The daffodils are well and truly up and the snow drops are all out in force... but it's still not quite warm enough to throw out more winter clothes yet... is it?!
I think the changing season gives me more desire than anything else to have (another) total wardrobe clear out. I have been holding out though; we move house next week and so that is definitely a good excuse to make some more space!
I have to admit to some purchases this month; all 'legal' though. I bought 4 pairs of pants for £5 and a bra for £20, both from Marks and Spencer, and some tights for £7 (ridiculously expensive and when they ladder it will be time for bare legs!). But I have also been given quite a few things from cousins and friends. They are:
Two vest tops
Four t-shirts/long-sleeved t-shirts
A skirt
Three dresses
A pair of leggings
A long knitted cardigan.
So, despite all of my clearing out, the wardrobe is probably more full than it's been for a while!
I have also been particularly creative this month. Which I am very proud of!
I found quite a good deal on Dylon machine dye on ebay and so spent a weekend with the washing machine on almost constantly to produce two bath towels, one hair towel and two hand-towels, all a very bright 'Bahama Blue' which will certainly cheer me up more in the morning than their previous, slightly grubby, white did!
I also used 'Burlesque Red' (which is a gorgeous deep red-wine colour) on two vest tops and a duvet and pillowcases. At first this wasn't so successful. The vests were the colour I expected (though annoyingly were stitched with white polyester thread, which hasn't coloured) but the duvet cover and pillowcases were much lighter than I expected. When I checked the label I discovered they were 50% polyester - I had presumed that bedding would be 100% cotton. So there is my first lesson of dyeing - ALWAYS check the fabric label first; even if you think you know what it is!
After my initial disappointment and having slept in it for a week, I have come to love my 'blackberry stained' duvet cover and pillowcases and have decided that a deep red would have been too overpowering on such a big scale... maybe.
In other creative news, I have been experimenting with crocheting a rug out of old t-shirts. I wasn't sure whether it would work but it is going brilliantly and soon I am hoping to have a really decent sized rug to put by our bed in our new house. I was surprised by the amount of fabric it uses up without growing quite as much as I had expected, but now that I have got a little further on I can see that it is becoming really thick, which makes it feel much more substantial than I thought it would be, which is a bonus. Unfortunately progress is going to have to slow down this week, as I have reached the end of my old t-shirt supply! Either R is going to have to have a clear out of his clothes or I might have to find a jumble sale. Anyone is welcome to send unwanted t-shirts this way!!
Here is a picture of progress so far; as you can see, it is only about 5 inches long at the moment, so still has a way to go! I have used two t-shirts and a pair of leggings to get this far.
Today I am sending off our wedding invitations, which I made out of scraps of fabric, sewn (with a machine) onto the card to create a line of mini-bunting. I am really proud of the overall effect, and the responses I have had so far have been really great. It is quite a simple design and used hardly any fabric but looks very impressive (if I do say so myself!)
Perhaps later in the year when things have quietened down, I will be able to add bunting cards and crocheted rugs to my etsy site!
My next project is to felt the brown jumper from the Christmas market and see what I can make out of that. It might be getting a bit late in the year for wrist-warmers, so I'll have to see how much fabric there is one it is felted and experiment a bit.
I have loved being so crafty this month and feel really inspired to make more things. I just wish that I could devote more time to it.
Now I'm going off in search of more signs of Spring to convince myself that the cold weather really is nearly over....
The ups and downs of attempting to go a whole year without buying any new clothes...
...without becoming a naturist, as the title suggests
Monday, 14 February 2011
Sunday, 16 January 2011
January: A very quiet month
I can safely say that so far this year, I have spent absolutely nothing on clothes, shoes or accessories. What's more I haven't felt the need to at all. Am I the only person who didn't buy anything in the ubiquitous sales?
I have been massively enjoying my Christmas socks and pyjamas and I finally parted with a truly worn out wool cardigan which I had been clinging on to on account of the fact that we are renting a FREEZING cold house and it was my warmest top. But I have taken up layering others and feel much better about myself now I'm not constantly wearing a big, bobbly mess of wool. So now there's even more space in the cupboard!
Due to the comforting warmth of having a laptop on my lap, I have been researching the ethical background of some big companies this month. My thinking is that once I start buying clothes again; I want to invest in a few, quality things which will last (although I will obviously carry on trying to find things from second-hand shops rather than new). So I am going to research the few shops that I really like, and see just how ethical they are. I have started with Marks and Spencer, which is invaluable for stocking up on decent underwear and plain t-shirts etc. Their credentials seem pretty good. I didn't know that the 'Plan A' project was so broad; with the company attempting to change some surprising aspects of production as well as the more obvious 're-use hangers' and 'reduce packaging' efforts. I had read that a few months ago it was discovered that M&S shared a factory with the dreaded Primark. While I'm unsure of the truth behind this, through reading the Plan A documentation, I noticed that they have set up several 'model factories' to promote ethical manufacturing. I also like the fact that they attempt to include a few fair trade and/or organic pieces in many of their ranges.
Clearly M&S are not the perfect ethical store; no 'supermarket' style store ever will be, but compared to the others at the top, M&S are definitely making the most effort to promote better manufacturing procedures, more sustainable sourcing of materials and ethical trade. This I like, and I will continue to support the company; attempting to buy as much as I can from their fair trade and organic lines. I hope that you will too, as the more people who show an interest, the more likely they are to improve the choice of such products.
Still left to review then, are: Fat Face, White Stuff and Esprit. In the mean time, I'd be really interested to know if anyone else has any opinions or information on any of the shops/companies... I am hoping I won't discover that they are all owned by some horrendous multi-national; but I wouldn't be at all surprised.
Off to put some more layers on then...
I have been massively enjoying my Christmas socks and pyjamas and I finally parted with a truly worn out wool cardigan which I had been clinging on to on account of the fact that we are renting a FREEZING cold house and it was my warmest top. But I have taken up layering others and feel much better about myself now I'm not constantly wearing a big, bobbly mess of wool. So now there's even more space in the cupboard!
Due to the comforting warmth of having a laptop on my lap, I have been researching the ethical background of some big companies this month. My thinking is that once I start buying clothes again; I want to invest in a few, quality things which will last (although I will obviously carry on trying to find things from second-hand shops rather than new). So I am going to research the few shops that I really like, and see just how ethical they are. I have started with Marks and Spencer, which is invaluable for stocking up on decent underwear and plain t-shirts etc. Their credentials seem pretty good. I didn't know that the 'Plan A' project was so broad; with the company attempting to change some surprising aspects of production as well as the more obvious 're-use hangers' and 'reduce packaging' efforts. I had read that a few months ago it was discovered that M&S shared a factory with the dreaded Primark. While I'm unsure of the truth behind this, through reading the Plan A documentation, I noticed that they have set up several 'model factories' to promote ethical manufacturing. I also like the fact that they attempt to include a few fair trade and/or organic pieces in many of their ranges.
Clearly M&S are not the perfect ethical store; no 'supermarket' style store ever will be, but compared to the others at the top, M&S are definitely making the most effort to promote better manufacturing procedures, more sustainable sourcing of materials and ethical trade. This I like, and I will continue to support the company; attempting to buy as much as I can from their fair trade and organic lines. I hope that you will too, as the more people who show an interest, the more likely they are to improve the choice of such products.
Still left to review then, are: Fat Face, White Stuff and Esprit. In the mean time, I'd be really interested to know if anyone else has any opinions or information on any of the shops/companies... I am hoping I won't discover that they are all owned by some horrendous multi-national; but I wouldn't be at all surprised.
Off to put some more layers on then...
Saturday, 1 January 2011
A new year, the half way mark and a summary so far...
Phew, finally I am up to date and can stop writing in the past! Now everything from my note-book is here and I am really enjoying blogging. I have learnt that I waffle even more than I originally thought, and that some people are massively critical; but mostly I have just enjoyed writing for myself, rather than for work.
Although I have made sure that I have recorded everything I have bought or been given so far, I have no idea how much I have actually spent, so here is a summary of the first six months!
Given new:
top (for birthday)
top - didn't fit - £27 Fat Face voucher (for birthday)
pyjamas (Christmas)
4 x socks (Christmas)
pair of tights (Christmas)
black long sleeved t-shirt (Christmas)
CAT boots (Christmas)
3 x bras (late Christmas present)
Given second hand:
mittens
hat
trousers (free from charity shop)
jumper
Bought new (£139.31):
Dress £62
Wedding dress £27
Bra £18
5 x pants £6
3 x tights £5
3 x leggings £21.31
Bought second hand (£43):
Skirt £3
Skirt £5 (but had to re-charity)
Skirt £5 (but had to re-charity)
Top £4
T-shirt £3
Skirt £5
Top £1
Cardigan £1
Trousers £2
Dress £7
T-shirt £2
Skirt £3
Jumper to felt £2
£182 spent on clothes in six months. Not bad. This is not the most exciting post of the year but I, at least, have found it really interesting. To be honest it's made me think that I probably didn't even need to buy some of the second hand things. Maybe during the next six months there will be even more savings; I certainly want to make more...
Although I have made sure that I have recorded everything I have bought or been given so far, I have no idea how much I have actually spent, so here is a summary of the first six months!
Given new:
top (for birthday)
top - didn't fit - £27 Fat Face voucher (for birthday)
pyjamas (Christmas)
4 x socks (Christmas)
pair of tights (Christmas)
black long sleeved t-shirt (Christmas)
CAT boots (Christmas)
3 x bras (late Christmas present)
Given second hand:
mittens
hat
trousers (free from charity shop)
jumper
Bought new (£139.31):
Dress £62
Wedding dress £27
Bra £18
5 x pants £6
3 x tights £5
3 x leggings £21.31
Bought second hand (£43):
Skirt £3
Skirt £5 (but had to re-charity)
Skirt £5 (but had to re-charity)
Top £4
T-shirt £3
Skirt £5
Top £1
Cardigan £1
Trousers £2
Dress £7
T-shirt £2
Skirt £3
Jumper to felt £2
£182 spent on clothes in six months. Not bad. This is not the most exciting post of the year but I, at least, have found it really interesting. To be honest it's made me think that I probably didn't even need to buy some of the second hand things. Maybe during the next six months there will be even more savings; I certainly want to make more...
December - Getting Crafty
***Merry Christmas and a Happy Frugal New Year!***

I was slightly anxious about what I might have to write in this entry, anticipating that in all of the Christmas madness I might have resorted to the easy option of high-street shops to get presents. Happily I can say that, although I did have to pay a short visit to a shopping mall *shudder*, the majority of my presents were either hand-made, recycled or useful in some way! Several people received my handmade jewellery or cards (claireyfairey.etsy.com) which I make as a hobby anyway. I gave others gifts that I, or my family, had been given in the past and were new and unopened, but would suit someone else much better. Originally I felt torn - it was an amazing way to recycle, and I knew that some of the recipients would approve - but was it really just a bit cheap? So, in my usual style, I set about some conscience easing and googled 'regift' to see whether it was being slated by others! To my surprise, I found a website devoted to it! (regiftable.com).
Other presents included razors, vouchers and a laptop, which most of the family clubbed together to buy for people who decided they would rather receive one gift which they needed, rather than many gifts, which they perhaps didn't need.
I bought R a pair of Jeans from Howies; he's wanted them for ages and will wear them until they disintegrate, so I don't feel bad. I also spent £17 of the closely guarded Fat Face voucher on some lovely wrist-warmers for a friend.
In terms of presents I was given, R has replaced my ancient CAT boots (with a huge hole in each heel) with a new and totally lovely pair, so that I have dry and snuggly feet for 2011. I feel it has been far too long without a shoe picture, so here they are!!

I also got some bits and pieces for the kitchen, a moonstone ring, a few pairs of really lovely socks and thick tights (the kind I couldn't usually justify buying for myself), a pair of pyjamas and a black long-sleeved t-shirt. My mum kept up the make-it-yourself theme and knitted me a hot water bottle cover, which I love!
I suppose the point of listing my presents is to make it clear that I wasn't given an entire wardrobe full of clothes for Christmas! And I certainly didn't buy anything in the sales!
I have bought quite a few things for myself this month; all second hand. At the start of December I had some excellent finds at a car-boot sale in Bristol, I got a black top (£1), a black wrap-over cardigan (£1) and a pair of tie-up trousers (£2). Had to buy some leggings as my one remaining pair had become thinner than tights, so got two pairs of black and one brown from Joe Browns for £23, but got £1.69 cashback on Quidco (my favourite website of 2010!)
I also satisfied a 'shopping urge' by finding a Uttam butterfly dress on ebay for £7, which I have wanted for years.
At one of the many Christmas markets which I took my jewellery to, I bought a lovely GAP t-shirt, a brown patterned skirt for work and a brown woollen jumper for £7. The jumper is to felt and make into (hopefully) wrist-warmers and a skirt. I've never felted anything before, but have been told I just need to wash it on a hot wash with wool detergent until it has shrunk roughly 30-40% (must remember to measure it first!) Does anyone have any felting tips? I will let you know how it goes.
This is the next phase of the project... if you can't find what you want: make it. I've got lots of projects either planned or part-completed at the moment; felting the jumper is the first, then I plan to decorate the wrist warmers with some crochet flowers (I was also given a crochet book for Christmas and have practised by making a little hat for my friend's new baby). I'm hoping that being able to crochet will also enable me to 'tweak' charity shop finds to make them a bit more individual. I have been knitting for over a year now, but am still just making large squares to make a blanket and practise as many stitches as possible. Hopefully this year I will knit something 'real'! I'm also going to try to dye more things. I've got two white/cream bedding sets which were handed down to us a couple of years ago when we moved into our first flat. White is not a good colour. My refusal to use anything but Ecover washing liquid means that sometimes I don't exactly get the Daz effect with my whites (and no, I am not willing to compromise) so I am going to dye one purple to look at the effect. If it turns out fine I will do the other set and some white towels we have; who knows, I might even get creative with colours and effects! Again, I will report back on the progress!
So, watch this space for knitted, crocheted, felted and colourful creations...
November - Cold Turkey
After last month's shambolic attempt at not buying anything new, I can happily announce that for the rest of October and the whole of November I spent absolutely, totally, NOTHING on clothes!
It is also worth noting that I really didn't enjoy shopping last month. I found it totally exhausting and was racked with guilt, even when I bought the pants I desperately needed!
I was given a grey, woollen jumper by an aunt as it doesn't fit her any more and have informed my brother's girlfriend that she is not to get rid of any clothes without passing them in my direction first!
Turns out that planning an eco-friendly, low cost wedding is a lot of fun, and not as hard as I thought it might be. The most tiring part is fending off the hoards of well-meaning friends and family who are trying to push me into traditional dress shops and entice me with chair covers, catering and professional make-up. No thanks!
Much more info to come on the wedding as and when I get myself a bit more organised!
All in all a very successful six weeks, now we just need to start thinking about Christmas...
It is also worth noting that I really didn't enjoy shopping last month. I found it totally exhausting and was racked with guilt, even when I bought the pants I desperately needed!
I was given a grey, woollen jumper by an aunt as it doesn't fit her any more and have informed my brother's girlfriend that she is not to get rid of any clothes without passing them in my direction first!
Turns out that planning an eco-friendly, low cost wedding is a lot of fun, and not as hard as I thought it might be. The most tiring part is fending off the hoards of well-meaning friends and family who are trying to push me into traditional dress shops and entice me with chair covers, catering and professional make-up. No thanks!
Much more info to come on the wedding as and when I get myself a bit more organised!
All in all a very successful six weeks, now we just need to start thinking about Christmas...
October - How do you define cheating?
I have mixed feelings about this month; in a way I feel like I have already failed, but when I think about it more, the amount I have spent on clothes this month is probably half of what most people spend every month.
As I've already mentioned, I don't really enjoy shopping, so when my partner decided that he felt like wandering round some Bristol shops one Saturday, I wasn't massively excited! In hindsight, I shouldn't have gone; it was a disaster! I had been struggling a little bit with clothes for work; feeling more and more that everyone else has a different outfit for every day of the term. It encouraged me to dig out some scarves and belts etc. that I hadn't worn for ages, just to try to make my repetitive clothes repertoire more exciting! But I was still managing to go to work clothed and clean!
All of my work clothes in the past have come from Esprit, and I always see something I like when I go in there, so it was probably a stupid decision to go in. But I like to think I have self control...
I ended up buying a woollen tunic/shift dress; identical to one I already have, but in a different material. I know, I know, it was new, I have failed. But here I go with a load of waffley justification...
It was £62 and very good quality. The one I already have has lasted me three years (and is still perfectly fine). That's only around £20 per year, which is very good... and much better to buy one dress to last all three than to buy one new one every year... don't you think? Someone please agree with me!!
So my conscience is eased slightly by this: I didn't spend £60 in Primark, buying things which would only last a few months and then need replacing and, in doing so, fund any of their horrendous schemes. And yes, I'm sure that someone can find some unethical 'dirt' on Esprit as well, but at least their clothes last, and so I need less clothes, less often.
Anyway, I could rant about that for quite a while, but I'm sure you're already bored, so I'll save that for another time and give you my list of other, legitimate purchases this month:
New bra (threw away three) £18 from La Senza
Pack of 5 pants (threw lots away) £6 from M&S
Pack of three black tights (laddered all the others) £5 from ASDA
Navy blue skirt for work (GAP) £5 from Oxfam
And another, not legitimate and probably not remotely justifiable one... I bought a wedding dress for £27 in Cult Clothing. Not what you're picturing when you read 'wedding dress'; just a white, lacy tunic dress to wear, with tights and boots to the registry office part of our wedding in May. Not bad I suppose, considering that that is likely to be the least ethical part of the whole thing!
So, £123 spent in October, £118 of it on new clothes. Very mixed feelings about that. Definitely a low point of the year I feel.
So come on, admit it; who is thinking 'well I'm not going to read this any more, she's totally failed already'?
Must do better next month...
Sunday, 19 December 2010
September - is it Wrong to Ask for a Refund from Charity?
My first month of actively trying to find clothes.
After a very successful rummage through boxes on a stall at Sunrise Off-Grid at the end of August, producing a skirt for £3, I took myself on a 'back to school' shopping trip to Cotham (Bristol's version of a 'charity mall' with five excellent charity shops on one street). I held out little hope of finding the illustrious black high heels, resigning myself to another few weeks of wearing boots to work. Great on the days when it rains and I feel smug, observing the number of drenched sandal-clad feet; not so great on the days when it reaches 18 degrees and I feel like my feet are on fire, whilst everyone else's sandals, now recovered, are breezily airing their toes.
And I was right. No shoes whatsoever. However, I did feel quite successful initially, as I paraded my (reusable cloth) bags home, with two work skirts (£5 each), a top for work (£4), a fun t-shirt (£3) and some harem pants (free from the 'buy two items get one from this rail free' section!). Though I had realised that Cotham is not the cheapest place for charity shopping. With the benefit of hindsight, £3 seems like quite a lot to pay for a t-shirt. Perhaps I was overcome by the thrill of legitimate shopping!
By the time I got home I had considered most of the contents of my wardrobe and convinced myself that it was time for another clear-out.
Surely most, normal, people do not do this on a monthly basis?
I got rid of a huge pile of things, splitting them, as always into charity and clothes bank, depending on how worn out they were. I'm not entirely sure whether I have a system for getting rid of things - some make me feel frumpy/boring/ugly but survive several purges through 'comfort' or 'warmth', but finally succumb to the second factor - the amount of time they've hung in the wardrobe, unworn until they are disconsolate and need re-homing.
Looking through my newly streamlined collection of clothes, I tried on my purchases with the benefit of a full length mirror, light and more than 3 foot square to stand in. I will not bore you with the details, but provide you with the image that, when worn with my work boots, one made me look more like I was going to tell someone's fortune than teach a class and the other will be excellent when I am forty, have resorted to prostitution and want to look eighteen.
This month's lesson, then? Well there are two.
For me: don't be hasty; just because it is from a charity shop, doesn't mean you can't spend time deciding on it.
For charity shop managers: some of us treat our charity purchases with as much respect as any other (if not more); please can we have slightly better changing rooms, or at least ones with mirrors?
The skirts will have to be re-charitied, so technically this month I made a £10 donation to St Peter's Hospice. Now, don't I feel good about myself.
After a very successful rummage through boxes on a stall at Sunrise Off-Grid at the end of August, producing a skirt for £3, I took myself on a 'back to school' shopping trip to Cotham (Bristol's version of a 'charity mall' with five excellent charity shops on one street). I held out little hope of finding the illustrious black high heels, resigning myself to another few weeks of wearing boots to work. Great on the days when it rains and I feel smug, observing the number of drenched sandal-clad feet; not so great on the days when it reaches 18 degrees and I feel like my feet are on fire, whilst everyone else's sandals, now recovered, are breezily airing their toes.
And I was right. No shoes whatsoever. However, I did feel quite successful initially, as I paraded my (reusable cloth) bags home, with two work skirts (£5 each), a top for work (£4), a fun t-shirt (£3) and some harem pants (free from the 'buy two items get one from this rail free' section!). Though I had realised that Cotham is not the cheapest place for charity shopping. With the benefit of hindsight, £3 seems like quite a lot to pay for a t-shirt. Perhaps I was overcome by the thrill of legitimate shopping!
By the time I got home I had considered most of the contents of my wardrobe and convinced myself that it was time for another clear-out.
Surely most, normal, people do not do this on a monthly basis?
I got rid of a huge pile of things, splitting them, as always into charity and clothes bank, depending on how worn out they were. I'm not entirely sure whether I have a system for getting rid of things - some make me feel frumpy/boring/ugly but survive several purges through 'comfort' or 'warmth', but finally succumb to the second factor - the amount of time they've hung in the wardrobe, unworn until they are disconsolate and need re-homing.
Looking through my newly streamlined collection of clothes, I tried on my purchases with the benefit of a full length mirror, light and more than 3 foot square to stand in. I will not bore you with the details, but provide you with the image that, when worn with my work boots, one made me look more like I was going to tell someone's fortune than teach a class and the other will be excellent when I am forty, have resorted to prostitution and want to look eighteen.
This month's lesson, then? Well there are two.
For me: don't be hasty; just because it is from a charity shop, doesn't mean you can't spend time deciding on it.
For charity shop managers: some of us treat our charity purchases with as much respect as any other (if not more); please can we have slightly better changing rooms, or at least ones with mirrors?
The skirts will have to be re-charitied, so technically this month I made a £10 donation to St Peter's Hospice. Now, don't I feel good about myself.
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