This morning (it is noon now in Germany) the new catalogue of the only store where I can buy clothes arrived.
Of course I looked through it, but there was really nothing that tempted me to buy it. The clothes are really nice, but I was thinking: “Oh, I can make this from fabric I already have” or “If I make this one by myself it will fit so much better.”
So no buying here – how do you do?
When I said I was doing this, my friend Onna thought it had something to do with American Apparel. She was all for it.
Here, for the uninitiated, is a discussion of the American Apparel president’s less-than-appealing business practices, which are particularly regrettable given that he has taken such positive steps as making most of his products in the U.S. and positive working conditions for those employees who don’t happen to attract his roving eye.
So yeah. I’m not buying his clothes either. (If you feel the same, make sure you check the label next time you go to buy a concert T-shirt — a lot of those are AA.)
Sunday is in 2.5 hours from now. It will be the end of my year long “no shopping for apparel diet”. I said last week that I would go downtown and see what damage I could do. I got a post from a reader saying “Didn’t you learn anything from all of this?” I will say, yes, I did learn something!!!! I learned that I missed shopping with my girlfriends. I actually gave up something I love doing, and it ended up being a great way to learn to appreciate what I have, and really think about what I want. What is the point of giving up chocolate if you never liked chocolate? Are the people on this diet really never going to shop for clothes ever again after the year is up?
Although I have never been an out of control shopper, or freakishly impulsive, it did feel good to enjoy what I have — and take what I wasn’t wearing to the tailor to make it better. If it wasn’t possible to save with the tailor, I gave it away. But I do love a good clothing designer, I love seeing what people are creating, and I love visiting small businesses and seeing what the buyers are presenting. I love women’s apparel.
What ever your reason for starting this whole Sally thing, it will be an interesting year. Too bad stores aren’t open until 11:00 AM on Sundays. I will be downtown with my friends tomorrow, and next week, I will be in New York. I may buy something, or not, but I will be following many of Sally’s rules, combined with Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style rules. Only if I love it and it looks and fits great, and something I need. I will also be sticking to basics. More soon, with photos of what I actually get, if anything!
Tonight I was with my friend Portia who has been contemplating going on this diet for 11 months now. I told her that I have decided to extend the diet for one more year, in light of the fact that there have been so many people interested in joining the effort in the past few weeks (here we go again). When I told Portia it wasn’t too late to realize the benefits of clothing deprivation she hooped and hollered “That’s what I need, a closet colonic.” The visual made me gag. She went on to claim, “Deep within my big, fat, bloated walk-in closet there is a skinny one begging to be free.” Portia, warming to the idea, is going to “think about it,” before she commits. Let me be clear…I am not doing this for another year myself but I will moderate, facilitate, contemplate and write about life post diet.
Alright already Portia—stop the squawkin’ and start walkin’ give your closet the future it deserves with a purge, a cleanse a regular down home colonic. We’re here my dear and waiting to hear how it all “flushes out.”
As I read these wonderful entries, and as I begin this diet as of 7/22/10, I feel fortunate because I’ve always wished I could have just a few comfortable outfits and cycle through them — kind of like a uniform. I think a few t-shirts, jeans or khakis, denim jacket or dressy sweater for work…the problem for me became needing that one pair of really comfortable pair of khakis that look really good, or just one really good white t-shirt (understated and stylish)…well, suddenly I’m on a treadmill of purchasing ‘key basics’ to build my comfy, stylish uniform. How did I get here? Even though I was deluding myself that I was practical but cool, I was still looking for some item to make me perfect. Maybe I have been deluding myself, a little self-congratulatory, on the whole ‘uniform’ thing, since in reality I kept looking for the perfect items.
This is the year I say enough, I work on my mind and body, and I also learn to say good enough: the white t-shirt I own is good enough…the khakis are good enough. I hope this coming period is when I learn to say my mind and body are good enough. It’s not the clothes — it’s the woman.
Change Your Underwear!
A new favorite thing (and legal TGAAD purchase): PACT underwear. A “Hanky Panky” die hard, I’m pretty picky in this department, but PACT’s functional fashion and eco-friendly manufacturing has won me over.
PACT’s motto: CHANGE STARTS WITH YOUR UNDERWEAR. Not only are PACT panties incredibly comfy (and VERY sexy, especially those men’s boxer briefs), they’re made from organic cotton, sustainably manufactured and 10% of every purchase goes to a non-profit.
Started by ecopreneurs Jason Kibbey and Jeff Denby, designed by Yves Behar and based in Berkeley, CA, PACT has created a beautiful line with an impressive supply chain that supports organic cotton farmers, promotes responsible labor practices and makes positive change (from your body to the world’s).
All good from the inside out!
My friend Dikka “No Scrap Too Small” is organizing a show of recycled fashions in Seattle’s Greenwood Parade. More info at Sew Up Seattle http://www.sewupseattle.blogspot.com/
Dikka is part of the great Re-Skilling of America, teaching free sewing classes (using all recycled materials) every month.
The day after I posted on this blog last month, all proud that I hadn’t felt the need to cheat, yada yada, and saying that really the only thing on my post-September list was a pair of running shoes, what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a pair of my favorite brand of running shoes at 70% off!
I briefly considered walking away but then quickly ran down a hasty list of justifications and in no time at all, well, you read the title so you know what comes next… Do you want to hear my list? OK, here goes:
1. This is fate. A higher power has spoken. I just blogged about this…”ask and the universe shall provide,” right?
2. Running shoes are a tool, not really apparel. I don’t buy them because I want to and get a fashion high from them, but rather because they wear out and I need to replace them to stay healthy.
3. Though this is a purchase, it does comply with my new pledge to stop recreational shopping, and to only buy things that I have decided that I need. This is the one thing I’ve said I need and will buy, right?
4. Wow. 70% off!
5. I will buy them now, and keep them in the closet until September. So really it’s just a budgeting issue–post-TGAAD I get new shoes that I just happened to pay for a few months before.
Did I convince you? Obviously, I convinced myself. However, at the end of the day and this list of justifications, the truth is that I cheated. But I’m back on the wagon now!
My friends and I would shop at ecoSkin; pre-teens would shop at ecoSkin. My mother would shop at ecoSkin, and even my Aunt would shop at ecoSkin. That is only one of many appealing things about this earth-friendly brand made and designed in L.A. by industry veteran Sandy Skinner. Offering everything from casual shirts to evening-worthy dresses, there is something for everyone and every moment of your life. Outfits come in toned-down blues, reds and pinks as well as neutrals such as grey and beige. Their looser tunics and summer dresses caught my eye, and I know my mother would love the selection of wrap dresses; they are perfect for the office. The clothes are begging you to style them which allows fashion freedom and the ability for them to easily slip into any existing wardrobe. With Sandy closely watching every step of the process to make sure the clothes are made with environment in mind, you are sure to walk away feeling guilt-free and with a jump in your step that these flirty pieces will surely produce.
Twistflower Dress
http://www.ecoskincollections.com/ecoskin/index.html#
Me sporting one of Erika's gifts
As my participation in TGAAD is nearing it’s 8th month, I’ve come to realize that this is not merely a little social experiment. TGAAD is, in fact, a group of REAL flesh-and-blood people from across the world who, together, have created a community – a caring, supportive alliance. Whether it’s empathic comments and feedback on one another’s entries, clothing swaps organized amongst geographically close members, or offers of support for fellow participants, I see the manifestation of that caring community on the pages of this blog every day.
For me, personally, the support of TGAAD has taken the form of encouraging feedback on my blogs about our family’s struggles with unemployment, kind words about my weight loss successes, and generally supportive replies to my various posts. I know that I’m a part of a warmhearted network of women here!
I was impressed all-the-more recently when Erika – a Seattle dieter I’d never met – made a very thoughtful and generous offer. After reading my entry about needing clothes for a new part-time job, she e-mailed me photos of three lovely work blouses she no longer wears. She thought they’d be my size and offered to send them to me if I was interested!
I ask you… how cool is that!? We’re essentially complete strangers living on opposite coasts of the country, but she cared enough to reach out to me in this way and offer her help.
Appreciative of Erika’s offer, I immediately took her up on it and, not long thereafter, I received my three new blouses in the mail. I tried them on straightaway, and was thrilled to find that all fit perfectly. Yay! Christmas in June!
I have already had an opportunity to wear one of the blouses (photo above) and can’t wait for a chance to do so with the others. As a newly-working woman, I know they will play a huge role in carrying me through to September 1st on this diet.
Well, I guess what I really want to say here is THANK YOU, Erika, for your kindness and generosity… and thanks to ALL of my fellow “dieters” for your support and for creating the caring community that TGAAD has become! Keep on encouraging one another on your respective journeys… You guys rock!
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