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?

Erm, some months a lot and some months not very much at all.

I don't mind spending a lot on one pair or shoes or one item of clothing if it's good quality/well made and you're probably not going to bump into anyone else wearing it in a hurry.

I do buy cheaper stuff as well - for some things you can get away with it and for others you just can't. I don't think £280 on a pair of jeans is justified - you can get just as good for a lot cheaper. OTOH, jeans from NExt while they look OK just don't last.

Make up - I buy mostly Chanel, Estee Lauder and Lancome make up but buy the odd Rimmel lipstick or whatever. Cheap make up is crap in general.

What do you mean more interesting and fulfilling?

Like what?

I enjoy shopping. I will wear almost everything I buy, very occasionally I have bought things that I have either not got round to wearing yet, or decided I didn't like after all.

Well, DSM, it's like when someone asked Louis Armstrong to define jazz.

'Man, if you have to ask, you're never going to know.'

I've def got a couple of pairs of shoes and at least 2 tops I bought last summer that haven't been out yet because it never stopped blardy raining long enough for me to wear them!

Also have a shirt I bought a good few months ago that hasn't had an outing yet...it will though, just need the right occasion.

'Think its terribly sad that people would make presumptions on me because I like to spend my (hard earned) money on clothes. Goodness.'

Trust me, it's not solely based on that.

I wasn't really commenting on your choices DSM, I was answering the OP.
you chose to keep responding to my points made to the OP to justify your own choices and in the end I had to go and read your posts to see what you were talking about.
honestly, make your own choices. it is up to you what you do, but please accept that other people do find rampant consumerism and the current obsession with appearance and conspicuous consumption not all that palatable from a political perpective.

harpsi, you can't be political if you have no politics.

i could go further, but, well, i won't.

the whole thing about not buying clothes until you're slimmer - actually, that's generally the wrong way round. i find that if you are looking good/slim, it's easier to make things look good and you can buy less/spend less/find things more easily.

If you are feeling overweight and glum, then it's MORE important to look for something really good/flattering and if necc throw some cash at it. It's hard to get out of the mentality that it's a waste of money/you don't deserve it/why bother when you're fat, wait til you're thinner. Actually, what you buy doesn't need to actually be expensive, but it's worth gritting your teeth and really looking for suitable things - rather than giving up after 10 mins in a 'nothing fits, why bother' fury (often happens to me!).

It is better & more cost effective to buy something that really suits but may cost a little more if you'll actually get the wear out of it, rather than buy something you don't particularly want just because it's a bargain and then never wear it. Mainly though, I do think it's about accepting that you deserve to look nice whatever size you are, and that's more about attitude and time than actual cash.

DSM,don't stress

Some of us can't afford such stuff,some of us don't want to pay out for ethical reasons,some do....

Tis the wide range of Mumsnet mummies!!

As long as you are happpy.C'est la vie.

Interesting expat.

Whats it based on then?

Oh Harpsi, lighten up. There's nothing wrong with discovering an inner fashion bimbo. Just once in a while. I think old wilf spends most of her life being deadly serious, as I do, and there is nothing better than being a bit of a chick to take one's mind off things. And it's a boost to self confidence too.

I mean obviously hedonism can go a bit too far - but Wilf's hardly going to spend her life going from shop to hairdressers to shop to her appointment for colonic, is she now?

Oy Wilf, you must take a FULL day off in search of your inner bimbo. You have to cancel every meeting, every call, switch off the blackberry, and really apply yourself to this.

Expat, you do laconic really really well btw

Thanks, Quattro

Oooo, 'Deathtrap' is on. One of my old favs - Michael Caine at his finest.

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The situation must be of grave importance, iCod, as you are still awake!

Are they outside?

Have you tried luring them with catnip?

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catnip! put some catnip out.

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Try opening a can of tuna.Always works for my cats.

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