Being Frugal and Wardrobe

[shoiji]

Well I have finally come to terms with the fact that I am middle age now and that some, ok alot of my clothes are really geared more for a 20-30 something person. I have even proudly stated on this site that I still have clothes that are 15 years old or more.

I thought I was doing better this year as far as updating and buying new clothes. Until I started watching What Not To Wear in between the Olympics. Sadly I see myself in some of the women on the show. AHHHHH!!!!

I know part of the problem was the weight gain. Plus a very limited income. But now that I am almost back to "normal" weight I have been trying to get clothes that fit. Last year I was so proud of myself buying sundresses on clearance in anticipation of the weight loss. Well, I have realized they are what I would have worn years ago, and they look more like something someone much younger should be wearing.

So I ended up going to the thrift store today keeping in mind what they talked about on the show, especially for someone my age. And as I am doing this I realize that a lot of the clothes at the thrift store are so mixed as far as age group, decade made, and worn factor. Also being frugal for me means no more fashion magazines. So I really have no idea what is in style. Oh yea, I passed up a really nice black purse because it was $29.00. Am I being to frugal?

So I was wondering, does being frugal make you more un-stylish? How do you update your wardrobe inexpensively? Have you ever found yourself wondering what decade or what was I thinking with an outfit on? Today it was a t-shirt and denium jumper - not a pretty site. LOL

I do realize that clothes should not define a person. But lets face it clothes are one of the first things people notice.

So now off to the closet I go to get rid of some clothes. It is going to be difficult but I am going to be ruthless.

[daughter of pearl]

I experience similar challenges...it is great to be stylish but if you are trying to live frugally, it is important not to be "trendy" because trends change every couple of seasons...the way I have gotten around high costs is to sew...I have a couple of simple patterns (a dress and a tunic style top that I can make short or long)...I am lucky because I can usually wear jeans to work, so I bargain hunt for fabric on sale, and make seasonal adjustments to the patterns ie, short sleeves, etc. It costs less this way and I also get a great sense of accomplishment...

[yankeegal]

First I have to say that I love, love, love "What not to wear" I love to see the chubbies like me and what they choose for them to wear.
I am a bit of a clothesaholic-that combined with my "crack" credit card addiction was lethal at the local mall...
I had an entire closet of clothes from size 6(yeah right!!) up to size 18-it was liberating to get rid of all of the smaller sizes and that what if attitude.(not to dismiss in anyway anyone's weight loss-just not my thing anymore.)
I always shop clearance...buy my summer clothes in Sept and October when they are 50-70% off, etc...
I have found many a designer piece of clothing at thrift stores and yard sales-lots of people purging after their weight losses. I try to take the tips from the show and use them with what I find. I will not buy something too pricey just because it fits "the rules."
I also work from home so I do not need too many professional type outfits-I look like a lot of the "befores" on the show-yoga pants, hoodies, etc...

I say purge your outdated clothes, embrace your age, and find some really hot outfit that makes you feel great! I think there are a lot of fashionable, reasonably priced clothes out there.

[Darlene]

I like this site here. I can't afford their clothes but I can get ideas on what to keep my eye open for at thrift stores etc. With a little embelishment here or there I think a reasonable wardrobe can be made paring classics with some trendy accessory like scarf or buttons etc. Good luck & congrats on the weightloss.
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/default.aspx

[The Muse]

I'm frugal, but definitely not unstylish. I wear a lot of dresses and heels because they easily look stylish and more expensive than they actually are.

I shop consignment stores and clearance. I base my wardrobe on classic/retro styles that can be updated with the right accessories.

I'm complimented on my outfits at least once most weeks, and everything head to toe rarely costs more than $50.

[Megareader]

First, welcome to middle age...it rocks!!

As for clothes, what I buy depends on the purpose. Work, weekend, etc. As for price, do you have a Kohl's in your area? I have found they have good clothes and if you watch for the sales you can get them at a pretty good price.

[Marie78]

I love What Not To Where and I try to watch the new episodes each week. I shop thrift stores and clearance and sales racks at regular stores. Outlet Malls are also good places to find great deals. The key for me is picking classic pieces that span many years and not just the current season. I don't buy a lot of pattern for this reason. I also have gained and lost weight for the last 5 years so I have clothing from size 4 to size 12. I notice each size has classic style so I could wear any of the clothes any year depending on my current size.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I too can't get enough of What Not to Wear but alot of those outfits on there, oh boy. I think I'd end up being one of the most difficult people they have because I have clothes I just can't give up. It is totally possible to adapt what is recommended on the show via using consignment shops or clearance sales, etc.

I am a total clothes snob. I'll admit that I'm probably never going to adapt to buying everything in consignment and my clothes last me a good 10+ years. My weight never fluctuates greatly and if I do gain weight, I can get into the gym and burn it right back off.

I've bought myself clothes at the mall a total of two times in the last five years. I spent $50 on myself at the mall with my mom yesterday. I got a shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of jeans. Everything was on sale and the stuff at Bootleggers is great. I got a pair of $40 shorts for $9.99 and my shirt was $6.99, that leaving my pants at $29.99. I always hit the sale rack first and I really did need some newer clothes. Alot of the clothes I've inherited are bigger than I usually wear, so I like having form fitting clothes and stuff that's new every few years. I save the rest of my new clothes for when I get them as Christmas gifts.

I say update the wardrobe and hit the good sales. Up here, it was a spring/summer clearance sale throughout the entire mall and everything was at least 50% off.

[pollypurebred39]

Boy do I understand what you are saying. I wish I could say I have an answer. I'm completely sure I am a fashion don't. Remember the back of those Glamor magazines? I dislike looking like a soccer mom so much that I'm sure I hit the trendy don't for my age at times. Just can not stand Mom jeans, ugh! Besides my husband prefers that I have just a hint of sex appeal, and classic styles tend to have a bit of a boxy look on me.(which= matronly on me) Not attractive at all. But I was thinking that maybe I need to polish up my sewing skills or hire a seamstress and alter those classic boxy styles to be more form fitting, and lowering the necklines just a tad.

And every few years I review my hair style and make-up. I don't want to get caught in a time warp like those beehive hair wearing, cats eyes eyeglasses ladies from my youth. If your 20 and are doing it your retro, if your 40, 50, ect... well...you get the picture. There used to be these juice ladies at the flea market when I was a kid. They were all giant beehive hair-dos and cats eyes glasses a decade past their time, then came the 80's and they were still there the same as they were before now 2 decades past it's time, and well you guessed it the 90's roll around and they are still there exactly the same, not a single hair has changed. They closed their stand in the year 2000 and I was sad to see a part of my chilhood disappear. But ask anyone around here about the juice ladies and you'll hear "oh my gosh! I love those ladies. Everyone knows exactly who your talking about. That is not what I want to be remembered for.

An embarassing story; I was purchased this fabulous pink t-shirt that had a sleek black kitty with a jeweled necklace. Its caption read "Not just another pretty kitty" It was form fitting and I was totally in love with it. I had worn it a few times when my husband looked at me wrily and and nodded towards my shirt and said, "My we think a lot of ourselves don't we?" Needless to say if you husband points out its too young for you it probably is. I still have the t-shirt and wear it with pajama pants. I still love it, just not outside the house love it. And when I wear it my husband reminds me that Yeah, I am a pretty kitty!

[suzysaver]

No help here. I'm a hopeless case of what not to wear. I have 3pairs of work pants (2 black and 1 kauki) and 4 white long sleeve dress shirts...end of work clothes line. Most of my clothes simply don't fit me anymore so I end up wearing the same things over and over again. I have only one pair of jeans that somewhat fit me (not looking forward to winter). Shop thrift store only (except unders), but lately seem to buy everything too small. The last few years I really haven't cared about how I looked...but since experiencing by 40th birthday have updated my makeup and hair a bit and am feeling good and looking forward to losing about 30lbs and dressing a bit more wise. I think I want to go more classic over the next phase of middle age. Being frugal has definately affected my style over the last couple years.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

No help here, either.

In Alaska...if your clothes don't have stains or holes you're doin' GREAT!

Jeans and t-shirts are standard attire (and hip waders depending on the time of year hehe).

Carharts are the thing to wear here...black ones (pants and coat) are an "Alaskan Tuxedo".

As long as my clothes are clean and in decent shape...I don't much care... I'm definitely an Alaska-baby in that respect!

[Squirt]

The most important thing I'm learning is that good clothes will last longer. As a general rule, something you buy at Kohl's or WalMart will fall apart. Many cotton things will wear out and fall apart. It is hard to choose accordingly sometimes, as I love the natural feel of cotton and like to have lots of certain items such as tank tops so I tend to go for quantity over quality. I guess it doesn't matter too much with things like that or socks, but I hate cheap undies that fall apart and work clothes that don't stay nice looking (cotton pants!) are a waste. I have a few pairs of pants from Express and such that have been hanging around forever reminding my why it's worth it to buy good clothes.

I have to buy longer than long pants, so options are limited. Places that have them, like Victoria's Secret, have great clearance sales which usually occur once the season is in full swing- just when I need them!

[daughter of pearl]

My weight never fluctuates greatly and if I do gain weight, I can get into the gym and burn it right back off.


I used to like you...

[McD]

I have to have professional clothes for my job and I have an extremely hard time finding pants that fit properly (4'10 and 110 lbs).

I shop a lot of sales, but I also have to realize sometimes that you are getting what you are paying for. I've got about 4-5 pairs of dress pants from the Limited that I paid roughly 70-80 dollars for. (I KNOW! I KNOW! BUT THEY FIT!) I have had them all for at least 2 years and they are in great shape. I bought a pair of dress pants from Wet Seal for 20$ a couple of months ago and they are already falling apart. So my 80$ pants that have lasted years are worth more than the 20$ pants I'll have to replace every few months.

Also, my wardrobe consists of a lot of classic pieces--nice button up the front shirts, dress pants, turtle neck sweaters, etc. I get a few trendy pieces a season, but I usually get those on sale.

Stores like Limited, Express, have awesome sales and clearance racks, plus they have great coupons that you can get by signing up for their email list. Last time I was at Limited, they had 98$ pants marked down to 15$. I ended up getting 3 camisoles and two button up the front shirts for 28$. That's the normal cost of about 1 camisole!

Check out different websites for fashion ideas or see if your library has any recent fashion mags.

Good luck to you!!

[shoiji]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't feel so alone. LOL Last night I was able to throw out more clothing. Had to stop since I was getting to sleepy. I bought a thin camisole and cardigan set yesterday at the thrift store and now realize I may have bought lingere instead of something you wear outside. Oh (&(*(#!!! Another thing about thrift store shopping that gets me confused. I do love getting good deals but sizes and trying to figure out if it is lingere or regular clothing confuses me!! LOL

MrsMcDowell, I do understand the whole height issue. I have started hemming pants since petite sizes can some times be limited.

I do have a dress pattern that I will have to look at again. It is a pretty plain basic dress but does fit well.