I am not going to buy clothes in 2020

[DuchessMinnie]

I have a stuffed-to-bursting wardrobe and I have everything covered from beach to snow to weddings and parties. I don't need to buy any more clothes, I need to lose 2 stone so that everything in my wardrobe fits me.

I have just binged in the sales and have bought another 3 dresses, 2 tops and a pair of work trousers. I really, really don't need anything. Anyone else?

I am cutting back seriously- I think there are serious environmental and ethical concerns around buying too many clothes

I have no caved yet which is a miracle for me.

I have a wardrobe of beautiful designer and vintage clothing, 90% of which doesn't fit me as I've put on 2.5 stone in the last year. I really need to focus on trying to lose weight rather than buying bigger and bigger things, although this will be tricky as I'm in early pregnancy but I want to stop the creep now before I end up 4 stone overweight with a newborn.

Even buying mostly second-hand I still spend too much on clothes. And the things I look best in are quite tailored, preppy things, lots of shirts etc, all of which requires ironing which I hate. Add in a tiny wardrobe so I can't even see most of what's in there and have to store a lot of stuff in the attic, and the result is a house which is cluttered with useless clothing.

I kondo'd everything a few years ago and it was life-changing - I ended up with a wardrobe in which I loved everything, so I never had difficulty deciding what to wear. Now it's the opposite - I have about 3 things I can bear to wear and all the things I love are much too small. The most depressing thing is that I absolutely love clothes, and sewing, and I have the most fabulous ideas for outfits - when I make the effort (for weddings etc) I always get compliments and people asking where I got things (normally things I've sewn myself). If I were a bit more organised, and thinner, and had more space in the house for sewing projects, I could look fabulous. Instead I dread going out and seeing people because I just feel like I look really dumpy and end up wearing loads of make-up to compensate.

That turned into a bit of an essay whoops! But I suppose the bottom line is that I want to buy new clothes to make myself feel better, when actually what would make me feel better is losing weight so I can wear all the fabulous things I have already, instead of the massive jumper and too-tight jeans which is my daily wardrobe right now. Buying new stuff is masking the problem so I need to stop doing that.

Morning all, I’ve not bought any clothes since New Years which is fab for me. But I’m still looking online. Sometimes I’ve got as far as adding to baskets. I booked a holidsy New Year’s Day for the summer so i keep looking at holiday clothes, I do not need any. I’ve gained weight and I’m loosing again so all my hardly worn clothes will fit me.

It’s shocking me that I’m still looking though . It’s like a total addiction! Anyone else doing that?

I need to do this, I bought yet more stuff in the sales and wardrobes and drawers were already fit to burst. I have some stuff on delay from Next, I am going to have to cancel them aren’t I. I have whole double wardrobe hanger just for trousers and that doesn’t include the folded ones, I daren’t count my coats and boots. I also have clothes for the life I lead in my mind not the actual life I do lead so really should get rid of them.

I sent two bin bags of clothes to the charity shop yesterday and put some items on eBay to pay for some of DS expenses (kids will grow won’t they?).

@Ardnassa you're welcome. I suspected I wasn't the only one. This thread has made me realise that I rarely go a whole week without buying clothes. In New Look yesterday with DD I spotted three tops I would have bought while I was waiting for her to pay. If I can pull this off for a year it will save me a fortune- I am too scared to calculate exactly what I've been spending.

Meeting friends for coffee today while the DC all go swimming, no temptation of new clothes at the local leisure centre!

I have already failed on not buying clothes this year. Jan 6th, the epiphany, Wil be my first day of no clothes 2020.

I am also only going to buy second hand clothes for my daughters, 6 and 4

And minimal number of baby grows for baby

I think like others, internet shopping is also my downfall. It is just so damn easy...especially after a couple of glasses of wine. But, I am staying strong so far and haven’t bought anything in the sales... Well, have bought 2 bras but I did genuinely need those!

I did this in 2019 - it was very freeing actually, not checking the new arrivals on the internet etc

It kind of broke my habit and now I honestly only want to buy a couple of things (a good quality suit for work, for one)

Went to Tesco , while DH was looking at phone chargers (or other such random stuff) I had a look at the sale clothes .
There was a (quite nice) dark brown jumper - nothing special, it was acrylic but soft , but it had a roll neck . (but £8 - if I wasn't on Low Spend , I would have )
So I adultly returned it to the Sale Rail .

This seemed quite relevant to our little group - published today :) amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/05/could-i-go-a-year-without-buying-any-new-clothes?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco&__twitter_impression=true

Very helpful article

"The most sustainable clothing is the stuff you already own" says it all for me. I didn't buy much new in 2019, other than one-for-one replacements (winter and summer weight black jeans, underwear, sportswear and shoes) but it wasn't about denial, and I have given a lot more to the charity shops. I have bought a jersey since (instantly nicked by DS). The rest has been pre-loved, which is just as satisfactory.

I am still eBay listing, and deleting emails from retailers as soon as they come in. My initial pledge (made on Instagram) was until March so I am aiming for that for now.

I fell off the wagon on Saturday. I hardly ever leave my house ( I am 24/7 carer for dry sick DD) but on Saturday we got a sitter and I stupidwent into the independent boutique just to 'look'. So I bought a very very expensive but half price organic cotton jumper from a sustainable brand ( the ask buyers to send back the clothes they would throw out) that is so lovely that I know I will wear a lot. When I do buy in future will only be stuff like that. Also got a pair of beautiful long black boots ( Hobbs) from eBay which I had been looking for and they were a good price. I wear Hobbs shoes a lot and they last me years as they are such good quality. Now, nothing new and to cull wardrobe a few things a day listed on eBay.

I brought a top on ebay :( I will add something to clothes bin now!

I'm holding on so far - i still have a cos order and a few bits from next sale en route but they were ordered way before new year.

I decided to not buy any clothes in June 2019 for one whole year. I haven't so far! I've caved with a new bag and some shoes because I needed them for work after my bag split and I needed completely clean shoes for a particular area of my workplace but with regards to actual clothing, nada.

Honestly it's made things a lot less stressful as I don't need to browse clothing shops when I'm out in shopping centres, nor in the supermarket. I felt free from Black Friday and post Xmas sales since I didn't need anything and wouldn't have bought anything that had caught my eye anyway. I also feel a lot more thankful for the clothes I have already

I would love to start shopping in charity shops more in the future so perhaps when my year is up I'll start perusing those

That article is great. When I do start buying again I'd like to use eBay more but for the moment I need to go cold turkey. It's brilliant to hear some of us are already 6-9 months through the journey- gives me lots of hope.

Just popping on to say well done everyone.

Is any else doing no toiletries too? I am, except to replace. My biggest downfall is ordering lots to get the "free gift", spending way more than planned or ordering lots of the same item, which will get used but I hate having a huge stockpile

RedRiver. I definitely still look! It’s hard during sales season with all the emails popping up - if your in-box is anything like mine. I have bought a couple of vintage dresses on eBay but my excuse is it’s my birthday month . What’s helping is having other things I want to do/save up for, and just: the world has enough stuff in it already, heaven knows my wardrobe(s) have enough stuff in them.....

Oops! That should have been a reply to FeelingGood.

@DontFundHate yes I am doing toiletries too. I have a huge haul of stuff so my rule this year is to use it all up. I am doing well with that too- I am currently using a gift pack of shower gels which has been in the cupboard for about 2 years. Granny scents but am using them!

Yes to using up toiletries and makeup before buying new! Underwear, sports kit and footwear the only things I'll generally buy new and I'm pretty much supplied with all that.
Trying to kick my eBay habit but will allow charity/vintage shops.