The Completely Crazy 2014 Clothes Challenge

Jonesy88

Well i bought a plain black jumper from n3xt in the week... felt so guilty as i didn't really need it that i took it back today! Still on for a no spend January

I've seen i t-shirt i like for £7.99 in new l00k. As I'm aiming for a "cost neutral" 2014 clothes-wise, any proceeds from e3ay will pay for this. As it'll take me a couple of weeks/items to build up this amount if i still want it by the time I've got the cash i'll know i truly want it

lavenderlover

Thank you KT2802, kerri gt and tiny! Leggings, of course, why did I not think of that myself :doh: And will look at all other suggestions when my current tights self-destroy. Feel really silly now for such a dumb question... Thanks everyone

kerri_gt

lavenderlover glad we could be of assistance, support on these challenges is key so never feel your questions are dumb

happytails

Hi all,

Nearly at month end now!! Ive bought loads but most of it was justified. Just goes to show how much i spend on shoes/clothes for the 5 of us! February will be charity shop only as i do love a good rummage!!

Working on my summer wardrobe as i have a few Tshirts and 1 pair of shorts. Im after a casual sundress, a few more tops, a light jacket, a skirt or 2 and some 3/4 jeans. Oh and some sandals but they will need to be clarks or similar as i have tender feet.

Sarah x

mothernerd

Could I join your challenge as well please with a target of £100 for the year.

I am not sure how much I fit with the rest of you but I need someone to help me keep on track.

I normally spend very little on clothes but had a blip on 23rd December and spent £130.50 in a day, which I am still feeling guilty about even though I can justify each purchase. I am going to do that so you can pull me to pieces and tell me where I am going wrong.

I have been struggling with my weight (+ depression and other health problems for several years). I think I got so used to looking like a badly tied sack of potatoes (and more recently a beachball on legs) no matter how hard I tried that I just gave up.

My light bulb moment, health wise, came about 14 months ago, when I was diagnosed with diabetes and high cholesterol. All the things I was struggling with (I had a very bad sugary fizzy drink problem) became a lot easier to give up and I have lost over three stone in the last year.

I don't have a lot of clothes. I've always been a classic clothes, quality not quantity person (not designer but deb.../m&) just one or two things a year. Years of bringing up three boys on very little money I have got used to putting me last (and to some extent everyone else does as well - but if you lie on the floor, don't complain if everyone treats you as a doormat).

For the past year I have been running at about three outfits at a time (I work from home, so don't have to impress anyone). Because of the diabetes I have to wear lace up shoes and socks all the time (really miss being barefoot). I had a pair of grey walking boots and a pair of trainers (also with soles for hill walking) and a brand new pair of brown boots (identical to the grey and got them half price in the sale). I have a couple of pairs of black footglove shoes for going to funerals which do for all formal occasions (not allowed heels either - didn't do heels very often but banned now). My socks are an assortment of ankle socks, bed/slipper socks and proper walking socks (wear the odd ones in the house or under wellies)

My current outfits are :-
1 a turquoise/green velour dress I bought for Christmas about five years ago (More recent similar dark red two piece, was tight at middle son's graduation, sent to charity shop last summer when I had to turn the waistband over several times to stop it falling down). Noticed a small tear the other day - not sure if the cat got me or if the fabric is so old it's starting to go. but it will make a lovely warm nightdress for next winter.
2 a floor length light turquoise skirt with large (25cm) black flower print - not something I would have chosen (out of mum's wardrobe) but it has worked - starting to look a bit faded may work for nightwear (I seem to have a lot of pj tops and one bottom) or may become painting clothes (spent 8 weeks before Christmas painting bottom half of house after having a damp proof course installed and a few weeks over summer painting all the garden fencing and the shed - got through a lot of old clothes)
3 a long black straight 'suede' look skirt (this replaced two similar ones in different materials - one grey one black that went too big and were used up painting.

I don't have an extensive wardrobe but there are still three skirts and a pair of linen trousers that I have to slim down to (all black) and enough t shirts for this summer (mostly black, some getting a bit grey) although some of the the long sleeved ones are getting tatty (next batch of painting clothes - need to start upstairs when there is more room - currently storing stuff for DS1.

Clothes I bought were a craghoppers sweatshirt and T shirt. I want to get back to hill walking this year and these are specialist breathable fabrics, lightweight but keep you warm up mountains(and at sale prices £17-50 and £10). My current winter woolies are a nxt mens jumper my brother bought himself before he died (7 years ago). It's minky brown, warm and snuggly but the cuffs are getting ragged (could double them back or bind with ribbon) and it is the shape I used to be, so not very flattering but comforting. The other is a black Ptr Stm wooly zip-up hoodie (again made for going up mountains) even older than the jumper. I tend to wear it most of the year if it isn't cold/wet enough for a winter coat. It's also a bit worse for wear - I darned the holes in the pockets and tied ribbon on to replace the missing zip pull to get it through winter.

The other things I bought were a pink/fleshtone jumper with little zips at the shoulders, a royal blue long sleeve top (looks like a top with a t-shirt underneath). I had something similar in white when the children were small (my 'going out' top for 3 years) and it was always flattering, hung well, covered pre and post baby bumps (still lumpy in places), needed minimal care. The third thing I bought (£88 for the three) was a dress. It's gorgeous. It's a dark green chiffony type fabric with little diamantes dotted all over. It's fitted under the bust and then flares out to hide all the problem bits and comes to just above the knees and I was going to wear it with a skirt.
But on Christmas Day I smoothed it carefully over my bust and fastened the zip and ties and wondered if I could get away with wearing it with thick tights (I had a pair at the back of the bottom drawer hardly ever worn) and I did and I felt great. The boys didn't comment (very quick to tell you what's wrong with your clothes boys).
Then on the Friday I wore it to my mother's (again very quick to say if it isn't right) and she liked it, her hairdresser liked it, everyone commented on it (without being asked - I was still a bit unsure).

When I bought the clothes I was just so pleased (I had walked all over the store looking at things before making a decision, I even went outside and sat and had something to eat ) to have found three wearable things that weren't black. But the guilt at spending money is starting to nibble away at me, a bit.

I am hoping to get back to sewing my own

Eltee12

Eltee12 wrote: »

have just ordered some nice ankle boots, also for work ....... doesn't count until I receve them!

ooooooohhhhhh, lovely lovely Hu$h Pupp!es boots - been lusting after them four a couple of years but they were £85 in Pepperm!nt and £80 in Schuh - got them from Am@zon for £59.05 hurrah! Too nice for work tho

Also a scarfe and gloves in BH$ sale for £7.50

Takes total spend to £72.05

Having a Freedom day today, one of my new not-too-thick jumpers for work.

EL

his_missus

Bought a black cardigan £14.99 from H&M for my holibobs

skintygerlinky

Hi all,

Am limping over the finish line to the end of January!!

Still haven't spent any of my £100 budget, pleased with myself so far!Just rearranged my chest of drawers, can appreciate I've got plenty of clothes and am getting a real kick out of mixing and matching outfits at the mo.

Bring on Feb, lets keep it up!

Cherryjack

Hi Guys, very inspiring still keeping up with the thread no clothing reports from me tis month (but i did go very mad last year) so no surprise that i dont need anything. Nothing bought for the children or OH..they have plenty. Selling going well on ebay.. visited a friend yesterday and got given a large bag of clothes she didnt want (was very exciting)! how i appreciate them now

nillionaire

mothernerd the only time you should feel guilty buying clothes is if you are in debt, or have an overwhelming wardrobe of perfectly wearable clothes. It sounds like you just needed a little boost of confidence and sometimes it is good to have retail therapy, as long as it is within your means and doesn't get you into debt
Having said that shopping will never cure body image hatred or depression and its better to work through those issues in other ways don't be hard on yourself, remember we are all our own worst critic

Ps no further spending to report from me :A back on the wagon and hoping to have a clothes drought in Feb with lots of freedom Fridays