Have you ever returned clothes you've worn?
Christmas is looming and we're already starting to feel the pinch, and so it would seem, are millions of women.
One in six British women – 4.6 million nationwide - have tricked a store by ‘wardrobing’; the routine of purchasing an item, wearing it with the tag in, and then returning it to the store for a refund according to new research by Vouchercodes.co.uk.
The research reveals that ‘wardrobing’ has become a regular habit for one in eight women, who admit they’d rather rip stores off in order to save money in the long run. One in seven wannabe fashionistas explain they buy and return clothes so they have the chance to wear the latest trends just once, and the same number claim when they want to impress they don’t think twice about the price of an outfit, knowing they can get a refund.
Weddings are cited as the main reason two in five women would consider ‘wardrobing’, with job interviews coming second on the list of occasions people would buy and wear an outfit they intend to return. A more frivolous 23 per cent would consider ‘wardrobing’ for a fancy dress outfit.
The process is not for the risk-adverse with snags and spillages holding the potential to spoil a well laid refund plan. However, the most experienced ‘Wardrobers’ have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to avoid awkward questions at the till. Almost one in ten seek out clothes that have a safety pin tag – which means the label can be removed and replaced, while one in twenty spray the item with air freshener before returning it.
Those people who make their living in entertainment are the most prolific ‘Wardrobers’ with over a third admitting to it. On the other hand, teachers are the most honest in their shopping habits with only 10 per cent of those surveyed having returned a worn item.
Anita Naik, consumer editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk, commented: “Our research reveals that over a quarter of women who admit to ‘wardrobing’ feel guilty about it, but the pressure to look good on special occasions makes it feel like the only option for some to look good on a budget. This really needn’t be the case. If you plan ahead you can take advantage of sales, discounts and deals if you want to buy something new, or buy less expensive items such as accessories to refresh an existing outfit. Even better why not borrow clothes from friends in different social circles for the events you’re attending. As long as you’re willing to repay the favour, you will all benefit from getting the most cost-per-wear out of your special outfits.”
Tagged in fashion