Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Clothing Embargo

Typical summer-t-shirt and skirt.
I haven't purchased any clothing for myself yet this year. I thought of that last night as I was trying to mate socks, and struggling to ind the opposite one of about three airs. Socks in my house are more  disposable commodity. I do not have a clue where they go. Granted with each wash, I find at least one pair of DH's of DD2's that need to be pitched or ragged. Underwear as well seems more disposable than actual articles of clothing, though with  my bust (and DD2 for her size will have this issue as well) my bras tend to be a bit spendy. Even though I haven't bought new socks or under garments for myself, I know I will need to. However, since I have gone five weeks already without purchasing any new clothes, I'm wondering how far into the year I can go without buying anything new, or new to me? Weight loss goals aside, I'm sure I could turn my closet over to a capsule wardrobe expert and they could weed it down to about twenty pieces or less that should stay in my closet, and the rest pack up and donate. 


No stocking up on cheap sweaters!
In the winter, I rotate among just a couple pairs of pants and skirts. I love chunky sweaters, but with my internal temperature being on the fritz, I find I have to dress in layers, so at least wear a t-shirt under for when I feel like a combustion engine. My favorite sweater is just a plain gray Ann Taylor button up cardigan that I think I've had at least six years.I actually use it year round because of the over the top inside air conditioning in our office. When I find things I like, I'll buy in twos and I have the same sweater in Black, but it has disappeared. I keep hoping it turns up, but I bet I left it behind on a business trip at some point.  

My summer wardrobe is mostly dresses, or skirts and short sleeve top, always though with a sweater nearby. I'm not very fashion conscious, but hope I at least look neat and professional. I'd say my peers and colleagues dress in similar standards, so I'm in place. At my last job, I and a male colleague who pretty much wore shirt and tie each day, were jokingly made fun of for our "corporate attire". It was very much a casual Friday job, Monday-Friday, but leaning towards Saturday too casual for my taste. While I occasionally will wear jeans and do not wear full on suits unless that kind of a meeting day, I just don't like the look at work like I'm heading out for a day to my kids soccer games. Maybe it's all the years I taught preschool, and if I survived the day without paint,  food, or worse things on me, I considered myself well dressed. Being able to wear  real clothes and feel like a professional was important to me when I took my first office job. I've just stayed in that mode. 

Yoga pants need to stay on the yoga mat.
With I eye and mind to save some funds this year, use what I have so I am not being wasteful or frivolous, I'm going to see how well I can dress without needing to shop outside of my own closet. At the same time, I'll challenge myself to weed out the items that do not fit well or that  I do not enjoy wearing. It will be time to pull out accessories and learn to mix and match items to create new to me looks. Wile I won't say I 'm not buying any clothing, I'll post for accountability what I do buy and how much I spend. No, this blog will not turn into fashion, but I might be fishing for some feedback from you all. 

 
Maybe more pizazz than this though. Yikes!

18 comments:

  1. I have what a call a work "uniform". It's basically jeans, flats (or sandals), and a cardigan. I vary the layering depending on season, but it's California, and the weather is pretty consistent for much of the year.

    Sadly, most of my clothing is too tight, after gaining 10 lbs or so. I have plenty of clothing, but very little that fits well. My focus is on fitting back into things, and not buying new clothes at this size. We shall see, because the weight loss is SLOW!

    Looking forward to seeing more on your wardrobe! :-)

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    1. My wardrobe is very random, but if I did some good weeding, I think I could make a decent go of it. I too though have the ill fitting stuff.

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  2. I went on a clothing embargo shortly after we moved to this part of the country. I discarded a lot of my former work clothes, and warm climate clothing. (In hindsight, I should have done it before. Southwest clothes don't really work for the PNW! ) Once we were settled, I shopped for a few, good quality items, and rotated through those for years. It's hard to get to a store around here, and I have a hard time finding clothes online that fit, so the embargo was somewhat a result of circumstances. You really don't need a lot of clothes. Even when I worked, and had to have professional attire, I realized I would always reach for the same pieces of clothing in spite of having a closet full of clothes. It was the same with my dance attire when I taught..I could have half a dozen leotards, but always grabbed the same basic one and tights. The only thing I regularly replace is my running shoes.

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    1. I keep thinking fewer clothes, less clutter, less decisions, everything involving clothing would just be easier. with y need for layering, other than not wearing tights in the summer or the big clunky sweaters, my clothes are sort of year round anyway.

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  3. My first teaching job had a very strict dress code (skirt/dresses only and must go below the knee, hose and closed toed shoes, no tennis shoes, etc.). When I left that job and went into homeschool teaching for others I went with a more casual look...still wearing dress pants usually with a sweater or t-shirt but no dresses. Now that I am tutoring full-time/babysitting, etc. I wear a more relaxed style but to me it still looks professional--- my go-to most days is a nice pair of jeans, a tunic sweater or top and either black or brown boots during the winter. During Spring and Fall, I tend to wear jean capris with a tunic length short sleeve shirt and flats. In the Summer, I do go more casual with a nicer tank top (I found several last summer that were rayon but were not meant to be layered), jean capris and sandals. It works for me when I am going from one job to another. If I know that I am going to be home all day and not have to tutor or babysit, I do have 2 pairs of leggings that I may wear around the house but I never wear them out! LOL I look forward to seeing how your wardrobe progresses this year.

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    1. i know the fashion police are anti leggings, but with a long sweater or shirts, I think t hey look nice and are so comfortable.

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  4. I have a mismatched sock bag I keep in the drawer. Every time I find only one sock it goes in there in hopes the other will make an appearance, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't but at least that way I save socks that might otherwise be thrown out. If they don't show the single gets turned into a dog chew toy (he doesn't chew on anything he isn't supposed to so no worry about actuall chewing our good socks)

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    1. I have a sock basket and at least once a year, I start over, assuming the mate will never be found.

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  5. There are loads of fab yoga pants harem and palazzo pants that I wear on and off the yoga mat lol

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    1. If I could get away with it at work, but woudl probably have some odd eyes at me, I might give it a go for comfort.

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  6. You and I would dress very much alike if I worked outside the home. It sounds like our tastes are very similar.However since I work at home I am in my bib overalls today. They are my al1 time favorite get around clothes.

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    1. I remember having an awesome pair of light blue bibs, and a pair of bib jean shorts. Sadly, both have gone away form my wardrobe but maybe again someday!

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  7. I never used to understand why women wore short sleeved jumpers, Now I have my very own hot flushes I understand the need for layers and have my very own set of short sleeved jumpers for the colder months! Arilx

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    1. Oh yes. all lengths and easy to get on and off is a requirement.

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  8. I had the one suit for an interview or important meetings. Otherwise, I wore flats and pants and skirts with dressy tshirts. now, since I am not working, any raggedy thing works for in house or yard, never out anywhere. I wear gray pants in warm weather and have a half dozen of those. Some are more worn than others, but they cycle through to raggedy, around the house pants and tops. In the winter I wear the same pant in black. They are all the same size and same brand and style. It works for me.

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  9. I am far from a clothes horse, but I keep things for a very very long time and have tons of clothes.
    In 2017 i went on an embargo and for the entire year I purchased 2 shirts and 8 pair of undies. It was the best year ever. I know I will by no cold weather duds, but this year I am going to spruce up my summer wardrobe. I swim nearly everyday and my suits are shot and I need a couple of tops.

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    1. I forgot about swim suits-may need a new one of those, at least new bottoms for a couple of my swim tops as those have gotten stretched.

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