Fendi bag lady?

Ok. So I’m not exactly the Fendi bag lady (I owned a Coach bag once which is now sitting in Secondi, a consignment store in DC…actually, if you shop at Secondi, pls pls go buy it!!!) and I’m not as crazy as some when it comes to shopping…but I think I definitely have a shopping/pack rat problem.  I have a lot of things for a person who moves around pretty often and who doesn’t exactly have permanant storage space at all.  Naturally, this always hits me right as I’m about to move.  But whenever I’m settled, I go on this mysterious shopping spree that won’t stop.  I keep telling myself, OMG! What a bargain.  sigh.  I wasn’t always like this you know.  My family only shopped once a year and that was when we were on vacation.  Otherwise, NO NEW CLOTHES.  Everything else was hand-me-downs.  Fine by me.  I apparently don’t care if the clothes/shoes are new or old. They are all new to me.  I think that’s why I never really learnt how to mix and match and be creative with my clothes.  My mom just always fixed everything. So I never learnt how to fix my clothes either (actually I think I broke her sewing machine…like 4 or 5 times before I was banned).

Well, I read this entry on You Look Fab! about Anna Shepherd of British Vogue who imposed a one year shopping ban for herself because even though she has enough clothing to “keep [her] clothed for a decade”, she only wears a “fraction of what [she] owns”. Makes sense. I think a lot of us do that too.  Her goal of not shopping for clothes (including new underwear and shoes) was to force herself to spend more time organizing her clothes and to get more creative with what she already owns.  I think its a great idea.  I’ve been doing the thrift store/consignment rounds for a while now, mostly via ebay, but that’s because I have this little fantasy of wanting to look like I still live in the 50s (except I don’t have the pale ivory smooth skin, jet black curly hair or beautiful wavy blonde shiny hair look at all).  I also don’t have very much style (in my opinion) to call my own. I, unfortunately, used to wear whatever was comfortable (sweatshirts, t-shirts and jeans), then when I started to care about how I looked (freshman year of college), followed fashion blindly (with very disastrous results).  So now I think I’m coming into my own style (sort of) but I am still very heavily influenced by current fashion trends.  In my ideal dream world, I am dressed head to toe in classic attire tailored for my particular body-type and style (confident, compassionate, successful, liberally cheerful and quiet with a hint of rebellion—you can tell, I’m very confused as a person).

Anyway, to make a long entry short, I think I’m going to follow the Anna Shepherd challange. I’m not going to buy anything new. No new shoes, no new clothes (argh!).  Thankfully she allows for thrift stores/consignment stores shopping. Her reasoning is that the clothes were ‘already in circulation’.  Swapping parties are allowed (although if you ask me, that only works if people you know and like enjoy the same sort of thing).  Why? Because I think we are a nation (and by we, I’m refering to the US and Singapore) of excess consumption.  We have so much, but we always think we don’t have enough.  I think it will give me the opportunity to take a break from mass consummerism.  In addition, I think its eco-friendly.  Sort of like recycling.

This probably isn’t the best time for me to start it considering that I am entering an academic year that will (hopefully!) encompass residency (aka job) interviews. So I guess I’m going to make certain allowances for that as well.  Hoisery allowed, only and only if current hoisery are not appropriate for interviews (aka runs and holes).  No new shoes (but I can take them to a cobler to have them resoled!) except I’m going to make an allowance for 1 pair of running/training shoes (I’ve been trying to get fit and my current shoes may be reaching the end of its lifespan).  I am giving myself $10 a month for emergency buys (aka needed hoiseries! socks! i don’t know how to sew or darn.). $20 a month for any alterations/repairs/updates/drycleaning. $50 a month for consignment stores/thrift store/flea market/garage sale buys. (ie Total: $80 a mth on clothes/accessories/shoes)  Non-profit thrift stores (aka Goodwill and Salvation Army) take priority.  Rollovers allowed.  In addition, everytime I break the rule, I have to donate two pieces of item (at least!) somewhere (Maria Shelter, GoodWill, Salvation Army).  Oh yeah. No new earrings, hair accessories or handbag. With an exception for a black handbag for interview purposes (but I’m going to try to look at consignment stores/thrift stores first!). Not exactly a perfect shopping ban, but at least I’m planning for the year! Which is more than I can say for what I currently do(impulse buys!)

I wonder how long I will last…