Too many clothes
Aug. 2nd, 2006 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serenissimaFound this today via a link from an MSN article on reducing spending:
the Brown Dress project
In brief, this woman wore the same brown dress, which she had made herself, every day for a year. The point? I'll quote from the FAQ:
My outfit options, especially for work, were increased tremendously soon after I moved here by receiving a bunch of nice clothes my cousins had outgrown. I managed to stay out of malls completely for nearly all of 2005 and only bought a few tee shirts or equivalent at Target. Since I already have a sizable wardrobe, it was easy to get out of the clothes shopping habit.
And shopping is habituated behavior. I have a special event coming up and recently saw a pretty, steeply discounted dress advertised in a catalog, so I ordered it, thinking to give myself another choice. It didn't fit properly, so I sent it back, but it did make me more inclined to look for other "bargains" in the rest of the catalog. I found some clothes that looked nice and were at good prices. But I really don't need them; in fact, what I need is more space in my closet.
It's all part of the attachment to stuff. I don't want to be too weighed down by stuff. Having to pack up and move every year in college helped keep my belongings to a minimum. I haven't moved in over three years now.
The woman of the brown dress has started a new project: she's now going to wear only apparel she has made herself. Her current wardrobe includes four tops, six bottoms, and a bathrobe (she no longer has the brown dress). With that in mind, maybe I can afford to pare down after all....
the Brown Dress project
In brief, this woman wore the same brown dress, which she had made herself, every day for a year. The point? I'll quote from the FAQ:
"Was this a feminist thing? Probably. Also an art thing. Also a let's stop wasting time and money thing. But on a feminist note, let's stop agreeing that the best way for women (in particular) to 'express themselves' is by purchasing new wardrobe items and putting together daily outfits."It's an interesting idea. I haven't yet explored the website much. I admit to having too many clothes myself: they fill my closet and a dresser, and I have a few more things at my parents' house. I'm reluctant to get rid of any; they all look nice, and even if I haven't worn them yet (there are a few such items) I reason that an appropriate occasion will come up.
My outfit options, especially for work, were increased tremendously soon after I moved here by receiving a bunch of nice clothes my cousins had outgrown. I managed to stay out of malls completely for nearly all of 2005 and only bought a few tee shirts or equivalent at Target. Since I already have a sizable wardrobe, it was easy to get out of the clothes shopping habit.
And shopping is habituated behavior. I have a special event coming up and recently saw a pretty, steeply discounted dress advertised in a catalog, so I ordered it, thinking to give myself another choice. It didn't fit properly, so I sent it back, but it did make me more inclined to look for other "bargains" in the rest of the catalog. I found some clothes that looked nice and were at good prices. But I really don't need them; in fact, what I need is more space in my closet.
It's all part of the attachment to stuff. I don't want to be too weighed down by stuff. Having to pack up and move every year in college helped keep my belongings to a minimum. I haven't moved in over three years now.
The woman of the brown dress has started a new project: she's now going to wear only apparel she has made herself. Her current wardrobe includes four tops, six bottoms, and a bathrobe (she no longer has the brown dress). With that in mind, maybe I can afford to pare down after all....
