Friday
The Thursday newspaper is my favorite. There is a fashion section and a home decor section and I just cannot wait to dig into it on the train. I even, sometimes, leave the puzzles for the trip home as I am too excited.
This week I read this:
which was a story I was somewhat familiar with. The idea behind the clothing diet, the ultimate goal, is to increase awareness of rampant consumerism while forcing us to take a look at our spending habits and wardrobes at the same time. A bunch of people in the internet world spent time not buying clothing (that they did not need) and made themselves wear six or ten or fifteen items of clothing only during a specified period of time. People documented this experiment, people took no-spending oaths, it was interesting to watch/read about.
And I am no different than most people...mostly.
Because I didn't used to have my own income and with K being a freelance guy for most of our lives (I do need to write a post about freelance employment vs. full-time staff employment) I have never really been free and easy with the idea of shopping. It has always been a rare occurrence wherein I felt comfortable shopping for no specific reason - though I will admit that I had a great time buying my go-to-work clothes and I do sometimes whine for something new, I don't usually purchase anything.
Am I veering off?
Okay, so, I read the article and thought: I am the perfect candidate for this experiment! I have not bought anything just for the sake of buying something for a long time (with my own money and not gift money). And I could, conceivably, choose ten items from my closet and wear only them for a month (accessories were not subject to the rules). It must be freeing, on some level, to know what you ARE going to wear every day, no?
A skirt, a top, a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, a dress, a cardi - layered, accessorized, belted! I could do it.
There's nothing I NEED right now (though my belt looks pretty shoddy).
I will be monk-like I think!
I will be so streamlined!
I save money!
I could clean out my closet, get rid of some things I never wear!
I walked to work with this plan.
I was invigorated.
I sat down and opened my email.
Hey! What's this? Oof! Just look at that sweater! It's glorious!
Indeed!
The top underneath it is not my style...
Hmmm...no wool shorts...
OH! BUT THE BAG! I so want the bag! My black tote is falling apart - and $65 is not a terrible amount of money...(she says looking down at the black tote and spying the newspaper article inside her bag).
SLAPS FOREHEAD.
It seems I have some work ahead of me after all.
This week I read this:
which was a story I was somewhat familiar with. The idea behind the clothing diet, the ultimate goal, is to increase awareness of rampant consumerism while forcing us to take a look at our spending habits and wardrobes at the same time. A bunch of people in the internet world spent time not buying clothing (that they did not need) and made themselves wear six or ten or fifteen items of clothing only during a specified period of time. People documented this experiment, people took no-spending oaths, it was interesting to watch/read about.
And I am no different than most people...mostly.
Because I didn't used to have my own income and with K being a freelance guy for most of our lives (I do need to write a post about freelance employment vs. full-time staff employment) I have never really been free and easy with the idea of shopping. It has always been a rare occurrence wherein I felt comfortable shopping for no specific reason - though I will admit that I had a great time buying my go-to-work clothes and I do sometimes whine for something new, I don't usually purchase anything.
Am I veering off?
Okay, so, I read the article and thought: I am the perfect candidate for this experiment! I have not bought anything just for the sake of buying something for a long time (with my own money and not gift money). And I could, conceivably, choose ten items from my closet and wear only them for a month (accessories were not subject to the rules). It must be freeing, on some level, to know what you ARE going to wear every day, no?
A skirt, a top, a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, a dress, a cardi - layered, accessorized, belted! I could do it.
There's nothing I NEED right now (though my belt looks pretty shoddy).
I will be monk-like I think!
I will be so streamlined!
I save money!
I could clean out my closet, get rid of some things I never wear!
I walked to work with this plan.
I was invigorated.
I sat down and opened my email.
Hey! What's this? Oof! Just look at that sweater! It's glorious!
Indeed!
The top underneath it is not my style...
Hmmm...no wool shorts...
OH! BUT THE BAG! I so want the bag! My black tote is falling apart - and $65 is not a terrible amount of money...(she says looking down at the black tote and spying the newspaper article inside her bag).
SLAPS FOREHEAD.
It seems I have some work ahead of me after all.
Comments
I like the bag too!
My dream one day is to go to a real store and buy brand new clothes and not even think about the price tags. It looks like that may be a ways off into my future, though!
A) get the bag if you need it. You should not wear cheap shoes or carry a cheap/worn-out bag.
B) Aside from buying a new bag, which you can totally afford at $65.00, you should totally try the experiment.
C) This summer, as part of my job, I have to wear a uniform. At first I was quite resistant to the idea (it's new this summer), for many reasons, but then I embraced it as freeing. I am really enjoying not having to think about what to wear. And I enjoy clothes and putting together outfits. But this is working for me right now. (And it's temporary, so that's an upside to the situation; I'm looking forward to fall and wearing my own stuff.)
D) I'm in love with that cardigan with the asymetrical zipper too.
jbhat
mom2
No thanks.
I do agree,however, with the philosophy of buying the most expensive value of what you need and then wearing that s a classic. If anything, I'm guilty of buying something just because it is on sale.