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've talked on here about using stuff and wearing what we have until it's 'worn out' - but how do you define that crucial point and decide when something has reached 'worn out' status?

MrsSB I don't think that has to change, not if you already had an idea when something started looking tatty and feeling uncomfortable.
I think for me at any rate, I have had things in the cupboard that I just rarely wore, like a pair of jeans perhaps that just kind of got ignored - and it's about taking that pair out and studying it and maybe trying it on with a few things to find a way to make use of it, instead of just leaving it sitting there and buying another new pair like I might have done before.

Often you can find some way to wear an item that makes it useful, and then once it's served its purpose you can feel justified in giving or throwing it away.

I love that feeling of actually using something I never thought I would - or thought I would, but never managed to before.
I've had things for years before and suddenly they come into their own and become a favourite.
For example (and this isn't clothes related) when we moved here I found I had roughly 17 rolls of unused bin liners. This was from buying the wrong size repeatedly for our last bin! So one day by chance I got a different bin in the sale, and started using that (the old one broke anyway) and suddenly I was using these old rolls up. Magic. I haven't had to buy any for well over a year

You can do it with all sorts of things, particularly if you already have that trait that makes it hard to chuck out something you bought by mistake. Just hang onto it till you find a use.

I think the key is sorting out and knowing what you have actually got...like if you imagine there was some situation where you had to stay in all day every day and never leave the house. (SF pandemic for example!!)

What would you have...and what would you really need to get, or miss if you didn't have already?

Siege mentality works wonders for this project.
You can also try clothes swapping parties...i sent a load of nice clothes to a friend a few months back, that I couldn't bring myself to chuck out and wouldn't have made anything on ebay. i had had some of it for years and never worn. or there is the clothes agency idea, which I kind of wish I had thought of instead - might have made a few quid!
To answer your question directly, I consider something worn out when it's got very hard in the wash - due to the water here - or has shrunk, or gone totally out of shape, or if jeans, has gone through at the knees or faded to a very ugly shade of white!
You know your own personal comfort zone.

Still not bought anything

am pleased with myself

I agree with Flightattendant - it's when it's shrunk or looks tatty.

I'm being lazy today and wearing my wool tunic thing of many colours (and unknown origin) with my indigo jbrand skinnies. DH LOVED it when I wore this top mid week so I decided to revive it for the weekend. I don't know whether it's because he's so used to seeing me looking like an over-age goth (because of my preference for clothes from the dark side ) or perhaps because it's quite fitted and low necked. I suspect the latter!

Noah - very good - well done you.

I've found myself loitering on websites of childrens clothes - considering stuff for DD that she really doesn't need. It's some sort of displacement therapy to avoid breaking the rules of the thread but still buy things. So far though I've stayed strong!

hells...sounds like a nice top!

I have been loitering on my online bank website. Briefly. But tis encouraging to see an actual balance.

Flightattendant wrote

" I think for me at any rate, I have had things in the cupboard that I just rarely wore, like a pair of jeans perhaps that just kind of got ignored - and it's about taking that pair out and studying it and maybe trying it on with a few things to find a way to make use of it, instead of just leaving it sitting there and buying another new pair like I might have done before."

That's exactly what I'm like!! I get bored of the same old look all the time, so I buy something a little different ( for me) . Then I end up not wearing it much because I'm not good at putting a new look together. But I can't throw it out because its hardly worn, so it lingers in the back of the wardrobe on in the drawers under the bed, reproaching me.

Then i go to buy another pair of black boots ( or whatever) and a little voice inside my head says

" Ah, but you have hardly worn those black lace up boots on top of the wardrobe"

I haven't bought anything either, and it feels fine.

Today I'm wearing pretty polly black patterned tights, my usual long sleeved black Gap jersey top, and a grey jersey short sleeved dress from Next. Black calf length boots.

I am hopeless with accessories, rarely wear jewellery, have very little jewellery. Need to work on that I think. Only inexpensive costume jewellery though.

Me too Kristina.
I would be bored of wearing the same combination more than a handful of times,so seek new things.
Snce this thread and a new mentality I have purposely trid to 'mix and match' more.The boots thing would be a perfect example of my thinking.
Or I love a certain dress/cardigan/trousers whatever and buy loads of similar ones,hence I now have about 8 White Stuff tunics/dresses,6 grey cardigans,etc etc....

Am still on the wagon here too

Am desperately trying to fight off a hangover this morning However, I resisted temptation of staying in pjs and am now wearing:

slate grey wide leg yoga trousers (Hush)
white vest (Top Shop)
bright blue cotton henley (Hush)
grey-blue cardigown (Hush)

I am besotted with Hush. I love that I can feel so comfy and yet not be embarrassed to answer the door/go on school run etc. Their sale is amazing and whilst I am not trying to persuade you all to break your non-purchasing promise, I recommend you try at least one thing from there before the end of the year .

I think when you have found something that really works for you in a practical sense, comfort, usefullness...you don't get bored with it.

For instance I can make the effort to wear a nice skirt, usual plain top, tights and boots - would not wear it for more than a couple of days as yes it would become boring. But with jeans, I mean a good pair of jeans that really feel comfortable and suit you (mine are mainly cheapo types but they seem to work best!) I can wear them again, and again, and again and never become tired of them...I have worn the same pair all actually, apart from one day when I swapped into some others, and felt strangely un-me!
I really feel like myself in jeans. So I can't get bored of it. I tend to feel more self conscious when I am wearing something 'decorative' and pretty, iykwim.

Starting to wonder if I will actually EVER wear a dress again, though I do like them to look at and own, but wearing them sends me into a weird kind of black hole of self-image It's freaky.

Just looking at Hush now Tulpe.
I love those sort of clothes.
When I do buy something,which won't be for ages and after months of lovely deliberation I will head there I think!
I also love slate grey.(see my post re 6 grey cardigans...)

all week that should be...not all year, all my life etc etc

Ladies - I have today come to the conclusion that I am actually addicted to shopping. I was doing so well (and feeling a bit judgmental of those of you still talking about clothes ) BUT today I was in town for various reasons and I thought I would pop into Liberty... A little voice in my head was saying "why go there is you are not planning to buy anything??" but I guess it was like a smoker playing with a cigarette... or an alcoholic thinking that just one little glass of wine will not hurt !!! So I came out with some rather fab over the knee boots. Feeling terrible remorse, but it has made me realise that for just a few months what I need to do is NOT GO INTO ANY SHOPS (other than for food, etc.).

Btw, Liberty had all sorts of fab things at 75% off - luckily nothing really left in my size !!!!

Well I keep filling up my virtual basket on various sites but have purchased nothing.

Also received sale stuff I'd ordered from hush and meandem and most of its going back as too big for me.

Went through my jewellery earlier and realised I could actually do with a couple of necklaces to pull things together . . .

my hush order arrived too .. PJ bottoms for me & dh (matching LOL!!) and PJs for dc3.

I hesitated over keeping mine (bc of this thread) but honestly, all of my existing pj botts are stretched from pregnancy and bearing the stains of stretchmark oil. So am keeping.

Found myself in my best charity shop 'burb today and was a teeny bit bad. Bought a red Diesel anorak/ fitted parka thing for £15 .. all diagonal zips and asymmetric lines, fitted hood, weird pockets. I love it. And will be needing something for the period of time when my North Face parka is too heavy and cumbersome and high summer. The other purchase was less necessary ... a 50/50 silk/ cotton mix sun dress in burnt orange, brown and cream with spag straps and a slightly puffball hem and bearing the magic words "made in Italy". Cost £8. I don't need it but it will be one of those useful dresses which can be dressed up or down dep on the shoes.

My weakness is dresses. The prob is that I buy gorgeous, expensive ones that can only be worn a handful of times bc of my lifestyle. Then I hang on to them and admire them as 'pieces', and imagine the times ahead when I'll wear them. Then I get pregnant again.

Am not going to do that anymore.

oh cake i'm the same. loads of lovely ones that I really can't wear that often. Perhaps we need to create more occasions to wear them - that is the solution - rather than to stop buying them

Tracy - the shopping basket thing is a good idea....you sort of get the gratification without the pain.

Feeling - my DH was in Liberty today and got seduced by some sale stuff too. Luckily for me he loves buying nice stuff so he can never really complain if I do.

Does anyone here feel that perhaps they are just not quite ready to give up shopping?

I am feeling mightily out of place with all this talk of Liberty and Hush and Brora. I think I might just let you all get on with it and go sort out the socks

hells - what did you decide on the grey dress, McQueen I think it was?

err - I was hoping that was forgotten . It was just too flattering to send back (which is unusual with my current lard arse - so anything that doesn't make me look fat is precious beyond measure).

But I do agree it will date very very quickly (if not already dated)...so am desperately trying to work out numerous occasions to wear it. Also trying to work out which shoes to wear with it.

You see Hells I think if you wear it to death over the next year then you get your money's worth.

LTEC - I want dresses for the spring/summer but find it hard to find nice ones that are casual enough for daytime.

I got dd the hush pj's - £5 - bargain and she looked very sweet in them at bedtime.

Me too tracey.
I have 2 French Connection jersey dresses,just above the knee,one in white with navy butterflies,the other in navy with gold butterflies.
They are so easy and comfortable,I would love others in similar style but could't find any last year,will continue search this year.

that's my plan Tracy - though in reality i'd have to wear it EVERY day to really get my money's worth