Dec 27
I am proud to say that I’ve been on TGAAD for one entire month now and it’s been hard, but I think if I stick to my guns…I can actually do this for the entire year!
Some of the things that have been helping me along so far are:
1. Keeping track of my daily outfits. I am actually keeping a record of what I’m wearing everyday and trying to vary my outfits as much as possible. I am aware that I’m still just wearing probably less than 10% of what I actually own, so that is motivating me to make better use of what’s been sitting in my closet and wardrobes. I’ve even taken the tags off of some new items and have finally put them to use. Something that I should have done a long time ago.
2. Over Christmas dinner, I finally had a chance to tell some other members of my family about my “apparel” diet and I could tell they were very skeptical about my plans. I am quite stubborn, so I know I will go out of my way to prove them wrong and show them how much willpower I actually have!
3. I am enjoying watching my savings account grow. I was tempted by a few sales and items that I spotted while Xmas shopping for others, but I was able to talk myself out of them. There were huge sales at H&M, a beautiful leather bag from Banana Republic that was regularly over $300, but on sale for just over $100, shoes by Marc Fisher that were $115 and on sale for $25 and the list goes on and on. I think by refraining just this past month, I’ve easily saved myself over $500.
4. I am happy with my decision to go cold turkey on the shoes and accessories in addition to the clothing. I have slowly, but surely been going through my things and trying to make use of necklaces I have forgotten about, new boots that are still in their boxes and anything else that I seem to have acquired from my years and years of overspending!
Well, there are 11 months to go, but I’m taking my baby steps and learning a lot about myself and my spending habits along the way.
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Tagged with: accessories, Apparel Diet, cold turkey, temptation
Dec 14
Just a quick reminder to everyone on TGAAD, your posts should be tagged and categorized in order to help others find similar information and data! It also helps us here at TGAAD to find out what are the hottest topics on the diet and provide more valuable information for everyone! Thanks dieters, I love reading all of your posts and stories!
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, The Great American Apparel Diet
Oct 12
We just wrapped up the last poll. It sounds like we mostly feel, compulsive, impulsive and erratic when we shop. Hey, I thought this shopping thing was supposed to be fun and not make our hearts race. Many of us said we were also strategic but that definitely fell down the list from the more poignant adjectives above. When did shopping go from being something that fulfills a need to something that gives us a rush? I guess this is what happens when humans no longer hunt their prey—now it’s just hunting for bargains. Is it the fight or flight instinct that is carried over from our ancestors that gives us the urge to go out and forage at Marshalls? Slaying the dragon at Macy’s? I don’t know but I think it’s something to examine and consider. I say, take a deep breath and ask yourself when you are tempted on impulse to buy something you cannot afford or do not need… “can I live without this.” Only you know the answer.
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Tagged with: addiction, Apparel Diet, sally bjornsen, shopping diet, The Great American Apparel Diet
Sep 30
Although I have completed my year of the diet, it has still continued to influence my purchasing. In the last year I have purchased only 3 new items, all after I completed my diet. I have since purchased a pair of running shorts and a top for my upcoming Komen Maryland Race for the Cure. I had been running in cotton shorts and a tshirt, and in the muggy Baltimore, MD it left me soaked and uncomfortable. The only other purchase that I made was a comfortable pair of foldover waistband lounge pants. They were half price and fit like a glove; I couldn’t resist.
Some of the permanent life changes as a result of the “The Diet” are that I continue to read “look books” and fashion articles to discover the trend items and then use what I have in my closet to restyle what I already have. Over the last year I have purchased a a few accessories including this gorgeous belt and a brand new purse. A few pieces of jewelry like this leather cuff, tattoo necklace, and some very chic recycled mixed media pendants. The final and most important purchases were these great brooches that I use to accent my staple pieces like cardigans and jackets. It allows me to wear the same items each week, but feel like I’m wearing something new. I never had enough in the budget to buy clothing and accessories, even back when I purchased cheap clothing on clearance. I have two more planned purchases this year, a black cardigan and one in brown, to replace the ones that I wore so often and for so long that I wore out the elbows and then through the patches.
What I will continue to do is to always buy vintage, refashioned or recycled clothing first and whenever possible. Etsy, Ebay and local thrift stores are great ways to shop for eco-friendly, inexpensive clothing. If that isn’t possible then I’ll buy handmade to support artisans and crafters who still value quality and creativity. I do love a good one of a kind piece that I know I can wear for many, many years to come.
The most important lesson that I learned though, is that you can be really stylish without constantly updating your wardrobe with throw-away fashion. Don’t be a fashion victim caught in the cycle of constantly having to buy the newest, trendiest clothes. Buy a few well-made, perfectly fitted items and keep them. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise can help you fit into those pieces longer and you’ll be happier and healthier in the end. I spend so little time shopping now that I’m free to pursue all of the interests that I always wanted, but couldn’t find the time, money or energy to devote before. I’ve taken up cooking, running, knitting, crocheting, sewing, downhill mountain bike racing and spending much more time with my family and friends and I couldn’t be happier.
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Tagged with: accessories, addiction, Apparel Diet, clothes, clothing diet, Consumerism, diet, eco fashion, etsy, fashion, fashionista, recessionista, recycled clothing, The Great American Apparel Diet, thrift store, vintage
Sep 30
The Great American Apparel Diet got some good news coverage in Colorado this week. Our very own Birdie Carpenter was front and center. See the article below and video here.
Sep 29, 2010 7:38 pm US/Mountain
Go On A Clothes Shopping Diet To Save Money
Got A Colorado News Tip For CBS4 Denver? Share It Here
DENVER (CBS4) ― Coloradans are taking a stand and finding solutions in their effort to Beat the Recession. Visit our Beating the Recession section.
A new campaign to save money is spreading, not only in the U.S., but in other countries as well. It’s called the Great American Apparel Diet.
It’s free to join and people pledge not to buy any new clothes for an entire year. Those on the diet say it’s good for the environment, good for the wallet, and promotes a healthier lifestyle.
There is a growing trend to resist temptation to squelch the urge to shop.
“You remove the temptation, you don’t think about it, you don’t expose yourself to that environment,” Birdie Carpenter said.
Carpenter has not been in a mall for months after going on the diet.
“It really appealed to me because I have a lot of clothes,” she said. “I’m always getting rid of clothes and then replacing them.”
Now she finds herself with more money and more time.
“I can actually do something fun, active and outdoors,” she said. “That seems like it makes more sense.”
While the diet has followers throughout the U.S., Europe and South Africa, CBS4 found many shoppers who are appalled by the idea.
“It sounds pretty silly to me,” a shopper told CBS4.
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, Birdie Carpenter, CBS, CBS Colorado, Consumerism, eco fashion, sally bjornsen, shopping, shopping diet, Suzanne McCarroll, The Great American Apparel Diet
Sep 22
I feel that the one if the outcomes of this diet for me is to discover the staples of my wardrobe which I either have or will be anxious to buy at the end of the diet. I’m focusing on find out just what that will mean for me.
Wardrobe911.com is focusing on that very topic with this first of 4 parts hot off the press! I look forward to reading each part of the series and applying their suggestions. They maintain that you need 15 basic essentials and you can read about it here: http://www.wardrobe911.com/how-to-wear-15-items-20-outfits-part-1/
You can sign up for their Closet Therapy course as well!
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, fashion
Sep 22
This morning, I found the online address to stop junk mail. I receive at least six fashion catalogs a day, and don’t even peek. I have a friend who I pass them on to who is not on the diet. Stopping junk mail will stop unwanted, fashion catalogs from tempting me.
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, clothing diet, fashion, TGAAD
Aug 30
While I was already committed to buying used or refashioning to help with the environment before participating in GAAD, I have found that I ofteen used GAAD as a reminder not even think about buying anything new. After all, I’d made a promise. As time passed I realized that I was less and less concerned with purchasing new clothes and really enjoyed reworking what I had. I rarely, if ever, felt like I was constrained or missing something. As I move forward beyond the GAAD I’ll try to remember what I’ve learned. I’ll continue to host clothing swaps and will always shop for second hand or refashioned clothing first. But, I also know that a good cardigan is hard to find and I’ll save the shopping for my most essential items that need to be replaced. I look forward to continuing my commitment to the environment and to my budget and buying only whats essential, but to continue to have fun with what I already own. If there are any ladies in the Baltimore area who are interested in future clothing swaps, please do contact me. Thanks for the great learning opportunity Sally, and for giving me a reason to stay disciplined and to really practice what I preach.
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, clothes, clothing diet, Clothing Swap, Consumerism, etsy, recycled clothing, Refashion, shopping
Aug 28
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!
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Tagged with: Apparel Diet, Beauty Alert!, Beautyalert.biz, clothing, fashion, Sally's TGAAD, shopping, Stacya Silverman, Tim Gunn
Aug 12
Twenty-five years ago I lived in San Francisco with my childhood friend, we will call her Jay. We had parted ways in high school due to my father’s relocation for his job and reconnected after I had graduated from college. “Come live with me in the city,” I begged. She did.
Jay was the consummate ugly duckling turned swan. She was always dressed impecilby. Though I was the one with the big corporate job she managed to out spend and out dress me–it was competitive. Even her nightgowns were gorgeous.
Immediately I found our living situation less than bliss. Jay was distanced and not as fun as she had been when we were in junior high. She worked two jobs, administrative assistant by day and record store clerk by night while I found my way as a sales person for Eastman Kodak. We didn’t’ see much of each other. I would occasionally see her in the mornings or in the evenings when she came home from her job at the mall-bags of clothes on her arms. I just couldn’t figure out how she could afford all that stuff while I was stuck in the same preppy skirts I wore post college. About six months into our living situation the phone started to ring at all hours of the day. I worked from home so I was the one taking the calls. The voice on the other end always asked that Jay return the call offering up an 800#. When I passed these messages along to Jay she replied annoyingly, “Those calls are magazines trying to sell me something. Just hang up on them.”
One morning after a run in the park I was making coffee in the kitchen of our flat when I heard our front door open. I walked down the long hallway toward the door to face two very scary looking men asking for my roommate. She was still in bed at the time. I was frightened. It was 7am and I had two very large, and very sketchy looking men in my house—think Mikey Rourke in a mob film. I woke Jay. What ensued was a discussion about the repossession of Jay’s car. She broke down crying and begged that they give her some time to get her act together. They were empathetic in their mobster way and gave her 24 hours. Jay would not speak to me, she simply went to her bedroom and shut her door. The next morning her parents drove up from Orange to San Francisco and moved her out, leaving me with the rent and a giant question…what happened? I never spoke to Jay again. The moral of the story…It’s never just about shopping!
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Tagged with: addiction, Apparel Diet, Consumerism, diet, fashion, shopping diet, The Great American Apparel Diet
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