Time to own up to your mistakes

jos28

Clearing out my wardrobe yesterday and I found 8 items with tags still on that I have never worn and probably never will. Most of them are online purchases that I didn't bother posting back, others were impulse buys from sale rails in the likes of Penneys.
Why oh why do I still do this. I should have kept my money and bought something nice that I'd actually wear. That's not counting the things I've only worn once :mad:

Own up ladies, does anyone else have unworn purchases - how many ??

dee_mc

I have one: a jumper I fell in love with and only tried on for 30 seconds before running to the till! If I'd left it on for another couple of minutes I'd have seen that it rides up nearly as far as my boobs, making it look ridiculous and making it impossible to wear a jacket of any kind over it. I've worn it twice but it'll have to go to the charity shop.
When I was heavier (lost over 5 stone in the past couple of years) I used to buy things on impulse, often on sale, often without trying on, and occasionally a size too small, and the stuff would sit in the wardrobe taunting me until I would finally do a charity shop cull and start the cycle all over again. I'm more discerning now and will only buy something if it really suits me and if the quality is genuinely good (bar the odd Penneys disposable item) and I have very few 'I've no clothes' moments nowadays.
I've got into the habit now of trying things on if I haven't worn them much or haven't worn them in a while and figuring out why - if it doesn't fit properly, can it be altered? If I don't have anything to wear with it, I'll keep that item in mind so that if I can look out for something that might complement it. It's really helpful to have a bit of a system instead of just buying stuff because it's reduced etc - at some point I had the epiphany that it's not a bargain if it's not my style/colour/size!

jos28

Dee, I'll have to bring you shopping with me. I've committed so many sins:

• Not trying things on (unless it's for a big event like a wedding)
• Buying things because they are cheap/reduced
• Buying things because I 'Need' something to wear going out tonight

New rule for me - Go to the fitting room !!
Well done on the weight loss, that's some achievement.

dee_mc

Thanks! It needed to be done
I buy pretty much nothing online because of the 'trying it on' thing - I know well that I'd be too lazy to return the item if I didn't like it!

SandyMay

I have a few outfits that I bought a size too small as inspriation and motivational outfits that I haven't worn nor taken the tags off of...it's been about 4 years. Now they aren't even really my style or something I would go out in as they are too short (beginning college days).

meeeeh

One dress, one pair of trousers. Dress is a size too big and I am keeping it for fat days. Trousers are too small and I live under illusion I will fit into them. Both were internet sale purchases and it just doesn't really make much financial sense to send them back.

Not all my purchases are success but I try things in the shops or send internet purchases back when it makes financial sense. I rarely impulse shop and even online the stuff is put in a basket and then I sleep on it before I press buy button.

jos28

Glad to see I am not alone. I've also started to sleep on before I go to the online checkout. Especially if I've been online shopping after a glass or two of wine.
I managed to walk past the 50% off sale rail in Tesco this afternoon - very proud of myself

Broken Hearted Road

I can think of one from last year. I bought a pair of them massive and tall bridet Jones shapewear knickers claiming wonders of sucking in your tummy. I never tried them on in the shop but I bought my size. Tried them on when I got home and all it did was redefine my muffin top. It came up to wear my knickers and pants usually sit around my belly button and it sucked in the lower half of my belly but my god, my muffin top was much much bigger. Never wore them.

Faith

I go on shopping sprees on boohoo.com every few months. Everything is so cheap and I end up buying 5 or 6 items at a time. That was grand in Ireland with free returns, but in Canada, it definitely costs more to post the items back that in cost to buy them. Yesterday, I gave 4 or 5 almost totally unworn items to charity. A few months ago, there was another half dozen .

I really want to move towards buying better quality items and keeping them for longer, but I just don't find the styles in North America suit me, and buying online is too much of a risk for expensive items.

Dial Hard

I can very rarely be arsed trying anything on before I buy it so I've often gotten things home and gone "nope", but then I'm really bad for bringing things back too, so the amount of stuff I've ended up giving to my two sisters over the years is considerable.

In terms of "What were you thinking???" I have a bright pink, lace playsuit (a short one) that my mother convinced me was lovely on me and which has yet to see the light of day since. Likewise a beautiful brown chamois leather waterfall jacket that I bought on a whim (after a liquid lunch, natch) in Lara back in the day that cost me about 600 quid. Both sisters have been beadily eyeing it up since but I can't bring myself to give it away. Like I said, it's gorgeous but I just haven't a clue what to wear it with/where to wear it to.

jos28

Broken Hearted Road wrote: »

I can think of one from last year. I bought a pair of them massive and tall bridet Jones shapewear knickers claiming wonders of sucking in your tummy. I never tried them on in the shop but I bought my size. Tried them on when I got home and all it did was redefine my muffin top. It came up to wear my knickers and pants usually sit around my belly button and it sucked in the lower half of my belly but my god, my muffin top was much much bigger. Never wore them.

I've done that one too, I thought they might have gone high enough up to give me a massive pair of boobs :D

jos28

Faith wrote: »

I go on shopping sprees on boohoo.com every few months. Everything is so cheap and I end up buying 5 or 6 items at a time. That was grand in Ireland with free returns, but in Canada, it definitely costs more to post the items back that in cost to buy them. Yesterday, I gave 4 or 5 almost totally unworn items to charity. A few months ago, there was another half dozen .

I really want to move towards buying better quality items and keeping them for longer, but I just don't find the styles in North America suit me, and buying online is too much of a risk for expensive items.

Dial Hard wrote: »

I can very rarely be arsed trying anything on before I buy it so I've often gotten things home and gone "nope", but then I'm really bad for bringing things back too, so the amount of stuff I've ended up giving to my two sisters over the years is considerable.

In terms of "What were you thinking???" I have a bright pink, lace playsuit (a short one) that my mother convinced me was lovely on me and which has yet to see the light of day since. Likewise a beautiful brown chamois leather waterfall jacket that I bought on a whim (after a liquid lunch, natch) in Lara back in the day that cost me about 600 quid. Both sisters have been beadily eyeing it up since but I can't bring myself to give it away. Like I said, it's gorgeous but I just haven't a clue what to wear it with/where to wear it to.

I really want to move towards buying better quality items too, The charity shops/sisters/friends seem to be doing well from our mistakes. DH, that leather jacket sounds fab, you MUST have something you can team it up with. I'm thinking of opening up a fashion swap shop where we can all bring our mistakes and swap them

fits

I moved to buying fewer pieces a few years ago, and spending more on them and honestly once you do that, its very hard to go back. I have absolutely zero interest in high street stores anymore because the quality is so bad.

Everything in my wardrobe is worn really, except a dress I bought last week for a couple of events coming up. Thats going to Punchestown races.

Broken Hearted Road

Knitting is one of my hobbies. I currently have a knitting list the length of my arm to complete but at some stage I would like to move on an knit an item of clothing for me.

There's a few different cotton yarns that I like working with. They feel lovely when knitted into a piece of fabric and drape well.

I have a lot of these kind of cotton vest tops from Dunnes and Pennies and one from marks and spencer:

http://m.marksandspencer.ie/mt/www.marksandspencer.ie/Pure-Cotton-Vest-Top/P22426528,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22426528_color=Y0&start=

So at some stage I would like to knit up something for myself like a vest top.

CaliforniaDream

I just cleared out my wardrobe and have 5 huge bags of clothes gone. About 30% still had tags attached. Some of the stuff is now too big and some I just hated the style.
I've wasted so much money on unworn or worn once clothes. But I haven't learned, I'll do it again without a doubt.

Same with shoes, I'll buy some and think I love them and then when I actually try to walk in them it doesn't happen. If the world was a flat place with even, non-slip floors I'd be sorted.

Faith

fits wrote: »

I moved to buying fewer pieces a few years ago, and spending more on them and honestly once you do that, its very hard to go back. I have absolutely zero interest in high street stores anymore because the quality is so bad.

Do you not get bored of the clothes though? I get tremendously bored. I have a collection of about 10-15 work dresses, and I'm getting bored of all of them now, even though each one only gets worn once a fortnight or so.

Cheap clothes mean I can change my entire wardrobe every few months if I'm so inclined. But then again, maybe I wouldn't want to change better quality clothes.

StripedBoxers

I'm awful for this. I do bring/send stuff back though.

I've one dress that I bought ages ago when I was college. To this day it is still my favourite dress. It's a black fitted dress with chiffon material over the fitted material. It's this dress, but mine is black. It's my absolute favourite dress, it looks quite different (and a LOT nicer) in reality, pics don't do it justice.

http://a1.amlimg.com/OWQ1ZDEyNGFhMDY5YWVlZjVlZmRkNjIwYjdjMTUzOGZI0odIeQLq5E2F_XgbqNysaHR0cDovL21lZGlhLmFkc2ltZy5jb20vMzU0YmMwYTQ2YmU1MmJkOGZjMDcwYWFkYTNhM2EzNDJiNzQwMTM5NTEyOTVmZjFjNTU4ODA2ZDBmZTllMzg5YS5qcGd8fHx8fHwzOTJ4NTI1fGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWR2ZXJ0cy5pZS9zdGF0aWMvaS93YXRlcm1hcmsucG5nfHx8.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U7vIIVtqt7s/TO4z4bmqG2I/AAAAAAAAADA/sLmFK1vxU8Q/s1600/Party.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U7vIIVtqt7s/TQ97n9gYLKI/AAAAAAAAADU/co8qXGCOtB8/s1600/ste.png

It's a size 10 but is slightly too tight, but I cannot bare to part with it, its just stunning. I absolutely love it.

Another item are these jeans from Next. Got them ages ago, they are ankle grazer but on me, they look like they are too short, not ankle grazer, just like they don't fit properly. I adore them though. Need the confidence to wear them.

https://cdn.endource.com/image/O6zu4FLUTHag4sPVUF4Z/detail/next-zip-pocket-ankle-slim-jeans.jpg

I've several chiffon type blouses from Penneys that I love, they are shapeless though. I absolutely love them in the summer time when its warmer as they're grand to wear with a cami under them if t-shirts etc are too warm.

meeeeh

Faith wrote: »

Do you not get bored of the clothes though? I get tremendously bored. I have a collection of about 10-15 work dresses, and I'm getting bored of all of them now, even though each one only gets worn once a fortnight or so.

Cheap clothes mean I can change my entire wardrobe every few months if I'm so inclined. But then again, maybe I wouldn't want to change better quality clothes.

I don't know about others but I don't get bored with stuff that fits me well and I feel I look good in it. The same dress can be worn with different shoes or jacket or other accessories although I am not overly an accessories person. For me it's better to get some interesting well fitting pieces and build a look around them. Yes you can buy pieces that are very of the moment and they won't last but the core can be made of good quality multitasking clothes. I prefer it that way . I actually have no problem shopping on the high street you just have to be a bit more picky about materials and fit.

SB_Part2

I have so many dresses that I've purchased online that have never seen the light of day. I always tell myself I will wear them someday but never do.

This thread reminds me I need to do a serious clean out.

fits

Faith wrote: »

Do you not get bored of the clothes though? I get tremendously bored. I have a collection of about 10-15 work dresses, and I'm getting bored of all of them now, even though each one only gets worn once a fortnight or so.

Honestly? No. I get immense satisfaction that I have a ready outfit to go for almost any occasion. It has taken me years to get here though. And I still buy clothes. Bought a dress this month, green chino trousers last month.

Sunny Dayz

Glad to hear that I'm no the only one!
I buy things reduced in Penneys that I end up not wearing, or only wearing a few times. I buy online from New Look, and throw a few things in from the sale section cos they are cheap, they push me over into free delivery etc and don't end up wearing them. Or I buy something online, it looks nice on the model online but looks like a black sack on me in real life and can't be bothered paying for returns.
Or I buy something, eg a dress in the sales, I might not need it but I could wear it to a wedding or a function or something in the future and it sits in my wardrobe for years. I can't bear to throw them out, I might get an unexpected wedding invitation next week!
Or I buy something that doesn't quite fit - it's a bit too small: I'll slim into it. It's a size too big: I'll wear it oversized (and look pregnant when I'm not) or I'll get it altered (which never happens).
I'll buy something cos I really like it, then when I'm at home realise it doesn't go with anything in my wardrobe.
Or another thing I'm guilty of is buying something really nice, I really like it, it looks nice on, but it's a pain in the behind to iron or it's hand wash only!

SarahMollie

Glad to hear I'm not alone.

I've gotten a bit better when it comes to casual clothes, but I'm a daemon for Asos Now that they do free returns, hopefully that will be a improvement.

My weaknesses are going out clothes, as I don't seem to realise that I don't need them as much as I once did. Its like my brain can't move past the 22 year old mentality of going out every weekend and always wanting something new. I now realistically go out less, and often more to pubs/bars, rather than clubs, so new party dress just isnt necessary every time.

My new excuse du jour is Weddings! I have 5 this year and have already bought 7 dresses.... Not to mention an array of shoes to go with.

I'm currently lusting over these shoes but realistically they breach my 4inch heal limit which I try to stick to.

http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6004187&CTAref=Saved+Items+Page

They're just so pretty tho!

jos28

I think I'll set up a support group at this stage

Now....what could we call it ?