Toying with the idea of not buying any new clothes/shoes/accessories in 2021

[TableNiner]

I spend a lot of my time looking for new clothes, ordering clothes and returning clothes. I have more than enough to last a year and wonder if I should challenge myself, just feels very daunting. I would save a lot of time, money and environmental impact. Has anyone done this or do you think you could?

Only spent the £60 this month, that's really good for me. I've enough clothes to last a very long time so I shouldn't have even spent that much. Still its progress. I never sell anything, if I bought it its because i liked it. If I get fed up it goes to charity. I am doing really well , I'm proud of myself for getting to may and only spending £80 all in. When winter rolls around again I may need a pair or two of boots ( i walk a lot and need warm dry feet) but potentially the boots i have now may still be ok.

Hi Speckledy.

I'm also doing ok. I bought a couple of bits from eBay, but got rid of many more than I added, so that's good!

I'm coming up with a list of things I wouldn't buy secondhand and deciding which of those I can do without and what I may need to buy new or ask for as birthday/christmas presents.

The only things I might buy this year are things like underwear, vests or tights...maybe leggings, (which I would only use as tights, because nobody wants to see me in figure hugging lycra pants)! I will try to hold off though, if possible.

I'm also trying to mend as much as possible. I've mended a cardigan a couple of times. If it gets another hole or two though, it may be time to say goodbye to it. I won't necessarily replace it, as I can probably do without it.

I also have some things which I like, except for the colour. So, I'm going to try bleaching some and dyeing some others.

I'm trying to keep to a more minimalist colour palette. It definitely stops me buying things, as I don't buy anything which isn't one of those colours. It also stops me buying, for example, a pretty purple dress, because it's pretty, and then bringing it home to find I don't have anything to wear it with!

@Congressdingo, that's great! That's a really low spend for the whole of this year so far imo.

[quote PollyThePony]@Congressdingo, that's great! That's a really low spend for the whole of this year so far imo.[/quote]
I know and my house repair fund looks good (I changed username part way through this thread soz for confusing ya) if I keep it up I should have about 3k towards my potentially 7k+ fund. So in two years I should be good to go, or I'll put it on credit and be able to pay it off quick. Depends how long the thing lasts.

I’m doing well, four months and counting. I did buy a sleep bra and some period pants but I don’t count these and I wouldn’t buy secondhand.

I did have a blip when I decided to ‘allow’ myself one item at three months which led to a cycle of ordering and returning stuff. Not only hassle but no good for the carbon footprint. I’m better with a blanket ban so am now aiming for six months.

I’m still looking at the catalogues that come through but nothing is tempting or inspiring me so that helps. The only thing that might be useful would be some wider jeans but I do have one pair and jeans are a nightmare. It’s quite liberating just to have to make do with what you have. I guess maybe shopping for me was more of a chore than I realised.

I know what you mean op. Sometimes a blanket ban is easier in a way! 4 months is great.

I've bleached one dress to a sort of beige colour. I'm just dyeing some other things black in the washing machine...I'll report back.

I'm starting today for this month. I've got completely addicted to online shopping and it is taking up too much headspace, and is bad for the environment.

I think May will be a relatively easy month as I can pull out my spring/summer clothes which always feels exciting.

I'm going for a total ban - have removed shopping apps from my phone and have unsubscribed to emails

Oh I sooo wish I could commit to doing this. I would save a fortune!!

Well I’ve managed five months! The everlasting winter helped a lot but even now the summer has finally arrived I don’t feel the need for anything. I do have a couple of new pairs of sandals put by from the summer sales last year but I can now also wear all my lighter trousers and cardigans.

It also helps I haven’t seen anything I really like, the shops just seem to have more of the same. Loose jeans and flouncy dresses. As does the fact I am increasingly uncomfortable with consumption in general and all the stuff we buy which we don’t really need and which then needs to go somewhere. I’m a completely reformed shopaholic it seems.

I’m also more and more interested in minimalism and how little we actually need day to day and how that can make you calmer and more organised. It’s amazing how many different outfits you can put together from a small number of clothes and accessories. I’m still really interested in style and fashion so just need to be a bit more inventive.

Finally I know I’m ‘allowed’ used clothes so have got a few bits on eBay, I’m deliberately trying things outside my usual style as there’s no point just buying more of the same again. This has resulted in some interesting buys.

I definitely now have a year in my sights.

How is everyone else getting on? No judgement if you’ve bought stuff!

I'm doing well only one item in May, that is just 9 items of clothing this year is good for me, I have brought some item from ebay that I don't count, as secondhand and brought with money from selling on ebay.

Well done all. I've not bought anything new for myself clothes-wise (ds is another story...), although I did buy two preloved handbags, a (needed) pair of shoes for work and a beautiful winter coat on Vinted.

I've donated 5 bags of clothing this year so far and feel much happier that I can see everything I actually wear in the closet. I could do better with not buying new not strictly needed skincare products, but at least they take up less space and are used up faster than clothing items! I'll try and keep up the low/no buy until the end of July at least. Good luck everyone!

I'm doing well so far- some knickers and work shoes (all "allowed" by my rules) but nothing else new all year. Not kidding myself though as I generally won't buy without trying on and as the shops have been shut and we've had nowhere to go for much of the time...

In two minds whether to go the full year or just 6 months. A longer period will teach me to get creative and better at sourcing second hand/vintage, which is why I'd like to keep it up. However I could definitely do with some of the t-shirt and jumper type items that are less good to buy used. Watch this space! I definitely would have bought clothes for a sunny summer holiday but that's been shelved.

Having some eBay success- two pairs of jeans which fit brilliantly and a cardigan to go over an existing dress for a wedding coming up.

I have to admit that I've bought about 12 items this year, compared to 50 items I total last year I have cut down. I am wearing more of the wardrobe too.

www.stylist.co.uk/fashion/how-to-repair-clothes/526118

Quite interesting (concerning) facts

Argh I've just cracked not sure if anyone is still on this thread but I started this in Jan and had a big clear out. I've just ordered myself about 5 things and have 10 shopping pages open. They can all go back but I'm feeling a bit disappointed with myself. I'd bought 2 pairs of shorts and a poncho so far this year and was really pleased at cutting down particularly given i won't be returning to workwear in the same way and am aiming to lose a stone so wanted to do that before reviewing my wardrobe again. sigh I really don't want to slip back into old ways.

@EatingAllThePies Hello! I cracked too by buying a T-shirt. In my mind I pretended it was for exercise but it’s basically too nice for that. It was £25 and is Lyocell and will last me.

I know what you mean about it being a slippery slope but it’s made me feel so guilty I don’t think I’ll buy anything for quite a while, hopefully the rest of the year (I figured one item half way through was OK). The T-shirt comes in a couple of other colours that would suit me and is now discounted but I am resisting! Partly as I read somewhere you shouldn’t buy the same thing in lots of colours as you get bored easily.

I still think this journey is more about being mindful than punitive. And sometimes something comes along that you wouldn’t find if you went out looking. If I saw the perfect pair of ballerina flats I’d buy them.

It’s definitely helping me that the physical shops are in such a state and you’ve barely been able to see if something suits you with a mask on.

I can shop guilt free for my growing toddler they need wardrobe updates often :)
I barely buy anything for myself

[quote TableNiner]@EatingAllThePies Hello! I cracked too by buying a T-shirt. In my mind I pretended it was for exercise but it’s basically too nice for that. It was £25 and is Lyocell and will last me.

I know what you mean about it being a slippery slope but it’s made me feel so guilty I don’t think I’ll buy anything for quite a while, hopefully the rest of the year (I figured one item half way through was OK). The T-shirt comes in a couple of other colours that would suit me and is now discounted but I am resisting! Partly as I read somewhere you shouldn’t buy the same thing in lots of colours as you get bored easily.

I still think this journey is more about being mindful than punitive. And sometimes something comes along that you wouldn’t find if you went out looking. If I saw the perfect pair of ballerina flats I’d buy them.

It’s definitely helping me that the physical shops are in such a state and you’ve barely been able to see if something suits you with a mask on.[/quote]
You're right. I am trying to think about it as having been more mindful and having bought less this entire year than I normally would over a couple of months. Am about to chuck out maternity clothes today so I think I've just had a bit of a wobble 😢

Oh God, I so need to do this. At my very worst I had three double wardrobes bulging with clothes and two large chest of drawers filled with jumpers. And shoes & boots, I just lost count!

Then I had a tummy tuck recently and, so far, have lost roughly 8" off my waist and finally have a flat stomach for the first time in 25 years - so, I've had to bin/donate roughly one wardrobe's worth of clothes because they're too big.

But still left with far too many clothes and very confused as to how to dress for my new shape - so far I've been living in low waist jeans + fitted t-shirt tops, which I could never wear before, but am a bit bored of that look now.

So I kinda lost the plot with this. But I've bought less than I would usually have. I've been putting some things back from my basket before pressing the Pay button. I'm not buying duplicates. I'm thinking more about quality and comfort and whether it'll go with anything I already have.

I'm looking to cut down what I already own. With that in mind I put together a small wardrobe of suitable clothing for things I need to do this summer. I'm wearing it until it's dead or until autumn comes. I'm being more conscious in my choices of what to wear. Some things were gifted, some things I chose because I loved them and they suited me. The latter I want to look after, so if there's a risk of damage during an activity I'll wear the stuff I'm less bothered about. Ive recycled all the raggedys I used to keep for these occasions. I don't want to wear rags, it makes me feel bad. Ultimately I want a wardrobe where I feel an affinity with each piece, so I'm more attached and hopefully purchase less items due to boredom. I'm already feeling more minimalist. I see fewer things that I think are missing from my collection.

I've taken this forward into other areas of life like the bathroom beauty hoard, bedding and towels etc. I'm trying to purchase less in general and use what is already there. I quite often find myself thinking that I like it but I don't need it and then leaving it on the shelf in the shop. This is quite a big change for me.

I have also bought a few new things recently rather than sticking to my second-hand plans (sigh).

A new running outfit because my old one was worn out (especially the bottoms - the elastic wouldn't stay up!) which I don't feel guilty about, but also (in the sale) a green satin, mythical 'date night' shirt (I had decluttered all my others that made me feel sexy) and two pairs of wide leg trousers (one cropped), which are lovely and I'd been wanting for a year now. Plus a pair of wellies because there is a hole in my old ones letting water in (after 4 years of frequent use as we live somewhat rurally).

I wish I could say I'm buying 100% carefully and mindfully (I think I am, clothing-wise) but it has coincided with a lot more spending on skincare products too. And buying more than needed for ds and DH after MIL died recently...I guess it's an attempt to cheer us all up. All of it will be used and I haven't gone mad or broken the budget, but I need to slow down.

So I'm on a strict no buy for beauty items and clothes until the end of August now (at least!) apart from a few school uniform PE items. Wish me luck, and bon courage to you all!

Good luck @moimichme your post made me realise I've been super careful with skincare and cosmetics and haircare so I'm super pleased with that and have made a massive dent this year in my toiletry hoard! It helps that with going out less I don't mind looking a bit shiny or frizzy for several days too.

I'm still on track! I have bought a bag and some shoes for work but both were quality items I'll use for years rather than fast fashion. I also need a new wallet. No new clothes though which was my "rule".

I have got better at eBay and found some good charity shops so have added to my wardrobe (which I needed to) including the perfect dress for a party I have coming up which was bending my resolve. I think I can make the year now.

@moimichme I relate to that. I'll even splurge on cleaning products if I can't justify spending on anything else.

@EatingAllThePies I feel pleased with myself every time I finish something and add another bottle to the recycling.

Thanks Eating and Amber. I haven't gone too far (around £100 per month in total for 'personal care' and the new clothing), but I have plenty and there is really no need for me to keep doing that at the moment. It can wait until September, at least! Good luck everyone.