The Great American Apparel Diet
no buying for one year

Jean Lenihan

Jean Lenihan, Seattle WA, 47, a freelance writer, editor, and writing teacher, is the token schlub in the group. (also shlub \shlb\ Unkempt in appearance, either due to a lack of effort or lack of awareness. The opposite of metrosexual. -- Urban Dictionary). Growing up in a rough area in NYC in the '70s, Jean learned to dress down in order to avoid notice, and has never really bounced back from that. Still, she feels like clothes shopping (even for blah basics!) occurs in a realm somewhere beyond her control -- a kind of visio-emotional maelstrom of lust, anticipation, and carelessness. She regrets half the stuff she buys and will dutifully wear an ill-fitting item so as to justify her stupid act of purchase . Mostly, her trembly -- but very excited -- commitment to this harsh diet is about having two daughters under her influence now, daughters who watch her kvell for new items and then bitch and moan in technicolor when they don't work, daughters whose own moods and body issues she tries to ameliorate with clothing purchases. Enough is enough.