Now here's a really cool piece of music - filled with passionate excitement, it could also be described as hot. Is it Hot or Cool?
If no other actions are implemented, such as repairing/mending, washing at lower temperatures, or buying second-hand, purchases of new garments should be limited to an average 5 items per year for achieving consumption levels in line with the 1.5-degree target.
I don't read fashion magazines - but it seems that a number of people were challenged in December 22 to try this for the year, and are now writing articles about what they did/didn't buy [here and here]. It seems that hiring outfits for special events is even more popular now, and buying 2nd hand doesn't count in your 5-a-year score, so some fashionistas got round the rules that way. Underwear, hats, scarves, gloves don't count, but shoes and new gifts do.
I listed the new clothing I acquired in 2023
I replaced my worn out clogs and winter boots - both a decade or more old.[#3] and Liz gave me a Uniqlo banana bag for my birthday [#5]
2023 - FIVE ITEMS
I'm not counting the camisole tops from Steph[underwear] - another birthday gift. Nor the two pairs of jeans, thermal leggings and Zara top which were hand-me-downs. So I thought would be OK for the five-a-year rule, then Bob gave me a lovely new leather bag for Christmas
But I didn't start using it till last week - so that's this years #1. and #2 is my gorgeous new yellow parka [oh so warm! I have been so grateful for it this week] I've been thinking long and hard about my wardrobe, and there are things which need to go to the CS, but are there any items I want to add? I felt a pair of black loafers would be useful and in November I found a pair online which I really liked the look of. But two new tyres, a dental bill, a replacement fridge, and a new oil tank were all unexpected items in the budget before Christmas.
Must I count these as #3, because they are new items? And now I am thinking how bad I am at this - 10 days into the year, and I have spent 60% of my clothes allowance with 50 weeks to go. Perhaps the five-a-year rule isn't as easy as I thought...
But I am going to try my hardest on this one, and I'm doing all the other things suggested to make clothes last longer.
- mending, replacing buttons etc
- wearing clothes for longer- hanging them up to air overnight
- washing at 30ºC
Are you prepared to take the challenge for 2024 to only acquire five new items of clothing? If we all did that, it really would make a difference...
Are my shoes #3, or can I consider them second-hand if not second-feet ?
I think your shoes are second hand because you are the second person to own them!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea. I try not to buy much anyway, as I already have a lot of clothes and am trying to reduce the amount, not increase it! I can only think of 6 items I bought in 2023. I will try to stick to 5 in 2024. I also got my walking boots resoled, which is expensive, but worth it from an environmental point of view.
There is of course the flip side - what would happen to our clothing shops if everyone in the UK only bought 5 items a year?
Pam
Having boots resoled is a brilliant thing to do. That is an interesting point about the shops. We have fewer high street clothing stores than we used to (BHS, C&A, Debenham etc all gone now) and so many of the clothes are cheap imports
DeleteI think you should count them as second hand, you didn't buy them new. Last year I bought two pairs of new leggings, I've lost weight and my leggings were looking very Norah Batty. I still wear them but now have two pairs that aren't saggy. This year I have already purchased new slippers as my others were about 6 years old and has holes in. I also purchased a pair of earrings.
ReplyDeleteYour new earrings are lovely, and do not count in a list like this! Wear them with joy. During lockdown I was inside the home so much more that my slippers wore out very quickly. I think it is important to have well fitting slippers - I'm sure sloppy slippers contribute to the number of OAP falls.
DeleteI wouldn't count the pair of shoes as #3 because you bought them second-hand.
ReplyDeleteI bought myself a new pair of shoes in 2023 and I received a sweater and a scarf as Christmas gifts from a cousin, although I received them in January of 2024 and regifted the sweater to my daughter. I didn't buy any new clothes and I didn't collect the clothes another cousin had decluttered from her closets, but, I'll probably collect them, this year and I know there will be more than 5 items!
Many of us have rarely worn garments which deserve to be rehomed!
DeleteHello! Well, I do have too many clothes and shoes. Trying to think what I bought that was brand new- I did buy some lace up pumps in the Summer and I bought a new lightweight proper outdoor raincoat and Merino wool top for the Pennine way trek and had to buy new walking boots as mine gave up the ghost mid-trek. I'm sure that I must have bought a few other new things- Seasalt cords in the sale in December. The majority of my purchases are bought from CS, Vinted or eBay (& there have been quite a few)but some have been sold brand new, e.g. new swimming costume, the trousers I wore for TT yesterday and I received 3 items of clothing for birthdays and Christmas. I've been thinking v carefully about trying not to buy much this year, new or second hand, but have not banned myself outright as I know that doesn't work for me. But this is definitely more food for thought. Xx
ReplyDeleteDo what works for you. I think walking boots probably count as "sports equipment"
DeleteVery interesting conundrum this challenge. I am 73 and decided last year to really think about clothes buying. I hate how a lot of youngsters buy cheap fashion and wear once or twice and then throw away, literally, not even recycling. I have an amazing friend who is 97 and says she hasn't bought any new clothes other than underwear, for years having bought good quality items in the first place plus looking after them. I thought I would try and emulate her. I also purchased a second hand clothes steamer and it is wonderful for refreshing items like wool coats and jackets. I have been ruthless with decluttering my wardrobe passing on to charity shops heeled shoes (I can no longer teeter about in heels) and more formal wear which I don't need so much now. This year other than underwear I don't plan to buy any clothes at all. Hope I manage it. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteA very interesting comment Sue. Back in the mid 60s I remember a lady turning up at our house with a large suitcase, saying to my Mum "I am 70. I have enough clothes to see me out. I don't need these things, thought you might like them" (there were no CS back then) Unfortunately the majority were way too big for 1950s styles, and loads of hideous hats. Mum was 40. I am 70 next year. So nearly 30 years if I get to 97. I reckon my Burberry (made 1983) will still be going (Liz has her eye on that!) We do need fewer clothes in retirement. That said, Bob's work at the Hospice required purchasing two short sleeve shirts.
ReplyDelete"buy well, buy once" is a useful mantra.
I'm interested to read about your steamer. I know that most CS use them to refresh garments.
Lots to think about here, thankyou
Sorry to reply so late we have been out all day. The steamer is a Beldray and it is about 7 years old. My husband volunteers at our town museum and they have a large costume section and were donated two steamers. They kept one and offered the other one to the volunteers for a donation to the museum, so we got it for £12 not sure how much the retail price was. It is very good for crease removal and refreshing coats, jackets etc. It seems to work best on natural fabrics. I have "ironed" shirts and other items with it. Hope this is helpful. Sue H
DeleteThat's very useful information. Thanks Sue !
DeleteI have already bought a long warm top £7.50 instead of £12.50, a green denim shacket reduced to £15 from £25 and a warm checked shirt reduced from £22.99 to £8. These were all items that I will wear again and again so that’s 3 of my five gone! I bought no clothes except pants and socks for two years in 2021/22 as I wasn’t really needing anything new. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThat's a 50% saving, which is well worth getting. And we all need warm clothes right now. During the pandemic I purchased very little too.
DeleteI buy very few clothes now but am fortunate in that my mum in law regularly gifts me things that she has bought and then decided don't fit/ doesn't like etc however the downside of this is that I'm no longer choosing my own 'look' and not everything she rejects fits me either! I probably have to have 2 new pairs of jeans a year as I live in them but otherwise I'm pretty sure I could take the challenge.........not m in law though 😀 Buying smart is definitely the key isn't it, like others here I have a few quality items that just never wear out and always look good. Your charity shop shoes definitely don't count imho. A few years ago I bought some beautiful Ecco shoes in a cs, not a mark on them and looked like New, after one wear the soles literally disintegrated, I think they had sat so long in someone's wardrobe they had just desiccated! Put me off buying shoes in a cs after that x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
That happened to me too. I found some lovely green wedge heels in CS. They looked brand new and unworn. Wore them once to church, and as I got out of the car and stepped on the gravel, they crumbled like old cheese!
Delete😀 X
DeleteAlison x
great buys, but I refuse to shop in second hand stores. It's a throw back to my childhood, I was brought up in hand-me-downs.....don't ask ;0) LOL
ReplyDelete👍😊❤️
DeleteAs your shoes were bought from a charity shop and previously owned by someone else they are definitely not classed as new so you still have numbers 3, 4 and 5 to use up when the need arises. What a good challenge, as I have bought no items of clothing this year yet ... well it is only the 11th, I may just join in. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs you are The Expert when it comes to challenges, maybe I will consider the shoes NOT in my list of five, then!
DeleteNope, the shoes are 2nd hand so are not counted as #3, I grew up wearing 4th0me0downs as friends of my parents had daughters older than me, so I got their darling clothes 4th! I've never minded handme-downs and applaud your efforts to be mindful. I also think that 5/year isn't and should not be iron clad
ReplyDeleteHugs!
😊👍
DeleteI like converting clothes that I love but don't wear. I recently unpicked the convoluted satin frill from the front of a sweater that was too uber glam to wear most of the time and it sat in a drawer year round. The stitch marks washed away, and I have 2 or 3 scarves to wear with it if I do want to dress it up. I had a lovely pair of light blue denim wide leg jeans, too fancy - turned them into a skirt that I wear a lot! So I did the same with some linen pants and now have a skirt. I'm looking at some long owned tweedy pants and wondering if there is a winter skirt there, too!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant refashioning there. Well done!!
Delete