do you buy new clothes every season?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, most of my shopping for clothes is at consignment shops. It’s amazing the deals I find and it’s just fun. I have a great wardrobe without spending much. We are a high net worth family and it drives some of my friends crazy that this is the way I shop.

I know many rich Arlington moms who swear by Blossom and Buds and another shop in Falls Church. It’s like high end thrifting - it’s the thrill of a good find! As long as you are the same size as other rich ladies and pop in on a regular basis, it’s awesome. My friend who is a 4-6 swears by consignment shopping, but I rarely find anything size 10-12. The best part is my friend wears things for a season and sells them back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, most of my shopping for clothes is at consignment shops. It’s amazing the deals I find and it’s just fun. I have a great wardrobe without spending much. We are a high net worth family and it drives some of my friends crazy that this is the way I shop.

Same here. My feeling is why spend more just because I *could* spend more. I love the treasure hunt of thrift/consignment stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Not a lot, but I do add/replace a few every season.

Same. Just a couple though. Oftentimes I grab something I loved from the prior year on an early sale. Example - I just bought a lands end cashmere sweater because I loved the one I bought last year and it’s 40% off today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, most of my shopping for clothes is at consignment shops. It’s amazing the deals I find and it’s just fun. I have a great wardrobe without spending much. We are a high net worth family and it drives some of my friends crazy that this is the way I shop.

Same here. My feeling is why spend more just because I *could* spend more. I love the treasure hunt of thrift/consignment stores.

Well, you’re lucky you fit within the normal range for sizing. I have to buy tall sizes and rarely find anything in a store.

[Anonymous]

I bought a lot of items this year due to special occasions, big sales, and traveling to countries where I stocked up on clothing.

Usually I stock up a little each season on items that go on sale that I know I will keep for a few years or longer.

I tend to like to buy classic pieces like nice blazers, dresses, and coats. I occasionally buy a trendy item.

I am petite and so the renting places don't work for me, and I need to get most items tailored.

[Anonymous]

I used to fall prey to the seasonal marketing and buy clothes about 2 times a year - fall/winter (my favorite), spring/summer. I also work with a lot of women my age and we all sort of egg each other on, in a way. You see someone wearing something new and then check out that website and order something similar for yourself.

But in 2023, I decide to buy zero clothes, and I did it. And going cold turkey like that made me realize that the shopping habit is more a habit and less a need for clothes or even for style. I am back to buying things, but I buy a lot less and am pickier about what I order and also what I keep. This year I bought just a handful of things, mainly to replace something that was out of date or looking old.

[Anonymous]

Yes, though some categories are "slower" like knits, bags, and jeans. I budget and keep a spreadsheet tracking what I buy vs return. I always make sure that whatever I buy fills a gap, except for socks/t-shirts/underwear.

[Anonymous]

Now that I live in VA I wear a lot of my stuff pretty much year round. So no.

When I lived in Chicago and in New Orleans it was a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, though some categories are "slower" like knits, bags, and jeans. I budget and keep a spreadsheet tracking what I buy vs return. I always make sure that whatever I buy fills a gap, except for socks/t-shirts/underwear.

You return so much stuff you have a spreadsheet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, though some categories are "slower" like knits, bags, and jeans. I budget and keep a spreadsheet tracking what I buy vs return. I always make sure that whatever I buy fills a gap, except for socks/t-shirts/underwear.

You return so much stuff you have a spreadsheet?

Not at all, just a bad memory, and it helps me keep track which types of purchases are less successful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you fall prey to marketing and the changing of the seasons and add items to your wardrobe every couple of months? If so, how many? Does your wardrobe just perpetually increase?

I'm in my late 30s, have plenty of clothes but am not a maximalist/excessive shopper like some friends. My wardrobe is at a point where I rarely "need" anything. I have acquired enough luxury-use-for-life items in my late 20s and early 30s (the MaxMara coat, the high quality cashmere sweaters, the perfect white shirt, a couple of nice handbags, etc). Yet I still get that urge to buy new items, especially when the seasons change. It's harder now with social media and being bombarded with super targeted marketing.

I have no financial reason to never buy, and new items do add some joy to daily life especially when things are stressful/highly routinized. At the same time I'm old enough that I'm picky about quality and so many things seem trendy to me. Now with kids I also no longer have the time to buy things just to try on/scratch the itch and then return them.

But it feels impossible and too harsh on myself to ... never buy anything again? I still love browsing clothes/fashion online.

What are your shopping habits like if you are in this life stage? What prompts a new purchase when nothing is needed?

Since I have had kids, I use companies like Nuuly and Rent the Runway to have 3-5 pieces at any given time to rotate. Picking things out online scratches the shopping itch. Having new things is fun. I find I wil use a company for 6-9 months and then get bored of their choices. I take 6-9 months off to “shop my closet” and then I start all over again with a new company. For the “never buy” super frugal crowd I know that $150 per month is a lot - but I have a penchant for $200+ jeans and $400-500 dresses in memorable colors and prints - so these services actually save me money and help me focus on maintaining a small core wardrobe of quality basics.

I'd be interested in a post comparing the different rental companies if you are so inclined! Like you, I like nice clothes and enjoy having new things. I definitely spend more than I should on clothing. I decided to cut WAY back this month and one of these services might be helpful in that regard.

[Anonymous]

I used to be more like you and then menopause hit and for the past few years I’ve been on a steady weight gain that has required me to buy basically all new stuff. I still have some much older pieces I can wear but I am really mourning some of my high quality favorites I can no longer wear. It feels really weird to have bought so much new stuff in the past couple of years!

A lot of times even when I want to find anything, everything is just awful. Like those years when the only pants being sold were tight cropped ones. Or those years when every shirt had random holes in it and weird ruffles. Or when they only sold severely distressed jeans. Or the year when everything was shapeless boxy and a shade of taupe or mauve. It’s been a little better lately with a bit more tailoring and decent colors so I’ve actually seen some stuff to tempt me. I love all the pants that look like something katherine Hepburn would wear.

[Anonymous]

You described me perfectly. When I worked full time in the office I would buy 4-5 nice new things each season. Usually 2 dresses and maybe 2 tops and one pair of pants. But now that I work from home I rarely buy anything. I really love wearing dresses and the feeling of a new dress so I buy maybe 2-3 a year but otherwise it's hard to justify. And even when I buy the new dresses I feel guilty because I don't really have a place to wear them to. I just hope work sends me on a business trip! I mostly buy classic but edgy dresses that don't go out of style.

[Anonymous]

No. I don’t have the money for that. I might buy a few new things each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I don’t have the money for that. I might buy a few new things each year.

Same