Careful fashion spending thread

[EricaElf]

Zero is unrealistic for 12 months for me so I'm trying to do minimum spend. I've not bought anything yet in 2019. Anyone else doing this and want support/ tip sharing.

Ive been tempted but so far I'm feeling good about not having purchased.

I started low spend for clothes this year (am no spend for makeup and toiletries which is proving pretty easy so far), however I didn’t do so well last month and this month is not looking good either

I think the target of £50 I set myself is too low as when I do want to buy something it’s usually over £50 anyway! So I’ve increased to the limit £100 a month, fingers crossed for this month

How are you doing this and how did January go?

I am planning to have a very low clothes spend this year, and only to replace toiletry and cosmetic favourites, but I know I shall grow bored without some new items, so I am planning to buy only replacement staples (white T shirts) or high quality secondhand.

I've been doing this for a while now, I only buy something if I really, really love it and know I'll wear it for years. I have only bought one thing so far this year, a pink Whistles coat in the sakes reduced by 70%. I haven't set foot in Zara so far in 2019 which is a big turnaround for me!

I give myself a free pass if something is secondhand and I don't set myself any limit.

I try and put a small amount to one side every month and once or twice a year buy something great and spendiferous.

And every so often I fall off the wagon and buy a bit of fast fashion, some of which is wasteful and some of which becomes a firm favourite and gets worn for years - I never know which it's going to be.

I'm usually a high spending bargain hunter but actually finding low spend pretty easy due to the woeful fashion season we seem to be having - everything seems to be cheap polyester and such a horrible unflattering shape!

Having said that I've bought two lovely coats recently which were both vastly reduced so I'm pretty happy with that!

Any tips and bargains to help with low spend 2019 gratefully received here 😀

I am trying not so much a "low spend" but a "buy less" but better quality. So I may end up spending more than I usually would on an item but it has to be good quality and something I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE and will get alot of wear out of. Trying to whittle my wardrobe down to be more streamlines

White tee shirt lowspend tip: HM sale, 5 for a tenner, cotton, delivered free. Come up lovely in the wash.

Over the past couple of years I've gone off low-mid high street no end, because it's such bad value if you don't know if it's a keeper/made of polyester/you can get a swanky make for the same price in sale. And charity shops round my way are great. Anyone else feel the same?

Exceptions are pants and tee shirts, see above, because white tees never last more than 2 years anyway. The cat shreds my pants. Not suggesting anybody else has this problem with a large elderly tabby.

Good idea. I started the buy less of better quality a few years ago but it crept up to just buy better quality. I've bought one thing this year.
I want to shop less but not totally deprive myself.

How long til the ads for clothes stop appearing in my side bars!?

I don't spend much & usually charity shops but have ordered some stuff in the Sainsbury's 25% off. I have some of their high waist jeans which are good & they have a premium range which I've orders from. Expect to only keep 1 or 2 of 6 items-3 of which are all different high waist skinny jeans of the same colour!

Great that I'm not alone. I'm enjoying the feeling of being in control and have broken the habit of online evening shopping. The bubble seems to have burst on the insta fashion mums too and where previously I was tempted by things, now I see greed, hard sells and women selling out.

God I’m on a bit of a spree but it’s been really good brands from Charity shops so I don’t feel too guilty about it ( generally I don’t find much so when you see it you get it). I’ve also returned several items that would have been big ticket but weren’t quite right ( boots). I think In the past I would have accepted them as almost right but now don’t feel very inclined to do that.

Brilliant thread I'd like to join too if that's ok?
Like others I'm finding that aiming for buy better quality works for me and as it costs a bit more I only buy if I really love it and I buy less due to £ .

I've bought a couple of pairs of gorgeous sandals in the Mint Velvet sale this week which were about 60% off. I'm much better at looking after all my shoes these days so I'm hoping I should be ok for summer footwear for the next few years with the flip flops and trainers I've got on the go.

I think my next purchase may be a leather jacket from All Saints but I'm justifying this because I've had my eye on it for almost a year, I don't have one yet and figure it will go with virtually everything all year round! I will wait till it's at least 30% off though and I'm very square and have a little savings pot on the go just for this!

at4oclock, I get what you are saying but I think caution is needed. Because leather jackets have been such a topic, and for a long time, might you be buying into a trend that has passed its sell by date and have missed reading it? Yes, leather jackets are classic and always wearable/utility but sometimes it's better to sit things out if you missed the beginning. And to leap forward ahead of the curve.

Xing you do have a point and that may be why I'm (unusually for me!) not rushing into this one. Def going to wait a bit longer before taking the plunge!

I’m terrible for buying stuff in Primark last minute then ending up with a wardrobe of nylon and nothing nice. I’d be better spending £30 on a top every so often but my brain says cheap is better when I’m last minute and skint. But would be less skint if I stopped buying sales crap

Great idea. I’ve moved away from buying rubbish, but I still buy too often.

Mindful gap filling is my aim.

I have a dog that eats pants and socks.

I am lurking. I really should be doing this but am failing. I'm hoping this thread motivates me!

I try to identify what item(s) are necessary: current examples - replacements for worn out bras, and a broken work rucksack! Or would be used a lot.

I use Pinterest to record these items (pic of an item of the type I’d like). And shop specifically for them. online as I find much less temptation to buy other stuff online.

Often can’t find a desired item, so don’t buy.

'Careful' spending sounds amazing to me!

I spend very little on clothes altogether so no worries there. But when I do I tend to splurge on things I already have. Like this week - I've bought 5 dresses (from eBay). They were bargains and I'll probably end up reselling the ones that don't suit but what I actually need to buy is boots, tights and a cardigan or two to wear with the dresses I already have...

I’ve bought two tops since the end of Dec which is a record for me. My clothes shopping had become a bad habit. I feel much calmer now I’ve broken the cycle. I’m hoping to spend no more than £60 a month now

I've bought two shirts since October and they were both ones that I really wanted and had gone in the sale.

I did ask for new boots and a cardi for Christmas though!

But overall I'm feeling good and in control. And zero this year!

I've got some lovely clothes which don't get worn enough so I'm determined to wear everything instead of sticking to the old favourites.

Have shrunk a fair few expensive knitwear items over the years, most recently last week, by washing at 30 degrees instead of cold, so have now banned myself from buying any items that need handwashing or cold washing!

Haven’t bought anything dry clean only for many years now due to cost and risk of damage.

For me there are some things that are worth spending more on. I'll save up for well cut, well made trousers because they're hard to get right but when I do, they feel so damn good.
And coats and jackets - I mostly buy them second hand so I don't spend much per item but I have a lot and, apart from a couple of weeks in the summer, I'll wear one or other of them pretty much every day. Coats are particularly great cos you can be wearing any old shit underneath and no-body knows.

On the other hand I won't spend as much on tops, shirts or knitwear because well - and speaking strictly for myself - sweat.
(I will pay more for decent cotton Ts but that's cos I hate lycra.)
Same with dresses. They may look pretty but they're always in the wash and they're not versatile enough for me.
Likewise shoes - I always wreck them so I see no point in shelling out (except for Solovair which are indestructable).
And bags - I love the idea of a well made, good looking bag that I could take everywhere and that would grow old with me. But the reality is that pens leak, chocolate melts and lunches spill. So again it would be a waste.

For me, lowspend is about the 'cheap sheets, expensive pillowcases' Philosophy of Life - ie getting the best stuff out there for pence, and knowing what not to spend on.

So, for me personally, it's Primark trousers all the way because they fit and I rip the arse of all trousers (see below).

Jeans? ££ no object as I like a swanky label - by ££ no object, I mean grabbing Acne jeans in TK for 30 quid.

White tees - anything white, really - cheap because it don't stay white. Crisp white looks the best even if 99p Primark.

Bags - Flo here I beg to differ . A decent bag can be cleaned pretty easily and lasts 5 years without going out of date, so if you like one (a big if) it's worth it.

IME it's only when you start cleaning a bag that you realise why it cost 1k - they come up like new.

I always worry I look like a homeless, doubtless correct given I tend to shoot out of the house in my volunteer clothes (nasty) with a fag on. Something about a nice Chloe bag redresses the balance, I feel.

Confidence can thus be purchased. My Stella McCartney bag was 14 quid in a chazza, btw. Buy the bag that carries you, not the other way round.

Underwear - annoying, this one, because it hasn't got so much sartorial appeal, but a decent bra and tights take a size off you every morning. Spanx tights cost £30 but would survive an ISIS attack and don't bag.

I secretly love pricy cashmere scarves - if you do, the charity shops take care of that hankering very nicely, usually for a quid.

Great thread idea, I am also not really built for complete abstinence! I am cutting down on volume and buying better quality - Very Exclusive has a brilliant sale on. I am in love with my new Whistles trousers and Armani Exchange jumper....£99 delivered. I feel uber stylish