Making do and quite liking it

When we were away on our little break in Scotland, I had something on my mind: a wedding. No, we didn't run off to Gretna Green. We'd been invited to one held on the day after we returned and the stress of what to wear was getting to me. Yes, really. So during our afternoon in Edinburgh I took it upon myself to buy something new, glamorous and wonderful.

The whole process wasn't fun at all. I had an hour to myself and could almost hear the clock ticking in my ear as I darted about. First stop: Anthropologie. I'd read about this shop and had never actually been inside. It was heavenly: beautiful home accessories, jewellery, clothes, gorgeously scented candles... and all were eye-wateringly expensive. So I headed up and down Princes Street, rushing in and out of shops and seeing precisely nothing, all the while glancing at my watch and getting more and more down about the whole thing.

When I met up with Jay and Joe in the castle gardens I was in a thoroughly bad mood, tired and defeated. That didn't stop me dragging them around a few more shops before we set off back to the cottage though. Sharing the misery.

That evening, I had an epiphany. I realised that - wait for it - you don't have to buy something new for each social occasion you attend. Not even that frothy, gauzy dress (three figures) in the sweet little boutique that I'd spotted. Fact is I'd probably never wear it again. I didn't actually know anyone at the wedding anyway, it being the nuptials of an old schoolfriend of Jay's who now lives near Newcastle.

I also have some beautiful things hanging in my wardrobe, bought when I had more disposable income and fewer responsibilities. Expensive things. Things I keep 'for best' (and I started 2014 promising this wouldn't be something I did any more).

So instead of buying a new and impractical frock, I decided to wear a lovely beaded top to the wedding with cropped, cuffed trousers, dangly earrings and patent heels (all languishing in the wardrobe back at home and wondering when they'd see daylight again) and instead I picked up a few little souvenirs in Peebles. Things I'd wear again and again. Versatile things which would remind me of our holiday every time I wore them. Like the pink 'Make do and Mend' scarf with pictures of sewing machines and food stamps on it, bought from a haberdashery on the main street. And the long string of beads I spotted which look just like rowan berries (they are, in fact, real berries). 

These are things which I'll keep for ever and wear all the time with different outfits. And I spent far less on them than I would have done on a whole new get-up for one day out.

You see, despite our best intentions, sometimes the pressure to spend overrides all those sensible resolutions. I no longer buy fashion magazines. I dress how I like, often with one statement - a piece of jewellery, red lipstick - and that's all it takes. A bit of perfume. A scarf. Whatever. And the more unique, the better (probably why I'm keen on charity shopping or making things).

I felt great at the wedding and even picked up a compliment or two on my old blouse. It was a beautiful day with good food, music and company, a red double decker bus and lots of spring sunshine.

No more 'must buy something new' silliness for me...