I’m a fashion editor and this is how much I spend on clothes every month
Talking about money can be awkward, but I’m a firm believer that being transparent about things like savings and spending is important. I often get asked how I can afford all those outfits I post on my Instagram, and told that I must be spending a fortune, so I thought I’d broach the subject of […]
The post I’m a fashion editor and this is how much I spend on clothes every month appeared first on Marie Claire.
Talking about money can be awkward, but I’m a firm believer that being transparent about things like savings and spending is important.
I often get asked how I can afford all those outfits I post on my Instagram, and told that I must be spending a fortune, so I thought I’d broach the subject of how much money exactly I spend on clothes.
Firstly, I’d like to point out that I’m in a very privileged position thanks to the job I’m in. I have great relationships with a lot of fashion brands, who sometimes send me clothes as a gift, or lend me some for events like weddings or big holidays.
For example, on my last trip to LA (below, dress borrowed from Kalita), about half the clothes I packed were borrowed rather than bought, although it looked like I’d spent a small fortune on a holiday wardrobe – the magic of Instagram.
Another perk of the job is discounts. Some brands offer influencers and editors discount cards they can use throughout the year, so I don’t always pay full price. If a brand or designer doesn’t do that, then I’ll usually wait until they do a flash sale or discount code – something instilled in me during my early career at MoneySavingExpert.com.
How much do I spend on clothes a month?
But back to the point: how much do I spend on clothes every month? It fluctuates, but it can be anywhere between £200 to £400. For example, today I spent £200 in the Net-A-Porter sale: I bought a Ganni dress (60% off) and a Cult Gaia bamboo tote (50% off).
I am a clothes horse, and can never resist a pretty buy, especially when half my job includes curating shopping edits for our readers. I will admit I don’t always invest in ‘sensible’ clothes, eg, a camel coat or jeans I’ll wear forever. I am partial to trends and would be on first name basis with the staff at Zara if I actually shopped in store (the online experience is second to none).
The months where I spend closer to £400 are those where I buy mid-range rather than high street, and I will usually consider carefully whether it’s something I need or not. Last month, Joseph had a flash sale and so I bought a timeless spaghetti strap summer dress.
I usually spend a little more at Christmas or my birthday as I’ll get vouchers or money as gifts, and my most expensive purchase was the black mini Celine trio handbag that I bought in Paris at the end of last year, which was around £750 once you do the conversion rate.
That is a huge amount, I’m aware of that, but the reasoning was that I’d wear it lots (cost per wear etc), and I did and will no doubt do again come next autumn, as I’m not a fan of wearing black accessories in summer.
A quick poll around the office tells me that I’m not the only one who spends on clothes, with the average being around £200. And in all fairness, whilst that is a lot, I never spend money I don’t have, and still make sure I save money every month.
As I’ve gotten older however, I’ve become more conscious of the impact of fast fashion, and do think twice about buying things I probably wouldn’t wear more than once. I also try and practice circular fashion by donating clothes I no longer wear to friends and family or charity shops, and I also do car boot sales twice a year.
Hopefully that’ll give you a bit more of an insight into someone else’s spending habits, and perhaps make you feel less guilty about that payday treat!
The post I’m a fashion editor and this is how much I spend on clothes every month appeared first on Marie Claire.