone wore at a work meeting. Somehow at those moments I focus entirely on what I don't have instead of what I do have. I have at least 5 pairs of different trainers and lots of other shoes but I don't have any burgundy ones. I'm sure if I bought them I would soon see navy ones or grey ones or yellow ones that would become the new thing I needed. As has been said before on this thread, it's all about filling all the gaps.

Can I join? I'm on the beauty hoard thread too. I've been following this thread from the start and haven't purchased anything yet. I'm not sure I can commit to buying absolutely no clothes in the next 11 months, but I do have too many and could do with wearing out some of the clothes that I have rather than buying new ones. One of my problems is that I have put on weight and have clothes cluttering up my wardrobe that I can't fit into. I should be able to find something to fit me though for Christmas parties without using them as an excuse to buy something new.

Hi how are you all holding up. Really pleased no spend on myself over Black Friday would normally have got caught up in the hype and have made some rash purchases. Also did not browse any of the sites , found I actually have more time to do other things. Hope all of you are resisting the urge to splurge.

I am happy and proud that I resisted Black Friday. But I did buy a pair of black high-waisted coated skinnies a week ago when I was travelling. The item is useful, and I've worn them all week, but I went shopping for the wrong reasons: I felt lonely and bored and stressed out, and was looking for a quick boost. It is pretty sad that I still think this way, but shopping is such an ingrained activity for me, something that I do when I don't know what to do

I purchased two pairs of smart black trousers, which I have been going to get for ages and kept getting distracted buying other things. I got them both half price. So my clothes spending this month has been £45, which must be some sort of a record low for me. I did have a quick lust over the beauty advent calendars but am on the beauty use up thread as well, so managed to restrain myself. Not a no spend but definitely low spend month.

I've done it before for a few months, charity shop purchases were allowed.

I think I will go back to it, I have more than enough at the moment and nothing will need replacing for some time.

I was struggling to close my wardrobe doors today after tidying up. I do not need to buy much for the next year. There may be specific items that I have to purchase such as a new suit for work, but I do not need clothes for everyday wear.

I'm kind of in - don't have many clothes though, and need more. I'm going to get one item a month, but make sure it's something I love. One month will be an underwear stock up.
January - a really naice jumper.

December - coated skinnies
And a naughty end of November - heels for xmas party and jeans, shirt and necklace

I so need to do this. I've been through my drawers today and really do have more than enough clothes, bar jeans where I've just thrown my last pair in the bin as they were far too holey. Accessories, hats, beauty etc could probably all be included too....

Right - I'll buy 2 pairs of jeans before Xmas then nothing at all in 2016!

I'm in. I live abroad in a town with not fantastic shops, so the urge goes quickly when you're surrounded by an array of khaki fleeces.

Currently back in the UK and massively stocked up on clothes that will last me a good while.

I will do at least 6 months no spend on new clothes, make up, hair products etc to use up what I have.

Sorry for not coming back to this earlier. Of course everyone can join, and start whenever is convenient for you.

I'm still finding this surprisingly easy. I even went to a shop the other day as I had a £25 gift voucher to spend, and looked at some clothes, but ended up getting some new tea towels and a cushion cover instead. I did consider buying a Christmas jumper this week but that's definitely not something I need.

How's everyone else getting on?

Still going strong. No clothes purchased. I have been keeping out of shops -- which makes it easier.

I've been shopping-free since my last post. Some urges, but I overcame them. Reading offline is the best distraction. I read this chilling story about going totally OTT with a shopping addiction - posting a link just in case. It really killed my urges