The Great American Apparel Diet

no buying for one year

Just wanted to check in! I have been participating for 4 months and although I may or may not have purchased a few items, my drive is still strong! At least the things I may, or may not, have bought were of necessity and on sale! i.e. jackets and sweaters (I do live in COLORADO!) I’m just happy that I have been learning about myself during this process and thus far, I am pleased. Happy to say that I am remaining on the band wagon THROUGH the TGAAD date and hopefully all the way till next March!
xoxo

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I have been seeing different sites and blogs that suggest “consumer diets” and have slowly built an interest.  At first I thought “Good for them!”, then I started thinking “Could be fun…” and now I’m thinking “I can do this!!”  I do shop very frugally, enjoying the hunt for sales and thrifting, but have now turned my focus towards home decor and cooking, so why not just cut out buying clothes altogether? I have a whole closet room-so no need to purchase more clothes, my hubby and I have begun our financial planning for investing and retirement-so I can contribute more toward that with the money I save and honestly I think it’ll do me good to face this challenge.  I would like to believe that I am not a materialistic person by nature and this will be proof to me that I have my priorities in order and am not consumed by consumerism

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Part of the reason we live in a disposable apparel culture is that we don’t take the time or make the effort to take care of the clothes we own.  I remember as a kid my mother hand washing her favorite items.  This was long before people sent everything to the dry cleaner, which by the way can ruin a wardrobe if you are not careful. My mother’s special “delicate” silks and jerseys would hang on the shower rod in our bathroom or on the floor laid flat to dry.  I can’t remember the last time I hand washed something.  My mother, by the way is a fashion icon at 72 years old.  Her wardrobe can go up against anyone’s wardrobe anyday.   Most of what’s especially beautiful in her closet are those things she has hung onto for years.  So that brings me to this…how do we modern girls learn from the generation before us about taking care of what we already own?  Here are some basic principles.  Please add on your own and I will post them too.

Tips for taking care of the clothes you already own:

• Avoid dry cleaning as much as possible. The chemical process strips down fibers in clothes over time.
• No wire hangers!
• Wash rougher pieces together like jeans, and softer ones like cotton dress shirts on their own.
• Use the gentle cycle as frequently as possible with a gentle detergent like Woolite.
• Wear your clothes more than once before washing them. If a stain is small, spot clean with seltzer water or a reputable spot remover.
• Remove clothes from the dryer and hang them up immediately.
• Don’t use the dryer if you don’t have to.  A clothes line or a shower rod make for good “air drying.”
• Pay attention to what you are ironing and look at the instructions for recommended iron settings.

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“The present in New York is so powerful that the past is lost.”- John Jay Chapman (broker who became president of the New York Stock Exchange)

As the holiday season rolls on, I have been pushed more and more to rethink the ways in which I spend my hard earned money. In the past 6months I will be honest and say that I have done a little shopping here and there, I’ve never really been one to go out on large spending sprees and although I do love shopping, it has never been my greatest vice. That being said, I am continuing to learn new things about myself as well as the ways in which people spend their hard earned income. I (for the most part) save and attempt to spend redirect my income towards things that I know I will hold close to my heart regardless of the season or the changing fashion trends, that thing is traveling, my true love. It has taken me many years to become a savvy traveler and I am currently two days back from my first trip to New York City. During my five-hour flight from Seattle to New York I had a lot of time to ponder how I managed to be so fortunate to be able to do such things and I have come to several conclusions; one of these conclusions being that it is most difficult to make the decisions than it is often to execute the task post decision making. Human’s will power is incalculable; sometimes we just need to see a goal at the end of our long winding roads to be able to make our decisions. By not buying that designer dress that was on sale from this past summer (amazing deal might I add) I was able to spend that same amount of money on another nice meal in New York (Kobe beef burger and dessert, so much better)! Every one of my decisions is a conscious thought out decision that I weigh out and consider as a tradeoff to my overall goals. Is the dress worth a train ticket? Would I buy these items if they weren’t on sale?

Being part of The Great American Apparel Diet (though now a fully active dieter) I now find myself questioning my purchasing choices beyond just my clothing. One of my personal vices is Starbucks and every time I go in to get my grande soy chi, I can’t help but question what I am trading for this one overly priced sometimes-daily purchase. During my trip to New York I was inspired in many new ways. Most of the clothing I saw during my little shopping adventures was consistently stylish (even though it was 30 degrees) but during my whole trip I held myself back purchasing many items and pushed myself to remember those tradeoffs and ask myself the important questions about why I’m even thinking of buying a new pair of black boots when I already have two. The streets, shops, and restaurants, of New York are glittered with holiday cheer and life, and I would not have been able to experience this if I had not asked those questions on a daily basis and put into perspective the trade-offs to my everyday choices. Trade-off in economic terms is defined as “losing one quality or aspect of something in return for gaining another quality or aspect. It implies a decision to be made with full comprehension of both the upside and downside of a particular choice.” In those split seconds at the register I have found this to be a greatly valuable piece of information, which has saved me money time and time again. Because I have been able to make these decisions I was able to do one of those things which I truly do love, seeing a new and beautiful place in this world and once again opening my eyes to the possibilities of forward progression and change in my future, life and career.

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As many of you know I am really interested in the idea of buying things made in America.  The Seattle Times wrote an article How to Dress Like an All American with Brands made in the U.S.A.  Here’s a snippet.

Finding U.S.-made items is a challenge, but it is possible to dress from head to toe in U.S.-made items. Here are four pieces made at home:

Jeans

True Religion is a young brand, founded in 2002. Items such as the Billy-Body Rinse jeans are made in the U.S. These jeans are made with 72 percent cotton, 28 percent elasterall. It is a low-rise fit with 7.5-inch front rise and 12.5-inch back rise. The legs are straight, and the dark rinse features soft brown thread and shiny copper rivets and button fly. Back pockets have flaps that close with a small button. Available in sizes 0 to 12, sizes are listed by waist circumference. $216 at truereligionbrandjeans.com or True Religion stores.

Top

Carve Designs is a California company that manufactures several items in the U.S., including the complete High Point Collection which features tees, hoodies and jackets. The Halifax jacket is another option. This soft shell jacket is made for cooler weather and has a double breast and zip close. It is made with soft-shell nylon bonded with long hair fleece. The fit is close and hits at high thigh. Color options are chocolate or black, sizing is small to extra large. $228 at carvedesigns.com.

Purse

reMade USA is a San Francisco company that turns old leather jackets into fashionable bags. Ready to Order bags include The Sutter Clutch, a 12-by-7 handbag made from “random scraps” of leather jackets. The bag closes with two gold snaps and has a leather hand strap. The bag takes three weeks to complete and finished bags will vary. Available in black or brown, $125. Another option is to supply your own leather jacket and place a special order. Prices vary; remadeusa.com.

Shoes

New Balance manufactures many of its shoes in New England, including the 993s. These high-performance running shoes have a suede and mesh outer and a shock-absorbing sole. Available in gray or black for $139.99. A pink version also is available for $149.99, benefits the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and allows for personalization on the tongue. Message options include “Survivor,” “In Honor of,” “Running for” and “Lace Up.” Available at newbalance.com.

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Hey guys, I just read this research article on mindless consumption and thought of all of you.  Read it here.   A snippet below…

The era of mindless consumption is over. Consumers now want a simple, sustainable, and self-sufficient life.

Conspicuous consumption. Shop till you drop. All-you-can-eat buffets and supersized meals. The post–World War II era has been marked by a voracious hunger for more. In affluent countries, people bought too much, ate too much, used up too much, and owed too much. Yet, for many, it still wasn’t enough. There was something missing—lots of things, really. Among them, a sense of control and self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, and feelings of community and authenticity. Replacing the constant accumulation of “stuff” with these more substantive intangibles lies at the heart of the current shift toward mindfulness—a movement in which heedless excess is exchanged for a more conscious and considered approach to living.  red more.

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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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Hello, I am a newcomer. I have started my shopping diet at the start of august and in September i started to write a daily blog. http://kooii.tumblr.com
My motivation comes from multiple sources: from a growing aversion to consumerist lifestyles, which truly are at the expense of the have-nots as much as at the expense of our planet, but also to save money (for a good cause) to share and to cherish the stuff that I own. I am rediscovering clothes and household goods and actually enjoying myself a lot while doing so.

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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.

Go On A Clothes Shopping Diet To Save Money

 Got A Colorado News Tip For CBS4 Denver? Share It Here

Reporting
Suzanne McCarroll

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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Old habits die hard.  I officially have been off the The Great American Apparel Diet for 26 days now.  I wish I could say I have put all my new rules into place and that it is all smooth sailing, but that would be a lie.  I seem to be back to my old tricks, spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about, shopping for and discussing apparel.  The good news is I have a keen awareness of my behavior, where before the diet I did not.  I have had to catch myself on numerous occasions behaving like the shopaholic I used to be.  Buying in a frenzy only to return the item the next day.  Going out to run an errand, say grocery shopping, and finding myself in a store surrounded by beautiful apparel (how’d that happen?).  But the one thing that has really come into view since I have been off the diet is how much internet shopping attracts my attention.  It is such a hot button for me.  It used to be you had to get dressed, get in your car and drive to the mall, now all you have to do is turn on your computer.  It’s like cat to catnip, crack to an addict, blood to a mosquito.  You can shop naked, in your underwear, on the toilette, it doesn’t matter.  They will take your money regardless of what you’re doing on the other end of the high speed internet.   You know the drill.  I am planning this week, tomorrow, to turn off the e-mail sites that offer the high-end discount deals like Hautelook.com, Gilt.com, RueLaLa, etc.  It is just too damed tempting and I don’t have the will power to look and not to buy.  Wish me luck!  Your fellow lifetime dieter.

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