You might want to sit down and grab a beverage. This might take a little bit.
This is my closet.
First things first – the fact that I didn’t re-fold every damn sweater in my closet before posting this photo is huge for me. HUGE. I mean, you are reading the blog of a girl who recently downloaded a friend’s Twitter profile photo, photoshopped a bothersome corner and emailed it to her. SHE DID NOT REQUEST THIS.
But really, folks. The corner was bothersome! One-eyed (precious) baby head staring at me!
These are the types of inconsequential things that plague me. (Believe it or not, my husband is 100 times worse than me. In fact, it’s his detailed aesthetic that has completely transformed me into a person who does things like the above. I BLAME YOU, D.)
So, yeah! OCD. Back to the sweaters. Look at the droopiness! The crookedness! The non-color coordination! Good God, this is hurting me deeply. Do you know that my first job out of college was the Assistant Manager at Ann Taylor? It goes without saying that this bitch can FOLD.
Back to my momentous occasion biznass. I am officially not shopping until April 10th. (cue fanfare) This is most likely NOT going to last, as I am afflicted with Retail Power Consumerism.
Most notable characteristics of RPC:
1) Knowing more about your UPS driver than your extended family.
2) Possessing a vast knowledge of a retail store’s inventory – more than the actual sales associates themselves. (Dear associates at J. Crew, when I ask you to grab the Dream Silvie Dress in Charcoal, I expect you to know what in the hell that means. The catalog should be your bible. GAH. Your Bright Papaya Jane flats look great on you, though!)
3) Refreshing your internet browser 156 times at 8:59pmPST before the day of a big online sale.
4) Purging your closet at least 2-3 times per year and still not wearing 65% off your belongings.
5) Constantly emailing with a group of fashion enablers. I happen to have four. (Just last night, we exchanged 17 emails between 6:39 and 6:55pm. It’s shameful, really.)
I know what some of you are thinking, though. That closet isn’t half bad! It’s not large, it looks totally manageable and is not over-flowing with random crap. Right?
Well, let me show you the other side of the closet. You know, the one that SHOULD be my husband’s side. (Riiiiight. His stuff is totally in Wito’s room.)
Okay, this is ridiculous. Starting at the left side of the photo and continuing until you see the clear, plastic hanging bag is my collection of jackets. OH MY GOD WHO NEEDS THAT MANY JACKETS? Must I remind you of where I live? Let me give you a hint – it was 83 DEGREES YESTERDAY. Look at all of those plastic boxes filled with shoes. I never wear those shoes.
However, that’s not all! See the following cabinets above my closet?
Those are filled with plastic bins of more clothes. Shocking, I know!
What are all of those clothes doing up there? Seriously. This photo also demonstrates my practice of buying certain styles in multiples. The stack of clothes above the bin is made up entirely of J. Crew Bermuda shorts. I’m pretty sure I own every color. (NOT NECESSARY!)
I also become a tad bit obsessed with certain brands. It seems after finding my perfect grey bag last year, I couldn’t STOP buying Hayden Harnett bags.
Again, NOT NECESSARY. And maybe a little weird.
Have I proven my point? The shopping needs to stop. I don’t think Wito’s college fund can be fueled by the resale of Hayden Harnett bags.
I’m not going to lie – for me, this is going to quite a challenge. Between my time spent online and this writing job, I am pretty much surrounded by purchasing opportunities, but I’m going to give it a good college try. (Thanks to my friends Joslyn and Susan for the idea. Now, can you two come to California and hold my hand?)
However, just because I’m not shopping doesn’t mean I’m not looking. In fact, I am introducing a new whoorl category entitled “What I’m Not Buying Today” where I will, well, show you what I’m not buying today. (See the link up in the top navigation bar!) Maybe YOU will buy it and I can live vicariously through you! YES, BRILLIANT!
In closing, when I told my lovely (yet dangerous) enablers of my new plan last night, the lovely Metalia wrote a little song to the tune of Goodbye, Lover by James Blunt for the occasion. (She’s the Weird Al of our time! But, you know, prettier. And normal.) Hold up your lighters, my friends.
Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
‘Cause I saw my bills, but “needed” that cardigan.
Yes I saw I was blinded, and I knew you had won.
So I took what’s mine, by eternal right.
That Sylvie dress, perfect for Date Night.
It may be over, but it won’t stop there,
So I’m stopping for now, because I need to repair.
You touched my heart, you touched my soul.
But I’ve changed my life and all my goals.
And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.
I’ve purchased pea coats in bright red.
Shared my finds on the internet.
I know you well, I know your smell.
I’ve been addicted to you.
Goodbye to J. Crew.
Goodbye to Gap.
You have been the ones.
You have been the ones for me.
So, the question remains. Who wants to join me? COME ON! We can cry to one another on a weekly basis!
Susan
January 15, 2009 at 7:39 amGodspeed, my friend. We can do this. I think.
Kate
January 15, 2009 at 7:44 amI’ve been on a “shopping fast” thus far in 2009 as well, though not as formal as yours. I like the idea of setting those boundaries (and telling everyone), it will probably make things easier for you!
On another note, I just got my first HH bag (Havana – just before the calendar turned to 2009) and it is true love. That may be the hardest part of my “not shopping” gig!
Good luck!
Legallyblondemel
January 15, 2009 at 8:13 amHi, found you via the fashion enabler, SLynnRo.
Just wanted to offer a slow clap for the dual challenge of not shopping until April, while beginning a “What I’m Not Buying” column. To that I say “Hell to the no” for myself, but I will enjoy and admire your quest.
Angella
January 15, 2009 at 8:22 amI might join the challenge if only to have something different to model for The Working Closet Flickr Pool. I currently rotate between two pairs of jeans and a handful of tops and sweaters. I cannot promise to quit shopping yet…am heading out for a day at the mall with my girls on Saturday ;)
TheSpectrum
January 15, 2009 at 8:38 amI am in! Crying, but IN!
Amanda
January 15, 2009 at 9:03 amI just IMed my girlfriend and told her I was relieved that I wasn’t the only one doing this!
I started my spending freeze in December and so far I haven’t slipped up once. I have wanted to, believe me, but I’m finding the longer I go, the less I feel the need to buy….even though J.Crew is yelling at me “GO NAO TO BUY SALE ITEMS! 20% OFF SALE PRICES! WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME ANYMOREEEE?”
I started my freeze b/c in early December I found out we were expecting so in an attempt to show my husband I can go without buying new clothes (or shoes or jewelry) he might feel more comfortable, you know, leaving me home by myself with little to do come August. ;)
Stay strong sistah! It does get easier!!!
Amanda
January 15, 2009 at 9:06 amps: this shit is totally off once the kid arrives and i have an excuse to browse Crew Cuts. ;)
Kate
January 15, 2009 at 10:23 amFirst, I think you should have a “yard sale”of sorts here on your blog to purge your unneccessary shoes, bags, jackes, burmuda shorts etc. But you’re probably a damned size ZERO or something. ;)
I have seriously considered doing this…and that’s a start, right? But…but…but oooohhhh….it’s HARD.
Aimee Greeblemonkey
January 15, 2009 at 10:39 amI would have done the same for the Twitter photo. In fact. anyone who needs that who I am following please see me.
Marin
January 15, 2009 at 10:41 amIf you feel like donating any of your collection to a certain broke college student (*cough* *me*) I would maybe worship at your feet and praise you forever on the Internet. Every day.
I think it’s a really, really good idea to take time off from buying. Not just for you, though, for everybody. Including me.
Annady
January 15, 2009 at 11:26 amHa! I just had to admit that I can’t do it. I am going to seriously limit my spending though. There’s no reason to have shopped enough to become a Luxe card member at Banana Republic last year.
Although I am absolutely stingy when it comes to spending on everything else. Please, just eat the beans and rice I bring to a party because everything else is just too expensive to eat.
sunny
January 15, 2009 at 11:40 amhi whoorl,
I noticed that I wear a lot less of my clothes and even less variety (i.e. suits, jackets, scarves, heels) because I no longer have an office job and I’m a SAHM. Maybe this is also true for you? G Paltrow has an article up on her site about reusing clothing articles for a chic mom “uniform”: http://goop.com/newsletter/3
(note: some of her content annoys me but this one is pretty good :)
Best of luck! I know you can do it!
Cassandra
January 15, 2009 at 12:25 pmCame from Joslyn’s blog link. Nice closet. I’m in on the no buy spree too. First week has been relatively easy. But then my spring catalogs are starting to come in the mail. And I haven’t left my house to go to any major temptation stores yet. So we’ll see how I do. I’m with you on multiples. I have some J Crew chino shorts. 3 pairs of the same style in different colors. Good luck with your no spend spree. We’ve got a nice sized support group, so we can all pull through… (my no spend rules basically focus on clothing, since that’s where I overspend.) I’m pretty much just going to bury my nose in books for the next 3 months…
Cassandra
January 15, 2009 at 12:32 pmP.S. Just saw your blog post about loving Sun Valley and it made me glow with a little pride. I’m from that pretty little valley and those mountains were my home for the first 21 years of my life. Glad you liked it. It is extremely beautiful. I miss the clean air.
gorillabuns
January 15, 2009 at 12:49 pmi need to do this with children’s clothing. i’m not sure I can.