Anyone interested in a "use it all up", "don't buy any new clothes this year" thread?

[Penthesileia]

This may come across as a rather anti-Style and Beauty thread...

For all kinds of reasons - we're a bit stretched financially this year; environmental & ethical; intellectual, etc - I've been thinking that this year, I ought to try to:

a) use up all the beauty products I've accumulated before buying new ones

b) try not to buy any new clothes (except necessities, such as tights, should I ladder them, etc.), as I own lots of nice clothes and, frankly, although I really adore shopping for new clothes and having nice new things to wear, I simply don't need them; plus, I've come to feel that I ought not to buy clothes that are not ethically sourced, if I can manage it, and this is quite difficult - so what's more environmentally friendly or ethical than not buying anything at all?

Anyway. I realise that this is rather self-indulgent, and it's a luxury of a kind to choose not to buy more stuff (I say this because I know that there are many on MN who don't have much to spend on themselves). However, I was hoping to find some like-minded souls who might like to support me in giving up my shopping addictions.

I know this is entirely vacuous and frivolous , but we could (occasionally) post what we're wearing, how we're accessorizing or innovating to make our old wardrobe feel new, etc. Obviously, this thread might appeal to people who are already thrifty (kudos!) and who might be able to give tips, etc.

So, is there anyone out there who wants to join my challenge?

We buy because the marketing spends millions persudaing us that our lives will be better if we do. A lot of clever psychology involved in the 'branding' business. I know this yet still get sucked in. There's no hope unless I move to outer Sibebria and live in a primitive village with no media.

Can't you morph your "souci de soi" cosmetics compulsion into a desire to be more rational in your consumption habits?

The marketing industry I meant...

Yes, talking typing cure!

I do hope so, Bonsoir... It's why I started this thread...

Indeed, MN is a very effective form of therapy .

But going cold turkey isn't rational or very helpful, IMO. It's important to treat oneself regularly - crash diets don't work. All that deprivation is too much for the soul to bear. And no-one deserves such self-flagellation.

I did say try not to buy new clothes in my OP.

Don't try. Or you will feel that you have failed when you succumb. It is just like dieting - you go cold turkey, and then you eat one piece of chocolate and feel as if you have failed and end up eating the whole bar.

Just be more rational. Go through your wardrobe, cull it to a manageable, workable size and then work out what you need and only allow yourself to buy things that are fully functional. But don't not buy anything.

LOL Bonsoir. Thanks for your advice.

There will probably be some creative manipulation of the word "necessities" in the coming year.

But it is about breaking a habit before forming new ones.

I tend to buy very similar things - e.g. velvet dresses. There's one in Jigsaw at the moment. I'm quite tempted. But why? It looks practically identical to another I already own. So, to stop and say, "I'm not buying anything just yet", is a way of reshaping my habits and inclinations - at this point. Capisci?

I do doubt that I'll go the whole year buying nothing. But I know it will do me, and my pocket (!), good to - as you say - be more rational, which will involve a cessation, at least in the first instance.

Bonsoir, you are making me crumble! I was so proud of myself for not buying anything yesterday (yes, it's that bad ) and now I'm all at sixes and sevens...

My real problem is ebay; it's seeing things that I know will fit me, and enhance my wardrobe, at vastly reduced prices and not being able to resist.

I told a friend about this thread last night. She thinks I am mad to give up my habit, because it gets such good results. I am uneasy about it precisely because it is a habit.

I am taking the view that there will still be lovely things to be had in a year's time. And that for the moment, I have plenty to wear.

X-posts there, was having a good think...

Thank you for this thread, it has cured my morning grumpiness. Love the idea of making a list of all my clothes, it had never occurred to me, ashamed to say i used to make lists of all my books and dvds...[ashamed]

Am I the only one who is really trying here now? Is everyone else crumbling already?

Bonsoir... bet you go into AA meetings and tell em all they'll never succeed, and 'just have a small vodka each night'

Thelunar66, the way to go is to shop online only, avoiding immediate temptation in the form of actual shops. I often put things in my online basket and leave for a few days, during which time they (a) sell out (b) get forgotten about or (c) I find an adequate alterative in my wardrobe

LOL lunar. No, I'm still trying. But only trying, as I'm scared of the "I told you so" if I fail.

MrsSeanBean. Nope, online shopping just as bad for me! In fact, probably the secret to my recent non-shopping success has no doubt been the fact that DH destroyed my laptop (by mistake) and I lost all my bookmarked favourite sites...

I am trying, lunar!

i think Penth and Bonsoir are the same person, they are talking to themselves,
i DONT agree with the culling idea - just put it in the loft. I have binned many a thing i then regretted YEARS later

I keep anything decent and classic but a cull is good as although things come back they are generally slightly adapted/modified and the 'old'version just looks dated.I am awash with clothes here and am going to keep the ones I love but thats it.

Ha, I wish, Maggie!

Try not to be too insulted by the confusion, Bonsoir!

LOL Penthe, I would love many of the things you have! But life is all about choices, not trying to have it all (because all is hard to control), n'est-ce pas?

I couldn't do this.

i have my wardrobe staples, but also augment them with things bought every year. I cull old things which I no longer wear twice a year or so.

This is not for fashion reasons - I jazz up things with costume jewellery and cheap things - but I would not want to go the whole year with nothing new. I get rid of things because they do start to look tired, and to be honest I get sick of them.

Plus would not want to not buy any new make up. My bottle of foundations etc would not last the year anyway, and I would not want to have to use up old eyeshadows which I don't particularly like just because I have run out of the better ones. Old make up germ infested anyway.

I am up for this - I need to save money this year (no job) and I have far too much stuff, and I buy the same thing over and over again (black trousers anyone....). My tip DON'T READ THE STYLE THREADS!!!

God yes... BLACK TROUSERS!!! I must have, oooh, 10 pairs

I remember many years of doing black trousers and I never liked any of them! Now I don't have any. My current obsession is jeans (and grey knitted tunics!)... how many does one need!?