How much do you spend on clothes each month?

[IceLace100]

Just that really. How much do you spend each month or year on clothes relative to your salary?

Just spent £100 and was feeling guilty but then relative to my salary, maybe this is just "normal"?

After saving for a deposit for years and buying everything in charity shops / going without / borrowing from friends, I am unsure what is a sensible amount to spend.

Maybe I'm just trying to justify my purchases! 🤣😂🤣

@54321nought

I am shocked and saddened at the number of people who see nothing wrong in buying new clothing every month

Half of all clothing bought in the UK ends up in landfill within 18 months.

The clothing industry has a devastating environmental impact, and a truly awful welfare record.

Please please please stop buying unnecessary clothing

Nobody needs more than one or two pieces replaced a year, and all discarded shoes and clothing can be recycled, either through second hand shops if they are still wearable, or though textile recycling if they are not

And second hand shops are a good place to look if you are cloth shopping too

I don’t throw much away (only if it is damaged or stained, though then I often use as rags to clean the car), I sell a lot on ebay and I keep a lot. Those saying they spend £100’s a month might only be buying a couple items depending on the brand/quality. I try and buy more expensive items that will last me for longer rather than buying 20 items in primark that might only last a couple months.

People change size and shape quite often so may need to buy a bigger/smaller size. I’m trying to lose a stone so I can fit into last years winter clothes 🤣.

Back when I had the city in my doorstep I could spend up to £100 each month.

Not really these days though. But I still have a weakness for handbags lol. But I haven't bought much since lockdown started so I've probably only spent 200 (including bags) in like, a year.

I think most people are working out an average spend per month. Not everyone on here will buy new clothes every single month.

Buying new clothes mindfully is better than buying a tonne from eBay imo. As I said, I was fully committed to only buying secondhand for many years and I still do buy a good number of things that way.

But nobody is in a position to tell people they need only X number of pieces per year. In some industries, and depending on body shape etc, it is important to look current. That shouldn't be the case, but it is. Women especially are still valued for their appearance at work and elsewhere, in many places. It is very convenient that an interest such as fashion which is still viewed traditionally as a female interest gets targeted. Women are always expected to shoulder the burden. I know men who have umpteen babies with several women, but women are the ones who are criticised for having too many babies and ruining the planet. I used to work arranging travel for an almost all male team of tech staff who flew about the world as if it was nothing. I know men who buy a few new pieces of kit for their Very Important Hobby every month, and then change hobby in a couple of months. But that isn't seen as wasteful in the same way that silly ladies and their fashion is.

Also, this is a style and beauty board. If you hate seeing people buying new clothes, you are not going to have a pleasant time on this board.

All that said, I do absolutely advocate buying mindfully and making things last. That is a different message to "I am shocked and saddened, thoughts and prayers, you only need this cos that's what I need".

I am on this board because it came up in active conversations. The fact that it is style and beauty does not make it morally right to buy unnecessary clothing.

Ok @54321nought. Well, now you're here, welcome to S&B. I would love to see your threads on thrift shopping. I did it myself for years, but would love to swap tips.

There is a positive way to engage with a new board. I'd love to see that from someone who is committed to fashion but not buying new. I managed the latter, but couldn't quite do both, so genuinely would love tips.

To be honest, far too much, especially given I am on maternity leave!

When I had ds in December I ordered an outfit to wear on Christmas Day (he was born nine days before) - it was a maternity outfit but I thought to hell with it, it’s Christmas.

Then lockdown happened and parcels made me feel good and gave me something to look forward to. It wasn’t JUST clothes - makeup and things for ds and the house - but a lot of it was. I would estimate 80% of my wardrobe has been bought in the last eight months

Not much at the moment as I am pregnant, but I get an allowance that is about 8% (lol) of my net salary, as does DH.

@54321nought the problem is, who decides what is necessary clothing? As @SuperSketchy said, a variety of smart work clothes are necessary for lots of people/women to be taken seriously in their careers. But those clothes aren't necessary if all you care about is covering your nakedness and being warm. Surely there's no one definition of "necessary"?
(Personally I think "hauls" are unnecessary, but who decides what counts as a haul, other than me when I am stating that I find them unnecessary?!)

No set amount but if I like something I buy it...at 6 feet tall it's not easy to find things, and never in shops. I once spent £1000 on several pairs of boots about 10 years ago, which are all still going strong. Again, a difficult shoe size

Thanks @BlairWaldorfLovesShopping. And as I said, I'm really for mindful shopping, whatever that might look like. Being a tricky shape or size absolutely doesn't help with secondhand shopping, so maybe a size 10 with size 5 feet saying they cannot understand why anyone would need to buy new is down to lack of understanding.

It does irk me that women are particularly told they MUST look their best, and at the same time they're told they are destroying the planet when they try to do what they're told.

For some people fashion is an art form and form of expression. Again, this can be done mindfully and doesn't have to mean lots of waste, but people dismissing fashion as silly and immoral grinds my gears. I don't know anyone who rants about painters wasting paint - tongue in cheek alert. I suppose it's because everyone has to clothe themselves that everyone has an opinion on what other people do (especially "what women do", which as we know is everyone else's business).

I loved reading about Greta Thunberg taking on the big fashion houses. She is right and I'm glad that she targeted the big businesses first. Shouting at women who are dressing a certain way because they know they will miss out on opportunities if they don't is not the right way to tackle the fast fashion problem imo.

However, as I say, I agree that fast fashion and overconsumption of fashion absolutely is a problem. I just wish people would engage more positively instead of running their mouths on a board which they have no interest in, (that is not @ anyone on this thread btw, just a general comment as I've seen this on here a few times on here and elsewhere).

Most months £0, then the odd month I'll spend about £100 just topping up my wardrobe or swapping with out clothes that have got tatty. I'm not very frivolous when it comes to clothing. I'd rather buy a couple of things that I can mix and match then have a crap ton of clothes I only wear once.
Shoes is another thing entirely though, my bill for shows is shocking 😅

@SuperSketchy

Ok *@54321nought*. Well, now you're here, welcome to S&B. I would love to see your threads on thrift shopping. I did it myself for years, but would love to swap tips.

There is a positive way to engage with a new board. I'd love to see that from someone who is committed to fashion but not buying new. I managed the latter, but couldn't quite do both, so genuinely would love tips.

thats a lovely post thank you. I'm afraid I don't know much about style and beauty though. I was always obese and didn't care how I looked. Now I am slim and have mostly just unpacked clothing from 30 years ago......

But I have discovered Fatface - I love their clothing. I have no idea if they are considered stylish though!

And I have been impressed by how much available clothing is recycled these days

As in, made of recycled textiles, rather than second hand

@54321nought

As in, made of recycled textiles, rather than second hand

Yes, I also love new recycled clothes and opt for those a lot. Vivaia make great shoes which are entirely recycled. I also love Allbirds. The best thing about investing in shoes is that your feet tend to stay a similar size . My weight naturally fluctuates between two sizes so I just have things in both sizes and also buy things which can be worn at different sizes. Eg wrap skirts, oversize dresses etc.

My tip would be to look at places like Vestiaire collective, research a particular item and save your monthly clothes allowance for that one thing you want. I'm eyeing some Hermes scarves at the moment.

Another shop I hear recommended a lot, for recycled but new basics is Organic Basics. I haven't bought anything there yet, but I want some of their knitwear, maybe for Christmas.

@Miseryisabutterfly

Of course you can *@sanityisamyth*. Two holey T-shirts just isn’t evoking the image of someone who cares about fashion.

Some very weird comments from this poster!

This thread is in active conversations so it doesn't matter which board it's on.

People for whom the norm is to spend £300-500 a month on clothes could probably benefit from hearing from those who spend very little.

Fast fashion is having a terrible impact on the environment and we should think more about what we actually need. If this isn't a topic to be discussed within "style and beauty" then where?

Yes this issue should be discussed here. There arr content creators such as Alyssa Beltempo, A Small Wardrobe, Audrey Coyne who do this in a positive way. They are all low consumption, mindful shoppers, but clearly interested in style as well.

Although people who wear holey t-shirts might be very stylish and maybe that is part of their look, it may not be that likely I suppose. The content creators I've just mentioned manage to look very polished and put together, which I like as it is more my style. I love seeing how they manage this without overconsuming.

So basically I think there is a difference between people who buy very little and don't care about style and those who do care and still buy very little. I think there is room for everyone on this board, but I prefer it when people don't dictate to one another, be that in terms of style or ethics. There is a positive way to encourage more mindful consumption.

As for where should this be discussed if not here? Well, if your primary concern is the environment, and categorically not style, then may the climate change board? Or chat? But as I say there is room for everyone, as long as nobody is under the impression that everyone has to toe anybody else's line. Again, in case you missed it, I am very for lower consumption of new clothes.

@kennycat

This thread title made me feel like an alien!! I do t but clothes every month- is it normal to do so?! I probably buy 4 items maximum a year. I feel like a freak!!

Buying fewer clothes than others makes you feel like an alien ok. (Humble brag alert!)

I was asking more about an average monthly spend/ yearly spend relative to your salary. So as you'll see from most other posts, people have said "yearly £1,000" or "about 3% take home" or something like that.

Just to add that I think almost everyone has their failings when it comes to consumption. Maybe someone for example buys nothing new but then travels a lot, eats a lot of meat or dairy, or has a large family, or maybe you do none of those "big" things, but occasionally, you do something which isn't 100% in line with your eco credentials. I think having a 'helpful' person leaping up to tell you how immoral you are every time you do something like this is counterproductive and off-putting.

If we all restricted ourselves to what we need life would be far less joyful.

@54321nought I’m not going to jump on you but like others I find it frustrating that the focus when talking about environmental impact is on the excesses of women and doesn’t involve holding MNCs to account.

For my part I treat clothes in the way that some people treat their hobbies. I enjoy my wardrobe and what I wear. I want to look good and have to as part of my job, where there is still a mentality of “dress for success”.

Somehow, fashion, despite being dominated by men at the top of the industry, is used as a stick to beat women with and perceived as childish, shallow and frivolous at best. World ending at worst.

As for where the issue can be discussed, I think a thread on sustainable fashion would be great.

Over the years there been many about buying less/wearing what you have better etc but coming on another posters thread and being the voice of doom is rude.

@SuperSketchy

Ok *@54321nought*. Well, now you're here, welcome to S&B. I would love to see your threads on thrift shopping. I did it myself for years, but would love to swap tips.

There is a positive way to engage with a new board. I'd love to see that from someone who is committed to fashion but not buying new. I managed the latter, but couldn't quite do both, so genuinely would love tips.

Yes, well said! I'd love to hear tips on

A - thrifted clothes

B - good eco brands

C - good quality clothes that will last many years.

Working through the last year:

One black dress, M&S £45
1 black coat, JL, sale £50
1 raincoat, JL, £99
1 Seasalt dress £79?
1 white jeans: £45
1 navy teeshirt: £45
1 navy shoes: £30 (sale)
1 slides £75
1 handbag £147
1 white stuff dress £50

£675. Plus hair, make-up and perfume.
That's slightly less than usual. Need to buy winter casual coat, boots and winter bag this autumn as a minimum.

I spend a lot on clothes. This month I have bought a long puffer coat for winter (Depop, BNWT), a grey cashmere jumper (also BNWT, best charity shop find ever!), and am waiting on some jeans from Whistles being delivered.

I try to buy decent quality stuff - higher end high street - and shop on Depop a lot. But I see clothes as a hobby. My DP rarely buys anything, but this month he has paid for flights/accommodation for a sporting event next month, plus bought several records, so I reckon he has spent a lot more!

@PegasusReturns

As for where the issue can be discussed, I think a thread on sustainable fashion would be great.

Over the years there been many about buying less/wearing what you have better etc but coming on another posters thread and being the voice of doom is rude.

I'd love this too! Shall I start one?

I never buy clothes each month. I buy a new item of clothing to replace an old worn out, hokey, stained mess. And that's only sometimes!

Think of the fucking planet people. It's disgraceful. Consumerist idiots.