Peachy Challenge: The Frugally Fabulous Year!

Well, we are nearly into the middle of October and my 30-day spending ban has officially come to an end!  I did pretty well, really well actually, I managed to save a little towards my 'Wellies' fund - an I am no longer lusting over Hunters (but that's another post, for another time).

The spending ban really got me thinking recently about our spending habits in the UK and I don't make it any secret that I'm a little anti-mass consumerism, when it comes to shopping.  So I got to thinking (in a very Carrie Bradshaw manner), could I do a whole year without buying clothes from mass global conglomerates??  Here's why I think I should, let alone could....

1. Lifestyle Change - Having undergone a HUGE lifestyle change since having Daisy, FRUGAL really is FABULOUS in our world at the moment - a combined love of vintage and moving ahead in these economic times, means we love creating a beautiful but simple life over here at Peachy Towers.  No, babies don't cost the earth but, in November, I officially become an at-home Mum, Freelancing Wordsmith and a seller of quirky crafty wares - what better time than now to relish in the art of being frugally fabulous?
2. Personal tastes - Last month I wrote a little post about Ditching the Jeans and finding my own personal style again.  I totally coin my unique look as 'The Modern Gothic Librarian' and I take great inspiration from people women such as Dita Von Teese in my style.  I am heavily influenced by the 1930s and 1940s, which can invariably mean I find it hard to find anything that I like or I feel comfortable in, in high street stores (a common problem faced by us on the cusp of the thirties I feel).  Neither do I want to look like every other person walking down the street.  I've often relied on wondrous charity shop caverns and eBay to shape my image - so why not make more of a statement about it?
3. Ethics vs Purse Strings - It really bothers me that most people pay little or no attention to where their clothes are made or who by.  We are incredibly lucky, in the UK, to be reasonably sheltered from some of the hideous truths about how our clothes are made.  But that doesn't mean these problems don't exist - Primark may well be winning awards left, right and centre for bringing affordable fashion to the masses; but it doesn't change the fact that they use sweatshops and, if you remember the coincidentally under-reported fire in a Bangladesh factory this year, their staff are poorly treated (figures suggest that a Bangladeshi employee for Primark makes less than half a living wage each month).  I think it is important, as a consumer, to be able to make informed choices about how we shop and where our clothes come from. 
4. Make, Do and Mend - As a huge fan of all things craft, I am really keen to learn how to dress-make.  I think it would be amazing to become self-sufficient in creating my own wardrobe, so the Frugally Fabulous Year challenge would be a great way of developing my sewing skills and learning to create some truly unique clothes!  Customising and upcycling are also such great ways of breathing new life into things, without having to spend hundreds!  For a while, I have been really keen to explore how to create a more sustainable way of life and blog about it - I can't wait to start putting more of it into practice.
5. Wardrobe vs Wants - As an ex-employee of the fashion retail world, I do have some fantastic dresses in my closet that I am slowly starting to fit back into!  It is a truth universally acknowledged, that most women only wear 10% of their wardrobe.  So when it comes to finding that special outfit - can I root something out that I've worn in a while?  Can I upcycle a beloved old garment or find a new way to wear it?  Wardrobe vs Wants challenge accepted!  

So here it is....my challenge, The Frugally Fabulous Year.  And here are the rules
1. In the Frugally Fabulous Year, I am aiming not to purchase any new clothes for myself from the high street.  This is strictly for MYSELF, clothes for Daisy do not count, neither do gifts!
2. Tights and underwear are not included - but will still buy from more 'responsibly sourced' outlets.
3. Throughout the Frugally Fabulous year - posts will include Wardrobes vs Wants and Looks for Less updates.  I want to show how great you can look on a very frugal budget.
4. At the end I will tot up a total annual saving from not purchasing from high street stores, not to mention what I will do with the saved cash! Kerching!

I'm surprisingly quite excited about this challenge and would love to hear your feedback about it!  Better still - if you are feeling frugal why not join me for a month or two and see how you go?  Interested?  Comment below with your email address and I'll get in touch!

Here's to being Frugally Fabulous
E x