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

[WilfSell]

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?

none of my clothes are 15 years old that would be because 15 years ago i was 11

most of my clothes are pre ds1 though (he is 5) and i am a completely different shape now!! am saving up for some more!! have got some £6 primani ones for now

Well it rather depends on the salary, DSM and whether it is net or gross

Someone on, say, £208k a year, that's £4k a week, say £12k a year - why that's more than you spend ...

Bloody hell, well I would expect someone who earned over £200k a year to spend more than I do on clothes!!

OMG, QC, you have educated me: I never knew I could actually buy a Ghost dress

God, some of those might even disguise my stomach!

you could give all that money to charity and make a differnce to the world

i'm so sick of reading about cosmetics and clothes that cost so much money. that's why i find it obscene, it's a rip off and we're all falling for it

What about this site Wilf? Do you like their stuff?

what kind of shape are you ws? i am a 16 with big norks & a big fat tummy & pretty good legs - ghost dresses suit me & my apple figure really well (& don't suit a thinner friend who is more pear shaped).

I do give money to charity though SEA. And yes, I could give more, but to be honest I work to earn my money for me, not for 'the world'. I contribute enough, IMO, to charity, to feel comfortable with myself.

Ah now DSM that's a bit Kate Middleton/point-to-point for me... I'd like to think of myself as a fat urban Reiss/Karen Millen girl grown up... smart, fashionable (if only I knew what was), trying a bit too hard to be edgy without being mutton, but mostly giving up and buying Boden and Next.

What is in my head neither matches my body shape or my shopping habit.

Am I making sense?

I used to be monkeybird by the way and have posted about my awful still pregnant stomach before. 16 overall but huge belly makes me a generous 18 in most things (boo hoo)

Am working on it though.

Knockers still large because of BF but cutting down soon as back to work so expect them to disappear to deflated balloons round waist anytime now.

You can see my confidence is skyhigh can't you?!

Oh you are monkeybird!

I'll get on the case

At the moment - nothing. I spent 12 quid on some things at primark a week or so ago, it was the first time I have been shopping in ages. I bought some things from littlewoods Direct too, but nothing much.

How about this jasper conran stuff?

if i had £100 i'd spend it on a new rabbit run

everyone is so self obsessed these days you complain about jordan one minute then start a thread about fake tans.

Or this coast selection monkeybird wilf?

Oops.. try again..

Whoever complained about Jordan?

If I needed a new rabbit run, I would buy one. I can afford it, and don't see why you have such a problem with it SEA.

i am liking the JC shirtdresses and not too expensive. But hate my legs (rugby player calves) so could I wear with cropped jeans dya reckon? And wedges?

Sometimes like Coast stuff but mostly weddingy no? Not so worky/casual? Will look.

Am keen to think of shops/online retailers not on highstreet also.

Thanks - this is helpful!

Am going to set budget for when I get my first post-mat leave salary (end of May - woohoo!) and let you lot buy me a capsule wardrobe...

Coast do do work-stuff, but it is fairly dressy.

I wouldn't wear cropped jeans (ever), go for footless tights or just-below-the-knee leggings with the shirt dress. With ballet pumps or wedges for casual, heels for fancy.

What about this John Lewis collection?

I spend on work-related stuff and Christmas party outfits but not on normal weekend-type wear, with the result I am either really smart or really scruffy. I only enjoy clothes shopping for party wear, really, and the work stuff I make myself do.

ah yes, now I've been circling round the idea of this from the JL collection for a while but jacket now a bit winter and not sure fat girls can wear narrow jeans...

yes yes yes fat girls can wear anything! My best friend is a size 16 and has the absoloute best style, she always looks amazing.

You have to make sure you balance it out right, but you can wear skinnies.

Coast jumpers wash well, think they are good quality. I saw a coat in Coast and Reiss in the winter which was v similar in style and shape but Reiss material seemed much flimsier and not in a diff design type way. Jigsaw quality seems to have gone downhill, seams fray etc. - anyone else noticed this? Hobbs have apparently brought their prices down a bit now that they have factories in China, or so I've been told.