Reflections on 365 days without buying clothes.
It was the last day of December in 2016, I was sitting in the high country in Victoria and reading news items that Facebook recommended and I came across this one:
I read it and was inspired, a woman who had stopped clothes shopping for a year! I LOVED what she got out of the project, and I also wanted to transform my relationship with buying clothes and retail in general. And it was the last day of the year, so a PERFECT time to make a New Year’s Resolution.
Goals
I am a bit of a nut when it comes to goals. I have accountability partners for my annual goals in the areas of personal, family, business and community and I get a kick out of setting and achieving goals that scare me. The idea of this goal, scared me big time.
Clothes Shopping Addiction?
I have always loved a bargain, and as I started earning more I never lost the love of a bargain. I love buying clothes but I especially love buying clothes when they are on SALE! When I see a “SALE!” sign in the window of a store I like, I get a little tingle of excitement before I step in the door. I wanted to see if stopping buying clothes for a year would be a circuit breaker.
So I chose on the last day of 2016 to have 2017 be a year where I did not buy any new or second hand clothes for myself. And on that day (many hours after deciding on the goal), I declared it to my husband, Dave.
I set some ambitious goals for myself this year. I presented multiple workshops on goal setting. But this is the one goal that most people I spoke with were most intrigued by.
Challenges
My resolve was tested early.
In January I was attending an international business conference with Dave in Cebu, in the Philippines called Asia Bridge. One of the events was a dinner at the Governor of Cebu’s Manor. We were asked to wear our National dress. With Australia Day approaching, there were some fabulous Australian dresses around. I was going to buy one, but realised, that would be breaking my goal.
“Wriggle Room”. The silent killer of goal achievement. It has haunted this project from day 1. But I have been vigilant. Perhaps overzealous to a fault: during a family holiday to Kangaroo Island, I lost my hat. I complained to Dave that, under the terms of my goal agreement, I could not buy a new one. He was of the opinion that I was being ridiculous, arguing that safety equipment is a separate category to clothing. I wore one of his hats for the duration of the holiday instead of shelling out for a new one. I feel good about that choice.
Purge
Within the first three months of 2017 I had done a significant clear-out of my wardrobe. The bargain shoppers at our local Salvos must have had a field day! I felt like for 37 years I had been building my wardrobe, and now it was time to take stock of where I was at and get real about:
1. What I actually wear in my life and I like wearing; and
2. What actually fits me.
I have a now 4 and 5 year old. Since I had them my body has not been the same as it was pre-baby. It was time to get real about that and review which clothes and shoes I was never going to wear again, and give them an opportunity to go out into the world and have another life. Also, I started my own law firm 4 years’ ago, what I wear has changed significantly from what I wore when I worked in corporate. I really only wear a suit if I am going to appear in Court, otherwise it is business casual every day.
My corporate clothes were collected from my house by this worthwhile organisation: https://dressforsuccess.org/
Interestingly, my wardrobe clear out also extended to other parts of the house, and I started wanting more to go out of the house than came into it. A declutter frenzy commenced – and has continued all year.
Self-Worth
I really noticed the words of the India Arie song ‘Video’ when I was walking in the city one day in September.
“My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes/ No matter what I’m wearing I will always be/India Arie” and “My momma said a lady ain’t what she wears but what she knows…”
In that moment, it hit me; how often I would buy a new dress for an event to try to make myself look a certain way for other people. It was a revelation that brought tears to my eyes. Since that day I have attended 2 black tie events where I have worn an outfit that I have previously worn to previous events, and survived to tell the tale.
This was a piece of gold that was not expected when I set up this goal at the end of 2016.
What’s Next?
So, am I going shopping on 1 January 2018 to spend all the money I saved in on clothes in 2017?
Well, there are a few things I need, but I am not planning on going too crazy. I think I have dulled my trigger for compulsive buying (due to no action being taken when I see a SALE! sign for 12 months!) and my wardrobe moving forward will include far less pieces that are much higher quality.
