People are in foreclosure and designer labels are a priority? Soccer moms need to buy jeans they won't be caught dead in next year because "this season" demands a color we abandoned circa 1985?!Look, beauty is a deep value of mine. I love self-expression, and I think clothing is one of the ways we differentiate ourselves to others. But this endless cycle of disposable clothing designed to last "this season" and be out the next, it is absolutely ridiculous. And as much as I adore Project Runway, I'm sorry sweetie but fashion, at least as part of consumer wheel of fortune, is not going to change the world.
The madness must stop. So for this year, no new clothes. I have a good coat and boots, couple nearly-new black long sleeve t-shirts, jeans in two sizes (you know how it is), and enough socks and undies to last me the duration. I'm a little worried that my two-year-old sweater from Old Navy may not make it through the winter. But for the most part, I think I'm set. I just want to see what it's like, to not be beholden to the trends of the "season," to get off the hamster wheel and just make-do.
Long-term LITTOF readers know that when we were in foreclosure and Bob suggested we sell all of our possessions, I was not immediately on board. I was afraid to let go of so much. The house AND everything in it? Yikes. However, once I came around to Bob's thinking, it didn't take long for me to get excited. For the curiosity about what this would stir inside of me. Letting go of everything, I suspected, would change me for the better. Rachelle has the same curiosities about her no-clothes challenge. She writes:
Will I become more determined to stick to my other goals as well? Will my core sense of self become stronger if I have to show up to some event in the "wrong" clothes? Will my creativity blossom as boredom sets in?
Doesn't that make you curious, too? Getting interested? A part of you wants to join her. Am I right? Well, here are her rules:
Wanna play along? Stock up on undies and let's do it! Here's the deal,
1. Stop buying on Buy Nothing Day (November 27th).
2. Buy no clothes for one year.
3. Make up your own rules about if you can buy fabric, yarn, etc for re-purposing the things you have.
4. Make a symbolic donation to the Apparent Project to clothe some of the children living with Shelley and Corrigan in Haiti. (Chip In below -- or pick a charity of your choice!)
5. Get ready to celebrate together on Thanksgiving 2010 with a gridblog about the experienceWhat say you? Anyone in?
I think what she is setting out to create for herself in this project is really inspiring. Though I kind of feel like last year was a challenge of this sort, I am actually considering joining her. I think that if I joined her it would solidify my less-is-more mentality. Last year I spent less than ever in my life on clothes. It served as a sort of de-programming. Yes, I believe we're brainwashed to buy new things and new clothes and it's actually really difficult to free yourself from this "looking-good" paradigm.
I got rid of our magazines and stopped reading them as I wrote here. That helped. More importantly, though, I changed the way I thought about things. I guess I kind of played a mind-game by telling myself there is nothing I want other than what I already have. And it worked. I actually stopped constantly wanting new stuff. And I shattered the notion that I needed new clothes to feel pretty. That's freakin' liberating.
But, I confess. I'm feeling the pull now. Maybe it's the seasons changing. I long for a new cozy sweater. A sensible and fashionable pair of boots that look good with jeans and skirts. My eye has begun wandering back over to the fashion magazines in the checkout line. I've had the thought, "I wonder what's in fashion this season." And I don't like it. Maybe this crazy challenge is just what I need. Hmmmmm....
What about you? Think you could do it? No clothes for one year? I bet you could.
If you want to join Rachelle or simply read more about her no clothes for one year pledge, follow the link: Ask Magpie: A year without clothes.
And check out her follow-up post 8Things: A year without clothes.
You can follow Rachelle on Twitter.
Oh, and if you decide to join her in the challenge, please let us know!
By the way, have you ever done anything like this before?
4 Comments
Mel said:
No shopping for a year? Wow. I don't think that's plausible for me...
Diana Durkes said:
This is revealing. The summer of my 12th year, I wore the same thing every day--navy sweat shirt and pair of jeans. A friend revealed the same thing one night at dinner. His--jeans and an old suede jacket.
Brandon Frein said:
I think it's an absurd proposition. First of all, we do kind of need to stimulate the economy, don't you think? And not to be rude or unkind toward Rachelle, but sweaters from Old Navy aren't designed to last for 3 seasons. That's why they're cheap. She's gonna need to buy something new before the year's out. So, no, I could not and would not do it. You inspired me to blog about this over at Styled in Chicago :)
Stephanie Walker said:
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I have to say, I'm actually really surprised by the heated response to Magpie Girl's challenge. Especially the accusation that she is being judgmental towards others who have an interest in fashion and clothes. I didn't read it that way at all. To me she is presenting herself with a challenge inspired by others who have gone to further extremes such as wearing the same dress every day for a year. And her call to others to join her is not a boycott against the fashion industry, but a "power in numbers" sort of action. It's like sticking to an exercise plan. It's much easier to do that if you're part of a team or you have others up to the same challenge.
I guess I'm just a big believer in bold action - whatever the inspiration may be. Last year, with extremely limited funds at my disposal I had to find ways to be fashionable with only what I had in my closet... finding new ways to wear my clothes. To be presentable in a corporate environment without spending money. I did that by "shopping my closet" and trading my clothes at Crossroads.
It was an eye opening experience for me. And it did force me to be more creative as opposed to simply buying something off the pages of Lucky or off the rack at Banana. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think that spending no money on clothes means you are anti-fashion or have to walk around in a paper bag. I certainly didn't.
Oh- and Diana... I've been meaning to tell you. Remember that $5 vest I bought at the rummage sale on Sheridan? I wear it almost every day. I love it! I am a huge fan of rummage, garage and estate sales... as well as re-fashioning.
I think we're all trying to find our way in this new economy. What's great is that there's dialogue about how we're spending money. And what we're discovering about ourselves in relation to money.
Thanks again for joining the discussion!
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: