Someone planted a seed- part 2
I was musing recently on my epic fail at the start of 2024.
(Btw hello and hope you’re keeping well) Which particular one of my fails is this I hear you say.. Well, I decided I would not be buying any new clothes for one whole year. Yep. One whole year. 12 months. 4 seasons. 365 days.
I culled all my clothing..all of it.Resulting in a minimalist wardrobe (otherwise known as a capsule wardrobe?)
I wanted to be able to pull out any item of clothing and put it on and feel good. To remove all those clothes that I’m sure most of us have that we pull out and think ‘nah.. that rides up/ falls down/ gives me a wedgie/ itches my neck etc.
I got rid of way more clothes than I care to admit. Not good really. We only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.I don’t know the maths but it roughly translates to wearing the same few items a lot of the time. I’m so guilty of this I don’t know about you.
How did I do.?
I managed about 12 weeks with no clothing purchases.
Insert head in hand emoji
Did I berate myself? Yes, as I knew I would.How hard can it be to just not buy clothing?! Harder than I would care to admit.
I’ll be honest and tell you now that I love clothes ( I’m not a fashionista and I haven’t got a crazy amount of clothes at all) but i really underestimated how what I wear is a huge part of my identity and how I express myself everyday ( i did have someone at their leaving do once tell me they’d miss my eccentric dress sense- and I wok in an office most of the time)
I don’t think I am very articulate but what I wear on my body is more important than I had realised because this is the one way I can express myself and I hope I never change.
I’m 56 (did I already tell you that?)my inner teenager seemingly still craves clothing experimentation.It wasn’t until I tried this idea of owning as least clothing as possible that I realised I need clothes in my life (you know what I mean… !)
Blimey I need a cuppa…. 2 mins I’ll be back ( ooh that reminds me… ask me about my kettle at some point..)
Where was I.. oh yes..so I decided to compromise and buy second- hand and implement a ‘one in one out’ system and also to be mindful( there’s that word again) of why I want this new item and what’s going out when this comes in. I have realised owning only a few clothes is not for me but… I still only have what I can pull out and put on and nothing surplus to requirement.
Gosh I think I’m waffling aren’t I? the point I’m trying to make is that it’s okay to try things and admit it didn’t work out for you. Was I unsuccessful? not necessarily. I tried something and it changed my outlook on how I buy clothes. I didn’t achieve the original goal but I have made changes. It’s the little things isn’t it?!
Well I reckon that’s enough from me for today, I’d
better go and see what PeaPea is up to because he’s suspiciously quiet..