Jan 15
It’s been eleven days since I started TGAAD. As with all diets, there are going to be times when I wish I wasn’t on one. Like last night, when I was invited out on a date to the fanciest restaurant in the city. Well. Ordinarily I would have high-tailed it to the mall to buy something stunning for the occasion.
But, I didn’t. I looked deep into my closet, and found a black pencil skirt from Banana Republic, and a black v-neck top with 3/4 sleeves. Even though both pieces were over three years old, I decided I could work with that. I paired them with black tights and a cute pair of black cowboy boots, and accessorized with a heavy gold chain necklace that was intertwined with black ribbon. All from my closet. I didn’t even purchase the tights. My daughter had just given me a box of tights the day before.
Even though I wasn’t wearing something brand new, I still felt like I was dressed up. And my date complimented my outfit. He said, “You look very French tonight.”
So… I stayed on my diet, had a great evening and received maybe the best compliment ever. I think I can do this for a year.
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Tagged with: accessories, boots, diet, TGAAD
Jan 05
My “big” pants don’t fit! Those jeans that I always kept for an emergency weight gain, are officially unbearably tight. Somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s Day I outgrew not only the big pants but half the contents of my closet.
This is what I get for eating party food everyday for five weeks straight. I don’t think a day went by when I wasn’t dipping something crunchy into something creamy.
But now, I have new motivation to lose weight and get back into my clothes. Especially since I’m not buying anything new. I have nowhere to go but on a diet.
Food, clothes, money. I’m cutting back on everything. Finding the Great American Apparel Diet was actually very good timing. If it wasn’t for TGAAD, I never would discovered that although I have a closet full of clothes, most of it doesn’t zip anymore. So, either I’m going to look like a sausage in a very tight casing for a year, or I’m going to diet my way back into my wardrobe. Starting with the big pants.
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Tagged with: clothes, diet, food, holiday, money
Jan 05
So today, I looked at my clothes with fresh, bright, optimistic eyes.. Until I was snapped back to the reality which is my closet. Oh well, it was worth a shot. In the end, I decided on a pair of jeans [my staple go-to pant; the new AE ones I was talking about..I can't believe how much I like them!], a flowy embellished chiffon tank, and a sparkly festive cardigan from Madewell. Lovely if I say so myself.
..and then a thought creeped into my head: Kind. Of. Predictable. “Why?” might you ask?
Well, right now it’s VERY winter where I live. There’s tons of snow ..and coldness.. like, I have to wear ski-pants on-a-daily-basis-type-coldness. There’s definitely no cute winter outfits going on here or in the near future. Theres no doubt that I lose most of my style ”mo-jo” during the winter months, since the main focus is to stay warm..
…Which ultimately leads me to no other choice but my tried and true outfit: Jeans [of course..], a flowy tank of some sort.. paired with a cardigan.
At least I can take solace in the new clothes I ordered pre-diet that have yet to arrive 
and as each day gets warmer, I will slowly swap ski-pants for skirts, winter boots for high heels, and sweaters for sleeveless tanks [not to be worn at the same time, mind you] and hopefully I can get the creative juices flowing.
Peace, Love & Happiness.
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Tagged with: diet, Inspiration, Longing for summer, Ski-pants aren't pretty, TGAAD, Winter-time blues
Dec 27
Hope everyone had a glorious holiday (whatever you’re celebrating) filled with lots of fun, family togetherness (often NOT so fun!) and just happiness in general. I know the holidays are hard for many — I lost my mother 3 years ago, so it’s not as great as it once was — but I had a restful 4 days off work and spent most of that time at home with my husband and kitties.
Now for my dilemma — do I spend the Christmas $$ my boss gave me to buy clothes (since I can’t spend my own $$), or do I continue with my “good girl” act and stay out of the stores? (And trust me, this is an ACT!)
It’s been easy so far mainly because I’ve simply stayed away from the mall. However, shopping was my main source of enjoyment and entertainment, and I’ve noticed it’s getting ever harder to be good. I haven’t missed buying something new yet probably because there was shopping to do for others, but now that’s over with and the sales have all started, and I’m pretty sure there’s a ton of things I want (but don’t need). Is that what this comes down to? Is there something inherently wrong with WANTING things — is it just greed and gluttony that causes me to own 20+ pairs of black shoes? If anything, this diet is great for looking inward and asking questions about my values (or lack thereof).
Today I’m wearing a skirt I bought in probably 2008. It’s a light gray cabled sweater skirt with a wide cuffed waist. I literally cut the tag off it this morning, and it’s made for a darling outfit with a black long-sleeved turtleneck, black tights and high-heeled black leather boots. But seriously…why haven’t I worn this before? Why has it taken me almost 3 years to put this outfit together and wear this?
While I was looking for something to wear last night, I pulled out a tried and true sweaterdress (the weather warrants it here in ATL today), but realized I’d worn it within the past month. It reminded me of that statement about how we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. I’m determined to continue to be good and stay on the diet, and heaven knows my savings could use the extra $$ much more than my well-clothed back.
Huh. So much for my “dilemma.” Problem solved…
Happy New Year!
Lori
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Tagged with: clothing, diet, shopping
Nov 17
I was reluctant to go on this year-long cleansing (so much nicer than saying “diet”!) regimen since I saw it on-line about a week ago. I signed up for the Six Items or Less challenge, which should start some time in December, and I also joined Spenders-Debtors Anonymous. I mean, if I’m really serious about cleaning up my act, I need to get into why I over-spend. I finally decided yesterday that adding the GAAD would be a really great challenge for me, even though I’m starting a little late. I know this is going to be tough, especial when I travel back to the States (I live in Argentina full-time). It’s soooooo tempting, so I really needed a program that was going to push me. I’ll probably be hating life come February when I’m back in L.A. and D.C. and walking past Anthropologie, tons of thriftstores, JCrew…. 
, so I know I’m going to need to support.
I have really great clothes, and lots of style. There’s no reason why I can’t find something “new” to put on everyday for the next 200-some days of this challenge. If I can’t, then I really need to work on my creativity. I think starting out with Six Items or Less will help me be more aware of how to accessorize in a way that keeps my chosen six fresh and interesting for me. I need to accept that I don’t need anything new to have style and to be in-style in my own way.
I’m in a situation in which I don’t have to work because my household income is in the comfortable range. I CAN spend, but I need to be clear that I don’t have to spend even if I have the means. I wasn’t brought up to spend anything on luxury items. I’ve thrifted and dumpster dove all my life. I love discount stores. The problem is, even if it is a discount, TOO much buying is just too much consumerism for me, and I’m starting not to feel the joy in my new purchases. In fact, I’ve been forgetting what I’ve bought because I order too much on-line. With the money I save, I’d like to buy more interesting experiences–sign up for a painting class or take a quick trip somewhere–and save for a downpayment on a piece of property.
I’m blogging about my experience more in-depth on my blog www.thepostmodernhousewife.com if you’re interested, but I will definitely be checking in to write here and to get support! I’m so excited to join in the fun!
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Tagged with: cleansing, creativity, diet, six items or less
Nov 10
There’s nothing like deciding you are not going to do something (i.e., buy clothes) to make you suddenly sensitive to temptation! I just returned from a business trip to DC, and I never realized before how much I use traveling to different cities as an inspiration for fashion. I like how women dress in Washington. It’s urban, but with quite the preppy feel, and without all the heavy clothes that you see (and that are required) in places like Boston. I felt very frustrated while I was there, and I realized it’s because I’m used to seeing great inspirational outfits on other women in other places and then going shopping to see if I can add a little bit of that flavor to my wardrobe. While this has been great fun in the past (as my Spanish sundress, funky British boots, jersey Australian tunic, and various Scottish cashmere scarves will attest), it’s something that I’m not doing this year, and I felt very deprived to realize that I wasn’t doing it. I didn’t really feel the need to buy other souvenirs, but I did feel like I was missing out a bit on the whole DC experience.
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Tagged with: diet, shopping, travel
Oct 27
I’m approaching the end of my second month on the diet, and I’d like to thank the weather for helping me stick to it. It’s been so unseasonably warm and muggy in Philadelphia that I’ve barely had a chance to wear my favorite winter garb, much less be tempted to buy more of it.
I did buy two pairs of shoes (three if you count the electric-orange sneakers I got with a gift certificate), and too many lipsticks. I spent a ridiculous amount of money eating out this month, as this was a month for a lot of dinners, goodbye parties, and the like. I bought a Halloween costume. Overall, thought, I’m finding that sticking to the clothing diet isn’t as hard as I anticipated. Maybe – this is a real shocker – I really do already HAVE enough clothes.
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Tagged with: diet, shopping
Oct 12
I really like this post, which summarizes the way in which people who really are trying to get rich behave, as opposed to people who just want to look rich. This is a distinction I definitely lost track of when getting so immersed in fashion and shopping. Yes, I suppose I can buy a $500 purse – but, really, who am I trying to impress? What message am I trying to send? Why am I trying to pretend like a $500 purse is affordable for me? And do I really think that’s the best use of my money? Even with low interest rates right now, that $500 is still going to do me much better in a savings account – or being used to pay off a credit card bill – than hanging on my arm. It takes a lot of self-discipline, I find, to dial back the polishing of the public image, to ignore the celebrity worship that puts bling and ostentatiousness above all else, and to resist the cultural urge to “look” as rich as possible.
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Tagged with: diet, shopping, wealth
Oct 12
Yes, the urge to shop definitely increases when I’m feeling stress. It’s very odd to be aware of it, but as I am tracking every penny and watching every shopping move, I notice that my first reaction when I have that anxious-bored feeling (I’m not doing anything because feel like I don’t know what to do, because I have so much to do that I can’t prioritize it) is to visit a shopping website. I knew that I did a lot of online shopping in the past, but I don’t think I was ever this cognizant of the triggers that pushed me to do so. Unlike with some of the other dieters on here, it isn’t really external cues for me – the fashion magazines, commercials, and what not aren’t making me feel the urge. It’s all endogenous; a rather restless, acquisitive feeling that I’ve clearly turned into a habit over time.
Last night I brainstormed some ideas to get more of a handle on my projects at work, and re-read sections of my productivity bible (David Allen’s Getting Things Done). I’m hoping that will help both my efficiency and my willpower today.
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Tagged with: boredom, diet, shopping
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
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