Spendthrift Brits will splash out £2.7 billion on outfits this summer on items they will only wear once.

A recent survey by Barnardo’s revealed that consumers will buy ten million wedding outfits at a combined cost of £800m along with holiday clothes worth £700m.

They will also buy millions of items for events such as barbecues, festivals and balls.

One in four people polled said they felt too embarrassed to wear an outfit to a special
occasion more than once – and half of us see buying new clothes for an occasion as an essential part of the build-up.

But instead of splurging on new clothes, why not invest in high quality, long-lasting items you’ll love for longer or have a rummage through garments that have been pushed to the dark depths of your wardrobe?

Making an eco-friendly choice to alter your old clothes or invest in new ones which are likely to stand the test of time will dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. So why do we keep clothes we never wear?

Perhaps the sleeves and hemlines are too long or the waist too tight. Maybe we hope to lose a few pounds so we can squeeze into them again.

One answer is to take them to your nearest Zip Yard store where our skilled seamstresses will make sure they fit perfectly and return to their pride of place at the front of your wardrobe.

Another way to vamp up your summer wardrobe is to hunt for a bargain at a local charity shop.

Finding pre-owned clothes that are distinct and quirky can be a real joy, not just because you’ll wear something no one else will have (you won’t turn up to a party in fear of someone else wearing the same dress as you) but you can help save the planet too. What’s not to like about that?

The appeal of a story behind your clothes often makes the item more valuable and special.

Try charity shops, thrift stores, vintage shops and second-hand markets.

Popping along to The Zip Yard to amend an old item you already love or bringing along your thrift shop treasure beats trawling the High Street shops for countless new items – and saves money too.