The Completely Crazy 2012 Clothes Challenge

Miss149

£33 spent! A lovely lipsy dress in the sale, for when I go to London next month, and a pair of primark slippers! My old ones literally fell apart on my feet Not too bad considering I'd spend that without blinking, and then never wear it going back last year!

debbiedeejay

LianneH wrote: »

Hey ladies! No spends to declare, but im interested (I think) on your comments about buying from charity shops. I don't think by any means that I'm a snob, but I have just NEVER thought about buying second hand clothes. I dont have a problem wearing my friends or mums second hand clothes so its not that I think hand-me downs are bad. but the thought of not knowing its history makes me feel a bit squemish! are there loads of bargains to have and so I should get over it?

I suppose we don't know the true history of new clothes either -in the sense of who has handled them anyway -lots of people will have handled your new knickers before you wear them - from the person operating the cutting/sewing machinery in the factory to the person putting them out on the shop floor- and don't forget the other customers that have "swished" through them on the hangers.
Think of all those other people who have tried on that skirt/top/trousers you might buy before you do in any shop. :cool:What about the smell of some of the changing rooms in some of these shops too? There is always a stash of air fresheners in many changing rooms these days and that's just from ladies trying new things on!
Someone else put about the "smell" of some certain CS - yep there are a few like that in my town too - but there are others that don't have that smell either. They tend to be the ones that are larger and for a more of a national charity - but beware the prices can be a bit more higher in my experience.

The thing is to try one of these "larger national " CS and go in with an open mind - yes there will be the old ladies gear amongst the primarni & supermarket fashions - but you will also find gems (in the past I have found Ja*ger cashmere jumpers at less than a fiver,Mo*soon,Eas*,Per U*a & plenty more).

If worried go for the more modern brands, as chances are they haven't been sat in someones wardrobe/shop for donkeys.(usually on the tag the shop sometimes put a date it goes out on the shop floor/arrived in store) Give yourself a budget of a couple of pounds to start with, once home, give said item a good wash straight away if you are that worried. Wear it - but don't say a word to anyone and the first time you get a compliment for wearing that item, smile and pat yourself on the back because you are not just helping yourself save money you will be helping a charity too.:T(Plus many CS shops round my way even do normal return policies within a cetain time like any other shop)

Also sometimes you will find stuff still with the original shop labels on - so that might help the history worry-at least it has never been worn,just sat unloved in a wardrobe -until you free it!

HTH

Antwacky

black_cat wrote: »

I'd like to be like you this time next year!

If I can do it I'm sure you can!

I got a lot of my 'new' clothes from charity shops last year. There's a few near Camden Market that sell good quality named stuff. I love the BHF shops as they have everything on hangers correctly sized and very organised...similar layout in every branch too. B*n*rdos are really good too.

kerri_gt

debbiedeejay wrote: »

ISomeone else put about the "smell" of some certain CS - yep there are a few like that in my town too - but there are others that don't have that smell either. They tend to be the ones that are larger and for a more of a national charity - but beware the prices can be a bit more higher in my experience.

I think that was me who mentioned the smell about CS, all the ones in our town seem to smell the same, large or small. It doesn't really put me off but I just never seem to find things I like - I suppose I don't go in with a list which is part of the problem, but a lot of the items either seem too old for me or just not something i'd wear. That's why I'm so excited about the new store The Wardrobe (no I'm not on comission for mentioning it :rotfl:) opening, I'm hoping that some of the clothes will be more suited to my style, and will prob more expensive than a CS, will still be cheaper than buying new. I know it won't be helping charity but I do that separatly anyway.

With regard to the issue about someone having worn it, I'm really not that fussed, a good wash will make it smell like 'me' and as Debbiedeejay says - people try clothes on instore so someone might have already had something on that you buy new. The one thing I do feel a bit funny about is shoes, but then I have v.narrow feet so if they've been stretched at all then they will be too wide for me.

Adela31

I am goign away this weekend, and normally I would have shopped by now because I would find it easier to buy something to wear than shop in my wardrobe, but not this time oh noes

BabyJayne

No spends to report for me today :A

With regards to the comments about second hand clothes, agree totally with DebbieDeeJay. The majority of my clothes are out of charity shops, for the last two years both my winter coats were out of charity shops saving me a pretty penny. Searched everywhere this year, with no luck so ended up buying one from a 'real' shop, although it was in the sale...so still saving.

I find, though that my problem with charity shop shopping is that you think 'oh, it's only a few pounds' and you end up with multiple items you don't really need / you wouldn't tend to buy if it was full price. Be wary though as those few pounds do soon add up

immie

quintwins wrote: »

whats everyones opinion on sold stuff?

sold £38 of clothes today but i swapped for something worth £5 aswell im thinking of deducting the postage and then adding whats left into my clothes budget

I have the same dilema this week haha, I sold something on ebay and the buyer has paid already, i feel like with the digits sitting there it's 'free money'! lol

Also been swapping stuff on bigwardrobe, I still put it on spending diary though, like ' Black dress, postage only £1.80', not sure whether to count it as part of the clothes budget either

LuckyLouise

** Deleted **

candylucy

Hi All

No spends to report from me! I've managed to avoid spending anything so far by staying away from the shops but had to resist temptation yesterday when I was in Norwich!

Keep up the good work everyone

xx

rosemary54

re charity shops ,I don't have a problem with buying pre worn stuff it is just that the ones near me never have anything nice in and I have given up going in them(two market towns full of oaps:()

just a thought on sale buys,if you buy online you can get quidco and the items usually arrive with original full price tags on and nicely wrapped in tissue(East/phase eight /windsmoor do anyway)You need to check postage /return poast as some (like Kew )charge a lot for both whilst others only charge a small amount to post and free returns.There is also the benefit of trying in your own home with stuff you already have therefore lowering the risk of bad buys/keeping things you can't be bothered taking back to the shop:)............so in the long run you save money:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: