Use less stuff

Susan Wagner — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:55:50 -0600

This week, BlogHers are buzzing about The Story of Stuff, a short video about, well, stuff -- where it comes from, where it goes, and everything in between. Activist Annie Leonard walks us through the life of stuff, from production to disposal, and talks about the impact that stuff has on our environment and our culture. What she says is both persuasive and familiar: our incessant need for stuff is destroying our planet.

That shouldn't surprise anyone.

As a fashion writer, the phrase I hear more often than any other is this: "I have a closet full of clothes and NOTHING to wear." And yes, sometimes we say that as an act of hyperbole, but often we mean it. We have plenty of stuff, and none of it is working for us. And the solution, of course, is to buy more stuff, which only perpetuates the closet full of clothes dilemma.

In October, I gave up shopping for one month; no clothes or shoes or handbags. It seemed impossible to me that with everything I own, I really didn't have anything to wear. I have a closet full of clothes, and by god I was going to wear them.

And I did. And honestly, it was less stressful than shopping. My choices were there, every morning, waiting for me; there was no "Oh if only I had a blue skirt" or "This would be SO MUCH BETTER with a green blouse." I had what I had and for thirty one days, I made that wardrobe work. And as the month went on, I found myself piling more and more things into a Give Away box, because it was clear to me that they weren't going to work. But until I stopped shopping, it was hard for me to see what I was really wearing.

Shopping is like that in general, I think; it is so easy to just buy a new whatever it is you need that we don't even bother to see if we already have something that might work. And when we shop out of boredom or frustration or anxiety, we make poor choices; we buy pieces that don't really fit our bodies or our wardrobes or our lifetyles, simply because they are right there in front of us. And all that shopping -- and its associated production and destruction -- is detrimental to our wallets and our planet and, often, our self-esteem.

At The Story of Stuff website, Leonard offers ten ways to address the problems identified in the film. Among them, not surprisingly, are recommendations about shopping, including my favorite:"buying less may be the best option of all. Less pollution. Less Waste. Less time working to pay for the stuff. Sometimes, less really is more."

I couldn't agree more. Wear what you have, use what you have, FIGURE OUT what you have. Don't buy new stuff just because you can.

What about all the stuff you already have and want to get rid of? Be purposeful; donate anything that is still usable to groups that will actually use it. Organizations like Dress for Success are happy to have any pieces that are still in good condition (and really, most of what is in your closet is probably in good condition, if only because you aren't wearing it). Dress for Success outfits women for job interviews; they are always on the lookout for suits and other work-appropriate attire.

How do you get through the holiday gift season without amassing more stuff? Resist the urge to buy a new dress for every gathering; shop your closet and wear what you already have. And for everyone on your list who needs something to open or a box under the tree, BlogHer CE Britt Bravo has created a wonderful list of ten gifts that give back.

Susan Wagner writes about fashion at Friday Style and The Working Closet, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. She will be giving up shopping again in January.

BlogHer - Use less stuff - Comments

Use less stuff