£1200 per year

[fatgirlswims]

I have this much to spend each year on clothes.

Is it possible to look nice with this amount of money?

I have to buy everything with this from pants and bras to costs and winter boots!
Holiday clothes and travel items, work clothes, gym clothes, event clothes everyday clothes.

I just want to look nice and not a grumpy mess!!

How can I spend this wisely?

Good advice there from @happytobemrsg

Important to consider your actual lifestyle and spend accordingly. If you spend most days in jeans and T shirts, don't spend £200 on a dress for a special occasion that won't get worn again. Either go for the budget option, or second hand when you can probably recoup what you've spent by selling it on again. Better to spend your money on things you'll get a lot of wear out of.

And a capsule wardrobe in terms of colour palette and being able to mix and match within your own wardrobe saves a lot of time and money (Specifically a capsule for you, I don't mean go out and buy the crisp white shirt and trench coat which rarely fit into most people's lifestyles)

The danger with shopping secondhand/Vinted without a plan is that you end up with things you bought because they were a great price, but they dont fit perfectly or go with everything else.

Gosh that sounds like an awful lot to me! I'm sure it's possible, buy less but decent quality.

I replace my winter boots and coat every 2-3 years, my trainers every 1-2 years, new nice handbag every 3-4 years

I have 3 pairs of flat over the knee boots (not that it matters they are over the knee as dresses are midi) which must be getting on for 10 years and 4 pairs of flat lace up boots which are between 3 and 5 years old.

Whilst I have a lot of coats some are getting on for 10-15 years old, maybe more. I don't wear trainers but I've got Pretty Ballerina flats and mid heel LK Bennett shoes which go back 10 years and Lulu Guiness, Radley and Longchamp bags which might be 15-20 years old.

I replace my winter boots and coat every 2-3 years, my trainers every 1-2 years, new nice handbag every 3-4 years

Really? You only have one pair of winter boots and one winter coat?!

I have about 6 pairs of winter boots - knee high, ankle, flats, heals, walking boots, black, brown etc. I need different styles to go with different outfits.

Likewise with coats, handbags etc. They don't all wear out at the same time, so purchasing one a year seems reasonable to me.

That is true, but if you are disciplined and stick to things you know will fit and are the right colour etc then it can be a great way to supplement your wardrobe.

Not always replace, I should have said add to or buy a new style. Sometimes I replace due to wear, others I get another style so as I said, I have ankle winter boots and needed some knee highs so just bought a pair. I do also have heels but are rarely worn these days so no desire to buy more until I start wearing the ones I have.

With coats, I add a new one every few years and only get rid of them by selling/donating if I know I won’t be wearing again but that is not often.

Sorry I should have phrased that better, my point was that I don’t buy it all annually

Is this for things you want or need, I could probably spend very little on things I need but want I might want is a different matter but obviously not essential

I spent about £60 on 6 pairs of Next sale pyjamas, they normally cost £26 each, they are the ones I like, but I'm not expecting to spend that every year, I'm expecting them to last longer than that.

What I actually wear 95% of the time:

Thermal tops from M&S or Uniqlo
Wool mix jumpers / cardigans from Arket, Other Stories or Cos
Nicely cut cotton tees from the above shops usually, both long and short sleeve
Mix of wide-ish trousers, cords and jeans, mostly from Uniqlo or Vinted
A couple of nice oversized shirts for work
Overshirt / shacket
Puffa
Wool coat
5 midi / maxi summer dresses
Good waterproof coat
A few going out outfits

I think you could get that on your budget.

Buy and sell on Vinted. Go for quality clothes and a colour palette.

Again, it depends on your lifestyle but on a limited budget I would focus entirely on the clothes in which you’re seen by people outside your own household.

I wouldn’t spend a single penny on ‘loungewear’ - I’d just repurpose my oldest, shabbiest, previous ‘out’ clothes for home wear. So I’d maybe have one pair of nice pjs for when I’m a guest or at a hotel - at home I’d sleep in my oldest t shirts. I wouldn’t fritter money away at Primark or Uniqlo on joggers or hoodies - I’d scan my partner or nearest relatives’ wardrobes for hand me downs, or just wear my oldest trousers and jumpers.

Why not go for 7 so one pair for each night of the week? 😝

Assuming you already have some clothes, £1200 is plenty to replenish items as needed, or add a few new pieces. I’m a massive (recovering) shopaholic and spent less than that last year. Some good advice on here about putting the money in the right places.

If you are looking for everything new that wouldn’t be an annual outlay.

I think that’s reasonable. I don’t replace many things very often, I mean coats, they don’t really wear out do they?

I now own winter wool coat, thinner puffer, thick ski, casual other, raincoat all which are 10+ years old. I don’t need any more coats, so unless one rips or I suddenly need a different style the coat budget is no annual. More like every couple of years

Most things your just replacing odd items as needed surely? Ie 2 tops to replace 2 that are old, stained or holey, not every top in your wardrobe. Some socks to replace old ones, but that’s not every sock, just on as need basis.

I’m probably much older than you but I’d echo the idea of buying fewer good quality items and keeping them longer. Sometimes I rest items for a couple of years and get them out again. I have just done a minor repair to an amazing knitted cardigan/jacket I bought 25 years ago,and I know it will get loads of compliments again.

I agree with you @Astrabees - but I’m guessing the OP is probably younger and maybe starting out in a new career. So she may want to actively look up to date in terms of jacket shapes and jeans cuts and current colours, etc.

Could be wrong, of course!

Sadly I am not (relatively) young! Not staring out a new career! I'm an 46 year old part time teacher. I'm pretty skint as we have bought a gorgeous huge old house and travel a lot. I've recently changed style from ditsy prints and boho to plain neutrals (which is a bit of a trend). I think it's wants. I'd love some "designer" stuff instead of the usual matalan/ Asda/ Vinted.

I have a long rab down coat and sorel boots and some black leather combat boots from the TU sale. It's all a bit jaded.

At work I wear hush midi skirts with plain tops or some comfy elasticated trousers with a plain top and matalan loafers. Very practical at work - I need pockets and comfort. I'm happy with my work stuff but i am looking for the "unicorn" work dress

Outside of work I wear mainly joggers/leggings/ harems with long sleeved t shirts and both fleeces or sweatshirts or shorts and t shirts in the summer.

I love my Nike joggers- both bough in the sale for £23 and to replace was £50! I swim a lot and need stuff to chuck on.

Going out I wear plain skinny jeans in black or blue jeans and plain jumpers or long sleeved top a plain camel coat that is battered! Plus the combat boots or ozweego trainers but they don't really suit me with jeans

I have decided that plain is definitely better for me.

I'd love some Nike trainers and a Patagonia down coat and tiffany style chunky bracelet. I "need" a pair of Birkenstocks as my last 2 pairs wear dupes from to Maxx and lasted years. I want some Chelsea boots and need to replace my camel coat (from Sainsbury's)

I tried on some gorgeous wide legged jeans (in the past when I tried them on they looked awful) and some nice bits in new look and could have bought the lots - cargo/ mesh dress/ shorts/ jeans/ knitted waistcoat.

I'm away on a long trip soon and would love a few new pieces. Also just back from a cold trip and had to buy a down coat and some warm bits so that was £200.

In Summer I love skirts and culottes with tops.

Oh well just need to earn more!

Id also like some decent make up and a shark fusion
The list goes on and on!!

Jeans a hush stuff all from Vinted!

Figure out Vinted. I’ve got a work wardrobe that’s worth about £3000 new and it cost me less than £350 all in. Levi’s and citizens of humanity jeans can be a steal on Vinted. The only thing I don’t buy on Vinted are shoes and t shirts. Also sales. Make use of sales for classic items.

it will take you a year or two to build up a wardrobe of classics but I’m at the point now where because it’s all good quality I don’t need to buy anything so can merrily spend £350 on a dress for a special occasion without blinking.

I never ever spend a penny in places like new look or primary and wouldn’t be caught dead in them. Their stuff never lasts and you pay twice. Friend got work trousers in Dorothy Perkins and she has to replace every 3-6 months and frankly they look cheap. Meanwhile I spent £25 on a pair of essential Antwerp trousers and a year later they look like new and always get comments re the quality.

Do you need a whole new wardrobe, for weight loss/gain? Otherwise, I think that's a really healthy budget! A couple of things or one bigger thing per month if you shop somewhere relatively cheap.

But do you need all that replaced every year?
I mean I understand you had to buy a warm coat for £200, but now that’s done, you have one that style for the next 10-20 years?

Nike joggers - fine. 2 pairs £100 if not on sale, but don’t they last years? I mean I have merino finisterre joggers I bought over 10 years ago ( on sale luckily). I wear them for after swim, as ski thermals, for gardening, casual lounging at home. The Same 2 pairs still look like new.

you might have to just prioritise what you actually need this year. If you have enough workwear and jeans, don’t buy anymore. Sounds like you maybe just need 2 pairs summer trousers and maybe 2 new lightweight tops. And some trainers or casual shoes. Leave everything else non essential until next year, or wait until offers.

X posted with you op!

I'm sure we'd all love a limitless clothing budget 😝. I'd go mad. But I realise that really, those designer brands aren't marketed to rich people. They're marketed to we, the normals. They aren't made ethically a lot of the time and we just get influenced by people who probably either return their "hauls" or get given them for free. It isn't normal to have that much new stuff every year.

@AmeliaTangfastic yes it's us the normals! And that's why I'm feeling disillusioned wearing matalan and Asda and every e else is wearing expensive uggs /canada goose and designer hand bags and "designer" jewellery.

I do like Primark for leggings, and Borg fleeces this year. Matalan has my favourite bra and MS for pants!

@Ritzybitzy I'm going to try and get this working better for me this is great advice thanks.

Yes, but they may have no emergency fund, credit card debt and a terrible pension. It is fine to invest in your looks, but only after you've invested in yourself financially (imo - obviously people are free to spend their money how they like).

I just resent the fact that I, a normal, am lining the pockets of some filthy rich person because they have engineered a society where some people feel pressured to prioritise pretty things on their body or face over a stable financial future 🤓

I love clothes - don't get me wrong! But buying new things isn't always the priority