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?

Do you need a new coat? Or is it just a want?

Today I'm wearing Next Jeggings with a navy jumper dress from Esprit. Very boring.

Rambling Step away from the LK Bennett coat. There will be better ones along next winter.

Rambling definitely step away from the coat! Listen, next autumn when all the new seasons' coats are coming into the store, you will look at your (now old) coat and wish you had waited to buy something new

Be strong, girl!!

Today I am wearing an outfit that has been hanging in my wardrobe for at least 3 years but I have never worn these items together before (except my jewellery, tights & boots which have all been recent gifts):

Grey cord skirt (Gap)
Teal long sleeve tee (Top Shop)
Teal cowl neck, short sleeved cardi (Top Shop)
Gold & black bead necklace (Anthropologie)
Grey ribbed tights (M&S)
Brown Cavalry Boots (Toast....again )

I have to say, that those boots were such a good buy because they make a difference to my existing clothes. But that is based on looking properly at my clothes and thinking carefully about why I wasn't wearing specific items. Did I have anything to go with? If I didn't, would it be worth buying something or, at heart, do I really not like/suit the item?

Ditto grey ribbed tights (always have brown and black and yet thinking to myself every other day: grey would look so much better!!)

Thanks ladies. It's definitely a want more than a need. I'm a sucker for a nice coat. It looks nicer than my current coat (which is about 4 years old). At what point does it become acceptable to replace an existing item? Does it literally need to be threadbare and motheaten? Or can it just be old?

I did the same with the grey tights Tulpe.
Bought a merino pair from Autograph before xmas and they are just right with so many things,when black too harsh and brown a bit dull..
You have given me an idea...I have a longer length soft teal coloured sleeveless cardigan from Topshop,will go and hunt it out!

bugger, bugger,bugger.

I have fallen off the wagon .

I was doing so well. I went to John Lewis to return the boots that were a mistake (they were an alternative to the Toast boots but nowhere near as lovely).

Was almost out of the shop when I spotted the most gorgeous dress, reduced, from Great Plains. I thought to myself: just try it on, enjoy trying it on because you aren't going to buy it................................it's now hanging in my wardrobe

In fairness (oh, here come the excuses!!) it is definitely my colour and style and is an "all year round" dress - to be worn with boots or heeled mary-janes & opaques in the winter, with leggings and ballet pumps in the spring & autumn and flip-flops in the summer. Oh and I already have all necessary layering tops, cardis, leggings, etc to go with.

I am a bad, bad Tulpe

I am ebaying non-worn dresses this afternoon......

pssssst Tulpe ... you can be on both threads if you want, y'know

Has everyone followed LTEC over to the other thread? This thread seems to be petering out a bit. Does that mean everyone's fallen off the wagon?

I'm itching to buy the lovely L K Bennett coat. I really really want it. There are only 6 left in my size so it might have sold out by tomorrow which would solve the problem for me...

Have a foot in both camps Rosa.
Am officailly not buyibg anything that I don't need,love and can afford

I have the Autograph grey merino ones - they are gorgeous. I love them - and just about live in them. They have to be prised off my protesting body for washing.

sorry to butt in - just to say, Tulpe: thanks for the tip re shock absorber bras - just did a very comfortable workout in one that I bought BNWT on ebay. Thank you!

You're welcome LTEC

Nope, am sticking to this thread (altho I am being rather nosey at the other thread ).

So what's everyone wearing today? Come on ladies, let's get some inspiration going!!

I am wearing:

Ruched shift dress from Boden - moss green with violet & brown flowers.
Magenta cardi which is the "twinset" style, with round neck and satin covered buttons (M&S)
brown wool opaques
Toast boots (of course! haven't worn anything else for days......my other boots are sulking )
Wearing my favourite magenta overcoat when out & about (Paul Smith)

Feeling very colourful & positive today.
No accessories as dress really speaks for itself

I think I'm wearing the same dress Tulpe .

Is it the vintage style dress from last season? I've got it in the charcoal with yellow flowers and I'm wearing with black tights, black cardi, black riding style boots with zip up back.

I thought it was me who suggested buying shock absorber bras on ebay but I'm happy to let Tulpe take credit In fact, I've just ordered one myself. It's the level 4 one. Does anyone know how the sizes come up? I went down a cup size. Not sure why but I just had a feeling that a sports bra is better off being too tight rather than too baggy IYSWIM.

Still lusting after the coat....I think I might be beyond help.

Am wearing,
White Stuff brown/navy/purple tunic from winter 2009
Cream marks vest with small frill
Brown Marks Limited Collection leggings
Autograph brown biker boots from 2008
huge cream and gold cuff
cream and gold scarf(tunic very scoopnecked)
Cream felt wool Noa Noa coat,from 2006 I think.

I just bought an iPhone. That doesn't count, right? Because this thread is just about clothes and make-up

Today I am wearing a black pencil dress from Sainsbury's of all places, a red cardigan from Kew, black opaques and black suede ballet pumps from Next. I rarely buy stuff from Next, is mostly horrible, just a few basic pieces. Generally from the catalogue, because I then don't have to pay for it straght away, which makes it seem like I'm not paying for it at all. That's definately the attitude of someone with an unhealthy shopping habit, isn't it?!

Still no clothes bought since before Christmas, and I'm not buying anything else now I have my phone.

Rambling - yes it is the same dress

I loved the grey & yellow but sadly yellow does me no favours . But luckily green, purple & pink do

WRT to sports bras: I suggested Shock Absorber, Rambling, but you suggested buying from Ebay A joint effort! The cup sizes do come up on the small side anyway, ime. I am a C cup and have the C cup shock absorber. Tis very supportive and keeps 'em closed in beautifully

nowwhatdoido - agree regarding Next. I have bought maybe 4 things from there in the last 2 years. They are either very basic, could be from anywhere type things.

GW - your coat sounds gorgeous. Would love a cream coat. Now we are getting the dog it doesn't seem practical though Tis like going back to the toddler years

Yellow doesn't usually suit me either but I think the dress works.

I'm wondering if I bought the wrong size bra now. I don't know why I thought I should go down a cup size. Ah well, maybe they'll exchange if it's the wrong size.

Meanwhile, I have to confess, I just fell of the wagon quite spectacularly this lunchtime . Instead of buying the coat I've been lusting after online I went to John Lewis and bought a lovely Reiss coat in the sale. In my defence, I haggled it down to £177 (yes, I actually haggled in John Lewis )and £100 of it was gift vouchers from Christmas. So it was a bargain. But I am ashamed. But I'm not giving in. I'm firmly back on the wagon.

Hitulpe,yes coat is lovely but as you say completely impractical!Had forgottenI had it tbh,it was in another wardrobe.Could do with a dry clean

Just checking in. Still haven't bought anything. Fell in love with a dress on eBay but resisted - and it went to someone on the other thread

Hello all. Going to sit on this thread for a while as lots of lovely things being linked on other one which is making me want to spend.

Trying to wait to use credit note at Liberty instead. They haven't got all spring stuff in yet.

I am in the process of compiling a wish list for my wardrobe, identifying the real gaps in order to avoid the "oooh that's lovely" random purchases which have dominated my shopping habits over the last 2 years.

The idea would be that I would arm myself with said wish list and search for the "perfect" one of each item needed. I would have a better feel for budget and be able to spend on more on each item. This would be in preference for simply veering between extreme bargain hunting and "sod it, I love it, just don't look at the amount on the chip & pin machine"

Anyone else done this?

yep I have my Spring wardrobe wish-list ready, so far Chloe bag, breton jumper, boots and Vanessa B floaty tunic.

Waiting to see which is in Liberty to put on credit note then will buy rest. Hopefully won't sell out too soon. Need to wait, unfortunately L is slow to get new stock in..

god I'm getting cofused re threads so have repeated myself. But keep checking lovely stuff some is already sold out (on net-a-porter)

confused

Hi everyone,
Tulpe I know just what you mean and thats exactly what I have done. I have lots of things in my wardrobe that I don't wear because they don't make a complete outfit iyswim.

So now I've just got to fill in the gaps wisely!