Crazy 2011 clothes challenge

Birdie85

I love the idea of shopping in our wardrobes and challenging ourselves to wear things that normally fester at the back behind the old favourites! I actually wore a dress I haven't worn since last year yesterday, it was originally bought for a funeral but I thought it's actually a nice smart work dress, why save it just for funerals, I don't really hope to be going to any for many years!

Is it bad that I made my own 'control pants' last week? I needed some flesh coloured 'hold you in' knickers but refused to pay for them so I got some firm control tights that were laddered, cut off the legs and voila, control pants! :rotfl:

I do have a couple of spends to confess, £8 on a strapless white bra because I needed one that actually fits and £2 for a pair of knickers!

I imagine my spends will be increasing shortly, I've just found out I've got a new job so I'm going to need some smart new work clothes since most of my workwear is too casual/old for my new office!

candygirl

Blonde_Ambition wrote: »

Morning all.

Lula, are your long boots the over-knee kind? I've bought some in the sale (after a refund so nothing to declare!) but I'm a bit nervous about wearing them out. I can fold the tops down so they're normal knee-high boots but I actually think they look good with jeggings folded up. I'm a bit worried about people's reactions and I certainly won't be wearing them to lunch with Mum later. I guess the heel height affects the look. Hmmm. Mine are high!

For Fun Monday I wore a grey long Autograph cardigan that I've had for over a year but never worn and it encouraged me to get some rarely worn clothes out of the wardrobe. May wear a Liberty print top today. I think the boyfriend will hate it. Well, that's men and fashion for you!

I wore purple velvet over the knee boots on Xmas Day when meeting oh's family for the first time:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:His Nan and 83 year old Aunty were buzzing:A

SBeth

I was in Asda yesterday and saw a lovely George top for £9 but I resisted (very proud of myself) as I really don't need any more tops. So, I am nearly at the end of the month with no spends so far:j

RosaBernicia

candygirl wrote: »

purple velvet over the knee boots

I want, I want *whimper*

I've now worn my over the knee boots to work with knee length dress (not much reaction) and out with short velvet dress (more effective). But they are plain chocolate brown and low heels so not too drastic.

I have to declare a spend of a whole £7 on a Boden dress from local charity shop. Will do very nicely for work. Also saw £13 summer printed hemp bag that would go with it... but am resisting - til payday .

Rosa xx

elfen

Hmmm, gives me ideas.....Got some stuff I bought from ebay that's not worn, so if it doesn't rain tomorrow I'll be seeing if my velvet jacket fits and wearing a skirt possibly....but then again, its only uni so i could go skinnies and a shirt.

runnerbean17

OK I'm hopefully not to late for this!!! Would love to join!!!! Just found the thread and think it's fantastic :j went a bit nuts in the sales so will start from today. All in shoes and everything I'll say £150 :eek:

romylou_2

Hi everyone

Just wanted to check in and let you know that I haven't spent a penny on clothing on this challenge as yet. My £400 budget is intact.:A

What a great idea to shop in your wardrobe. I'm still carrying a few extra pounds and am currently living in my "BIG and BAGGIES Collection":rotfl:

I can't wait until I can comfortably wear my old clothes, without having to squeeze into them and pray that the zips/buttons hold me in!

I refuse to make any new purchases until I'm back in my usual size (which is currently 8lbs lighter than I am now).:o

Baby steps....

NGlady2

Good evening ladies,

Well I can say - no spends for me today

HOWEVER I am having a little Dilema - both of the whether it is cheating and whether I should face facts its still January and therefore winter allbeit I wish it wasnt.

I have been perving at the clothes on the newlook website - the day dresses theres about 4 I absoloutly love now financially, I can afford them - I have some newlook vouchers they gave out in January (I brought a cheapo top so i would get given these and returned the top ) and some vouchers from work so I could buy 4 gorgeous dresses which are extremely me for the grand price of £60...

Now... I have the money left from my January payday - and I said I would start my challange on payday 28th.. I would be buying these before the 28th on my little mid week weekend away. But I dont half feel like I am cheating - and I am wondering whether I could cope on £20 left on clothes for the whole month!! Including valentines

Can you believe, I was in bed last night on my netbook perving at dresses at 20 to midnight?! Maybe i've got withdrawals already, or im dreaming of sunnier climates

So - ladies of the jourey ... what do I do?

Do I

A: Buy them - I have the money left from this month so it doesn't really count

B: I have a £12 voucher coming from work - do I use the smallest newlook freebie-voucher i've got and just add £8 to get one of said dresses....

C: Spend the full £68 - and have £22 left for the whole month for clothes etc, which WILL be a struggle.

face facts its Winter in the Midlands, and move on

Vote now ladies

Southern_Sadie

Hello, if I'd known there were so many of you waiting to hear about the magic slip I would've popped in earlier!

Ok, so it was the M&S £25 one (the link is in my previous post a few pages back).

Pros

Didn't ride up or fall down - remained in place all day

Kept me a bit warmer on a freezing day

Smoothed over bra/knicker/tights lines and made me feel a bit more confident

It was a couple of inches shorter than my dress (which was pretty short) so didn't hang down and wasn't visible

Wasn't too tight, I was prefectly able to breathe and it didn't chafe

Also available in nude!

Can be worn without a bra but I guess that depends what size you are. I wore a bra with mine.

Worn on its own it looks like a very tarty dress (this is a pro for my OH but only in the privacy of our own home )


Cons

Might be too warm to wear in summer, but in January it's fine, even indoors (but then I always feel the cold)

It's slightly slimming but doesn't hold you in - it's not a control garment

I couldn't lift my arms above my head as the dress would have ridden up and displayed the slip to the world. Mind you, the dress was so short that it wouldn't be advisable to raise my arms too high anyway

I haven't washed it yet so don't know whether it washes well, but I have every confidence in M&S!

Phew!

Hope this helps. I missed the first Freedom Monday but am going to use them to wear tops I never wear, I seem to have 100s...

ellenmelonx

I know this is pretty late but I'd like to join!! I have no idea what my budget should be though?

I have gone pretty crazy through 2010 on clothes and it has made me quite unhappy and has also made me slowly run out of room in my bedroom! My original plan was to buy nothing for the whole year unless it was a genuine need......... thats gone down the toilet!

But I really am determined to start saving up. I'm only 18 years old and I'm desperate to move out of my parents home so that I can have a place of my own and freeeeedom! But that will definitely not happen if i don't stop shopping! I work in a clothes shop and the 50% discount does NOT help ... I am leaving there on the 6th Feb and am starting a job in a Nursery which I feel is a fresh great start for me as I wont be around clothes every day (i also have a uniform at my new job too yay)

I recommend a book to everyone on here its called "To buy or not to buy: why we overshop and how to stop" by April Lane Benson. it is a great book and i suggest you splash out the £10 that it costs as it is definitely worth it in the long run.

Would love to talk to some people on here who are in similar money/overspending situations to me.....!