(Picture source: http://oliviamakedoandmend.blogspot.com/)
The end of 2011 is near and I have a strong feeling that this year has been a bit of a shopping spree for me. I haven’t shopped over my income, but I feel have been shopping more and somewhat unwisely. Some things have been necessitates like refreshing a rather worn bra wardrobe, but did I really need all those fabrics, perfumes and funny trinkets? No, I didn’t. And with the upcoming year there are a few things I really want to be able to afford, like a trip to Venice in April and remodeling our bedroom. I feel a strong need to look over by shopping patterns and stop buying what I may want but don’t really need. There have been quite a lot of talk about trying to put a stop to needless shopping on blogs this past year or so and a lot of it make a lot of sense to me, like The Seamless Pledge:
1. No buying new clothes for the duration of your pledge. By new, I mean any new mass-manufactured clothes.
2. You can buy second-hand manufactured clothes – so be prepared to get to know your local charity shops awfully well.
3. Vintage clothing is a-ok!
4. Anything you’ve made by hand is definitely allowed. Get your sewing machines and your kntting needles out, because handmade is definitely in!
5. Get involved! Join in on the Flickr group and like our Facebook page. I’ll be looking to feature pledgers on the blog in the future. I’d love to see your second-hand finds, refashions and hand-made creations!
Food for thought, definitely, but I don’t think I could completely forego buying new clothes, or rather, shoes and underwear.
I think that I, instead, will turn to The Slow Fashioned Pledge and not only apply that to clothes, but to everything I buy.
Fabric, omething that I have much too much of. What I really need to put a stop on is buying fabrics even if I don’t plan make anything out of it immediately. I need to do two things here. Completely stop buying fabrics just because I get a good deal and it’s a pretty fabric. But I also think that I need to stop buying fabrics even if I do have a plan for it and instead buy fabric and pattern when I’m ready to start the project.
Clothes I have my 1940’s wardrobe project and I will allow myself to buy what is within the planned wardrobe. As I rarely find my size when it comes to true vintage I will but new clothes, but only f they fit into my plan. And I will buy fabric and patterns for it, but not stash up. I will also buy accessories within the plan and shoes. I do need to restrain myself in the shoe-shopping department and look for need first.
Life’s good things like books. I know I won’t be able to not buy any books at all, but I restrain myself and stick to a book budget. Perfume is another weakness and something that very easily comes to large sums, even if you buy samples. I did a quick count this morning and including all the samples, I have something close to a hundred perfumes right now. I know I could go a whole year without buying perfume at all and still I wouldn’t run out of scents. So I will do my utmost not to buy any perfumes at all in 2012.
Historical clothes I have absolutely no need whatsoever for new projects in the upcoming years. I have several unfinished projects that I need to do something about. I do need to make myself a 17th century gown and one medieval, but I have the fabric for those projects already. So no buying fabric at all for my historical clothes, unless the highly unlikely thing happens and I finish all my ongoing projects.
Do you think I can make it?
(Picture source: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/castlekay/2292499420/)
8 comments:
What a good post, I need to come up with a 'plan' too! Often I've bought something vintage because it fits rather than because it will work well within my wardrobe! I am also going to learn how to sew clothes this coming year, maybe! I'll rather make exactly what I need rather than buying things that 'might do'.
Lily
http://littlevintageme.blogspost.com
Lil Vintage Me: I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D And good luck with learning to sew!
You can do it! I vowed not to buy any new fabric this year and to focus on finishing projects that I already had the fabric for, which can easily roll into next year as I've still got lots of unfinished work. It feels good to deplete the stash and make room.
Such great points--such a wealth of possibilities in making do! I see it as a fun challenge, not a limitation :)
Olympe: I strongly suspect that even is I just use my stash I will still have projects to go by the end of 2012... I think it will be very good for my character to stick to what I have already started. :)
Rowenna: So true. A challenge is fun a limitation is dreary. I shall look at this as a challenge! :)
Absolutely! I have every faith in your abilities! :)
Dear Isis,
So well said! May I remember this one.
Your post hits right in the solar plexus, for I am feeling an enormous revulsion to this year's pleas from the marketers to buy any old stuff. We had Christmas decorations appear in the stores November 1. If our populations used what they had better, and wished for less, and our governments and manufacturers focused on fixing and building infrastructure, not on generating cheap stuff, we'd be in a better place.
So yes, I'll take that second pledge. It's sensible.
Very best,
Natalie
Sarah: Thank you!
Natalie: I agree with you!
Post a Comment