What did you buy in 2022 (and how much did you spend?)

[Pigtailsandall]

Ah, low buy, you failed me completely (or I failed you). I went through some life changes in 2022 and decided that my old wardrobe looked tired, dated and like it belonged to someone in a totally different phase of life. So I spent, what is for me, a lot on clothes this year. I am wondering what everyone else did/how much they spent (if you are comfortable sharing).

I bought a total of 36 new items, and spent £1095. This does not include accessories, although those constituted a fairly small amount. I kept a diary of purchases and here's my breakdown...

The most expensive item was the first purchase in Jan 2022 in the sales - a me+em wool coat for £276. It's also the most worn item so far. The cheapest was a Selected Femme t-shirt for £1 in a charity shop. In total, I bought 6 items second-hand and 30 new. I tried to find second-hand items, but I found it quite hard, panicking about whether it would fit and if it was a waste of money.

Happily, almost all purchases have been successes. Like I said, I went through some life changes and the clothes I need now are quite different to before. Everything I have bought I've worn lots, and I've really focused on getting a good casual selection going which still makes me look fairly smart. The only total fails were a pair of linen trousers which split at a seam after two wears, and a jumper which has comically long sleeves which I somehow didn't pick up at the buying stage, Both are from Zara, interestingly, so I shan't visit Zara anytime soon.

Most of my clothes came from Cos (6 things; 2 vest tops, shirt, dress, trousers and a jumper) or Uniqlo (7; 3 trousers, sweatshirt, cardigan, stripy top and a button-up shirt). I also bought a few things from companies I haven't before, like the Spark company and Free People, and was very happy with the things I got. I'm moving away from skirts and dresses, and although I did buy one dress, I mainly bought trousers and shorts instead of skirts.

I also decluttered heavily. I sold or donated 53 items so overall, my wardrove is getting smaller. I made just under £300 selling things (this did include a few kids' things too though) which reduces the actual overall spend nicely. I also got a birthday voucher for £100 which went towards clothes. and another £50 from work.

All in all, quite successful. What did everyone else buy?

Approx £900 for me, but this is everything by that I mean my basics (socks, knickers and tightens) and also my outdoor gear for hiking.

Big ticket items for me this year-

• Barbour Gilet (£130) as my Joules one of 10 years gave up the ghost
• Jigsaw Olive Green skinny jeans (love!) (£90)
• LK Bennet Shiloh in Nude (£65 new off Vinted)

Other good purchases-

• Floral hippie summer blouse, not sure on the brand but wore and wore it all summer (£45)
• Black Jumpsuit for holiday (£50 Silk Fred)
• Cashmere jumper (£90 House of Bruar)
• Wrangler jeans (£30 TK Maxx)

Bad purchases

• Three basic tops from M&S - all have washed badly (approx £60 in total?)
• Bought white flared trousers to replace my very worn Coast white cigarette trousers… still in wardrobe with labels on. Deffo a ridiculous purchase (£70 ish I think?)

Plan for next year is to replace my staples (everyday tops & blouses) with fewer quality items that last. Hence the treat of the cashmere jumper this winter to replace the three ribbed polo necks I’d usually buy at m&s. I’ve always done this with my jeans, skirts and jumpers but for some reason not my t-shirts / tops?

This has been an eye-opening thread for me. I started the year well and thought I'd kept my annual spend well down (for me!).

I found summer clothes generally pretty awful and so didn't buy much and stuck to my staples. Had a huge clearout over the summer and got rid of two massive black sacks and several carrier bags of clothes that were no longer needed or that I no longer felt 'right' in. I tried almost every single item on and was ruthless. This made a massive difference as I was drowning in stuff and had almost forgotten certain items.

Autumn/winter was another matter entirely and in the last week alone I've spent somewhere in the region of £500-700. I'm happy with what I've got and what I've replaced that I got rid of. I feel that what I have now suits my lifestyle and style better so won't beat myself up too much. I would estimate that I've spent somewhere in the region of £1000-1500 this year which is less than previously.

Love the idea of keeping a tab on expenditure next year as I really need to start saving for some much needed home improvements and it will make me think twice about purchasing new items.

I don't know exactly but remember these bits and vaguely the cost:

Dress for work £35
White trainers £45
Dresses from Vinted x 2 £20
Work trousers £50
Tops for work £50
Knitwear x 2 £100
Beanie hat £22
Jeans £45

I'm sure I've had a few other bits here and there, so it must be somewhere in the region of £700-800! Omg that's quite shocking really as I didn't think I was shopping very much

This was an interesting exercise! I've done a quick add and it's looking like just under £800. I'm mid-thirties and have put on weight since kids and just find I need different things now, like smart casual stuff that fits nicely so have upgraded.
My favourite items were mainly M&S
-a wool coat
-black lily jeans
-flares
-leather leggings
-boots

I also got amazing camel City shorts from H&m, a cropped denim jacket from Uniqlo that I live in when it's warm enough and two dresses for a family christening and wedding, two different seasons.
I'm going to buy less next year and focus on things that I can keep for the long-term.

I’ve bought nothing new all year - used charity shop and Vinted

I only ever buy NWT and filter on Vinted for £10 max except for shoes.

I estimate I’ve spent under £300 all year but have bought at least one “new” item a month. I don’t think I will ever go back to buying new again.

My aim this year was to buy less new stuff. Just counted and I've bought 36 items of clothing which is way to much but at least over half of it was secondhand. No items were only 10/15 pounds I don't think. I use charity shops, Ebay and Depop. I've deleted Depop from my phone recently so hoping for a no/low buy year next year as I have no physical space left! And 36 is way too many, not sure how that happened.

*were over

Lost weight this year so some things had to be bought anew. I also buy clothes specifically for work because they get ripped/ bleach on etc.

3 pairs jeggings £60
3 pairs casual trousers £60
A mint velvet coat £200
A pink Primark coat £35
A brown Primark blazer £15 ( off to the charity shop in the new year as I don't know what I was thinking)
Padded coat from New Look
for work as my old one was ripped beyond repair £60
A red M&S blouse £30
4 everyday type t shirts £100
Autograph Breton top £18 in sale
Autograph posh t shirt £30
Pair of Puma £35
Jumper from Kin £55
White linen shirt second hand £10
Pair of work boots £100
Pair of Dune boots £110
2 sweatshirts £60
Dress for a wedding TK Maxx £18
Belt £20
Coach bag in sale £180

So about £1200. Pants bras and socks not accounted for.

More than I thought to be honest. Although I won't need to buy coats for several years!

Not much at all, wfh and don’t go out much!
jeans, hoody, 2 bras, 4 T-shirts, 2 bikinis, 3 beach cover ups, beach skirt, white trainers, 2 gym T-shirts. £300ish maybe.

I spent a lot this year as I hasn't bought much over the previous 2 years & then lots of things need to be replaced.

I find it goes like that for me, there are times when I don't see anything I like & then other times when the shops seem to be full of things I fall in love with!

I focused on summer wardrobe because we travelled a bit this year & I hadn't bought much since 2018. And dressier going out clothes as I adore them. Even if I don't always always have the lifestyle !

In 2023 I need to focus on work clothes.

I reckon I've spent about £5,000 overall.. I bought mainly in sales & it includes
ME+EM dress
Summer wardrobe from Mint Velvet sale - wide legged trousers, 3 x t-shirt, cropped trousers, 2 x dresses, sweatshirt, kimono
New balance trainers
Kimono, dress & skirt in an Italian boutique
Reiss dressy top
Velvet blazer zara limited edition

Black silk shirt the kooples
Black sweatshirt zadig & voltaire
Ba&sh boots
Zara sequined shirt
2 x trousers zara
Chie mihara shoes
Maje leather bag
Mulberry leather bag (sale)
Wyse jacket
New underwear & socks
Whistles joggers

It's a lot written down but I still look in the wardrobe & think I've nothing to wear!!

And even despite all the clothes above I would love
Jigsaw long leather boots
New coat
Isabel Marant bag
Polene bag
Scarf & gloves & hat
New work trousers × 4 pairs
Work blazer & shirts
Cashmere jumper

In my ideal world I would buy 90% of my clothes in ME+EM!

I set myself an entirely second hand challenge. Will try to remember what I got :

Yellow skirt (disaster) £8
Print skirt (have not worn) £12
Blue dress (now a summer favourite) £15
Yellow dress £12
Multi coloured trousers (bit odd) £30
Black jumpsuit (love it) £8
Green dress £12
Green top £6
Blue dress £20
Whit spotty dress (summer favourite) £10
Trainers 2 pairs at £5
So loads more than usual at not much money, it's been great fun and I've had some lovely stuff.

I forgot a pair of jeans (amazing) and a black dress (awful). Whole lot under £200. My one new item was a pair of tights!