The Great American Apparel Diet

no buying for one year

I’ve recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Ontario for a family visit with the boyfriend. Like I’ve said in an earlier post, I don’t have many shopping options here in my town and most of my clothing purchases happen online. So being in “civilization” kind of put me into shopping OVERDRIVE!!! Since I normally don’t have the luxury of being able to pack up and leave town whenever I want, being in any city with endless shopping possibilities is pretty exciting! Even the most minuscule mall can give me a rush!!

One of the reasons I chose TGAAD as my new years resolution was to ease myself into it without feeling too overwhelmed. Also, I figured since we had already planned this trip way far in advance, that I didn’t want to limit myself while on the second trip out of town this year…like I said, I don’t get out much.

So..First things first: Budget, Budget, Budget! I budgeted for the entire trip. I saved up a couple months in advance, made a list of things that I really wanted to buy annnd… I didn’t bring my credit card [that part was pretty easy since it's been sitting pretty in a block of ice in my freezer for the last year and a half].

So as soon as we got into the city[Day 2 of a 15 hour drive and at this point we had been up since 4:30 in the morning], we went straight for the mall. THE WEST EDMONTON MALL!! Oh the convenience! Oh the stores! Oh the humanity!!! Anthropologie! Victorias Secret! H&M! Lululemon!! Ahh there are too many to name! ShoesShoesShoesssssss!!! The one stop shop!

It was great and I loved it, and somehow I managed to buy more accessories [scarves, hats, jewelry, sunglasses..etc] and gifts than actual clothes. In the 17 days we were gone I came home with 2 sweaters; 1 cardigan – $12.99 at Old Navy; 1 long sleeved active shirt (perfect for under my hockey equipment) and a pair of AE jeans $49.50….Huh, go figure. One of the best purchases would have to have been the most darling of egg holders from anthropologie in this fab blue colour..it was something like $16 and I LOVE IT!

TenDays until the real challenge begins. EXCITED MUCH!?!?! xoxo

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backyard flowers

So what is the perfect Spring pick me up for me on this diet? I’d have to say it is getting outside and enjoying the beautiful flowers that are blooming in my yard! The color schemes that nature puts together inspire me to try new clothing combinations from my own closet and drawers. I think sometimes we get “stuck” in wearing only certain “outfits”. But where’s the fashion in that? I say let’s try something new and take some risks! Therefore in celebration of my flower garden I plan on wearing something floral throughout the month of May! It may only be a flower pin or earrings but I also have plenty of floral prints in my closet and scarves to dress the plain ones up! Anyone want to join me?

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I’ve always been a bit of a minimalist. I never really took the time to coordinate accessories and I would rarely wear jewelry. The one thing that this diet has really taught me is the power of a good accessory. I have one cream colored cardigan to wear and ordinarily I would have run out and purchased several new cardigans to fill the void so that I wouldn’t be forced to wear the same vanilla sweater over and over again this Spring. That, however, would be a diet no-no. So…I purchased some really adorable accessories. I purchased several cute pins hand-made by Etsy Artisans to freshen up my wardrobe. A few even pull double duty as sweater pin or hair accessory depending on how I choose to wear it. I picked up a fun, casual pin, some bold and bright flowers, and a few more low-key, natural pins to give my sweater a little flair. I’ve also taken to wearing more of my jewelry that had been lazing about in my drawer, unloved and unappreciated. I’ve started wearing my hair in different ways so that I don’t feel as if I look like the same boring old me each day. In short, I haven’t added to my wardrobe by purchasing new clothes, but I have certainly introduced some new, fun and funky looks by working with a variety of accessories in different sizes, colors and textures…and it’s been fun.

Here are links to a few of the cute new pins that I’ve purchased and made myself that I’ve added to my collection of vintage, heirloom and gifted jewelry. I’ve included a few new headbands that I’ve purchsed as well because they really help me feel new and fresh.

Recycled Headband/Necklace

Recycled Necklace/Scarf

Petal Pin for Sweater/Hair

Owl Brooch

Lightweight Natural Pin

Colorful Hairbands

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Hey guys, I would like to introduce you to Lois, our newest member of TGAAD.  Lois stumbled upon our blog while at the clog party with her best friend Julie from Show Pony.  She thinks going on the diet is going to be easy for her.  I think the reasons for her confidence are self explanatory. 

Julie, on accident, left Lois at my house after the party.  Lois  held court on our kitchen counter for five days.  My son dressed her in a sponge bob hat and claimed that she was “super creepy.”  My husband begged me to send Lois home, he didn’t like her personality.  He said he thought she was too quiet and he felt judged when she stared at him.  I don’t know, I kind of liked having Lois around—another woman to talk to in a house full of boys.  Anyway, yesterday after a lot of pressure from my family I returned Lois to Julie at Showpony.  It was a sad goodbye.  We hugged in the car and promised to stay in touch via the blog.  We both cried. 

And that’s when things really got interesting. 

Upon entering Show Pony (the cutest little store in all of Seattle) Lois whispered, “Look at all the amazing new clothes Julie has.”  My instincts were to slap her…such a temptress.  But I  didn’t dare do that within eye or earshot of the sales girl behind the counter.  I had no idea Lois could be such a bitch (you never really know anyone do you?).  Anyway, I told the sales woman that I was returning Lois.  She was excited to have her back in the store,  (I suspect it gets lonely without Lois around to talk to when things get slow).  I handed Lois to her and she set her on the counter, put a hat on her head and scarf around her neck.  Lois was transformed.  See what a few accessories can to do to a girl? I have to say, Lois looked amazing.   The hat was purple,  her color.

Of course, I couldn’t leave the store without touching some of the latest and greatest apparel on the racks.  But every time I stopped to ponder a new silhouette Lois screeched ….”Buy it!”  “You have to have it!”  “I won’t tell the other girls on the blog.”   “Do it!”  Lois was becoming Bride of Chuckie. “It will look fabulous on you,” she hissed.   It was a little like being in AA and having your best friend tell you to “chug it.”  Where’s the empathy? 

I was mad at first but then I realized Lois is just angry.  And that’s o.k.  We can’t all be perfect.   Perhaps this taunting is her way of getting back at the universe for just giving her a head, neck and décolletage.  I think we as a group can help her through that. 

But wow, if she’s angry now wait till she sees Stephanie’s body in a leotard.  

Can you all join me in welcoming Lois?  Welcome Lois!  We are looking forward to reading your blogs.

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I love big, bulbous, garish, oversized odd shaped rings.  Rings are like glasses.  You can wear all black but with a large excentric ring or a pair of Liz Claiborne white specs the entire outfit changes.  It says something about the ring wearer–like neon pink underwear under a traditional suit.   Last week while passing time on the stairmaster reading the latest O magazine I stumbled upon the new iconoic polka dot ring–a must have for the girl who wants to spice up her outfit without breaking the bank (each ring is $45 smackers).  

Rebecca Kotch…these rings are for you!  The company is called Murano Glass.  The Designer is Hillary London.  The next time you see me I will be sporting a new blue an green glass ring.  You?

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Hey before I get into the meat of this new post, please make sure to vote in our latest poll (see side bar to the right).

Now, down to brass tacks. We are gaining in numbers which is super exciting.  It seems TGAAD is a very positive word-of-mouth thing, perhaps when this is all over I can consult for Weight Watchers.  Anyway, our latest dieter is Anne Hurley.  A little background on Anne.

Anne Hurley, Seattle, WA, has been chasing fashion, high and low, since graduating from Catholic high school, after 12 years of uniforms. A longtime journalist (The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Seattle Times), she adapted her fashion sense to whatever city her gypsy roots touched down in. In New York, more black (and real winter coats!); in L.A., minis, form-fitting leather vests, ever-blonder hair and a few unfortunate run-ins with self-tanner. Now, at 54, she’s ready to scale back. “I love shopping, and re-creating myself through my appearance,” she says, “but I finally realized I have enough raw material in my closets to reinvent till the next millennium.” Her last apparel purchase, in August: a gorgeous pinky-gray vintage tweed princess-line coat from an estate sale, $2 wadded in a box. “After a visit to the dry cleaners, it’s a show-stopper; a guy in Starbucks told me I looked like Lauren Bacall.” With that, she’s armed for a year of belt-tightening.

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So Saturday was my birthday. That means I got a card from Anthropologie to get 15% off of everything I buy during one shopping event. Since I am on board with the Weight Watchers of clothes shopping, I can not buy anything. Since I think retail is for idiots, this creates a lot of psychic dissonance for me. What to do? I can’t give the card to a friend because it is for ME and only me!
This appears to be getting more difficult on day 2.

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Can I just have a moment? Can I just forget about my clothes diet and spend a much much more important moment, or hour, or evening thinking about Patrick Swayze – and the happiness he brought to my life as a college girl??? 1987 – Dirty Dancing – who was he? How could he move his hips like that? And how did that Jennifer Grey chick get THAT role? Why not me?
Well for starters, I was neither actress nor starlet. Dancer yes. But Hollywood no. Patrick was the first “adult” crush I truly had. (Shaun Cassidy when I was 8, but Patrick when I was 20+). I send my thoughts to his family. Black will be my clothing choice tomorrow. OR should it be white? White – in memory of that dirty, Dirty Dancing Scene…. oh…. wait…it’s after Labor Day…. no white for you gals out there….

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Last night, I attended “Future Shack” an event celebrating and discussing the role of design and architecture in our lives and in our neighborhoods. I thought, here is a casual event where I will not be tempted to cheat on this “no new clothes diet”. I guessed it was going to be a room full of people coming from a relaxed, sunny, Sunday day off. Boy, was I wrong. The women at this event really had it going on!!! A woman on the panel had on a simple pencil skirt, perfectly tailored–and the ultimate wardrobe staple: the perfect white button down blouse. Another women, one of the co-chairs of the event, had on the cutest Cole Haan ballet flats in a light pink with some metallic going on, and she wore a gorgeous pink (with a sheen to it) blouse. You never know what will make you crave shopping! I didn’t take pictures of the shoes and tops because people were talking about how buildings can impact our lives, how design can minimize our footprint, and I didn’t want to seem like a dumbass changing the subject to shoes and clothes…but I did ask about the Cole Haan flats with Nike Air insoles…..

aiaseattle.org

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