Clothing budget

EagerLearner

I'm petite (maybe 5"1) and I find it hard to buy in Next or Primark - I tend to stick with Debenhams as they have various brands, but I also like Wallis as they do a good petite range. M&S say they do smaller sizes but even the 8's fit all wrong and are usually too long. The online petite sites like https://www.petiteaffair.com just charge WAY too much for petite items - and they have to use less material! I mean £65 for a top is too much, no matter how 'designer-y' - and you'd want to have heard of the designer before buying too!

Oh, help required - can anyone tell me of an inspiring place to get petite clothes from? E-bay seems too much of a risk...

I used a site called colourflair.com or colourflair.co.uk around 1 year ago and it changed how I dress completely - can recommend it as I used to wear lots of blues and whites and blacks, now I wear 'autumnal' colours and everyone is far more complimentary these daYS!

sans_2

EagerLearner, have you tried TopShop for petite clothes? I'm a bit taller than you but I used to get some of my clothes from there. Haven't been in for 1 year or more I have to admit.

EagerLearner

Thanks Sans - haven't been in there in ages - I must admit I find Wallis quality is good - can anyone comment on TopShop quality these days? I am happy to give them another try...

Cazzdevil

Sian100 wrote:

I wish I could go into Primark and buy a £6 pair of jeans!

If there's an outlet village anywhere near you that has a Lee Cooper store try in there - they do a 34" inside leg (I have a 35" inside leg and they fit me brilliantly so there's a bit of extra length above what they claim). When they have a Blue Cross sale on you can get 2 pairs of jeans for £10 and they're the best fit I've ever known!!

Sian100

Cazzdevil wrote:

If there's an outlet village anywhere near you that has a Lee Cooper store try in there - they do a 34" inside leg (I have a 35" inside leg and they fit me brilliantly so there's a bit of extra length above what they claim). When they have a Blue Cross sale on you can get 2 pairs of jeans for £10 and they're the best fit I've ever known!!

Thanks for the tip, Cazzdevil. :beer: I live in central London at the minute (I know, not very money saving at all) and I don't have a car- I don't know where the outlet stores around London are actually. But I'm going to visit my mum in a while, and there's an outlet village near her, so I'll keep your tip in mind.

Thanks very much once again. :beer:

sans_2

I don't actually set a clothing budget for myself as I probably have enough clothes to do me for the next 10 years if I don't put any weight on. I've been more or less the same weight for the last 12 years (except for putting on 1 1/2 stones when I was pregnant, but went back to my usual size if not slightly skinnier 2 months after having my son). I'm a size 6-8.

I've clothes in my wardrobe from when I first met my husband 7 years ago and everytime one of my 3 sisters (all size 8s) no longer want something or it doesn't fit quite well they always ask me if I want it before it goes to charity.

One sister I would describe as imacculately dressed even when dressed down. So when she no longer wants something I'm pretty amazed at why.

Then my mum still hasn't quite got out the habbit of buying us all clothes so I get plenty of tops regardless of whether I want them or not. My mum is persistant.

For the last 2 years, I normally only ever buy something I really like in the sales; usually from M&S . My last 2 pairs of boots (one pair still unworn) were from River Island at £59.99 each, but I brought gift vouchers off Ebay for a few pounds less using my paypal account which is money I've made selling stuff on Ebay. Same with the M&S stuff (well most of the time). Thus this money doesn't come from my salary and I don't have to budget from it.

Years ago I use to buy clothes all the time but it was only when I got married and moved out of my parents I began to realise how much money I wasted on 'non essensials'. Also with a 2 year old I tend to put the first thing I grab from my wardrobe on unless I'm making an effort when going out.

I use to go through stages of buying stuff whether it was hair bobbles, underwear, socks, skirts, tops etc. so I've probably got everything in most colours.

I do love clothes but avoid going into clothes shops incase I see something I like which I don't need. I saw a nice top in M&S last week reduced to £2 from £18, after trying it on and it fitted, I decided I didn't really need it and put it back. I had a M&S voucher in my purse so wouldn't have been spending any money from my income as such. Was pleased with myself.

I wear a worn pair of shoes going to work and keep a pair of boots in my drawer at work which I change to. Boots I brought from New Look 4 years ago for £20 and have never needed rehealed. Top of boots are quite worn so by the time they get to needing rehealed I think they will be binned instead. A good excuse to wear the new boots I haven't worn yet.

As for tights does anyone else think they are cheaper than they were about 3 years ago? Perhaps I just wasn't a savvy shopper back then. I've brought loads of great quality and cheap tights from M&S and Boots when they have been heavily reduced (or why not use your boots advantage card points to pay for tights and socks - I have). Think I got a pack of 2 from Woolworths of all places for 50p just because they were cheap. Didn't actually need them though. :-o

Anyway sorry to rabbit on but just got me started on one of my favourite subjects.

mah_jong

Ok..... I will admit to being older than most of you ,so will have a different perspective on this.

Firstly I would say that anyone will probably have far far more clothes than they actually need/wear. indeed we allo have far more clothes than we will probably admit too!

This was brought home when in eastern europe and commented on how smart people were dressed at the event we had attended. Yes they had on their best outfit but .... it had been worn to every smart do that my host had been to.

So ......do you really need ....anything!!!!

If you do can it be added to your Christmas/birthday list?

Sian100

mah_jong wrote:

Firstly I would say that anyone will probably have far far more clothes than they actually need/wear. indeed we allo have far more clothes than we will probably admit too!

This was brought home when in eastern europe and commented on how smart people were dressed at the event we had attended. Yes they had on their best outfit but .... it had been worn to every smart do that my host had been to.

I would agree with you that most people in this country probably have enough clothes already (though I am obviously a hypocrite myself!) My husband is from a less well-off country, yet his family members who live there always look well turned out despite having less clothes. I suppose it's because they look after what they have.

I found your post very interesting as well, Sans.