The Great American Apparel Diet

no buying for one year

Okay, so with my last week and a half of technically being able to shop, I am faced with this decision: To shop or NOT to shop?

I think it may be my nerves starting to catch up with me, however I’ve been thinking..should I use these last days to “stock up” on items I already have in my closet but can use more of? For example, in my last post I talked about a pair of jeans I recently bought from AE for $49. In the past, I have never really been a fan of AE jeans as they never fit me very well. But these jeans in particular fit so nicely that it has me questioning whether or not I should purchase another pair…………………………. decisions!

Update! They’re on sale!! For $34.95

But wait, there’s more! You see, there’s this jacket.. and it’s beautiful. It’s something I most definitely don’t have a problem paying full price for and it’s in a wonderful tangerine-ish colour. It would be great for snowshoeing and other outdoor activities as its not too warm and bulky [which is what I'm struggling with in my current arteryx] so I’m playing around with the idea of buying this new one.

The Boyfriend thinks it’s a stupid idea since I bought my current jacket this April, but what do you think??

To buy or not to buy?

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I’ve recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Ontario for a family visit with the boyfriend. Like I’ve said in an earlier post, I don’t have many shopping options here in my town and most of my clothing purchases happen online. So being in “civilization” kind of put me into shopping OVERDRIVE!!! Since I normally don’t have the luxury of being able to pack up and leave town whenever I want, being in any city with endless shopping possibilities is pretty exciting! Even the most minuscule mall can give me a rush!!

One of the reasons I chose TGAAD as my new years resolution was to ease myself into it without feeling too overwhelmed. Also, I figured since we had already planned this trip way far in advance, that I didn’t want to limit myself while on the second trip out of town this year…like I said, I don’t get out much.

So..First things first: Budget, Budget, Budget! I budgeted for the entire trip. I saved up a couple months in advance, made a list of things that I really wanted to buy annnd… I didn’t bring my credit card [that part was pretty easy since it's been sitting pretty in a block of ice in my freezer for the last year and a half].

So as soon as we got into the city[Day 2 of a 15 hour drive and at this point we had been up since 4:30 in the morning], we went straight for the mall. THE WEST EDMONTON MALL!! Oh the convenience! Oh the stores! Oh the humanity!!! Anthropologie! Victorias Secret! H&M! Lululemon!! Ahh there are too many to name! ShoesShoesShoesssssss!!! The one stop shop!

It was great and I loved it, and somehow I managed to buy more accessories [scarves, hats, jewelry, sunglasses..etc] and gifts than actual clothes. In the 17 days we were gone I came home with 2 sweaters; 1 cardigan – $12.99 at Old Navy; 1 long sleeved active shirt (perfect for under my hockey equipment) and a pair of AE jeans $49.50….Huh, go figure. One of the best purchases would have to have been the most darling of egg holders from anthropologie in this fab blue colour..it was something like $16 and I LOVE IT!

TenDays until the real challenge begins. EXCITED MUCH!?!?! xoxo

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These boots were made for walking! The results are in from our last poll “What items are you having the most difficult time not purchasing during this holiday season?” The majority of TGAAD members (38 %) voted boots as there most difficult item with 36 votes. Coming in second was sweaters (22%) with 21 votes. Being a child of California, I personally struggle with much of winter fashion seeking shoes as my savior from looking like I’m wearing the same black pants, big coat, and colored scarf outfit all winter, not to mention Seattle can seem like the rainiest dreary city in the world hindering me from wearing my brightly colored tanks and cute dresses.

Thanks for your participation in the polls! We have opened up a brand new one today: Where have you redistributed the funds that you have saved from not buying clothing?

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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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A little background, I am a child of retail–father, grandfather both in the retail business.  My childhood was spent in department stores (closed on Sunday) hiding behind the rounders and racks, befriending mannequins and overly made up sales clerks.  I tell you this because I do love retail, it’s in my bones. But that said it has gotten nutty and has lost its luster for me.  Why you ask?

Retailers used to be closed on Sundays and holidays—lest they encroach on the consumer’s chance to relax, reflect and to spend time with family and friends.  In those days consumerism was just one small part of our lives.  Today retailers are open until six o clock on Sundays.  Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are fair game.  On the news today I saw that many retailers are opening their doors at 3am on black Friday (tomorrow).  Really?  Who is shopping at 3am?  When did getting the best deal become more important than getting a good night’s sleep?  And what is a deal if you have to spend the night on concrete in a tent outside a big box retailer.  I ask, what is your time worth and is it really a deal? 

It’s moments like this that I am embarrassed to be an American. Is our cultural identity wrapped up in consumerism, intertwined with Best Buy and Nordstrom ?  When I think of the Italians I think pasta, the French cigarettes and beautiful women.  The Greeks remind me of olives and the Olympics.  Brazil, soccer.  Is America Apple Pie and Target?  I certainly hope not. 

I say back off, enjoy the holidays.  You have a whole month before Christmas, no need to sleep in a parking lot on Thanksgiving night.  There will always be more to buy and retailers willing to give you a deal.  Let’s take back our culture and find something else to go nuts about.

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I left the other night’s TGAAD exchange (thank you, Sally!), inspired by the conversation, action and awareness.

The question was posed: Where do discarded clothes end up?

Good question!

According to the EPA and the Council for Textile Recycling, the U.S. generates roughly 9 BILLION POUNDS of used clothing each year–an average of 29 pounds per person–and only a small fraction of that is recycled.

Discarded clothes go where you send them… landfill, Goodwill or your friend’s closet. Some materials (polyester and non-natural blends) take hundreds of years to decompose, and some never do.

Absolutely, recycle your clothes–repair them, make them into something else, give them to friends or donate them to a worthy cause. Keeping clothing out of the waste stream can help others in need, reduces landfill, as well as keeps valuable materials flowing for reuse.

Additionally, think “upstream” — when you purchase new clothing, go for materials that are natural, good for the environment and sustainably manufactured. Organic cotton, hemp and bamboo are natural fibers that will decompose, even if they end up in the landfill. Also consider quality over quantity — buy staples that will last and avoid “disposable clothes” that fall apart at the seams and look scruffy after just a few washings. (You know the ones I mean…)

Where and how to recycle:

Donate! Goodwill and Salvation Army are always safe bets for recycling clothes. There’s also the Jubilee Women’s Center, as well as other smaller and local organizations looking for clothing donations.

Sell them! If you have the time and patience, garage sales and vintage/consignment stores, like Le Frock, are a way to make some extra pocket money.

Recycle!  Patagonia Common Threads: Patagonia recycles a number of items–worn out Capilene® Performance Baselayers, Patagonia® fleece, Polartec® fleece clothing (from any maker), Patagonia cotton T-shirts, and some additional polyester and nylon 6 products that come with a Common Threads tag.

Make something new! My old tshirts turn into rags — that’s about as crafty as I get, although there are some fun recycled clothes craft ideas here as well as great recycled clothing fashions like these on Etsy by Feltedfancy and wonderful inspiration from The Thrifty Chicks, “Thrift Store Gurus,” who recently joined the TGAAD challenge.

Would love to hear other ideas and sources for recycling clothes — please post them if you know them!

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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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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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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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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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