Since we finished our year of "going without", I am constantly surprised at how genuinely shocked people are that we actually did it. Even more than that, they are shocked that we would even attempt such a thing! Now that we are done though, I can't really believe we did it either. I was there. I was one of the people doing it. But I find it hard to believe that I, Perdy Andrews, lover of fashion and owner of a closet that is actually a room, after many, many years of shopping with my BFF, my big sis and The Mater, gave it up for an entire year.
A photo from before the project, simply titled "Pre-Fashion Rehab P"
Yep. I did it, but I still can't quite believe it.
So I started to try to pinpoint the ways in which I have changed in the hopes that that might help me to acknowledge the reality that I actually am a survivor of Fashion Rehab... So far, the reformations have been subtle, or as I like to think of it; my rehabilitation is happening in baby steps. I know now, for example that just because something is marked down by 80%, that cannot be the sole reason for purchasing it. I also pay more attention to quality now than I did before. Ditto lifestyle - I wrote about that realization in Wishful Shopping. A big part of the reason my closet became so swollen can be directly tracked back to these three ways of thinking. As I have mentioned before, pre-Fashion Rehab, I never met a sale I didn't like. Now, post-Fashion Rehab, if I come across a sale, I try to think of all the factors in addition to the price: Will it complement my existing wardrobe? Does it suit my lifestyle? Do I own it already???
I still get the urge to shop, and when I remember that I actually can, I still get a rush when I buy something. Yes, my purchases are more thoughtful now, but one thing I have noticed (especially lately) is that the craving to shop hasn't entirely disappeared. After a full year, I thought it would. They say you have to do something for 30 days for it to become a habit, right? Well, by that line of thinking, I just figured if I didn't do something for 365 days, that the need to do it would vanish. But it hasn't and for some inexplicable reason, this week the craving has been especially strong and especially relentless. I try pushing it away, but this urge holds on tighter than a vice grip. "What's the matter with you?" I say sternly to myself. "You are a survivor of Fashion Rehab. Giving in to this craving would be beneath someone of your newly minted Conscious Shopper status. Shift your thoughts. Think of something else. You won't die if you don't go shopping (obviously!). Let it go!"
But, like I say, relentless. This is why I began to wonder if maybe it hadn't all just been a dream/hellish, wretched nightmare. Luckily, since A and I decided to document the whole damn thing, I know it was real. It was real and the reality is, rehabilitation comes slowly for some people. I thought after 365 days, I would be a completely different shopper. And I think I will become, in the end, a completely different shopper. Right now, I'm still moving in baby steps. But at least I know I'm headed in the right direction.
Love, P
P.S. I did finally give in to the craving. Wanna know what I bought? Tune in next week when I show it off in our new feature - The 5 W's!
7 comments:
For most woman the urge to shop is akin to the urge to eat--these two urges will never cease! Not for us females anyway.
You learned some great lessons from rehab and all of us get to share in this great website!
So rehab was a mashing success, IMO.
I love this really thoughtful post.
I am sure you are way more conscious than before 365FR. I think what makes it difficult is that in our society we are constantly assailed with temptations to buy -and of course now there are the summer sales.
Also since you had to repress your urge to buy for a whole year it's not surprising that it's coming up strongly now.
And what I still haven't learned
(and look how old I am!) is that buying things gives me a great uplift at the time but actually when I stay aware I notice it doesn't last for very long.
Except for those special pieces that I really resonated with (truly smart choices! and that I enjoy wearing every time I put them on!
Congratulations Hon. I think you are doing really well!!
I find this project to be such an inspiring, amazing motivator. Fashion Rehab sounds like such a horrible term; but having fulfilled your goal, it's as if you were able to find yourself, and look beneath the brands/labels you were wearing and buying. :)
Hi P,
As Katherine said, age does make a difference. Also, a move from the big city full of enticing buys has made a big, good difference in my consumerism/shopping.
I now look at my closet for the special clohes worn to Opening Week at Stratford and the boxes of shoes, the Louboutins, the Pradas, etc...that will likely never get worn again living in a non urban little town, and I sigh thinking of all that monehy tied up in all these beautiful "things", cash that I could have put into an RSP that would have fulfilled my dreams of a retirement filled with travel. So, another thought to add to what the year of Fashion Re-hab has given you.
Cheers, enjoy your much more thoughtful purchases,and yes, one must give in sometimes to that unrelenting urge/need for a shopping fix.
Hope you love and are getting a lot of wear out of your Louboutins!
I think this blog is great. I think I should do something similar, but I dont know if I'll make it :/
I couldn't. Couldn't. Though I have put myself in milder rehab. ;-)
I really admire your resistance and going though a year without shopping. Not many can do that! Cheers to you!
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