I don't have a hubby to "hide" from, but if my children catch me fondling a fabric unfamiliar to them, I do get an accusatory "Is that new?"
So I have resorted to my best friend's methodology when it comes to shoes. She buys them (she has a shoe problem) but leaves the box at the store so there's no evidence in the garbage when she gets home. Then she puts them on her shelf for about a week before she brings them out again or wears them. So, when her hubby asks "Are those new?" she can honestly answer, "No, they've been on my shelf for a while." I now do the same with my purchases. I put the new stuff in the bin right away so when they catch me going through it a week or so later, I can honestly answer, "Nope, just got it out of the bin."