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Style and beauty

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

933 replies

Penthesileia · 03/01/2010 12:46

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?

OP posts:
hanaflower · 13/01/2010 10:00

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Fleecy · 13/01/2010 10:35

LTEC, I asked for your eBay ID a while ago when you were selling some other stuff. They weren't the right size but saved your ID in case you sold a lovely bag at any time. Not a stalker, I promise

I'm going to go against the grain and say I prefer the BV one. The Mulberry one is very nice and classic but a bit sensible, whereas the BV one is so pretty. And reduced...

LetThemEatCake · 13/01/2010 10:49

no, Fleecy, no stalker insinuations!! sorry. I'm just never sure about privacy settings etc and was a little taken aback by the my-wardrobe email yesterday (to which I did not succumb, although I admit to waking in the night in a cold sweat about it - addict, me??) so I had paranoid visions of my various shopping/ selling/ general clothes obsessions being visible to all!!

I am most likely going to sell my Bayswater, is that of interest?

Choo - purse justified on grounds of replacement. Mulberry looks harder wearing but think i'd prefera colour, does such a thing exist? (not going to look at site to check!!)

I have ishoos with black jeans so am not going to comment on that purchase other than to say that basics like jeans are almost always justifiable

Am tres annoyed as looking rather good and colourful today but had to abandon the day bc of the snow. So no one is going to see me except the dcs who are saying I look like the cat in the hat

this dress in brown over a deep inky purple long sleeve tee indigo skinny jeans tucked into brown boots and these wristwarmers in pink with this hat in pink

ah well, at least I'm expecting a delivery today. Maybe the DHL man will be so kind as to admire me

bunny - am a sucker for pink so am wrong person to ask!! But you didn't like my diary ... why??

LetThemEatCake · 13/01/2010 10:53

StayFrosty not trying to tempt you but the dress I linked to in my previous post is the one I bought for bfing purposes and it is fabulous. I bought in purple and in brown. Sadly at full price. Reduced now though!!

BTW, bought 2 sports bras on ebay last night, BNWT, for about half as much as I would have paid for just one at Sweaty Betty. So thanks for that.

bunnymother · 13/01/2010 11:02

LTEC - I didn't like the finish of the leather (admittedly their site is sooo slow just saw the finish on the green one) or that particular shade of pink for a diary. Very fussy reasons, but my reaction was "not quite right". Perhaps in real life it is too gorgeous for words.

RamblingRosa · 13/01/2010 11:03

Glad you got some bras. I almost bought a shock absorber one on there this morning but then remembered I don't ever do any exercise so it's not strictly speaking something that I need!

I just thought they might be more comfy than underwired bras for days round and about the house etc.

Fleecy · 13/01/2010 11:04

I adore pink - and it goes with so much and bucks up other dreary colours.

I meant to feed back on your Mulberry thread - if it was a tan one I'd have said keep it because it goes with lots of lovely bright colours. But I agree chocolate is more wintry so i think you're doing the right thing.

A month ago I would indeed have been tempted to bid for it myself (I think they're a classic and DH will never move out of the county, let alone to sunnier climes, so I'd get lots of use from it) but I'm on the wagon still!

I'm not sure DH would ever take me seriously again if I told him I was cutting back this year, then spend a few hundred quid on a bag a week later!

MrsSeanBean · 13/01/2010 11:05

Major online splurge alert.

My Boden coats are no longer 'cutting it' in the ice and snow. If I ebay them, may I purchase this?

LetThemEatCake · 13/01/2010 11:11

MRSSB!! That's fabulous. I am saying "yes you may."

But then, I hate Boden. Get rid of them!!

RamblingRosa · 13/01/2010 11:16

I dont' really go for Barbour but that is a nice jacket.

MissWooWoo · 13/01/2010 11:16

alas no even with the discount code LTEC but it is this seasons and not sale so should be around for a couple of months

Maybe I will pop a pound a day in a jar and get it at the end of feb [old bird thrify emoticon]

Fleecy · 13/01/2010 11:19

I also hate Boden and love biker jackets - and belted jackets - so do it!

Some of you have to buy things so I can live vicariously (sp?) through you!

hanaflower · 13/01/2010 11:19

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PhaseolusLunatus · 13/01/2010 11:22

Oh god, should never have clicked on the wristwarmer link

Adair · 13/01/2010 11:27

Joy! I found a coat in the loft that my sister gave me, that for some reason I stopped wearing. Anyway, she is v tall and skinny and sewed jumper sleeves on the bottoms of the coat sleeves to make it longer. Result for short-armed me= funky wrist warmers - so am v fashionable (and warm). Hurrah!

LetThemEatCake · 13/01/2010 11:28

Phase, do you hate them??

bodsmum · 13/01/2010 11:29

Phew...just checked the bf dress link and not available in my size..fate spared me this time around..

I did however buy a waterfall cardigan yesterday(slap back of hands with ruler)because it will see me through late preg. and then bf.ng..i didn't possess one before i joined this thread and now all this talk of your lovely outfits made me covet one.

..it IS my 40th this month so will definitely try to claim it as a present somewhere along the line..it wasn't horrifyingly expensive..a t.k.maxx job..and i noticed i was much less of a crazed woman around the bargain rail than i would be normally.

sigh..i do love the cavalry boots And the yellow coat And the beany hat though..But that might be pushing birthday priveleges..

i also

Fleecy · 13/01/2010 11:29

Ooh Adair, that's not a bad idea. I've got overlong sleeves on today. Not sure they started off that way but I've stretched them. Would love that for my winter coats.

What do all you ladies do for a living? You must have some way of funding your spending habit

I'm a freelance copywriter and do a bit of copyediting on the side. Should be working now...

bodsmum · 13/01/2010 11:35

and the biker jacket is sublime..

PhaseolusLunatus · 13/01/2010 11:39

No, LTEC, I think you know that I love them. And the hat.

LetThemEatCake · 13/01/2010 11:41

oh god, I really thought you hated them. Was bracing myself to have style credentials slammed.

If any consolation, I got for my birthday 3 weeks ago from one of my dcs. So not like a spendy thing...

May I remind any ladies with things that they want/ need that that gifts are acceptable. And it is Valentines Day in a month

bunnymother · 13/01/2010 11:47

Oh Bodsmum - late pregnancy is such a challenging time style wise, and I really wanted a nice cardi then, too. Mine was destroyed in a "de-linting by razor" incident. I was thinking of getting a mag subscription, too - find Red really interesting these days as well as Vogue.

Today have pulled myself back from the brink of frump and am wearing a short sleeved (actually ruffle sleeves, dahlings) black dress w smallish cream and taupe abstract leaf print from that exclusive boutique. How do you pronounce it, this "H&M"? And Gap low rise black opaque stockings - they are fab! Am snowed in, so no shoes on as am at home, but when going on date w DH tonight, will put on my black patent mary jane heels - I love them! A man stopped me in the street and told me he loved them. What a good man!

Right, have to get off MN and pay attention to RL ie baby DD and getting things done!!

Fleecy · 13/01/2010 11:49

How wonderful to be stopped in the street - and by a man, no less! That's like something out of a film.

I once had a man tell me I had a brake light out when I was in Sainsbury's car park. When I came back out of the shop there was a note on my car. It said 'Not only do you have a brake light out but you're pretty cute too!'

I kept the note.

DH not quite so enthralled!

Blackduck · 13/01/2010 11:51

does it count if your mum buys you something??

hanaflower · 13/01/2010 11:57

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.