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?

That's the thing though- Internet shopping so gloriously addictive when you have babies and toddlers. Can do while breastfeeding, fill baskets, go off to deal with a tantrum, come back again, add a few more bits, ask the opinions of mners, find a new link to more gorgeousness, make dinner, do bathtime and then click buy with a nice big glass of wine in hand and the dcs sleeping peacefully upstairs...

Yes, going home for good traceybath

You could have an 'affair' LTEC. There's nothing like the addiction of new and forbidden love lust.

(Also joking...)

While sitting with lovely new ds and not doing much I rang SCP and ordered a very cute rocking chair for when ds2 is older. It was half price.

Felt quite good afterwards, and a bit sick at the easiness of it all.

The equation is thus...

Shopping thrill - goes up with:
level of ease to acquire + amount of discount + amount spent.

Might send to New Scientist.

I bought a pair of pony skin pumps today. For Spring. 85% off

LTEC - First thing to spend money on is flight to Glasgow

But then I would have to buy new lingerie!!!

Well, Agent Provocateur do have a sale on....

There is an AP in Glasgow.

I feel like I am a bit out of my league on this thread! I don't feel that not buying some clothes for 5-6 days is a huge achievement. Do you really buy clothes every week?
I'm not being snotty but am genuinely amazed that people buy clothes quite so often, or is it just that the sales are on?

dexter, I usually buy one or two items a week . Not always expensive, maybe socks or something, but I can't imagine going much longer without seeing something and getting it.

Having said that, I do return a good 50% of what I buy anyway..

I tend (or tended I should say) to go in fits and starts. Sometimes I'd go for several weeks without buying anything and then feel in the right mood and/or see loads of things I liked and would then have a bit of a splurge.

Does anyone else find that if you leave buying something for a few days, and are still thinking about it after that time, that this is a sign it's a good buy? In the past when this has happened, I find the items have become quite indispensible.

Dexter it is a combination of the sales and being somewhat housebound with bf'ding.

I won't need to so much when I can get back to work. That I love and it distracts me so I can forget shopping for a while.

geordie - DEFINITELY!!! but can we wait for some warmer weather?

So this thread is turning out quite strangely - lots of confessions and admissions ... which is funny, because the other night I was telling dh that I was a teenage boy with a chatroom mentality in a 37yo's body because I often preferred talking to S&B regulars than RL friends. He made the point that most of my friends aren't as mad about clothes as I am and I - flippantly, I might add - said, 'oh they are .. the problem is that they want to talk about other stuff too!! I just want to talk about clothes, not feelings!!"

and look what's happened

I think we are all a bit addicted to MN, frankly.

And I hope you're right MrsSB I've been thinking about my latest purchase for a few days. The urge was getting stronger not weaker..

I'm likeing the idea of this, but really niot sure I could actually do it. I was convinced until someone mentioned summer dresses!!!

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but how about swishing

How very very strange ...DH has been saying for ages that I am addicted to MN - actually is S&B on MN that am addicted to.
Ditto re the addictions, have done food, weight, (recreational) drugs, the gym, TTC, pregnancy and children, now shopping. I mean I always liked clothes and shopping before but since having the dd's I feel so trapped and housebound that I online shop as my last link with the outside world and life before kids. PND and illness has also meant that I am thinner now than at any time since my late teens so I just go for it.

oh god yes, I barey glance at other threads. AIBU sometimes, but I'm all about S&B

I often wonder what the dhs are doing while MNers are rhapsodising about Toast tunics. Mine works odd hours so I'm often alone at night.

I don't think I want to cut back because I'm feeling a bit down - I think it's just that I never lost my babyweight after having DD, got pregnant again fairly quickly and finally managed to lose it last winter.

So even though I already had a perfectly good pre-baby wardrobe, I wanted lots of lovely new things to show off my new slim figure!

Thing is, I've now got so much stuff, I just don't need to keep going at the same rate. If I committed to stopping shopping altogether, I'd give in almost immediately because my heart wouldn't be in it.

But if I commit to cutting back and only buying replacements or stuff I really fall for on the odd occasion, it's perfectly do-able.

Plus, I could afford a babysitter more regularly so we could go out for dinner - or out for the evening with friends. DH can always afford it as we both have an 'allowance' we give ourselves after paying the bills - he's always got money because he doesn't blow his on clothes every month!

Oh and FA (I think?) I love your idea of putting clothes over the chair - I spent my Christmas money on a new chair for the bedroom. DH doesn't like it so I had to put all the money up - I plan to put my clothes out each evening for the next day.

We'll see how long that lasts...

My DH works odd hours too LTEC. I am alone tonight with my trusty laptop, as customised vandalised by DS.

LTEC - My DH works very long hours and so I spend most evenings on my tod glued to S&B. My dd's are still small enough to be in bed by 7.15pm and as I've usually spent all day caring for them on my own (dh leaves before they are up, home long after they are in bed) I usually feel like I have REALLY earned my online shopping treats.

I don't drink at all Mon - Fri (am a massive lightweight who can no longer cope with the the dd's, mornings and a fuzzy head - I get a hangover from 1 glass ) so for me shopping is my stress-reliever.

I don't really know anyone irl who is as interested in clothes as me but for me it is also about the thrill of the chase and getting a steal. I am also fascinated by other people's looks. Ever since I had children I have been seeking to re-establish my identity through what I wear - as yet not satisfactorily.
I notice what other people wear a lot - not in a judgey way I don't think as, as I say, lots of my friends have no interest in clothes, but because of that I am very conscious of projecting an image through what I wear. The trouble is that the image I project is not very coherent/uniform - I tend to veer between various styles. I suppose I am still looking for my "signature look", so I keep shopping!

Bit late in the day but I am considering joining you all too. I have to say that I don't think I am an addictive shopper as I can happily go for weeks/even months, well, maybe a month , without buying, but I really identify with a lot of the comments on here about how clothes can define a person, and provide a much needed outlet into normal adult life especially when the majority of my day is scrabbling around on the floor chasing after 2yo DTs.

eshermummy I particularly agree with what you just said about noticing other people's clothes, and the resulting image that they project - I def do that too....all the time. I work one day a week in town and often spend my 30 min walk to the office musing about the outfit choices of my fellow commuters. Would they look better with a slightly longer skirt? More structured jacket? Tougher boots? Or just a bit of colour next to their face by way of a scarf? I often wonder what people would comment about me.

I think I also am searching for my look and it frustrates me that it can vary so greatly day to day. I seem to sway between boho chic (that sounds so wank), to surfy street, then perhaps a touch of prep thrown in for good measure. I'd like to have a signature style and seem to be on the eternal search for the clothes that will give me that look.

One thing that I have really been loving is thumbing through Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist - gives all the voyeuristic pleasure of judging people's outfits / coming up with new ideas for your own wardobe but without getting caught staring (with furrowed brow ) at passers by!

The funny thing is that although I have always been interested in fashion, since having my DDs I now make much more of an effort to look put together each day. Helps that I'm a stone lighter than before I had them (skinny jeans look good now!) but I think it's an inner backlash against the assumption that harrassed mothers of toddlers look like they've been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Anyway, off to bed now but look forward to more fashion insights / confessions over the coming months.

Great thread, I have loads of lovely clothes I don't wear as im sooo white, yet I have bottles and bottles of unopened fake tan that I can't be bothered applying (just lightly to get rid of the blue skin tinge).
My bathroom/bedroom resembles a boots counter and i've shoes for every conceivable occasion!
Great challenge, im in !