Stopping saving things for best

harrigran
What a shame. All that money down the drain if the jewellery, china and silk clothes in zipped clothes carriers are not going to get an airing.

Maybe going to Waitrose or, better still, Harrods or F&M for your weekly shop would enable you to wear a special outfit that would not be out of place.

I can see the point of not wearing the real deal jewellery as there is always the chance of scooter robbers ripping it from you (if you live in a salubrious enclave) however, faux pearls and diamonds are so near to the real thing looks-wise (and cheaper) that only a very close inspection would detect the difference.

I doubt whether anyone (except an expert) could guess just by glancing.

I'm thankful that I don't have the expense of buying a safe, having it cemented into the floor, photographing and insuring the contents then thinking I can't be bothered opening said safe to choose 'jewels of the day'.
Liz Taylor did that and her real stuff never had an outing as she had fakes made of every item. ??
I could never understand the reasoning.

Your ice-blue silk suit sounds wonderful.
Perhaps you could strongly hint that a loved one take you somewhere special.
I can recommend Clos Maggiore, the Corinthia Hotel and Mandarin Oriental - all worthy of the effort to dress up.
Even I have been persuaded.

Interesting post. We don't have anything for best, I always use a bone china mug as I like drinking from it. I wear Channel 5 almost daily as I just love the smell. But as for clothes I just have what I wear.

As for buying stuff that is on trend, it will go out off trend at some point so what happens then Just give it away or what. I can't see the point.

I have some stuff in the loft which my son has asked me to keep so I will, it is full of memories and they are the most important.

I have quite a lot of expensive jewellery which I make a point of wearing whenever I go out. Not necessarily anywhere special - lunch with friends, bus rides and lunch out with OH or even when taking Mum for coffee & cake at the garden centre!
On the days when i'm not going anywhere, I always wear my diamond stud earrings, necklace & good perfume - even if I'm just doing the gardening. LOL
I absolutely love jewellery, what's the point in having it locked away in a box?

I am guilty of saving clothes for best though. Can't do the gardening in fine silk blouses and white trousers!

I'm trying to train myself to buy better quality 'classic' items and mix & match to wear them more often but i'm finding it difficult to change the habits of a lifetime.

Thankfully I am not a hoarder and clear out unused items regularly. I hate clutter.

I like the idea of putting clothes to one side after washing, I'm going to try that.

I don't think charity shops take earrings (health & safety) and I also saved 50% of my clothes 'for best' even though 'best' hardly ever came along, My wake-up call was when the shower in the flat above me leaked through my ceiling down on to my wardrobe and all my clothes were damp at best or soaked. I had been jealously guarding some things still with labels on that needed to be washed before I could even think about putting them back so I've now resolved to wear my 'best' every day and enjoy it!

b1zzle
Go for it and enjoy.
The only downside (I found) is that people ask where I'm going to or coming from if I am wearing a smart skirt or dress.

I remember, decades ago, meeting my children from school wearing a plain scarlet dress under an open navy blue cashmere coat and navy leather court shoes.

They didn't recognise me and walked right past me in the corridor.
The youngest started crying when I picked her up and said she wanted her mummy back.
That made me incredibly sad ?

In those days I almost always wore trousers/jeans and almost never coats...only jackets.

I have some love 1950s glasses I remember drinking snowballs from as a young teenager, they are shut away in glass cupboard to look but don’t touch , how ridiculous I’m going to get them out now to enjoy, thanks.

One of my mother’s sisters was quite well off with lots of lovely jewellery which she wore regularly. She had nice hands and wore rings on every finger always. The family thought that was “very common”!

I run a small independent charity shop in Spain. We are very fortunate to receive many splendid donations. Sadly many of these are when someone has died and their family come over to clear their home. Beautiful clothes that have hardly been worn. Shoes still in boxes/handbags waiting for 'that special occasion '. The same with china and crystal glasses. These are items that the family have no use for or are too expensive to ship back to the U.K.
I know my family will have no use for the vast majority of my belongings my jewellery has already been promised to individuals. I now dress to impress as much as the heat will allow with statement necklaces, earrings and perfume.
I have seen too many kept for best items bundled into bin bags.

Charity shops local to me do not accept earrings.

I always wear old clothes in doors. I put on better things for going out and change when I get home, so I can wear it again another day. I'm gradually taking the posher stuff to charity shops, I shall never wear them again.

I work in a local charity shop and we get amazing donations especially glass and china. Royal Doulton, Wedgewood etc and we can only ask peanuts for it. Clothes still with tags, unworn shoes. We can tell much of it is from houses cleared after a bereavement . Just get your stuff worn and enjoyed .

If you haven't a spare room to store the worn washed clothes. Put them back in the wardrobe with the hanger hook turned a different way.Hope that makes sense.

I have my mum's full dinner set including 2 casserole dishes with lids, soup dishes, coffee pot, tea pot etc which must be about 50 years old - it takes up my entire wall unit centre display. The last time I had any of it out would have been Christmas 3 years ago although I did wash it all earlier this year when I painted the cabinet. I would use it but it's such a pain getting it out or putting it back. Similarly the full dinner service of my own which my parents bought me for our 25th (nearly 25 years ago). There is a cupboard full of crystal glasses which were also my mum's. There are only two of us - we don't entertain and don't drink (I have everyday glasses in the kitchen if we need one). I guess at some point we will need to get rid of all of this as I know my family won't want it (can't export it all to NZ ). Seems such a shame - it's a pity a small guest house couldn't use all these sets of unused crockery but then you can't put most of them in a dishwasher.

I gave all of my jewellery to my daughter on her 21st birthday as I haven't worn it for years. Just kept my wedding ring.

I must start using some of the posh glasses and China that usually only come out when we have visitors. Now I've read these posts I ask myself what am I saving them for?
I have lots of jewellery, cheap and good stuff, and a day never goes by without me wearing whatever matches my clothes. Even when walking the dog I like to accessorize with matching colours. It makes me feel good.

I spend a fortune on items such as clothes which I wear once or twice, yet I will virtually live in something that costs less than £10. I’m sure it should be the other way round.

I have a gap in my makeup somewhere...never wear jewellery or perfume though I love it on other people. And clothes are just to keep me decent.

As a child we kept new clothes for holidays in August, so wore only older clothes for most of the summer.

As a jewellery maker, I wear my pieces daily - pearls & semi precious stones - and encourage others to do likewise.

I have made some pieces for special occasions, but they don't stay in the drawer for long!

Indulge I say!

I get dressed on the days I’m not working but I often get asked if I am going somewhere special. Bothered me at first but I don’t care now. They would only hang in the wardrobe and I worry that I will run out of time ????

Hmm...Channel 5? Is that Le Manche or the channel after channels 1 2 3 and 4...???

Le
La Manche

blue60
I believe that pearls should, ideally, be worn every day as your skin helps keep their lustre.

A lot of good advice. At the moment sorting out rough gardening and cleaning clothes - too many. Also now only buy good gold on silver costume jewellery as would not be too upset if lost. Sold some old gold jewellery a while back and made £500. Lost a gold chain bracelet recently so now wish I had sold it. Try to remember to wear “ nice” clothes more.

mawB I think I have always had a fear of appearing “overdressed”
My DDs like to say that I am ‘never knowingly underdressed’. I’m not quite sure what they mean
My motto, from Up the Junction, is ‘It’s no use waiting till yer an old bag’
But it is an effort to shake off the habits ingrained in one’s youth.

Speaking of "best china", I have a beautiful Royal Doulton dinner service, which is still in its wooden crate, all safely packed with straw etc. It was a wedding present - and we've been married 35 years! I've no idea what to do with it...could I sell it, and if so, where? It'll never get used...