Post recession clothes shopping

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 06:15PM #1

Right so I'll start out by saying I was never into designer clothes or high fashion but if I needed something I bought it.
During the recession when me and hubby were both on the dole the first place I looked for any new clothing for myself was the charity shops, I mean I was the charity shop queen! I've gotten some great clothes, the most expensive being a dress I bought for a friends wedding for a tenner.
So hubby got a job a few months back, I've gradually been loosing weight and on Tue decided I was in bad need of a few bits, off I went to Dunne's and just couldn't bring myself to spend 25 euro on a shirt, looked at a coat and it was 70, nearly fell over!!!
So I'm kinda looking for a bit of feedback from you lot, I can afford to spend a bit on myself now but should I? Do I really want a shirt for 25 quid but I could go to the charity shop and pick one up for a couple of quid? Has anybody else forgotten how to spend money or is it just me??

corner of hells · 18-02-2016 06:17PM

Go to Army Bargains ,,kit yourself out as a German light infantry man.

Maximus Alexander · 18-02-2016 06:22PM

I was lucky enough to kind of ride out the recession in a reasonably decent job and only in the last couple of years I've had to start teaching myself to stop spending money on shite I don't need.

Not making out that I am, or was ever, rich and buying lavish things, but I was never careful with money and I'm just sort of coming from the opposite direction to yourself. I'd be wondering - why change? If you have a bit of money now, but you were happy with what you were buying in the charity shops, why not carry on doing so and use the money for something else?

Seems like you've managed to escape the materialist attitude that the whole universe seems to be pushing on us, I wouldn't be so eager to dive back in.

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 06:26PM

corner of hells wrote:

Go to Army Bargains ,,kit yourself out as a German light infantry man.

I do still have an old army jacket I bought as a teenager, damn I was so cool back then....

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 06:28PM

Maximus Alexander wrote:

Seems like you've managed to escape the materialist attitude that the whole universe seems to be pushing on us, I wouldn't be so eager to dive back in.

Yeah you're right, I did buy new clothes the last day but they came off the sale rail, seven quid for a pair of trousers was a splurge for me but damn it they look good on me

18-02-2016 06:29PM

I'm surely not the only one who thinks a 25 euro shirt is hardly decadent?

I would have thought it's cheap. Not charity shop cheap, but hardly a splurge.

Fleawuss · 18-02-2016 06:31PM

corner of hells wrote: »

Go to Army Bargains ,,kit yourself out as a German light infantry man.

Mein Fuhrer! You have returned! When do we strike at Poland?

Jim79 · 18-02-2016 06:31PM

OP the marketers of the world are telling you to SPEND SPEND. but your mind is saying this is silly. i would listen to your mind; Not expose on tv3 (or who ever) telling you this dress is a snip at €300. :rolleyes:

Fleawuss · 18-02-2016 06:34PM

If you're looking to treat yourself do it with gay abandon. It's alright I can say that. You do not need permission from the Internet. As for the crowd in here...

maudgonner · 18-02-2016 06:37PM

I know what you mean OP. In my mid-20s I took a career change that meant I don't make as much money as I used to. So I kinda went back to the shopping habits I had as a student. I really only bought clothes in sales or cheaper shops. And if it was cheap, I'd buy it - regardless of whether I actually liked it.

It's only in the last year or so that I've let myself spend a little more on clothes that I like and make me feel good. I still don't spend much, but if I love something I'll buy it, even if there's a cheaper but not as nice option I could go for.

So I reckon if you like the clothes, fire ahead and spend the money, don't feel a bit guilty. You'll probably be so chuffed with them that you'll wear them all the time and get the value out of them. But if you don't like them, no point in spending the money just because you can - charity shops are the business!

Pretzill · 18-02-2016 06:38PM

You are really only paying for the label in any designer outfits - neither the quality or the durability is as high as the price!

I used to shop a lot in the charity shops when I was younger - you were always destined to find something unusual for a bargain. However I despise those charity shops posing as some retro outfit who charges lots of money for tat -

Like you OP I wouldn't justify 25 EUR for a shirt in Dunne's - especially when you'd get a better fit and style in Penny's for more than half that! I'm a real cheapskate!!

ceadaoin. · 18-02-2016 06:41PM

If you like the shirt and can afford it then buy it. 25 euro is hardly a fortune. What's the point in agonizing over the littlest decisions and feeling guilty, life's too short!

beks101 · 18-02-2016 06:44PM

I can't remember the last time I spent less than twice that amount on an item of clothing that wasn't socks or underwear. 25 is quite cheap for a shirt OP.

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 06:51PM

ceadaoin. wrote:

If you like the shirt and can afford it then buy it. 25 euro is hardly a fortune. What's the point in agonizing over the littlest decisions and feeling guilty, life's too short!

Don't feel guilty just don't see the point of it, I always buy good shoes and boots, never scrimp on anything that separates you from the ground, but why spend 25 for a shirt when I know I can get one for a fiver that's the same or better quality.
Sister always said "Eww what if somebody died in that" my answer was well if they're dead they don't need it anymore do they!

Arbiter of Good Taste · 18-02-2016 06:54PM

Pretzill wrote: »

You are really only paying for the label in any designer outfits - neither the quality or the durability is as high as the price!

I used to shop a lot in the charity shops when I was younger - you were always destined to find something unusual for a bargain. However I despise those charity shops posing as some retro outfit who charges lots of money for tat -

Like you OP I wouldn't justify 25 EUR for a shirt in Dunne's - especially when you'd get a better fit and style in Penny's for more than half that! I'm a real cheapskate!!

Sorry, but there is an ocean of difference between the quality and fit of something from Penneys - or even Dunnes - and something from a more quality label. In fact, I don't even think most of Penneys clothes are actually made for normal shaped human beings.

The Backwards Man · 18-02-2016 06:55PM

Socks would probably be the dearest thing I buy. You wouldn't skimp on horseshoes for a prize horse.

Pretzill · 18-02-2016 07:17PM

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

Sorry, but there is an ocean of difference between the quality and fit of something from Penneys - or even Dunnes - and something from a more quality label. In fact, I don't even think most of Penneys clothes are actually made for normal shaped human beings.

It all depends on what you like and how much you want to spend at the end of the day. I wouldn't see a world of difference between Penny's or Dunne's - River Island, et Al - just some clothes shops take the Mickey when it comes to price - I'm petite (in parts) and perhaps that's why I find Penny's a better fit.

But like someone else said I wouldn't scrimp on a good pair of shoes or a decent winter jacket!!

MistyCheese · 18-02-2016 07:30PM

Post recession?
I can only speak for myself obviously but I'm still broke. The idea of spending €25 on myself is still not something even on the horizon. The last thing I got for myself was a pair of maternity tops, €12 for two.

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 07:47PM

MistyCheese wrote:

Post recession? I can only speak for myself obviously but I'm still broke. The idea of spending â‚¬25 on myself is still not something even on the horizon. The last thing I got for myself was a pair of maternity tops, â‚¬12 for two.

Well post recession for me I should have said. Still not flush like but we do have a bit of money left over at the end of our month instead of month left over at the end of our money...

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 18-02-2016 07:56PM

I love buying clothes but really I'm not a fan of really expensive clothes because after a couple of times I probably wouldn't wear it again. I love asos, misguided, boohoo, Zara, miss selfridges and river island. I like pennies, and think for what you're paying for, it's grand. If I really liked something, then I wouldn't mind spending extra. I adore shoes, and I would prefer to save up and buy designer than buy a pair in pennies, though that said I like pennies shoes for a random night out.

It's all well and good being careful with money but don't deprive yourself of something if you really like or need it.

ceadaoin. · 18-02-2016 08:00PM

StillThinking wrote: »

Don't feel guilty just don't see the point of it, I always buy good shoes and boots, never scrimp on anything that separates you from the ground, but why spend 25 for a shirt when I know I can get one for a fiver that's the same or better quality.
Sister always said "Eww what if somebody died in that" my answer was well if they're dead they don't need it anymore do they!

How do you know you can get one though? I've never seen anything I like in a charity shop and if I did it's not guaranteed to be in my size anyway. I'd rather not spend ages rifling through musty clothing trying to find something that I like and that fits when for a fraction of the price more I can just something from multitude of styles to my taste and pick out my size.

StillThinking · 18-02-2016 08:33PM

ceadaoin. wrote:

How do you know you can get one though? I've never seen anything I like in a charity shop and if I did it's not guaranteed to be in my size anyway. I'd rather not spend ages rifling through musty clothing trying to find something that I like and that fits when for a fraction of the price more I can just something from multitude of styles to my taste and pick out my size.

I suppose I've always been lucky, always find something I like, I'd say it helps that I've always gone for more timeless styles rather than something fashionable. As the time, at the minute I'm not working, not a fan of the soaps so rooting round musty shops gives me something to do.

BurpsyMcWindyPops · 18-02-2016 10:32PM

I'm not big into clothes shopping (though I love clothes) and don't like the idea of disposable fashion but if I really like something, I'll almost always get it eventually. I was humming and hawing over a leather bag on sale a few weeks ago going in everyday to look at it. I absolutely loved it but felt guilty for spending what I perceived to be a lot (60 Euro on sale) 'till I finally coped myself on and bought the damn thing; I know I'll use it daily for a few years and I work hard so why not treat myself!

If you're not a big spender and don't treat yourself often and you like the shirt, then get it! 25 Euro really isn't much at all. It's nice to treat yourself - if you don't, who else will? Life isn't all about scrimping and saving and sacrificing and enduring all the time - you have to be good to yourself on a fairly regular basis or else what's the point? That doesn't necessarily mean spending money on clothes but doing something nice for yourself that makes you feel good is one of the simple pleasures of life - you'll be long dead as one auld woman with a bit of sense said once.

18-02-2016 10:40PM

I don't think 25€ for a decent shirt is at all expensive. I used to spend a fortune on clothes. Luckily they aged well and I still get lots of wear out of them, especially coats. These days it's a fairly mixed bag for me. A 3€ skirt underneath a 300€ coat. Tis all the same to me now.

Everyone has a different standard and their own sense of value when it comes to clothes shopping. I know people who would be horrified at spending 20e on a pair of shoes let alone 200e.

If you have the money OP and you see something you like then go for it

18-02-2016 10:41PM

Candie wrote: »

I'm surely not the only one who thinks a 25 euro shirt is hardly decadent?

I would have thought it's cheap. Not charity shop cheap, but hardly a splurge.

Yeah I think one I got from Next recently was 35 or more
Good quality though

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-02-2016 10:45PM

You get what you pay for I would prefer to pay a fiver in a charity shop for a pre loved brand shirt than a rag for a score in dunnes

Vic_08 · 18-02-2016 11:40PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

You get what you pay for I would prefer to pay a fiver in a charity shop for a pre loved brand shirt than a rag for a score in dunnes

Unless you go to the hand-made level there is sod all difference between Pennys/supermarket brands and named brands. All you get for the extra cash is a label, they are all mass produced in cheap labour sweatshops with the cheapest possible materials.

Kiwi in IE · 18-02-2016 11:57PM

I would much prefer I good quality, good condition second hand item that fits well than crap from Dunnes/Penneys. I don't think €25 is expensive for a shirt, but it is too expensive for the quality of shirt your likely to get in Dunnes/Penneys.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 19-02-2016 12:09AM

Not all charity shops are the same either. Generally ones in or near more well-heeled neighbourhoods will have better stuff, and plenty have more clued-in staff who'll know when something's worth more and charge accordingly...but some don't.

There's a class one in Galway, I got a very fcuking high quality coat there for €12. And there's one across the road from me where you can hardly move it's so packed, mostly with tat, but sometimes I spend a half hour or so in there and come out with something good. I enjoy charity shops though, if you didn't then it definitely wouldn't be worth the effort. I get probably 3/4 of my clothes there, at least.

freshpopcorn · 19-02-2016 12:12AM

I'm a guy and I'd shop almost anywhere. I'd shop in penny's, Dunnes, River Island, Next, Debenhams,local shops, anywhere really to be honest and I'd have a look at supermarkets.
I do think mens wear in Dunnes can be boring/dated. It just does nothing for me in generally. I did see a coat there before Christmas that I liked but it was around €200. I have other coats and I said to myself if I really wanted to spend that much on a coat I'd look a bit different.
My mother used shop in Dunnes and she says it's a lot more expensive now and nothing special really.
I personally have never seen anything special in local charity shops.
I've very short legs which doesn't help I suppose when it comes to sizes and shopping in general.

TheDriver · 19-02-2016 12:38AM

I always buy my clothes at 50-70% off, decent threads at bargain price. Haven't spent more than 17 euro on a shirt in years......

Post recession clothes shopping

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