June has been my spendiest month so far this year. I made a few carefully considered new purchases but these will be my last new purchases for a few months as I signed up to the Slow Fashion Season. I don't think it'll prove to be too much of a challenge for me, as in the last six months I've only purchased five new items.

THIS YEAR

We booked a short break away and that prompted the purchase of a red tropical print Warehouse swimsuit, £28.50 from £36.00. I don't think I would've paid full price for it - shopping secondhand has made me a bit stingy when it comes to parting with cash for clothes - I did look in the charity shops, even though the thought of a second hand swimsuit does make me cringe a little, I'd hoped to find one with tags still on. But our break was booked at short notice so I didn't have time to wait for a good one to turn up in a charity shop.

I've had my last swimsuit for so long I think it pre-dates Andy, which would make it over a decade old. I certainly hope I can repeat this timescale with this latest one.

I gave the purchase of a pair of Havaianas flip flops, £24.00, some thought. Yes, it's a lot for flip flops but I didn't want to buy another cheap pair, and I've already worn these so much, and will continue to do so until sock weather comes around again. I'm hoping these will last for a few summers at least. I had an ebay search set up but it turned up nothing except pink ones or ones with diamante detailing, neither of which appealed to me.

My first secondhand purchase of the month was a cornflower blue Escales Paris clutch bag for £6.50. When I got home, I Googled the brand and discovered that these retail for over £200 (I'm tempted to stick it on ebay!) It only had a wrist strap but I found a woven yellow shoulder strap that I can use that does the job nicely. I love the contrast.

My second pre-loved purchase came in the form of this ASOS embroidered dress. I really didn't need another dress but this was only £5.00, and I kept going back to it every time I tried to leave it on the rail, it's just so pretty!

Towards the end of the month I signed up to the Slow Fashion Season, which is a pledge to buy no new items for three months. They wanted 10,000 participants, and an encouraging 14,487 people signed up.

It seems like an easy challenge for someone who already shops secondhand a lot. But as you can see I do buy something new occasionally. My move to secondhand has come about gradually, and can be attributed to keeping a list and running tally of my purchases since 2012. Looking at where my money was going was a real eye opener, and yet it still took a while for my buying habits to change (and there is still room for improvement).

They say unless you analyse and question the things you do, you'll keep doing the same things over and over again. It's the analysis that brings about change - certainly for the better in this case.


LAST YEAR

All of my purchases in June last year where secondhand.


Oasis floral ra-ra dress, £6.00. This has only been worn twice so far. It's a casualty of owning too many dresses (she says having just purchased another one). It'll get worn again soon I'm sure.

Mink maxi skirt, £3.50. Again, this has only been worn twice. It's a tad too long and tripped me more than once. I'm dithering over altering it or donating it back to charity.

The pink v neck top, £3.25, hasn't been worn at all. It's a lovely shape, very flattering, but as it's a synthetic material it's not good for hot days. I keep it for evenings out, of which there aren't many, evidently! I'm keeping it though, I like it too much to part with it just yet.

The white shirt, also £3.25, is only classic white shirt in my wardrobe, it's 100% cotton and very soft but has only been worn four times so far. Even though I've recently decluttered my wardrobe, donated a lot of items to charity and listed a load of things on ebay, it's clear that I still have too many clothes. Further thinning out is required.


Total for June: £64.00

Total so far for 2019: £219.25

Total at this time last year: £224.22

Left of £500.00 budget: £280.75

Items purchased: 32 (pre-loved: 27 / new: 5)


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.