The Completely Crazy 2012 Clothes Challenge

black_cat

Please add me to the challenge! I'm going to set my budget at £500. That seems a lot but I've lost over two stone and I hope to lose at least another three this year - so new clothes will be inevitable.

NGlady2

Evening all -

Well. I can't remember if I admitted to a spend of £2 on some bangles from River Island yesterday. I really struggle to find bangles that fit, they normally drop off my wrist, but these was perfect

I always try my hardest never to buy anything full price - xmas pressies was an example of this, i didnt buy one full priced item

The thing is, nowadays, debenhams is the DFS of the shopping world - always 'the biggst ever sale' on and dorothy perkins have always got some sort of sale same as newlook/monsoon etc - so you never really have to wait very long to find a sale bargain.

I am naughty though. If I buy something, say for an event, and its needed now. Ill buy it. But then if it goes in the sale, ill rebuy a sale one offline, and return it on the original sales receipt. So I always pay the lowest price.

Three more next sale items arrived today - I really hate how they send you things out in dribs and drabs. Good news is i dont think im interested in keeping any of them, there lovely dont get me wrong, but now xmas is over, i dont think ill ever wear a one sleeve party dress and itd just find a new home in my wardrobe. NO NGlady you are not to save a dress just in case you go on hol this year haha

Wellyboots6

Well the Mr has come back from holiday and he bought me two long dress/tops. I did get 2 belts today from a charity shop for the grand total of £1, but that now means I can wear my new tops. So £1 spent means two new outfits to wear. Good day methinks

Nikadi

Can I join in please?

I'm budgeting £400 for the year for clothes. Not including those I have bought in the January sales though as I did need more work clothes but couldn't afford them until the sales started I buy mainly in charity shops but have to buy often as my clothes get wrecked quickly so I think I can stick to the budget.

Kerfuffle

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hello, welcome back & great to see you here again to Kerfuffle, Callisto & debbiedeejay :j

These ladies are Clothes Challenge veterans & highly succesful at it too :A take note of how they use their money wisely

Why, thank you very much Lula-Hula, wow, what a welcome. Well I'm sure Callisto and debbiedeejay have been very successful and will have some wise words but I'm afraid as far as I'm concerned I basically just don't spend money :rotfl:so subsequently I know I don't look as good as I could. So part of my challenge this year is to up the anti and include a bit more of the wow-factor into the way I dress.

Which brings me to the post below and the subsequent discussions:-

darwins_mum wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on style books and image consultants? I am averse to any kind of tv that uses humiliation tactics in order to prove a point. I am not a lover of fashion mags, but can see that they might have their uses to help us revamp our wardrobes without spending a fortune.
DM

I'm not a fan of Trinny and Susannah, or GOK, and the ilk but I'm actually multi-tasking at the moment as I'm watching 'What Not To Wear', it's on TLC in Canada and America and I'm sure you guys would be able to watch it on youtube or RealPlayer or whatever you can get on your laptaps. I actually sit with paper and pen and make notes whilst watching this programme :rotfl:and I'm hoping my notes + my current wardrobe = Wow-factor

I think fedupandskint's idea of 'Freedom Clothes' is awesome, and it's something I'm definately going to try and do.

Callisto

Kerfuffle wrote: »

Why, thank you very much Lula-Hula, wow, what a welcome. Well I'm sure Callisto and debbiedeejay have been very successful and will have some wise words but I'm afraid as far as I'm concerned I basically just don't spend money :rotfl:so subsequently I know I don't look as good as I could. So part of my challenge this year is to up the anti and include a bit more of the wow-factor into the way I dress.

*Creeps in to admit that actually I am just tight and don't spend much money either* Also last year I did sell stuff on Ebay and used that as free money towards other clothes, and asked people to buy me clothes/vouchers as presents, so I wouldn't have to declare these spends either... Technically I should be hurled off the challenge for being creative with my accounting I think Debbiedeejay is the true champion at this challenge, she amazes me with her tiny spends for fab clothes. :cool:

Sister has declared that she doesn't like the dress that I picked for her wedding, so got to bl**dy go and see if I can get a whole new outfit tomorrow, this may seriously damage my budget!

immie

Can I join as well please?

At first ,I thought I would do the challenge 'ad hoc' like by just lurking haha, but I should join properly because I already caved in and bought a top in the asos sale today!

I'll set my budget at £240 this year, (not including essentials like tights and smart clothes for upcoming interviews)
It'll be quite a challenge I normally squander that in a month or two :eek: I sort of cheated by buying loads of things on 31st Jan, so it should last me a while!

first spend this year, £17.50 top from asos

remainder for this month: £2.50. remainder for this year: £222.50:j

black_cat

Signing up for a challenge certainly makes you think before you buy / keep an item. I bought two skirts in the Monsoon sale yesterday. I'm absolutely thrilled that they fit (zips, not elasticated waists!) - but I think I'm going to take one of them back. I also bought two blouses for work for £30 (I'm going to keep those), but I'm going to take the non-sale cardigan back. I bought a pair of cords before Christmas from Asda, and they're going back too. Before the challenge I'd be tempted to keep them as they "only cost £15!"

I've spent £52.50 but I used birthday money so I'm not going to count it in the challenge. Is that OK do you think?

oldtractor

I've just resisted a very tempting 50% off offer from Musto. Maybe next year................

mishmogs

black_cat wrote: »

Signing up for a challenge certainly makes you think before you buy / keep an item. I bought two skirts in the Monsoon sale yesterday. I'm absolutely thrilled that they fit (zips, not elasticated waists!) - but I think I'm going to take one of them back. I also bought two blouses for work for £30 (I'm going to keep those), but I'm going to take the non-sale cardigan back. I bought a pair of cords before Christmas from Asda, and they're going back too. Before the challenge I'd be tempted to keep them as they "only cost £15!"

I've spent £52.50 but I used birthday money so I'm not going to count it in the challenge. Is that OK do you think?

Yes, I agree, it certainly makes you think before you buy. I met a mate for breakfast (her treat) and then had a mouch round the CS tried on a body warmer and thought 5 squid is better in my purse so put it back and wondered back home :D:D it felt good.

have found a couple of dresses I had forgotten about and have got them out for ironing and usage and also discovered a black chunky cardi which will keep me snug....