Thread 2 – De-influencing thread: reasons not to buy things

[Whowhatwerewolf]

Starting Thread 2 as Thread 1 has nearly reached the comment limit.

For anyone new: this thread has a specific purpose. If you are considering buying something but deep down would prefer to save your money, post a link to the item. Other posters will help talk you out of it.

Humour and gentle mockery are very much part of how this thread works, alongside more practical points. Sometimes a light-hearted comment helps something click; other times it’s about noticing details that are easy to miss when you’re tempted.

Common tactics include:

• poking fun (so please don't post something if your feelings will be hurt by this)
• pointing out that you already own something that serves the same purpose
• spotting poor quality, flimsy construction or inferior fabrics hiding behind good photography
• questioning whether the item solves a problem that actually exists
• translating marketing language into plain English

What this thread is not:

• mocking people who wear the item
• ageist sniping (calling something “granny” is actually praise)
• cruelty for its own sake

The target is the thing, not the person.

The previous thread is here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5482885-de-influencing-thread-reasons-why-not-to-buy-things?latest=1

In it we covered a lot of ground including a sad tangerine skirt, another one that looked like it was tucked into your underpants, Gary Glitter shoes, saggy bottoms, air wraps gathering dust and lots of polyester at premium prices.

Also worth restating, based on Thread 1:
This is not a balanced debate thread. It is not “let’s hear both sides”. People who posted positive comments about items were, quite rightly, sent to the naughty corner. This is not the thread for that.

This thread is for people who want to be de-influenced, not gently nudged towards a purchase they already know they’re going to make.

If you’re hovering over Add to basket and need someone to say “step away”, post the link.
If you’re good at spotting polyester pretending to be wool, please contribute.

Thread 2 begins. Same format. Same aim.

Good point.

I normally just wear H and M and Uniqlo with some Reiss and Whistles thrown in. Even though I could afford it, there is something in me that finds it almost ‘immoral’ spending £650 on a skirt. Must be my religious bringing!

I don't think anyone has mentioned the buttons up the back. I hate buttons up the back. Too much trouble.

So after completely failing to be de-influenced earlier on the thread my order has now been cancelled as the item is out of stock. I have been saved from myself!

HIldun beauty eyeliners are better and don’t smudge down your face, unlike VB. About half the price and always some sort of offer on.

Gah I was going to ask to be de-influenced from these! 😅

One ball of wool and suddenly you've gone full Imelda Marcos @CortieTat … naughty corner, indeed.

@NoWeddingHats A £650 wool pleated skirt is financially irrational. One unseen chewing-gum-on-a-seat moment or a single coffee spill and it could be effectively ruined. It’s also a winter skirt, so you’d get maybe six more weeks of wear before it languishes in the wardrobe for the next three seasons. That’s a lot of money for a very small, very risky window.

I need some de-influencing as I don't need any more clothes. But I keep looking at those wide leg trouser and shirt co-ords. This type: https://www.next.co.uk/style/su851617/y07126

Expectation - summery, casually elegant. Sipping cocktails on Cote d'Azure.

In reality, I will look like I couldn not be arsed to get dressed and am walking around in my pyjamas, won't I?

I think the sipping cocktails on the Cote d'Azure vibe is achievable for some people for some of these sets. That print is not one of them.

(Sadly, I expect that price point is never going to hit the expectation either, the fabric won't be nice enough.)

@KatharinaRosalie yes because it is pajamas. Sorry.

No, it's just going to look like you've gone out in your jammies and things are going badly.
Don't!

That pattern is giving "poor judgement" and I'd think would be more suitable for getting plastered, knocking things over, shouting at the waiter, falling off the table while trying to dance on it and getting kicked out rather than "sipping cocktails."

good, good, this is helpful.
Also when I look at such sets, the 'you may also like those items' recommendations are more often than not actual pyjamas.

Plus, the one time I visited the Cote d'Azure, not one person dressed remotely like this.

I think all ‘co-ord sets’ look like pyjamas! Patterned ones dive straight in to Sound Of Music I-made-this-from-curtains territory.

Do you want to be so match-matchy? Are you 16-going-on-17? No shade if you are, but you might want to consider…

Yes. Yes you will. I tried that once. My family still mocks me for the attempt in Italy, 2019. Save yourself the painful memories. I actually left the trousers behind as I could not face bringing them back to UK shores.

Definitely pyjamas, though they look comfy. You probably already have pyjamas which look similar. I think if you actually stepped out to your local pub/wine bar in this, you'd feel really self-conscious (well I would)

Pleeeeeese can someone talk me out of these COS trousers which are all over my insta. I really can’t afford them but want them very much.

www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/trousers/barrel-leg/product/elasticated-barrel-leg-trousers-dark-red-1208911016

I have a lot of trousers from COS which are ok in me as I'm quite tall. But unless you are at least 5'6" they will be too long. Their lengths are s long

V true. I am actually 5’6 but my last pair from cos were still long.

They are a little clown-esque perhaps. Few people could carry that off.

@LightUpLavender are these from the kids section? They look ideal for for comfortably fitting over a toddlers bulky nappy clad arse. I can hear the satisfying snap of the elastic after a swift change.
They will need to go with at least a couple of brightly striped t-shirts- truck motif or something boat like for summer.

to me it looks like a River Island knock-off!

I dislike COS. They are part of H&M, The Purveyor of Plastic as The Environmental Solution. The branding is to sell us just slightly better quality than H&M as premium.

My baby has trousers like that. I would love a version with boat print or maybe some forest animals.

That's what 18th and 19th century sailors wore. The ones that succumbed to scurvy.

Lovely colour but you would have the irresistible urge to hornpipe and scurry up ropes if you wore them.

Even worse - I think your sanity might be questioned - a straitjacket & padded cell might await you ... (plus they really are awful!!).