OK. Just came back from Nordstrom. I had to get some nice underthings for a black dress I am wearing to the Humane Society Auction. The rules say we can shop for underwear, so here is what I bought: One fantastic Wacoal black bra, one “Commando” (yes, that is the name) black slip, and some hosiery. However, when I was in hosiery I might have crossed a Great American Apparel diet line. I had to have these capri things that go under your dress, I consider them hosiery. And…they were in that department. Plus they go under so I can even safely say under thing. I loved shopping today. I went with my friend Anna. I do not understand people who hate shopping. I find myself wondering, what happened to these people? Did they go shopping with someone really mean when they were kids? Was there a cruel sales person in their past? Anyway, very hard to give up shopping, I am grateful to have the room for underwear, shoes and accessories. Also, I haven’t had sugar or honey or maple syrup or anything in over a week, so today was my reward for being so sugar free.
I was in New York a few weeks ago, and I saw three plays while I was there. One was the new Green Day musical, “American Idiot”. I am not a theater critic so I will leave it at that. My favorite play of the three was “Next Fall” a play which I hope one of the theaters here (I hope ACT) picks up. The third play is a work by Nora Ephron, a play that explores the role of clothing in a woman’s life. It is called “Love, Loss, and What I wore”. Here is a link to the website http://www.lovelossonstage.com/
Again, I am not a theater critic. My college roommate came to Seattle because I talked him into it, and became a theater critic here….google Steve Wiecking. So perhaps he could either give this Nora Ephron play a good review…or not. But I did think it was an interesting topic, dramatic events that happen in our lives and what outfits we wore. How we feel about clothes. It seems to fit in with our Great American Apparel Diet. I thought, too bad all of us ( how many now? Over 100?) can’t take a field trip to New York! Gnaomi Siemens will not have to travel far. We could see this play together and then have a chat about it after. The standout of the show was Danny DeVito’s and Rhea Pearlman’s daughter. She was great!!! Anyway, google it. Very interesting. I think Nora Ephron should visit our site here, maybe we would inspire more monologues for her play.
I just got back from 8 days in New York, and no shopping. There is a first time for everything, I guess! I did some window shopping, however. I found this great store called Karen Millen. She is a designer from the UK. If I had cheated, I would have cheated in the Karen Millen store. One of my fab and frequent traveler to NYC clients told me about the boutique, it is in Soho. So hard overcoming the shopping urge. The craziest part is, that Alissa Schoenfeld, my business partner for Beauty Alert!, gave me her favorite Diane Von Furtenberg blouse! She said she was tired of it. I said, “Is this because you know I am on that no clothes for a year diet?” She said “What diet?” I love it that I got some clothes for this trip without breaking the rules. She also gave me a short silk dress with ruffles. Yay!
So I have gotten many comments from friends/family about my clothing diet. The comments have ranged from, “Oh, isn’t that interesting….” (Yes, I believe the intent here is self evident) to “Don’t you think it’s a little hypocritical to continue to buy accessories, handbags and shoes while allegedly changing your consumption habits” (for the record, I kind of agree and am struggling with what to do about it) and, “Does this mean you won’t come to the trunk show at my house next week, I was counting on you!” Yes, you and Visa–sorry to let you both down.
Meanwhile, everywhere I look (Sunday’s LA Times, yesterday’s San Francisco Chronicle) there are articles about people overspending, negative consequences of this habit and how retailers are now having to “get local” with their approach to luring consumers in. Honestly, I feel like I am on information overload! The funny thing is, in many respects I find myself thinking more and more about shopping; all of the shopping I have done, the shopping I could be doing now and what it will all mean for my consumption habits in the future. The great news is that I feel like all of the time I am thinking about this subject, I am not necessarily thinking about things I could be buying but rather what it all means and how it all got to be so important in my life to begin with. More on that later but my primary thought is boredom.
Since starting my clothing fast many things have happened in my life. I had a birthday and NO ONE bought me a single article of clothing, much to my dismay, I joined Weight Watchers because the dozens of cute things hanging in my closet aren’t just going to drape themselves kindly over the extra ten pounds I have been toting around. I got a job. I didn’t look for this job, it actually showed up in my inbox in the form of an email from a friend and former co-worker. He wanted someone to solve a glitch in his business and he kindly recruited/drafted me. How does this pertain to TGAAD you are half wondering while considering why you are even reading this to begin with….well, I have had to dress myself respectably since the job showed up and so far, it’s been great. I am not even wasting any brain power by contemplating what item I am “missing” from my wardrobe that I can’t live without. I simply go into my closet and choose from the vast array of things already there!!
If anything, TGAAD has me thinking a little more about what I AM going to wear in a good way. I am trying to dress outside of my general guideline of “if it is contains some percentage of lycra and I can ride my bike to get the kids to school and not look like a giver-upper (of the sweatpant variety) or have a camel-toe then that’s my outfit!!
A little over two weeks in and I’d have to say instead of just being an unconscious consumer I am turning into a little more of a conscious dresser. This is a good thing. No more excuses about why I can’t wear the totally cute, strapless sundress that I bought at Anthropologie* because I don’t have anything to wear it to–forget it! I am just going to wear it to show up at my life!
* It was on SALE!!
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