Fashion
A Year Without Clothes
by Susan Wagner

When was the last time you went shopping? Last week? Last month? Last year? Could you go a whole year without shopping?  For clothes, that is, not food or toiilet paper or lightbulbs. 

A whole year without buying a single piece of clothing. Think about it. Could you do it?  Would you?

Rachelle at Magpie Girl is going to do precisely that: She is going to abstain from buying new clothing for herself for an entire year. What got her to this point? For starters, she's living in Copenhagen, where the cost of living is much higher than it is in the US and thrift stores are few and far between. But that's only part of the story.

...I went on a shopping spree this Summer in Seattle. Target, thrift stores, Old Navy. Now I was stocked on the basics. When I got back to CPH I was confronted by two American TV ads on Hulu. One for a designer discount store in which the spokeswoman said “Just because times are tight out there doesn’t mean you should have to stop wearing designer labels!” The second was for Target and featured the new term “frugalistas” and designer Nina Garcia from Project Runaway. She encouraged an average- looking shopper to buy bright blue and pink jeans, because “This season denim is all about color.”

WTF?! People are in foreclosure and designer labels are a priority? Soccer moms need to buy jeans they won’t be caught dead in next year because “this season” demands a color we abandoned circa 1985?!

Look, beauty is a deep value of mine. I love self-expression, and I think clothing is one of the ways we differentiate ourselves to others. But this endless cycle of disposable clothing designed to last “this season” and be out the next, it is absolutely ridiculous. And as much as I adore Project Runway, I’m sorry sweetie but fashion, at least as part of consumer wheel of fortune, is not going to change the world.

A year without clothes, for Rachelle, is an opportunity to step away from the consumer madness (and no matter how much you love shopping or clothes or fashion in the abstract, it is hard to avoid feeling crushed by the constant stream of This Season's Must-Have Pieces). "I just want to see what it’s like," Rachelle wrote, "to not be beholden to the trends of the 'season,' to get off the hamster wheel and just make-do."

Rachelle's post inspired a flurry of responses, both public and private. Eden Kennedy emailed me to say that she's thinking about trying this; among her reasons were these: "To find other ways to change my look than just buying new stuff. To challenge my creativity." Rachelle followed up her original post with a list of "*8 things to think about before going a year without clothes." Number five is Get Curious:

How will this help me be more aware of who I am internally and how I express that in my outward appearance? Am I a slave to fashion marketing or am I being my truest self? How deep is my resourcefulness and problem solving skills? How willing am I to learn a new skill? If I set limit, will my creativity expand?

Like Eden, Rachelle is interested in our shopping default; we're tired of our look (or our job or marriage or kids or life) so we recreate ourselves by shopping. Nothing wrong with that -- it's always interesting to challenge yourself to change -- but can change be affected without new clothes?

Of course.

Other women piped up that they are already doing this, already choosing not to follow trends and spend on clothes. Morra Aarons-Mele recently rethought her entire closet, and now feels like she's done shopping, for a while at least:

I just lost 65 lbs of baby weight. As a reward/necessity, I spent about $1000 on new clothes. I bought some gorgeous, multi-season pieces, not my usual TJ Maxx/run into the Gap special. I worked hard to edit my wardrobe and it took a couple months- after all those months of not buying clothes bc of baby weight, new baby, I really enjoyed planning out what I was going to buy, keep, donate. I made lists, cut out pages, and found an amazing boutique in Providence RI that I developed a relationship with. My sister came up and helped me weed out my entire wardrobe and edit it for color, cut, etc.

That said, I feel set now. I have no excuse to buy anything else. None. I want to see if my commitment to buying a "capsule" wardrobe, I think they call it, can last me a whole year.

I think it can.

But having all the right pieces is only one reason women don't shop. Some women, like Liz Henry, get dressed every day without elaborate shopping trips:

Anyone else here just wear what they have, and buy jeans at the thrift store or a cheap shop once in a while? I'd say once every 5 years or so I buy a nice suit jacket or shoes. Yearly underwear and socks. The occasional funny geeky tshirt online. A white button down shirt and a black one and three pairs of pants (more if I don't have a washing machine.)

I still get jobs, travel around the planet, go to people's weddings, and date people while dressing that way.

Finally, Leslie Madsen-Brooks offered this important reminder:

Since my pay has been frozen for two years and I’m taking a pay cut/furlough, I’ve already been doing this out of relative poverty because my income is now 14% below what it was supposed to be, and is on schedule to drop to 20% below within a year—if my job still exists.

Accordingly, over the last year I’ve learned it really is a privilege to be in a position to choose to shop or not shop. Remember that for millions of women (in this recession and beyond), not shopping for clothes is a necessity.

Which brings us back to Rachelle's Year Without Clothes and her refusal to participate in the culture of trends. Rachelle is challenging her readers to play along, in some way, during the next year. Not ready to give up shopping entirely? How about committing to one of these options, then?

What are *8Things you could do to make A Year Without Clothes work for you? Or alternatively, what are *8Things you could do to make the clothes you have go farther for you? Or *8Things that will help me spend less on clothing? Or *8Things To Do To Dress Like Your True Self.

Are you in? Could you give up shopping for one year? Or have you already? And if you're not ready to step away from the mall, what can you do to become your own personal stylist, and -- to borrow a phrase from Tim Gunn -- make it work?

Susan Wagner writes about fashion at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate. She is not giving up shopping, but she is going to to think more carefully about dressing like her true self.

Submitted by Susan Wagner (view blog) on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 9:00am

Comments

 

very few new clothes

I seldom buy new clothes. Latest is underwear and sox and one graphic tshirt (just this past Thurs cuz it's from a historic site where my dad used to work.)  I wear tshirts and sweatshirts and sometimes long sleeved shirts to work. I have 2 denim shirts from work that I wear over my tshirts when it's cool.  So I don't need alot.  I do get tired of the same thing but rarely do I buy much.   

Not buying clothes for a year, except for necessities sounds like a good idea.  I am not always wearing what magazines/fashion editors think I need to have.  We are struggling some with money.  I had to get a different car as my van decided to have more emissions problems than we could afford again.  So another good used Ford vehicle is in our garage.  Higher car payment and higher insurance hit us.  Insurance went down a bit which helps.  But we manage.  I try to keep cash on hand to use for our date lunches out on Friday at Subway and buying on smaller shopping trips.  Also have cash for future times in envelope for saving to buy gifts or going somewhere on a day trip fund.

Hard times are manageable.  We have low entertainment budget. Wait til a movie we want to see comes out on dvd. Theaters are outrageous in prices.  I cook at home alot.  I usually make enough at a meal for leftovers, which helps during the week for lunches and my husband's dinner, as he works a late shift.  

We will all survive if we just dig in and save and make do!!

Becky Lowmaster http://grandmabeckyl.blogspot.com

Submitted by mnmrabbit on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 11:35
 

I use shopping as therapy

I don't shop for myself very much, because my kids are growing out of their clothes faster than I can WASH them, but I do sometimes use shopping to cure ennui.  New shoes.  A sweater.  Handbag from Target.  It does offer a relatively inexpensive lift to my spirits when I really need it.  For that reason, I'm honestly not sure I could completely give it up.

Great discussion.

Sue @ Laundry for Six

Submitted by SueW on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:50
 

I don't buy clothes very

I don't buy clothes very often, not much of a shopper of a lover of clothes, but not buying them for a year would be interesting.  If I went shopping before I started and bought the things I would need, then I could probably do it.

I can't wait to hear about her experience.  I have loved following the journey of people who stopped spending money for a year (except on groceries) and who only have 100 things.  So this should be interesting too! 

 

www.bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com

Submitted by lorieblogs on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 13:10
 

Couldn't do it!

I hate to say this but.....I don't think I could give up shopping for a year. I do buy some staples during the year, but rarely make a large amount of purchases. Still, I don't think I could do it! :)

Lake Placid Skater

www.lakeplacidskater.blogspot.com

Sk8 On!

Submitted by LP Skater on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 13:19
 

I wouldn't want to

I don't overspend as it is, so I wouldn't stop shopping for a year. If I buy new, it's at Macy's with my discounts. I know right where the clearance racks are and shopping on bonus days makes it even better.

I work at a cosignment shop. Loads of labels at deep discounts are available every day. I love  that I also get a discount. My favorite buy this past week was a brand-new cami, blouse & skirt from White House Black Market. It still had the tags for $200 on it...but I got it for $7! (w/my discount) I buy for everyone in my family. They love me:)

 

http://raisedqueer.squarespace.com

Submitted by raisedqueer on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 13:54
 

I could go without new clothes...

...as long as I could still buy accessories.

Miss Britt

http://www.miss-britt.com

"Dignity is Overrated"

Submitted by missbritt on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 19:21
 

Most of the new clothes we

Most of the new clothes we get between the husband and I are gifts - shirts and pants for him, shalwaar kameez sew-yourself kits for me. Otherwise, I need to buy fabric for housedresses, but that's a need, not a want - my existing ones are starting to wear out and need replacing.

We are frugal already, and not going out much (we're not terribly social people, and while the hubby works from home as a self-employed person, I'm not employed at all) means that there are entire categories of expenses that we simply don't have to worry about.

I couldn't cut down on our clothing expenses any more than we already have simply because it's already very low.

I'll also add, though, that living in a third world country helps - there's none of this "this season's fashion" or such things (except, probably, among the wealthy). You wear what you wear and that's all there is to it. I much prefer it this way, honestly.

Laurie in Sri Lanka

Chilli & Chocolate | A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court | LMAshton on Twitter

Submitted by LMAshton on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 19:50
 

i could

www.smilelaughordie.com

i had a weed out the excess period about 3 years ago. since then i really tru to wear the things i buy and donate the things that i don't. it has really made a big difference in my life and helped me find other hobbies and cheer myself up techniques.  i do believe target and the rest of the stores missed me though!

Submitted by j.c. on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 10:51
 

Not a shopper

well, at least most of the time. I'm not much into following trends. I usually scour the new arrivals on the web and mags, and pick a few things I like...usually something I already have in my closet, and start dressing from there. I have had clothes given to me for years, mostly designer and some of its 'old fashion', but I like to make my own. I can't tell you how many times what I wear becomes fashion next year.

Submitted by fairdinks on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 20:29
 

I dont go shopping often but

I dont go shopping often but sometimes, somtimes it is really necessary if you have a job. Sometimes going shopping is my way of releasing stress from everyday life. but I anm always going for cheap clothes or those on sale. Among other things, I thinks I spend the least on my clothes.

Submitted by midnightbliss on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 11:31
 

I Could But I Don't Want To

A couple years ago money was really super tight so I stayed out of the mall for most of the year.  If I absolutely needed any clothing item it was Target or Walmart.  I could go without buying for a year but I don't want to.  I am not materialistic and not even a huge shopper but I enjoy buying an item here and there. I am extremely disciplined as it is when it comes to my spending habits but to decide to not shop at all for a year obviously would cause me to spend even less money.  However, I treat myself to so little that the only real thing it would accomplish is me once again depriving myself of simple and likely non expensive things that bring a little bit of joy into my life.  I'm not rich.  There are a lot of things I can't afford so if buying stuff here and there that is affordable for me and makes me happy I just don't see the point of not doing it.

Because Everybody Has A Story

 

Submitted by nedacasta on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 06:25
 

I read the title of this post and was all -
NEKKID 365! WOOO!

And then I saw it was all about not getting new clothes, not going au naturel for an entire year. 

 

The Circus is in town!

Submitted by Jenny Lauck on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 20:10
 

Couldn't Do It

I am a self-admitted shopaholic and trend-buyer - usually purchasing 1-3 pieces a week - whether it's shoes, acessories, or clothes, so no, I could never go a whole year. Going a month would be a true test for me! However, I truly respect those who could do it!

Submitted by shopaholik07 on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 09:25
 

do without clothes

I could go without clothes as well  if I am in tropics. i just need my bikini and a rainjacket of course.

Submitted by jchub09 on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 12:06
 

I am doing it

I made the “No clothes shopping for a year” my New Years resolution on December 31st, 2008. Over 10 months later I am happy to report that I have been successful in not buying a single piece of clothing. The most interesting thing about this experiment is that I have stopped missing shopping sprees. In fact they never even cross my mind any more. Instead I have realized how many clothes I already have and that there is no need to add more.
Who knows how long this trend will continue through 2010 and beyond.

Submitted by ThatGirlRuns on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 18:40