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.

Ok @Lurkingshark

Every time you want to wear them it will be raining. They’ll sit there, tempting you to. But you’ll stay strong, determined not to get them wet. Till the day you crack and chance it. It’ll be fine, you’re only going from car to bar. But no. A deluge will empty itself onto the pavement and you end up with wet feet and soggy boots. They will look utterly shit from then on. And they’ll stink because they didn’t dry quickly. And then every time you look at them you’ll feel sad.

Alternatively, you hold out. And get to wear them for the nanosecond between wet winter and hot summer. Lovely but hot and sweaty.

Also, they’re not a good boot brown. Too dark, their brown looks black and that’s ok, but you want brown boots, not a black pair.

@EleanorMc67 they are lovely. I had the misfortune to have a hospital admission about 8 years ago via A&E. I was on the A&E admissions ward in my scruffy PJ's and the woman next to me had a bed jacket - she must have been 60ish and looked fabulous.

Those boots take me back to the late 90's - M&S used to do a man-made version for about £25. I liived in them for work (when it wasn't raining). They just look very dated to me now but they are probably having their moment again. Not much help, sorry.

Just in case there's a next time, best to be prepared ... 😁!!!

These are all great. 90s, too dark and wet. I don’t even have an inclination to go a bar. I don’t have anywhere to store them It’s funny how I know this to be true but 10% of me just still wants them.

I had those M&S boots in black and brown and wore them to death! I think everyone I knew had a pair as they were so good!

Yes agree those boots are a bit dated.

My Mum had those when I was a child in the 80s/90s. They were rubbish then and they’ve not improved!!!

I’m going away for a girls trip abroad in a couple
of weeks.

Help me NOT to book a mani/pedi before I go. Stressing I won’t look polished without. It’ll set me back £60.

Edited to add: hope this still qualifies, as it’s a beauty treatment not an object!

If anyone cares about the state of your nails, it says a lot more about them than you. Will they even see/notice your feet? The money could be spent on more fun stuff - treat them all to a cocktail or 2 instead.

You can take care of your nails at home and still look tidy, clean and put together. Do an at home manicure and pedicure, and sleep with thick moistureiser under fluffy socks for a few days and your feet will be so soft.

Is it the glue on plastic nails that seem ubiquitous these days? The ones that wreck your actual nails and look tacky while stopping you doing anything useful with your hands? With cute patterns on? You’re a grown woman not a child. Stay classy with ballet pink nail varnish.

Make it fun, paint your nails at home with your kids or your hubby. My DP is quite good at applying nail varnish on my feet, especially when i tell him how much it would cost in a salon!!

I feel your pain. Meno sucks 😕

Oh god no. Can’t stand false nails. Just a normal mani/pedi.

I get loads of adverts for them on social media. It makes me smile that every single video shows someone using them beautifully on their left hand - that's lovely, but let's see the other one!

Give yourself a home manicure and pedicure at home before you go.
Don't have anything fancy. Plain tidy nails are fine. A chipped fancy mancicure doesn't look good.

Maybe a simple buffed nail will look better and be easier to maintain? No risk of chips.

Buffers are v cheap…

Yes, and take a nail file and nail scissors with you as a snaggy nail is annoying.

I really want cashmere bed socks. But they are so expensive! My feet are chronically cold, and the fluffy polyester ones just make my feet sweat!

Wear wool or wool-mix ones

Two pairs of socks, one iver the other one: game changer!

m&s thermal socks are good but not amazing - i do notice they are warmer but not massively so.
ive heard uniglo has some thermal socks too, might be worth investigating

I wear cheap trainer liners under cheap polyester socks. Does the job.
but isn't stylish or beautiful

They don’t last very long, they go into holes REALLY easily.

Can you sew? I bought old cashmere jumpers on eBay and made cashmere bed socks from them! It was pretty easy. They still hole, but weren’t £20 a pair! And you have leftover cashmere for patching.

I can’t tell you how much I love the Catherine de Crecour clover jewellery, I’ve no hope of affording it.

but this Kloudy version - the bracelet and earrings - in the pink - oh, I want it! https://kloudyjewelry.com/collections/bestsellers?tw_source=google&tw_adid=738615187347&tw_campaign=21928411135&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21928411135&gbraid=0AAAAACwtJvf4blwA_zhUsgfTlf7jPYh0N&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI96n3kaTmkgMVr4pQBh0KfwTSEAAYASAEEgKmzvD_BwE

talk me out of it. I don’t even wear bracelets very often. They annoy me. Or gold. It doesn’t suit me.