This weekend, I snuck over to Chicago to be part of Anne's fella's surprise party, and I fell behind on reading and commenting on everyone's awesome blog. I really missed Blokey, the kitties, and Brooklyn, so it's nice to be back and catch up on work and play.
Wow, I am so impressed with all the great feedback from Friday's post. I agree that the 6 or fewer pieces in a month is probably undoable for many people (mom's especially), but since I don't go to work daily in a very professional environment, it won't be too hard for me. And I will break it for a wedding and some international travel in late August, but I'll do my best otherwise. Right now I am trying to figure out which 6 pieces might be the most versatile, but maybe I'll bump it up to 7 or 8 pieces.
Which brings to the question of what would be the point of documenting these outfits? Well, I could try to be creative with accessories. Although I don't have loads, I do have some. I could also chronicle the way that having only a few pieces could affect my daily planning and activities. And see whether or not I could do it.
A few folks asked why I wasn't doing the 30 for 30 challenge. I am doing that because I work from home and it wouldn't be a challenge to limit myself when only a few friends and shopkeepers see me on a daily basis (and Blokey, who probably owns about 30 articles of well chosen clothing. And maybe 50 pairs of underthings). I'd like to participate in something like a 30 for 30 during the semester, even though I only teach twice a week. That would be more of a challenge, with 90 odd students looking at me for about 3 hours a weeks.
A few awesome bloggers (Cynthia and Style Underdog) are also committing to the Great American Apparel Diet. Even though I've had my own shopping diet for a while, it hasn't been an all out ban. Jesse.anne.O has also started a several month shopping ban. Since I mostly limit my blog reader to folks who also try to remix and limit their shopping, I also want to commit to a stronger shopping ban. While the Great American Apparel Diet will be officially over soon, my last purchase was the crinoline (on July 13). So I will also try to not buy anything between now and July 12, 2011. Which I know will be very hard, but Blokey and I have really clear financial goals (in light of possibly getting kicked out of our apartment soon), and not buying clothes will very likely help.
Everyone sets up their own rules, so I will allow myself to buy spend money on repairing/tailoring things I've got (especially shoes), replenishing my underthings (I count tights, shirts that only work for layering), and swaps. I would love to do temporary/permanent swaps with anyone else who is up to this (or a similar challenge). I can also continue to sew, and I still have fabric left over from a few project to whip up a new, versatile piece every now and then.
And this brings me to a final question: what will be the point of this blog if I am not consuming? And what is the end goal for my wardrobe? I am hoping to be able to really focus on the pieces and styles in my wardrobe that really speak to me, so I can have a well edited wardrobe and a clearly defined style, with some good use of accessories. While I may never become Rev. Billy, I can maybe get a little closer to bringing my spending habits better in line with my ideals.
Boy's western Shirt: Montgomery Ward, vintage via Ebay
Shorts: Levi's cut off DIY
Shoes: via Heavenly Soles, MPLS
