I was an avid ASOS Curve/H&M orderer, any new social event i would buy something new. I did a complete clear out last year and i was shocked (and appalled) on the amount of clothes i had , some that i had only worn a couple of times. I now spend so much less money on new clothes, i bought a new jacket the other week and that was the first new item for several months.
I think for me, things shifted after covid. Maybe it was that i was used to attending less social events ? So then i got out of the habit of thinking i needed something new. That and also the decline in actually nice clothes to choose from. I am 35, and i just think investing in beauty/ make up/ skin care is more satisfying so perhaps its an age and maturity thing too!
I raced to the comments lol. It’s because beauty is getting better quality and more innovative, and we can read thorough reviews and we can use it every day. But clothes quality is absolutely terrible, even from what used to be more premium brands. The cuts and designs don’t make anyone look good and neither does how shabby they look after a couple of washes or wears. And if you don’t look good as a reward for buying clothes, you don’t feel good. So why would you spend? Who wants to spend on items that don’t make you think you look good and that you quickly feel you’ve wasted money on after two wears. I think some people aren’t even conscious that that’s what’s made them enjoy clothes shopping less, just subconsciously that reward of properly enjoying an item -having it make you feel smart or stylish or hot or put together -just isn’t there.
I am a plus size woman so the high street is mostly out for me too, with the exception of M&S. I also very rarely buy clothes brand new anymore, the vast majority of my clothes are pre-loved from Vinted. I can count on one hand the number of items I’ve bought brand new this year. I think a lot of people are more conscious around fast fashion now and are more focused on sustainability so will buy second hand instead. I also work from home most of the week so spend the majority of the time in joggers or leggings, so don’t need to buy as many clothes. I am, however, willing to spend more money on good make up and toiletries, especially approaching perimenopause and my skin seemingly getting more sensitive. I’m also more likely to wear make up on the days I do work out of home and at the weekend, whereas pre-pandemic I barely wore any make up at all.
Plus size woman here! 🙋🏼♀️ I feel less guilty about buying beauty than I do fast fashion. Beauty brands have incentivised recycling and innovated their packaging for refills etc. I’m also a certain age and feel like anti-ageing is the new dieting and I’m motivated to keep on top of the skin situation (I’m not proud of this). Add all this into being a home worker and rarely going out in the week (my uniform is pretty much joggers these days) I don’t really feel the need to refresh my wardrobe as much as when I worked in an office. I also follow some sustainability bloggers who point out scary things about overconsumption (e.g. yesterday I found out that lots of sequins never biodegrade and yet people will buy new sequinned outfits for Christmas each year) so I’m just more mindful about clothing as it feels more selfish to overconsume it.
I also think it’s because I don’t want to attempt to find my shade on an inevitably useless shade finder. I don’t necessarily have a spare £50 to waste on make up that isn’t right for me. So I have to go in and buy expensive make up because I can’t return it if it’s wrong.
+1 to the Vinted theory: I can afford nicer brands on there and I feel better about not contributing to landfill. Plus I know my sizes and what shapes fit (mid-size 14 - 16 here). Also so many current fashions are either scruffy (ripped jeans) or clingy (bodycon anything) - I’ll spend my dosh buying out of style floaty dresses on Vinted, thank you! However, the money I’m saving on clothes I’m spending in SpaceNK 🤷♀️
As someone who has worked for both fashion and beauty brands at head office level, the one key factor I see in beauty is what the son of Estée Lauder (Leonard) called “The Lipstick Effect” which occurs in times of financial crisis, women feel comfortable buying a small beauty product to keep themselves happy, especially when buying new clothes can seem costly.
However not all fashion retailers are suffering - at the high end both Prada and Hermes are booming financially (yes, I know the prices are horrific!) and at the other end of the scale Zara, Mango and Primark have announced very good excellent financial results (yes I know it’s fast fashion!) in fact Mango has announced retail expansion. And let’s not forget the almighty Shein :-(
And Marks & Spencer’s fashion offering is FINALLY booming. Next has always been doing so well financially also - such a well run business, highly profitable - but not one that the fashion community gets excited about unfortunately - that’s why they can buy brands in distress like Joules.
Recommerce for clothes - shopping 2nd hand via eBay, Vestiare and Vinted - and rental via Hurr and ByRotation is also booming.
So would not suggest that we Brits are not buying fashion - we are, but just not in the way we did previously
I think the rise of Vinted and other sources of pre-loved clothing is a factor in people buying less stuff new. It seems like a positive thing to me: if second -hand does the job, why not conserve resources (yours and the planet's)? I'd like to do the "buy less, buy better" thing although I'm not always convinced that quality comes with increased spending (so glad it's not just me that's seen a decline in quality on the high street- I thought I was turning into someone who keeps bleating on about how things aren't as good as they were). Ultimately, if fashion retailers want to survive, I think they need to stop the race to the bottom that is fast fashion (at this stage I think a retailer that could guarantee long-lasting quality basics could be coining it in).
Agreed. To be honest I don’t really care about fashion. As long as I’m dressed appropriately and comfy I couldn’t give a monkeys. Plus clothes last longer resulting in less frequent need of repurchase. Skin care I see as more of an investment in ME and as I use many products regularly I have to replenish when they run out. I’ve just been to Canada and spent between £500-600 in Sephora but I won’t have to buy make up now for ages as I don’t wear all that much so it’ll last me years (yes I know things technically expire but idc about that haha).
There’s also online places like SHEIN & Temu that you can get more for your money so maybe people are shopping places like that rather than the high street. As you mentioned, I couldn’t really tell you the last time I bought anything that wasn’t M&S or Primark.
I loved this so much and am so excited to read the comments! I barely buy anything new now because I find much nicer and less expensive things on Vinted. Quality of clothes today just feels terrible compared to what it used to be. I'm currently buying lots of old Topshop pieces on Vinted, usually no more than a fiver a time, and the quality is unmatched. Also, things are weird fits today. I honestly can't understand why everything is cropped. I just want some well fitted clothes but it feels like too much to ask when I pop into the high street. I would never go to the shops to buy anyway because you're lucky if they are hanging anything above a 10 on the rack in a majority of shops. Bring on the beauty hall any day of the week, it's far more fun and easy to enjoy.
I buy almost all my clothes on Vinted, and also clothes for my baby. It’s so much better for the environment and I can get better quality clothes for less money! I don’t buy much beauty personally but when I go I like to go to a shop and choose, and obviously second hand beauty products isn’t really an option!
Clothes shopping has always been tricky, I’m a couple of sizes bigger on top than bottom so that rules out lots of lovely dresses and limits lots of styles. It gets pretty disheartening returning item after item so I rarely bother now. Make up on the other hand brings me great joy, yes I have to much but it’s what I love and makes me feel good!
There has been a real shift in my whole friendship group around how we buy clothes. Previously we would often go on coffee dates followed by some shopping together but now we're favouring coffee and a walk and the "look at my new haul" pictures have seized in the group chat. We have all built good quality capsule wardrobes with far less of a focus on seasonal fashion. If we need something for a particular event we are sharing items and I can't remember the last "brand new" item I bought everything I have added to my wardrobe has been from vinted. Me and one friend actually went halves on a pair of heels (tried on in store then bought for cheaper on vinted) that we share - doesn't work for something you'd wear all the time but these are a classic heel that we each wear to different weddings.
The quality of items and shopping experience of beauty feels like it has increased whilst it just feels on a rapid decline for a lot more £££ for fashion. Why would I spend £50 for a poor quality item brand new when I can buy something of higher quality at a cheaper price on vinted?
I think there’s far more joy to be found in makeup and particularly the process of doing your make up. Taking that time for myself ahead of a social event that been in the diary for weeks, is ultimate self care. Getting to use the luxury skincare and feel wonderful for doing so and choosing which lipstick to wear, feels self indulgent in a lovely way. Knowing you’ll care for those products but actually use them, rather than umming and ahhing about the outfit. Investing in make up and skincare feels like a worthier purchase than fashion because the process of buying and applying is just as feelgood as the wearing!
I totally agree with your article. I love beauty & I like clothes but like is not enough. Since Covid I think fashion has changed, people are more homely, casual is way more acceptable & frankly I get way more of a buz from getting that lip oil than far too much on a pretty non exciting clothing item. Defo I want to buy better and less clothes wise & it will never beat beauty!! The only area not on the decline clothes wise is sports wear!
Ive never really enjoyed buying clothes or clothes shopping - maybe because Ive never really lived my body (although now in a place of body neutrality) but I love skincare/makeup
Ive had a skincare routine since I was about 14 due to bad acne (the same reason I got into makeup) and I love buying new things
All my clothes now pretty much come from Fat Face and a dress costs around £70 so I feel like I can get more makeup for £70 as opposed to one dress
But I am trying to reduce the amount of beauty products I buy
I was an avid ASOS Curve/H&M orderer, any new social event i would buy something new. I did a complete clear out last year and i was shocked (and appalled) on the amount of clothes i had , some that i had only worn a couple of times. I now spend so much less money on new clothes, i bought a new jacket the other week and that was the first new item for several months.
I think for me, things shifted after covid. Maybe it was that i was used to attending less social events ? So then i got out of the habit of thinking i needed something new. That and also the decline in actually nice clothes to choose from. I am 35, and i just think investing in beauty/ make up/ skin care is more satisfying so perhaps its an age and maturity thing too!
I raced to the comments lol. It’s because beauty is getting better quality and more innovative, and we can read thorough reviews and we can use it every day. But clothes quality is absolutely terrible, even from what used to be more premium brands. The cuts and designs don’t make anyone look good and neither does how shabby they look after a couple of washes or wears. And if you don’t look good as a reward for buying clothes, you don’t feel good. So why would you spend? Who wants to spend on items that don’t make you think you look good and that you quickly feel you’ve wasted money on after two wears. I think some people aren’t even conscious that that’s what’s made them enjoy clothes shopping less, just subconsciously that reward of properly enjoying an item -having it make you feel smart or stylish or hot or put together -just isn’t there.
I am a plus size woman so the high street is mostly out for me too, with the exception of M&S. I also very rarely buy clothes brand new anymore, the vast majority of my clothes are pre-loved from Vinted. I can count on one hand the number of items I’ve bought brand new this year. I think a lot of people are more conscious around fast fashion now and are more focused on sustainability so will buy second hand instead. I also work from home most of the week so spend the majority of the time in joggers or leggings, so don’t need to buy as many clothes. I am, however, willing to spend more money on good make up and toiletries, especially approaching perimenopause and my skin seemingly getting more sensitive. I’m also more likely to wear make up on the days I do work out of home and at the weekend, whereas pre-pandemic I barely wore any make up at all.
Plus size woman here! 🙋🏼♀️ I feel less guilty about buying beauty than I do fast fashion. Beauty brands have incentivised recycling and innovated their packaging for refills etc. I’m also a certain age and feel like anti-ageing is the new dieting and I’m motivated to keep on top of the skin situation (I’m not proud of this). Add all this into being a home worker and rarely going out in the week (my uniform is pretty much joggers these days) I don’t really feel the need to refresh my wardrobe as much as when I worked in an office. I also follow some sustainability bloggers who point out scary things about overconsumption (e.g. yesterday I found out that lots of sequins never biodegrade and yet people will buy new sequinned outfits for Christmas each year) so I’m just more mindful about clothing as it feels more selfish to overconsume it.
I also think it’s because I don’t want to attempt to find my shade on an inevitably useless shade finder. I don’t necessarily have a spare £50 to waste on make up that isn’t right for me. So I have to go in and buy expensive make up because I can’t return it if it’s wrong.
+1 to the Vinted theory: I can afford nicer brands on there and I feel better about not contributing to landfill. Plus I know my sizes and what shapes fit (mid-size 14 - 16 here). Also so many current fashions are either scruffy (ripped jeans) or clingy (bodycon anything) - I’ll spend my dosh buying out of style floaty dresses on Vinted, thank you! However, the money I’m saving on clothes I’m spending in SpaceNK 🤷♀️
As someone who has worked for both fashion and beauty brands at head office level, the one key factor I see in beauty is what the son of Estée Lauder (Leonard) called “The Lipstick Effect” which occurs in times of financial crisis, women feel comfortable buying a small beauty product to keep themselves happy, especially when buying new clothes can seem costly.
However not all fashion retailers are suffering - at the high end both Prada and Hermes are booming financially (yes, I know the prices are horrific!) and at the other end of the scale Zara, Mango and Primark have announced very good excellent financial results (yes I know it’s fast fashion!) in fact Mango has announced retail expansion. And let’s not forget the almighty Shein :-(
And Marks & Spencer’s fashion offering is FINALLY booming. Next has always been doing so well financially also - such a well run business, highly profitable - but not one that the fashion community gets excited about unfortunately - that’s why they can buy brands in distress like Joules.
Recommerce for clothes - shopping 2nd hand via eBay, Vestiare and Vinted - and rental via Hurr and ByRotation is also booming.
So would not suggest that we Brits are not buying fashion - we are, but just not in the way we did previously
I think the rise of Vinted and other sources of pre-loved clothing is a factor in people buying less stuff new. It seems like a positive thing to me: if second -hand does the job, why not conserve resources (yours and the planet's)? I'd like to do the "buy less, buy better" thing although I'm not always convinced that quality comes with increased spending (so glad it's not just me that's seen a decline in quality on the high street- I thought I was turning into someone who keeps bleating on about how things aren't as good as they were). Ultimately, if fashion retailers want to survive, I think they need to stop the race to the bottom that is fast fashion (at this stage I think a retailer that could guarantee long-lasting quality basics could be coining it in).
Agreed. To be honest I don’t really care about fashion. As long as I’m dressed appropriately and comfy I couldn’t give a monkeys. Plus clothes last longer resulting in less frequent need of repurchase. Skin care I see as more of an investment in ME and as I use many products regularly I have to replenish when they run out. I’ve just been to Canada and spent between £500-600 in Sephora but I won’t have to buy make up now for ages as I don’t wear all that much so it’ll last me years (yes I know things technically expire but idc about that haha).
There’s also online places like SHEIN & Temu that you can get more for your money so maybe people are shopping places like that rather than the high street. As you mentioned, I couldn’t really tell you the last time I bought anything that wasn’t M&S or Primark.
I loved this so much and am so excited to read the comments! I barely buy anything new now because I find much nicer and less expensive things on Vinted. Quality of clothes today just feels terrible compared to what it used to be. I'm currently buying lots of old Topshop pieces on Vinted, usually no more than a fiver a time, and the quality is unmatched. Also, things are weird fits today. I honestly can't understand why everything is cropped. I just want some well fitted clothes but it feels like too much to ask when I pop into the high street. I would never go to the shops to buy anyway because you're lucky if they are hanging anything above a 10 on the rack in a majority of shops. Bring on the beauty hall any day of the week, it's far more fun and easy to enjoy.
Second the old topshop on vinted!!! Fits well and such better quality compared to what you can buy on the highstreet currently!
I buy almost all my clothes on Vinted, and also clothes for my baby. It’s so much better for the environment and I can get better quality clothes for less money! I don’t buy much beauty personally but when I go I like to go to a shop and choose, and obviously second hand beauty products isn’t really an option!
Clothes shopping has always been tricky, I’m a couple of sizes bigger on top than bottom so that rules out lots of lovely dresses and limits lots of styles. It gets pretty disheartening returning item after item so I rarely bother now. Make up on the other hand brings me great joy, yes I have to much but it’s what I love and makes me feel good!
There has been a real shift in my whole friendship group around how we buy clothes. Previously we would often go on coffee dates followed by some shopping together but now we're favouring coffee and a walk and the "look at my new haul" pictures have seized in the group chat. We have all built good quality capsule wardrobes with far less of a focus on seasonal fashion. If we need something for a particular event we are sharing items and I can't remember the last "brand new" item I bought everything I have added to my wardrobe has been from vinted. Me and one friend actually went halves on a pair of heels (tried on in store then bought for cheaper on vinted) that we share - doesn't work for something you'd wear all the time but these are a classic heel that we each wear to different weddings.
The quality of items and shopping experience of beauty feels like it has increased whilst it just feels on a rapid decline for a lot more £££ for fashion. Why would I spend £50 for a poor quality item brand new when I can buy something of higher quality at a cheaper price on vinted?
I think there’s far more joy to be found in makeup and particularly the process of doing your make up. Taking that time for myself ahead of a social event that been in the diary for weeks, is ultimate self care. Getting to use the luxury skincare and feel wonderful for doing so and choosing which lipstick to wear, feels self indulgent in a lovely way. Knowing you’ll care for those products but actually use them, rather than umming and ahhing about the outfit. Investing in make up and skincare feels like a worthier purchase than fashion because the process of buying and applying is just as feelgood as the wearing!
I totally agree with your article. I love beauty & I like clothes but like is not enough. Since Covid I think fashion has changed, people are more homely, casual is way more acceptable & frankly I get way more of a buz from getting that lip oil than far too much on a pretty non exciting clothing item. Defo I want to buy better and less clothes wise & it will never beat beauty!! The only area not on the decline clothes wise is sports wear!
Ive never really enjoyed buying clothes or clothes shopping - maybe because Ive never really lived my body (although now in a place of body neutrality) but I love skincare/makeup
Ive had a skincare routine since I was about 14 due to bad acne (the same reason I got into makeup) and I love buying new things
All my clothes now pretty much come from Fat Face and a dress costs around £70 so I feel like I can get more makeup for £70 as opposed to one dress
But I am trying to reduce the amount of beauty products I buy