Be alert for fashion disasters

Dec 30 2010 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BEWARE of the January sales.

More than a third of women say they buy clothes that end up unworn and hanging at the back of their wardrobes – and half of those have made their dud purchase at the sales.

A survey of 7,500 UK women by a leading media company found that 39% of the respondents had something with the label still attached, tucked away out of sight and out of mind.

Not trying an item on at the point of purchase was blamed by most (34%) as the reason for dissatisfaction, followed by sale temptations (17%) and not having an occasion to wear what they bought (14%). A small number, 6%, said they were just in a mood to buy something when they made a fashion error.

One third of the women said they donated unworn items to charity shops and 9% turned to eBay to recoup their losses.

On average the women spend £69 a month on clothes, half in store and half online.

The survey was conducted by IPC Media’s online panel of women drawn from across the country.