Last New Years' Eve, I had a grand idea: what if I refrained from clothes shopping for an entire year?
My dad would roll his eyes at that; he goes shopping once a decade, but I have no such control. Let me give you an example internal dialogue from a typical shopping trip:
Okay, I need to get toilet paper, but first I'll just mosey on over to the -ooh, look at that adorable blouse. It's not the best color in the world, but it's on sale, and if I don't buy it, what if I missed a great price? Okay I'll try it on. Well, it looks okay on me, I'm not sure bright orange is my color, but it's kind of mod and that's in right now, right? It's eight dollars, I may as well get it.
It's kind of a nervous, insecure impulse buy right? This is how my closet became full of clothes I didn't really need or even want. I wanted to value what I already owned and learn invest in quality (and hopefully fair-trade) items when I really needed them. So...
The Challenge
I decided to try living on what I had. My husband and I share two small closets and one bureau, so I knew that might be tough, but it felt right. I set some simple ground rules: (1) no buying new clothes, not even secondhand, (2) no buying accessories or jewelry, new or secondhand, and (3) emergencies buys were okay, but emergencies must actually be emergencies. For example, wanting a new dress for an upcoming wedding= not an emergency. Winter coat being shredded by a direwolf= emergency. (4) Gifts were okay. I mean, what else do you do with gifts?
Here's what the internal dialogue has looked like so far, along with clothing that was gifted, emergency buys, and my one sad slipup:
January:
Oooooh, look at that skirt! Oh. Right.
Wonder what my friends will think of this resolution. Am I really doing this?
February:
Looks like I'm really doing this. Maybe I'll just look at clothes online and keep them in mind for future reference.
March:
Man, stores are kind of boring when you can't shop.
*Given a dress and a tee for my bday. Broke down and bought a blouse for my bday. Sadface.
April:
Sweet... forgot about that outfit. Now I'm going to wear it to eight different interviews and put it to use!
May:
Oh crap I'm gaining weight. Must not gain weight must fit into current clothes must not gain weight!
Clothing swaps are a thing?! Why have I been paying actual money for clothes this whole time?
*Traded dresses, blouses, purses, and accessories for two dresses and a tee.
June:
Man, I am never buying clothes again.
(insert bra underwire beginning to poke me)
Except bras.
*Bought four bras, was given several tees when my band played at festivals.
Takeaways so far:
-I don't miss shopping, and even with my tiny closets, I feel like I'm finding clothing that I'd forgotten about. By month three or four, I rarely thought about it.
-I feel much less pressure to buy, and setting limits has given me a chance to step back instead of allowing myself to always be accosted by ads (and my own desires).
-I've spent some time putting the money I would have thoughtlessly spent on clothes into healthier investments, like organic produce, paraben-free toiletries, or nice bras for the tatas.
-Clothing swaps are pretty sweet.
-Gaining weight is not.
