How do you decide to buy your clothes?

belfastgirl23

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? Definitely not, I'm not a big shopper at the best of times and the idea of going round every week seems crazy. I probably do glance around in M&S as I walk past if I'm in getting food and if I'm in the mood and have the time I'll have a quick toodle round Primark or TK Maxx but that would be perhaps once every three months. If I see something I really like I'll buy it knowing it can be returned if I change my mind (and sometimes I do) but I have to REALLY like it
   
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? Yes, usually I realise that I have hardly any serviceable tops or only one decent pair of trousers. Or got an event coming up - wedding etc. My shopping is normally driven by a mild panic about having to look decent for a particular event and realising that my clothes are all done. The only exception to this is if there's a sale on
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online? I do buy online but only when there's a sale, voucher code or other incentive. And only with organisations where I know I can return the items in store if they don't fit.
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. My M&S trousers probably fall into this category - I'll have a few pairs I rotate for work and they get worn to death before I part with them. Gym wear as well!
   
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? very little - I'm more intereste in items that suit me - fit well and are comfortable to wear. TBH I don't think I'd really know if it was fashionable or not and I do try to do a lot of my shopping in the sales where de facto the stuff is out of date
   

Interesting questions and interesting to see how others approach it. I am trying to move towards investment rather than cheap buying, the throwaway clothes culture really depresses me from an environmental point of view. But I'm not totally immune to it myself!

determined_new_ms

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? no I hate going in the shops looking for stuff. When I do this I end up feeling really fed up that nothing fits & I look shocking :eek: I tend to look in charity shops when I'm passing by esp the ones that I know have good quality stuff in (I recently spent £25 in a CS on a Zara top, a whistles top, a french connection skirt, a dorothy perkins petite dress & a chineese style dress. all excellent quality :T)
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? [COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]No as above[/COLOR]
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online?[COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"] I was given a piece of advice last year to go and try on a variety of clothes (sizes & shapes) in shops I like & then when you know the style & sizes that fit you in each shop. Look on ebay. I have today just found out I have gone down to a size 10 in french connection jeans and have come home and am watching 2 pairs in the style that fits me like a dream both end tomorrow and I hope to get one. Currently on £5 and instore they are £65[/COLOR]
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. [COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]Has to be my french connection jeans or good quality stuff from CS I have some bits that have had for years and only cost me a couple of pound[/COLOR]s
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? [COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]not too much actually - I also am a petite hour glass so more important that it suits me and is flattering [/COLOR]

my two pence worth

trolleyrun

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? No. I hate shopping for clothes and lots of people around makes it even worse, then having to undress, redress, repeat as neccessary. Yuk.
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? I only go shopping if I need something, as in really need something like new undergarments or something's worn out
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online? About 90% I think. I buy from well known stores that have good quality things and that I can take to the shop to change if neccessary. My last shop in preparation for winter, I ordered from M&S and Debenhams. Everything fitted, miraculously enough.
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. A fleece I bought 11 years ago for £4 Still going strong. And some jeans that must be at least 12 years old that were given to me by a friend. Not forgetting my favourite maxi dress that cost me $12 3 years ago. I use it all the time (I'm lucky enough to go to warm places all year round)
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? I couldn't give a monkey's whether something is fashionable or not. I dress how I like when I like. I don't care what anyone thinks about what I wear.

Just my opinion. I only buy clothes when things are worn out, so had to replace jumpers for this winter. They were threadbare . I guess I only shop for clothes about every 18months or so. Most of my friends and colleagues think I'm weird :rotfl:

newmumincov

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? No - I go to TK Maxx to browse every couple of months, and will pop into charity shops if I get the time (not often nowadays) but that's it
   
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? Shop shopping, usually yes it's for a specific purpose.
   
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online? Most of it. Evans, Ann Harvey and the JD Williams catalogue mostly.
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. An Ann Harvey pinstripe polyester suit. It's good quality not the cheap shiny stuff and doesn't need any care - just wash, hang and wear. I got the trousers on clearance for about £10 and then scooped the jacket later for about £30. I wish I'd got a couple of pair of trousers, rather than just one, as it's going to wear out. It was an interview suit to begin with, now with the new job I wear it every week, often a couple of times.
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? I'm really only looking for smart classics and for flattering clothes - a lot of stuff doesn't fit properly and isn't flattering at all as I'm an odd shape. I'm long past caring if it's fashionable, if I ever did.

I buy a lot of stuff on clearance to be honest. Sometimes that works out really well, sometimes not,

WartimeScrapingofMarmite

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it?
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing?
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online?
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear.
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making?

1. No - I couldn't afford to do this now and am making a real effort to only buy what I really NEED.
2. Yes, but only if I need it.
3. Hardly any these days - I usually end up sending it straight back because I'd either changed my mind or it looked vile on me, so can't be bothered now!
4. My best value item was a dark lycra denim-look pencil skirt I bought for £4 in the Tesco sale 7 years ago - It gets worn all year round and still looks fab - and I am always being asked where I got it from. I re-dye it either black or very dark blue when it gets a bit faded.
5. I wouldn't care if an item was deemed "fashionable" or not, as long as it was flattering and comfortable and hid all my wobbly bits!

joesaunt

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? No, I can't be bothered with the shops at the weekends when I am off work this alone puts me off shopping.
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? Yes, I tend to shop when I need something, such as new outfit for works Christmas party or a wedding etc
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online? Some, I like Bravissimo tops and as our local one doesn't sell clothing I do buy online or Bravissimo items on ebay as I kow their sizes fit, but otherwise, never as I can't be sure they would fit me.
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. Possibly a Paul Costelloe jumper, which I bought for a staggering £17.50 in the House of Fraser end of winter sale 2 years ago, I love it, and wear it all the time from October to March, it would have been worth the £250 original price tag :eek:
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? Not very much due to my shape, I do like to incorporate some fashionable bits some of the time, such as a skirt or a pair of trousers, but not too often.

If I need an outfit for a "do" I scour the internet for ideas and then can cross shops off my list if they have nothing, I can then usually get what I want in just a couple of shops due to the research in the first place.

spadoosh

every 6 months or so i will log on to M&M direct click the 'sale' tab, sort by 'price: lowest first' and shop not exceeding £10 per item. Will use a 'new' customer discount coupon to get £?! off will normally spend at most £30-40, repeat this process with burtons and other cheap clothes shops.

When it comes to bigger stuff (coat/v expensive brands) i will suggest these as excellent christmas presents.

Im a !!!!!! for pumps though, got about 12 pairs, i can't not get them when there £3 a pair!!
(not exactly the old school type ones, they have some colour)

Btw if you havent realised im a bloke and cannot deal with high street shopping at all so all clothing is bought online. I do like market shopping and shopping for stuff for the house dont really mind the food shop either just high streets are really annoying.

The better half does ALL her shopping on the high street and it riles me, she doesnt shop around at all (does when its food and household shopping) and every time she goes gets 10 packets of new dirt cheap knickers (they are clean just cost about 5p) that last a wash and have to be thrown out. I also make the point of showing her what she couldve won if she had a quick look on the internet proving she couldve bought exactly everything she has in her bags for about 70% of the cost.

supersmith

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it?
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing?
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online?
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear.
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making?

1. Wander round the shops probably every month, maybe twice, do tend to grab things when I find them as otherwise it's gone. LOVE charity shops though as I've found some great quality stuff for a few pounds. Don't always buy when I wander round shops as I enjoy looking at things and getting ideas.
2. Often just wander round, when I do have a specific idea I can never find what I am looking for so it becomes a nightmare of trudging from shop to shop trying things on.
3. Maybe 30%? Do look online and buy things but I much prefer trying on first, or at least free returns to a shop. I'm pretty tall though so find a lot of high street stuff won't fit properly, hence wanting to try on.
4. Probably my doctor marten brown knee high boots (zip up girly boots not biker boots!). Bought them to last and they have, still super comfortable, 2 years and going strong. I tried on in shop and then bought online for a discount!!
5. Fashion conscious but see how the current fashion fits into my personal taste, when things I like are in fashion I stock up!

Interesting thread.

busiscoming2

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it?
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing?
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online?
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear.
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making?

1. No definitely not, too boring.
2. When I go shopping I generally have in mind what I am looking for. Occasionally I just go for a wander, usually at the beginning of spring and again in Autumn.
3. Not a lot as most things don't fit easily. I have bought a few bits from ebay, but really must try and stop doing this as I am wasting money on items that either don't fit or don't look so good in reality.
4. I tend to buy winter boots in the sale and they last me for years as I look after them.
5. It doesn't really.

caledonian_princess

Lady_Aga wrote: »

How do you decide to buy your clothes?

1. Do you look around George/Primark/M&S/Debenhams etc every week and if you see something you like do you buy it? Nope, I don't live close enough to anywhere with decent shops.
2. Do do you go shopping specifically with the intention of getting a particular thing? I'm not that organised, I may rush about for a bit of a panic buy (:eek: I've got nothing to wear) but I don't say, ooh, I need a black pencil skirt to complete my capsule wardrobe.
3. How much of your clothes shopping is done online? Most of it these days. I'm a pretty standard size 8 so most things fit.
4. What is your best value item? Not necessarily the cheapest costing item, but the item that you wear most often that is still going strong, therefore is the cheapest per wear. A pair of Hobbs riding style boots. I've had them for years, they're heavenly to wear and they still look fantastic, not new any more but the leather is so good that they've aged in a good way.
5. How much does the item's fashionability/must have come into your decision making? Not really, I suppose there's a nod to fashion in there but I know what suits me so I go for that first.

I'm currently trying not to buy new stuff, I have loads of clothes and it's about time I wore some of them. As for shoes....