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 22
In exactly a week, I will be off this “no shopping for clothes diet”.
I have to say, it has become easier as time went by. I thought it would be grueling towards the finish line. So, Sunday, August 29th I will go downtown and see what damage I can do.
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Tagged with: beauty, Beauty Alert!, clothes, clothing diet, expiration dates for cosmetics, fashion, mascara expires, shopping, Stacya Silverman, TGAAD
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
Jul 18
This morning, I had to put on a winter sweater. In July. It is so cold here in the mornings now, I am starting bitch non stop on the side walk with clients I run into, or whoever else happens to be in my path. I am turning into one of those people who talk about the weather too much. Today my friend Sue came by to help me with a project, and we both started up immediately on the subject of the weather and how frumpy we looked. Just tryin’ to keep warm, we have to digg out late fall or even winter things. And they are usually in the shades of brown, beige, black, or grey. Not summer colors, but here we are all bundled up in our dreary wear.
Now here comes the idea for the a business. In this economy, I am hoping someone will do my friend Sue’s idea for a clothing line. The first thing she said when she started to tell me the idea is “I am NOT doing this. This idea is for someone else to do. Just sayin’”. Here is Sue’s idea: Why doesn’t anyone come out with a clothing line just for our weather? Why can’t we have clothes that are warm, and water proof, but cute and stylish? And in appropriate colors for the season we are in? The person or people who came out with this clothing line would for sure have a customer base in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and maybe parts of other states.
Why can’t coats be gortex and fabulous? I know some of you outdoorsy gals are going to try to convince me that REI coats are cute. They are not. Just so you know. They are practical, and can be tolerable. Cute they are not. And I think fleece is horrible. There are my thoughts. I am going shopping in like 40 days or something. We should have a countdown clock here. I will be on the look out for cute, water resistant coats in good colors, with a form fitting style. Let me know if you see anything like that, or decide to do Sue’s idea.
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Tagged with: beauty, Beauty Alert!, business, coats, creators of Beauty Alert, expiration date labels, fashion, jackets, july in seattle, Labels for cosmetics, Stacya Silverman, TGAAD, water proof
Jul 08
By Sally Bjornsen
Consumerism, Fashion Trends, Sustainable Fashion, The Great American Apparel Diet, eco fashion, fashion, nordstrom, recession, recycled apparel, shopping, shopping addiction, slow clothing, south coast plaza, workout clothes
O.K., I am not proud. I have told nearly every woman I know that I am simply starving on this @#$%^& diet. The good news, my incessant complaints and whines have been rewarded with hand-me-downs from friends and family (maybe they just want me to shut up). Now, these aren’t Oliver Twist castoffs. Remember, birds of a feather flock together. My friends and family have hand-me-downs with tags still on them or barely worn items that they “bought on a whim,” and shouldn’t have (you know the story). I am sorry for their mistakes, but not really. I’m glad to be the one who can take these items off their hands. Most importantly their gifts are going to good use. Just last week I received a beautiful wrap from my mother, a white knit item, just like Meryl Streep wore in the movie It’s Complicated. I am now wearing a pair of pewter Donald Pliner slides and a great pair of lulu lemon tights my yoga friend gave me (she has three of the same pair). So my point? Tell people you will gladly take their shopping mistakes off their hands. They will fell great about it, especially if you wear them again and again. Now go forth and tell the world, “I am hungry, feed me your scraps!”
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Tagged with: accessories, Apparel Diet, clothes, fashion, fashionista, It's Complicated, Meryl Streep, Nordstrom, recessionista
Jun 26
Ok. Just went to Newark on Alaska Airlines, and lost that yellow coat I bought. My client says it is pay back for cheating, some kind of punishment from the universe. I don’t think filling out the “lost and found” form online with Alaska will do me any good. I really don’t think I will ever see that coat again. Shoot!
How much more time do we have left? I talked to Stephanie Greco the other day, and we are both so ready for this to be over. But….I am glad I did it. I really do see how many clothes I do have and I have been wearing them. And I think I will be a better shopper when this all comes to a close. So, when is that? I am going to take that day off to shop.
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Tagged with: Alaska Airlines, beauty alert labels, Beauty Alert!, cosmetics expire, fashion, make-up expiration dates, sally bjornsen, shopping diet, Stacya Silverman, TGAAD
Jun 11
My name is J.S., and this challenge really struck a chord with me when I first read about it.
As a young adult who works in the fashion industry, I witness consumerism and the short lifespan of ever-evolving trends on a daily basis. One day it’s in, the next day it’s out. This is why I believe developing your own style is important. Not only do you become less immune to these trends, but you can stand out from the crowd. Why wear something just because it’s “in right now”? Your style is what makes you, you. This challenge is an opportunity to continue developing my style by looking into my closet and exercising some creativity! The other goal is to free up, time (and space) to invest in what is important to me. This will be an interesting challenge because all day I am surrounded by clothes, and I occasionally wholesale-buy for clothing. I guess the perk of saving aside a pair to stow away in my closet will be gone until September 1st, 2010. I want to see how strong I mentally am. Bring it on!
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Tagged with: clothes, Consumerism, fashion, fashionista, shopping, The Great American Apparel Diet
Jun 08
- Made in US
- “Crafted solely in recycled EcoGold and conflict-free stones, and donates a percentage of sales to Women for Women International.”
These bright gold pieces speak for themselves and will jump out at you. Maker Danielle’s attention to detail is apparent in the placing of every last stone. The jewelry isn’t garish and made for show, it is delicate and intentional. I loved her Constellations Collection, which offers new versions of the classic astrology necklace. The star patterns are also available on rings and earrings. It’s surprising that it was the first collection for this accomplished designer.
The Leo Constellations ring.
- I would wait for an anniversary or Christmas to ask for these, with prices coming in at a minimum of $500.
- Buy at the online shop found on the website.
http://ellapoe.com
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Tagged with: accessories, conflict-free stones, eco gold, Ella Poe, fashion, shopping
Jun 07
The past couple weeks my computer’s internet page and I have become best friends as I have scoured the World Wide Web looking for fashionable, eco-friendly clothing and accessory brands that are made in the US or fairly traded. With the help of Eco Stiletto and other sites, I have compiled a list of incredible lines that you are sure to love; and it will only keep growing as the summer goes on! Check back every day for a new one, and let the conscious shopping begin…or begin in 85 days, at least.
- Produced in L.A.
- “Doie was born from the idea that it is possible to be stylish and comfortable while still helping to protect the environment. Each versatile piece is made from earth friendly fabrics such as bamboo jersey, organic cotton, organic wool, or 100% silk.”
Designed by a Parson’s school graduate (yes, the same one from Project Runway), you’d expect Doie to be effortlessly chic, and it does not disappoint. The classy silk shirts of the NYC and Paris Collections will always be in demand and the Los Angeles and California Collections offer summery pieces, perfect for the beach or a Saturday afternoon with the family. This is the ultimate find; run, don’t walk. Earlier collections are not necessarily to my taste, and certainly not for the fashionably-safe, but I encourage you to take a look if only to admire the designs. The website includes write ups on all the fabric used, so you know exactly what you are wearing and where it comes from.
A shirt from the NYC Collection.
- Most items have incredible sale prices, almost reminiscent of Old Navy or H&M. Get it before they are all snatched up!
- Available in 21 states and a variety of online stores, all found on the website.
http://www.doiedesigns.com/index.htm
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Tagged with: clothes, Doie, eco-friendly, fashion, shopping
May 21
Read This Before You Go Clothes Shopping and Come Home with Purchases You Regret
Submit a Comment • Related Topics: clothes smart shopping , Great American Apparel Diet, Sally Bjornsen
Last fall, Sally Bjornsen founded the Great American Apparel Diet, in which she and dozens of women from around the world decided to not buy clothing for an entire year. Now that she’s entering the home stretch of the fashion fast, Bjornsen has learned enough from the experiment to establish eight essential shopping rules—steps, considerations, and minimum requirements that’ll help ward off wasteful spending.
Here are the rules from Bjornsen, who in an earlier post answered a bunch of other questions about the Apparel Diet with fellow dieters:
1. Don’t ever buy something because it’s on sale. Don’t buy it if you wouldn’t pay full price for it.
2. Don’t buy anything you don’t try on first.
3. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t fit you at that moment.
4. Don’t buy anything on impulse–it’s usually all wrong.
5. Don’t buy it unless you have two things in your closet that will pair nicely with it.
6. Don’t buy it if you aren’t comfortable in it right now.
7. Don’t buy it because it’s “in,” instead buy it because it’s magical!
8. Buy local if you can.
Read more: http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/05/21/read-this-before-you-go-clothes-shopping-and-come-home-with-purchases-you-regret/#ixzz0oaaVV8h4
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Tagged with: Brad Tuttle, clothes, Consumerism, fashion, It's Your Money, shopping, Shopping Rules, The Great American Apparel Diet, Time.com
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