Under-a-tenner-outfit

Reading about how bloggers are barring themselves from shopping for new things, sticking to only ethical purchases or buying vintage only has effectively guilt tripped me about my spending.  However, it’s not the spending that I do now that I’m feeling guilty about as I’m rather unapologetic about how much I buy in a month and the origins of those purchases.  It’s the spending of the past which makes me cringe, the days when I used to go out at least twice a week if not more and was absolutely adamnant about buying a new outfit each time I went out, thinking quite foolishly ‘Oh my god…. wearing the same outfit…. twice?  I would rather die….’.  Hence at my parents’ house in my room sits a rather sad drawer full of Miss Selfrdige/Topshop/Mango tops/dresses that everytime I go back, I take a peek inside and proceed to shudder at my dirty past of despicable waste.

As it stands, I don’t object to acquiring clothes for the sake of one night out when (…somehow…) everything in the wardrobe jsut doesn’t seem up for scratch.  Except, I’m trying to rid myself of my guilt nowadays by setting myself a strict budget of a tenner and with that one singular note, only charity shopping will serve my needs.  Last night was such a night when an outfit was called for and schepping it down to the Animal Aid & Advice thankfully yielded a loose pleated oversized top that can be worn as a dress and a pair of multi-strapped black patent and gold sandals.  It’s  bit of a louche-LA kind of outfit but with the addition of some jewellery, it is effectively an outfit for a tenner (¬£7 to be precise…. ¬£3 for the top, ¬£4 for the shoes…). 

So no, I’m no saint.  And yes, a shopping cull is totally out of the question.  But hey, in the words of the dubious supermarket chain Tesco’s… every little helps!

36 comments

  3. Love the outfit!!! I really need to cut back on my spending as well, however there is no way I can find such a cute outfit for that price in any thriftstore where I live!!! They tend to overprice everything!!!

  4. love the outfit and the shoes are great! you’re lucky, London is so rich in charity sjops….her in Milan there are just really expensive vintage shops or really crappy thrift stores where there are just a few weareable pieces.

  5. Susie! How the heck do you find shoes like that for so cheap? I don’t think we even have prices like that in the consignment stores around here.

  6. Btw, I would love to see a post about how you shop someday — like a chronicle of a normal day in your life or something!

  8. Personally, I’ve always been in favor of spending wisely and well. I think people should be aware that dirt-cheap stuff (whether clothes or electronics) is that way for a reason…low labor costs. I say quality over quantity every time. Buy the things you’ll love and care about, not the things that distract you for a few fleeting moments. But, considering my business, I can’t agree with people getting on their high horse about spending anything at all. There’s millions of people whose livelihoods are dependent upon all different aspects of the fashion industry. What do we propose they do? Accept charity rather than work? Subsistence agriculture?

  9. your wearing the Husam El Odeh cigarette box for Topshop around your neck!!! Is it in store yet??? I need one!! How much does it cost??
    love the blog by the way…..

  11. First off, you did spectacularly for ¬£7!! It is a nice outfit. I didn’t realise there were loads of bloggers (I get that impression from what you say) imposing shopping bans on themselves.
    I am on a “high street shopping ban”, but I’ll admit it’s not so much to do with ethical reasons… more to do with the thinking that everything is pricey for what it is and everything looking similar. I just got a bit fed up & wanted to save some money – that’s probably a pretty selfish reason!

  12. I love your necklace, Susie- is it that TopShop cigarette box thing you once posted about (I think)?
    Great job finding an outfit- what’s the top made of, anyway? I can’t tell from the pic…and are the heels comfortable (always a concern for me!)?

  13. London is the best shopping city. Even better than New York. You are constantly surrounded by temptation!!!! I would just have to stay in all the time….

  14. ha, i like that 0 “louche LA”…your first paragraph is brilliant. I feel like I live that situation…

  15. Nobody needs to be a Saint!
    But being in touch with what you’re doing makes you aware, and that’s can’t hurt.
    I like what you got for 7 quid, and it looks great!

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  18. I feel that same guilt so strongly and I am also broke right now that there is no way I can shop- I’m making due with going through my closet to find long forgotten treasures. Your outfit is great, especially for the equivalent of $14- it would take me quite a lots of work to find that cheap an outfit, with prices being what they are in New York. Maybe I’ll try this as a project- I think I can spare $14 for an experiment…

  19. oh dear, gratuitous spending isn’t the same in your 20s as it is in your 30s… just have fun… but as for what wendy said, i have to disagree, it sounds a little like the people concerned about the jobs of couriers when they invented the telephone. the world is always changing, and for some reason, people always find a way to adapt… smart monkeys.

  21. I like shopping at charity shops or thrift shops because buying something for less makes me less guilty about my spending. I think I may be a shopaholic. But love the outfit, especially those heels.

  25. Yes, I still have faith in my London charity shops despite charity shops outside London being much better…..
    Leah: I’m exactly the same with my high street ban at the moment….
    Sophia & Dru: Yes it is the Husam el Odeh for Topshop cigarette box necklace…. it’s not in the shops yet but I’m temporarily borrowing it ; ) I’m not sure how much it is… around the ¬£50 mark I should think!
    Dru: Some sort of polyester fabric – not great but hey… for 3 quid… what do you expect.
    I’m wearing the shoes today and they are pretty comfy.. not that high at all!
    WendyB: It’s a dichotomy that as a fashion lover, we have to struggle with…

  28. Awesome conscience-friendly outfit, Susie. I’ll have to echo the sentiments of the others, though – I wish decent, affordable thrift-store shopping still existed in my area! I worked at a charity shop as a kid, and I suppose that spoiled me for choice and price. The last time I walked into a charity shop, I spotted a cute purse. I looked inside, and just because it happened to be by the Gap, it was 20 dollars used!It was likely on sale for less then that when it was taken out at its original location.
    So, they’re gouging those with a limited budget or a desire for ethical-creative dressing. Good to know them spirit of second-hand is still alive out there!

  30. Good buys! I found a pair of Lee jeans on Sunday at Oxfam for ¬£2.49 which are making me a very happy bunny at the moment. When my man told me “Another pair of jeans?!We are running out of space” I replied “It is recycling honey, very eco!”. It worked!

  31. Ooh, that some great finds. I have NO LUCK whatsoever with charity shopping for a month now, which is probably a good thing as I still spend waay more than I should in charity shops..

  33. The outfit is lovely. According my opinion one of the best Susie’s Styles photos you ever posted. I’ll save it for inspiration.

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