Let's talk about ways to be frugal when it comes to clothing

[homesteadmamma]

I thought it would be fun to have a thread every couple days on ways to save in different areas of our living/homes.

Today, tell us ways you are frugal when it comes to purchasing clothing.

[MelAFwife]

I volunteer at a free store on the base, I can have unlimited clothes for volunteering.
I splurge on shoes for my hubby and daughter, they can't wear any cheap shoes.

[Emerald_Mommy]

~ I accept all hand me downs, whether I want everything or not, if not I always pass on to others

~ I frequent one particular thrift store and one outlet store (GAP) with excellent bargains

~ I buy clothes that are easy to care for. I try to avoid things that require special care, unless they are for a special occasion. I like simple styles with very little ornamentation. The fewer things to wear out on an article of clothing, the longer it will last.

[sunshine]

I have reluctently learned to mend---

I use Zout to remove stains. . .

Garage sales, thrift stores and freecycle are my best friends. . .

[my4littlebuffaloes]

I also accept all hand me downs. I really don't have to buy much for my 2 dds. I get tons of clothes for them. The boys are more difficult!

I take what I can to the consignment store. I can get cash from it, but I usually see what I can find, that we need, and use it as store credit. This way, I don't pay very much out of pocket for the kids clothes.

The adult clothes, I need to do much better on though!

Jennifer

[homesteadmamma]

A couple more questions

~do you buy clothes in a couple sizes larger for your kids?

~do you pass down clothes even if your passing down boy's pjs to girls or vice versa?

[PrairieRose]

I always scour the clearance racks at the very, very end of each season. I get some really amazing deals (like $3 designer jeans) and rarely ever buy clothes that are not from those racks.

[tlenad]

Another thrift shopper here. Also my Mom and I wear the same size and rotate clothes between the two of us. That way we have more of a variety.

Also when I get home from work, I take off my work clothes and put on some slotch around the house clothes, that way I don't chance stains or kitties decided to claw into a sweater or nice pair of pants.

I also hang dry all my work clothes. I'd hang dry more but I have very little room to hang as I live in a one bedroom apartment. And well with two cats that think anything that is hanging is a toy...I only have one room I can shut off.

I only wear clothing that is classic cuts and without patterns. I do on occassion wear stripes though. I also if I buy new, I buy for quality. I'd rather spend a bit more and get something that will last me years than spend less and have it fall apart after a few wears.

I also ask for clothing for gifts on birthdays and holidays. I'd rather have something I can use if someone is going to spend money on me than something that just sits around the house.

[voodidit]

Maybe we should all become nudists

[Englishlady]

when you are not going out anywhere on a particular day, wear old clothes or items you have kept specifically for around the house.( Lot's of people do this in the UK,it is very common).

I have fleece pj's that I wear around the house when it's chilly ( they look more like a lounging suit , but I bought them specifically for around the house).

Never wear decent clothes when you are doing serious cleaning eg. with bleach and such lthings it's depressing to learn THAT one the hard way

Wear a pinny when ever you can ( apron ) I do and it saves a lot of mess!

Inventory all your clothes, you might be surprised at what you find!

When buying any clothes even if from a thrift store, make sure the purchase goes with at least two or three other items in you wardrobe.

[FrugalMomof3]

When I purchase clothing I first ...

~Shop at Thrift Stores... most times I pick up brandnames like Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle, Old Navy, Gap, Forever 21, Charolette Russe, Aeropostale... to name a few... Most times I get great bargains and alot of clothing for EVERYONE in the household for a measly $60-$75, that's with everyone having atleast 3-4 outfits with extra shirts.

~ Shop for sales, last year I got tons of shirts from Old Navy for my son for $2.47 each, roughly close to the prices of a thrift shop.

~ If the clothes I purchase are still in good condition when everyone decides they dont want it anymore, I resell them. I get pretty good money, most often more than I paid or the same amount I paid but never less.

I list my stuff on various websites (resell or swap sites for clothing).

~Tracy~

[frugalandsimple]

I buy only what I need. I buy all my pants from Goodwill or Ebay.

As far as shirts, sweatshirts, shoes etc., I'm more picky about. I'll spend more if I have to find what I like.

[Nada.Leona]

Originally posted by voodidit
Maybe we should all become nudists

I'm game! Actually, here in Canada, or at least Ontario, it's legal for women to walk around topless!

However, I do have to wear clothes to work. So here are my guidelines:

~ I wear only black, red and gray. Occasionally, if I find something I like well enough, I'll wear blue.

~ For work, I stick to several basic pieces -- a black blazer, a short black skirt, a long black skirt, a silver skirt, a red skirt, a black button-up shirt, a black shell and shrug, and a black cardigan and t-shirt. I'd like to get 1 more blazer, preferably a gray that matches my grey skirt. I can mix and match and get 24 outfits for work that way.

~ I stick to two different types of shoes during the year -- knee-high boots with heels, or sandals. I have one pair of good ol' Doc Martens for stomping around in mud and work, but for every-day wear, I only wear those two types. I hate sneakers and flat shoes, so I never bother wearing them.

~ I buy mainly second hand or 75% off or less. Rarely do I ever buy something that's at full price. Why would I bother? It's only going to go on sale come the end of the month!

~ When I find something practical that I like -- t-shirts, cardigans, etc -- I'll buy it in a couple colors.

~ I don't wear a lot of makeup. I wear black eyeliner and clear mascara. Rarely do I wear any lipstick, and normally I darken it with a black eyeliner.

~ I am the QUEEN of holey panty-hose. I buy them once every six months and make those buggers stretch as long as I can. When they start to get holey, I wear two pair, or I'll cut off the leg of the hole and pair it with another set that has the same problem. I've also cut off just the foot and wore the pantyhose without feet in boots, and worn socks on my feet. Works just fine, though you feel silly if you have to undress in front of someone.

~ I wear corsets instead of bras. Corsets hold in more of the bulges, they boost the boobs better, and damn but if they ain't just the sexiest thing a woman can wear. Put on a corset and you feel like the Goddess herself, ready to take on the universe! They're expensive, but if you buy a good quality one, they last forever.

[Early Bird]

Strangely, I'm finding that, as I get RID of clothes, I have more choices.

I pruned out things I didn't like; things that didn't fit; and things that didn't match.

Like Nada, I chose a few basic colors. For me, navy, khaki, and some black.

I then decided on specific categories for winter/fall:
Category #1 - days at home. (knit pants or skirts with pockets, turtlenecks, old saggy sweaters)
Category #2 - days when the kids have lessons (knit pants or skirts with pockets, turtlenecks, nice sweaters)
Category #3 - church/going out days (skirts withOUT pockets, turtlenecks, nice sweaters); 1 winter dress; 1 summer dress; 1 mid-season dress. 2 dresses with silky overjackets.
Category #4 - special/formal occasion days. (silky dresses; long skirts; blouses that need ironing!)
Category #5 - for messy project days. (rugged jeans, frayed turtlenecks)

I boxed up almost everything from Category #4. That stuff gets worn so rarely that it doesn't deserve hanging space in my closet. I put the box on an accessible shelf.

Category #5 - the pants and hoodie are hanging on closet hooks. I need them quickly available to help DH next time we're doing an emergency repair. And readily available for the routine repair jobs.

Of course, if I worked in an office, I'd have different categories.

Results:

It's easier to keep up w/ laundry.

It's easier to find things in the closets and drawers.

It's easier to match items when shopping.

It's easier to identify needs. I now know what I NEED -- a black woven skirt. Hard to find in a sz 2X, but I'll get there.

[Mojjo]

~thrift store here...especially for the boys shirts...they get the dirtiest
~I'm lucky...all the grandparents are pretty good about equaling out toys with clothes for gifts
~clearance rack and discount stores....my best friends
~also, taking care of what you have when you have it
~I trade off too...DH needs higher end shoes but I save on his pants. SS can wear payless, but I buy his pants at higher end stores, or request them from grandparents