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Original poster

What proportion of your income do you spend on clothes? Pls help me get over my tightness...

189 replies

WilfSell · 07/05/2008 21:31

I am a grown woman with a fabulous salary. OK I have lots of children and lots of mortgage and lots of commitments. But I still can't get over my 'god that's too expensive' gene.

I am fat and run to seed after baby 3. I know I need to shift blubber. Some of my meanness is that: you know, the 'I'll only buy really nice clothes when I'm slimmer' mentality. Which is stupid, because I know taking care of myself is actually more likely to help me slim.

And some of it is feeling selfish to spend money on myself. And not the kids or house or DH for example.

And some of it is just lazy, used to Tescos the crappy high street mentality. A woman of my age (farking 40) should know better.

I looked at the shirt dress Perkin Warbeck linked to in Austin Reed and though feck they even do it in an 18 (though I bet it is a 16 really) and wondered to myself why I have never even considered shopping there.

And some lovely things in Hobbs currently. And lots of other shops that I don't frequent.

sorry if this pisses people off - I'm not trying to be smug about my earnings. I'm just wondering how other people justify 100 quid on a blouse and 180 on a pair of kecks. Is it because I'm a tight Northerner?

OP posts:
DirtySexyMummy · 07/05/2008 22:14

Julien MacDonald is a designer - he does things for Debenhams.

The jeans are extremely well made, will literally last forever and keep their shape and colour, pretty much look brand new 10 years after buying them, which I presume cheap jeans don't.

Quattrocento · 07/05/2008 22:14

CRH - what a fab idea - there are really good personal shoppers in Harvey Nicks - we need to spend the day in there with Wills and her chequebook

Quattrocento · 07/05/2008 22:14

CRH - what a fab idea - there are really good personal shoppers in Harvey Nicks - we need to spend the day in there with Wills and her chequebook

DirtySexyMummy · 07/05/2008 22:17

We can personal shop for you!

what kind of things are you looking, a whole new wardrobe?

I can search and posts links for you?

ChocolateRockingHorse · 07/05/2008 22:18

So does that mean I actually have a pair of designer jeans.. or.. not?!

Wow.. looking good after ten years of wear souns fab!! Kind of ironic though because people who can afford them don't need them to last that long.. they will be stored away in the garage by then won't they DSM?

southeastastra · 07/05/2008 22:18

i would just never spend £100 on one piece of clothing, it's pretty obscene

wrinklytum · 07/05/2008 22:18

DSM,hope my post did not come across a disapproving.Tis my secret fantasy ,Well one of them to be given unlimited money and go clothes shopping with a clothing expert

choosyfloosy · 07/05/2008 22:18

I'm a size 18 and used to have more money than I do now (not hard) - i'd say go Italian - Marina Rinaldi and Elena Miro although Sweet Jesus! that's a terrible website, but the few things of hers I have bought (in department stores) have been great.

The principle you want to go for IMO is not 'high street plus' like Whistles but absolutely huge amounts of money like netaporter.com. After a few outfits from there or Marina Rinaldi, Whistles will start to look cheap.

I do think that the thing about expensive clothes is that they really do last longer (if you look after them) - but then I am very hard on clothes.

The other thing I find hard to do but is worth it if I can bear to, is to spend serious money on accessories (are shoes accessories?) - underwear, shoes, these are the things that make you really comfortable and make every outfit feel great.

Having said all that, I'm a charity shop girl now and that's a real pleasure. but then I like spending money.

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:19

would luuuurve to be able to say 'my jeans are all too small for me'

even £20 ones

am trying to get into my old jeans (with a diet not a shoehorn) as we speak
am actually sitting here wondering if I can have a cream cracker!

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:20

SO DSM can I ask how do you manage to socialise with dcs?

babysitter?
nanny?
dh?

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:20

SO DSM can I ask how do you manage to socialise with dcs?

babysitter?
nanny?
dh?

wrinklytum · 07/05/2008 22:20

I would never,in actuality spend £100 on clothes SEA (its my more than weekly shopping budget) but it would be lovely!!

KerryMum · 07/05/2008 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:20

SO DSM can I ask how do you manage to socialise with dcs?

babysitter?
nanny?
dh?

blithedance · 07/05/2008 22:20

Do you need to look smart or presentable for work? I read somewhere a professional woman should budget three weeks salary a year for work clothes.

I have only justified major splashouts on work clothes like suits and good shoes. Wonder whether I'll ever wear them again....?

Quattrocento · 07/05/2008 22:20

Well it's taken you long enough DSM

She likes Hobbs but she is self-conscious and thinks that most shops don't stock 18s (they mostly do now btw)

So Expat's suggested Jigsaw, which is a fab idea, and I think Whistles too, and also a session with the personal shoppers at Harvey Nicks will be good and the prices will be awsome and she will get good and spoiled which is what she needs

We need more though

DirtySexyMummy · 07/05/2008 22:21

Its really worth saving up for good jeans. Cheap ones are a false economy, and good jeans can make you look a million times better, and can be spotted a mile off.

SEA - How can you think it is obscene?
There are clothes that costs thousands. Not sure why you would find it obscene TBH.

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:21

3x sorry didn't mean to shout!
kerrymum I still have 15 year old stuff in wardrobe too

Quattrocento · 07/05/2008 22:22

Some nice stuff in Armani - it's not the cliche it was

DirtySexyMummy · 07/05/2008 22:23

1dilemma - My parents babysit, and obviously DS dad looks after him. I go out about 3 nights a week.

Quattrocento · 07/05/2008 22:23

This three week's salary a year idea - are we talking net salary or gross?

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:24

Does anyone else find jigsaw sizing really funny?

hoxtonchick · 07/05/2008 22:24

nicole farhi stuff is nice.

DirtySexyMummy · 07/05/2008 22:24

3 weeks salary a year?

Thats not very much, for clothes, shoes and accessories?

1dilemma · 07/05/2008 22:25

OK I've changed I may think I am like wilfsell without the salary, I want to be DSM