Saturday 3 September 2016

The Buyer's Archive: August

Since February last year, inspired by Elise's Buyer's Archive project, I've been keeping a record of all my clothing purchases in an effort to track what works and what doesn't and - in theory - cut down on my spending. Check out the #buyersarchive hashtag on Twitter/Instagram to see posts from everyone taking part, which usually includes Elise, HazelKezzieDonnaLucy and Charlotte.

Last August I spent a whopping £206.75 on twelve items. Of what I bought, some have become wardrobe essentials - the burgundy H&M cardigan, the polka dot jumper, and the striped Gap tee especially - while others - the Emily & Fin dress, the polka dot charity shopped dress, and the bird print skater skirt - have already been donated or re-sold. I haven't worn the Saltwater sandals as much as I expected, but that's mainly because until the last few weeks, summer weather has been in short supply.

My spending was a lot lower this year; however my addiction to stripes shows no signs of abating any time soon, with three new additions to my collection.

Burgundy cord skirt, Dorothy Perkins £16.75 (with 25% discount)
The black denim skirt I got from Primark last month has already become a wardrobe staple, so I'd been on the look out for with a similar fit (priority: pockets) in a different fabric or colour. This Dotty Ps cord skirt hit the mark perfectly, and as they're currently having one of their many discount events, it wasn't too expensive either.

Black striped knit top, Primark £4
Because it was £4, and it goes brilliantly with the skirt. And, ok, because stripes.

Blue striped Breton top, La Redoute £9.75 (with 25% discount)
Last month I got a blue striped top from Sainsburys, which I then managed to ruin with impressive speed. This is its replacement and will, I suspect, get lots of wear at work this autumn teamed with my new jeans.

Breton top, M&Co via LOROS charity shop £4
This might be my favourite and best-fitting Breton for a while, and a great replacement for my long-lamented favourite H&M Breton that I spilled a tomato-based pasta sauce down the front of. And, in my defence, on the day I got this I managed to resist buying a Fat Face striped top in another charity shop, so perhaps I'm finally learning to exercise restraint when it comes to stripes.

Black Jamie skinny jeans, Toshop via eBay £9.50
Oh how I love my Jamie jeans, so I was super excited to find a bargain pair with little wear on eBay.

Tan sandals, Dorothy Perkins £7 (in sale)
I bought these in July but forgot to add them to last month's Buyer's Archive.  They are SO comfortable and a great addition to my collection of tan sandals; I'm already kicking myself for not buying a second pair for next summer while they were still in stock.

All of which brings my August total to a pleasingly rounded £50 for six items. A much more palatable spend than last August's. My goal for September is to not buy any striped tops. Yep, you heard me: I'm going cold turkey on the Breton. Wish me luck!

16 comments:

  1. I always enjoy these posts. I think, sadly, because I am a bit nosy. I love the skirt and I can totally understand your obsession with striped tops. I am wearing one right now.

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    1. Striped tops rule! And yes, being nosy is exactly the reason I like reading posts like this, too.

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  2. But, you can never have too much Breton! Never! Sorry, not helping. I always love what you buy, I think it's because we have similar taste:-)

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    1. We do have similar taste - sometimes when I'm shopping, I think "what would Donna pick?" and it helps me be a bit more adventurous, colour-wise (she says... having bought lots of black, burgundy and navy AGAIN)

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  3. The La redoute top is great, I don't think there is a thing as too many stripes. They go with everything! I didn't buy any clothing in August but couldn't help myself yesterday and ordered some stuff for the new school year. I always feel like I have nothing to wear come September.

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    1. It's been weird this year to not have the 'new clothes for a new school year' thing.

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  4. Amazing stripes! I think I need that blue one... Tam's mum was just telling me about the DP sale but I haven't shopped there since they took their tall range out of stores, might be time to reconsider!

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    1. The blue one would probably be a good fit for you as it's slightly too long in the body for me.

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  5. To allow yourself to become lacking in stripe tops would unthinkable ;)
    Lovely purchases. I often buy sandals at the end of the summer and save them. Didn't find any that really jumped out at me this year though.

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    1. I don't think there is ANY danger of my becoming lacking in striped tops!

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  6. I don't feels so guilty about my solitary striped top buy now (though the addict in me is alreadys wondering if there any of those La Redoute bad boys left! ;-) Love the cord skirt, this time of year I am always into corduroy...and wine colours too. Someday I will try the Jamie jeans, some part of me still thinks "ugh skinny jeans, pain, torture" even though everyone says they are great! Also desperate for brown flat sandals but fear I might have missed them!

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    1. The Jamie jeans really are great, very comfortable and they make your bum look great, haha! A gateway skinny jean, if you're not used to them, is the Leigh (also Topshop) or Eden jeggings (Dorothy Perkins) - the former are so stretchy and comfortable that it feels like wearing leggings, and the latter also v comfortable.

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  7. Oh I love the two striped tops! That's something I think I'd like more of in my wardrobe!

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    1. Whenever I visit the Netherlands I stock up on striped tops at WE, so can recommend them as a local source for you in Belgium. H&M obviously always do them but I've never been 100% happy with their fit.

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  8. Ha, you SOOO won't resist buying stripy tops! That's like me avoiding dresses and brooches!

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