So... Over the summer I started reading the book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion and became inspired to start my clothing challenge. No buying anything new for 6 months... and I did it. I bought some new things in December for birthdays and Christmas... and now I think I'll go another 6 months without anything new...
Since all of my shopping experiences lately have been at thrift shops... you can imagine how much I love this song... Usually, my taste in music is a little more calm than this... but I can't listen to this one without busting out a smile.
Fair warning... there is language in this song that some (many?) do not enjoy.
Now I feel the need to go thrifting. Haha.
Showing posts with label clothing challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clothing challenge. Show all posts
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Friday, December 7, 2012
Clothing Challenge COMPLETE!!!!
Today is my birthday! That means this clothing addict over here has made it 6 whole months without buying a single piece of NEW clothing! ... And only a few pieces used and second hand, cause it's fun! I've found some absolutely amazing things for not much money, and the money I do spend has been going to a great cause like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Epilepsy Research! I feel so happy and accomplished!
I think I might buy a few new things this month (like a racerback white tank top... those are really hard to find second hand in good condition and mine has a hole in it... boo)... but then I might try and go another 6 months... we'll see!
Has anyone else been trying this clothing challenge? How's it been going? Do you feel as awesome as I do when you buy an designer dress second hand?
I think I might buy a few new things this month (like a racerback white tank top... those are really hard to find second hand in good condition and mine has a hole in it... boo)... but then I might try and go another 6 months... we'll see!
Has anyone else been trying this clothing challenge? How's it been going? Do you feel as awesome as I do when you buy an designer dress second hand?
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| This "I Love Otters" sweatshirt from the Monterey Aquarium was the last NEW piece of clothing I bought... all the way back in the beginning of June! |
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| Instead, I sooth my need to shop with cool pieces like this from the thrift store... all this under $20 and all that money goes to Goodwill! |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Things
There are a lot of things going on over here... time for an update!
1. The pattern book is selling great so far! Check out the side bar of the blog over here ------->
and buy a copy from Annie's Attic! 8 great patterns for only $9... that's a pretty awesome deal!
2. In the process of getting Amanda's Dress, Diana's Dress, and the Weekender Bag available for downloads on the Annie's Attic website. Amanda's Dress is in need of some serious higher quality photos... so... photo shoot this weekend! YAY!
3. Also in the process of getting the Beach Sweater into a great online magazine for next summer! Check out Inspired Crochet - a digital magazine! Working on my graphic design skills today... they are somewhat lacking...
4. Still making lots of new exciting things for Renegade and a January feature in the boutique Kansas City Kitty! In need of an epic stitch n b*tch!
5. Yesterday was Nov 7, which means one month left of the clothing challenge! I haven't bought a NEW piece of clothing since JUNE! BOOM! (Although I am in pretty desperate need of a new white tank top... which is hard to find thrifted...)
6. And unrelated to stitching... last night I returned to my modern dance roots and went and saw Ailey II! Anyone seen them? Revelations is still the most impressive and historically significant dance piece I've seen in real life... fighting back tears the whole first half and the urge to get up and dance the whole second half. Check 'em out...
Of course the actual piece is very long... these are just the highlights... really so amazing!
7. AND FINALLY... OK! I need some advice and honest feedback from my Etsy customers and fellow sellers. I sell both patterns and finished items in my little online shop. To distinguish between the two, I have them in different shop sections and all patterns have the word PATTERN in the title, picture, tag, and description. Still, I have a lot of customers buying patterns and expecting a bag in the mail... yikes! Anyone else have this problem? Any creative solutions?
Ok... and that's it. Still working on the two knit hat patterns I'm hoping to get out this week... I just got too distracted with Ailey excitement yesterday! EEK! So good! Definitely go see them if they are coming to a city near you!
1. The pattern book is selling great so far! Check out the side bar of the blog over here ------->
and buy a copy from Annie's Attic! 8 great patterns for only $9... that's a pretty awesome deal!
2. In the process of getting Amanda's Dress, Diana's Dress, and the Weekender Bag available for downloads on the Annie's Attic website. Amanda's Dress is in need of some serious higher quality photos... so... photo shoot this weekend! YAY!
3. Also in the process of getting the Beach Sweater into a great online magazine for next summer! Check out Inspired Crochet - a digital magazine! Working on my graphic design skills today... they are somewhat lacking...
4. Still making lots of new exciting things for Renegade and a January feature in the boutique Kansas City Kitty! In need of an epic stitch n b*tch!
5. Yesterday was Nov 7, which means one month left of the clothing challenge! I haven't bought a NEW piece of clothing since JUNE! BOOM! (Although I am in pretty desperate need of a new white tank top... which is hard to find thrifted...)
6. And unrelated to stitching... last night I returned to my modern dance roots and went and saw Ailey II! Anyone seen them? Revelations is still the most impressive and historically significant dance piece I've seen in real life... fighting back tears the whole first half and the urge to get up and dance the whole second half. Check 'em out...
Of course the actual piece is very long... these are just the highlights... really so amazing!
7. AND FINALLY... OK! I need some advice and honest feedback from my Etsy customers and fellow sellers. I sell both patterns and finished items in my little online shop. To distinguish between the two, I have them in different shop sections and all patterns have the word PATTERN in the title, picture, tag, and description. Still, I have a lot of customers buying patterns and expecting a bag in the mail... yikes! Anyone else have this problem? Any creative solutions?
Ok... and that's it. Still working on the two knit hat patterns I'm hoping to get out this week... I just got too distracted with Ailey excitement yesterday! EEK! So good! Definitely go see them if they are coming to a city near you!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Change
Working on bringing you some fun stuff this week. In the mean time... spotted this on Pinterest and LOVED it.
Image from HERE.
When I got back from some of my travels in Africa, I was consumed with an obligation to change the world. Poverty is one complex problem - and letting a problem that large consume your thoughts is not always healthy. It's taken me a long time to realize, changing the world starts with changing yourself. That is one thing you can control. This is why I've changed how I shop and spend my money with my Clothing Challenge. It's a baby step in making the world a better place!
Hope you all are having a fantastic week! Stitch HAPPY!
Monday, October 1, 2012
TED
Anyone else obsessed with TED talks? I had listened to a few, but got really hooked while living in California with the amazing Liz Jones. Such awesome talks for people who love to learn about a variety of things. Liz knows about my Clothing Challenge and sent me this one... IT IS SO PERFECT!
So, watch it and learn! And thanks so much for sharing Liz!
AAAAAND... yes, patterns and DIY's have slowed down a ton... bummer, I know. BUT, I have been applying for lots of things lately and already heard back... going to be in the French Nest Open Air Market on Oct 20, and possibly selling my stuff in the downtown boutique Kansas City Kitty in January. YIKES, there is a lot to do!
So, watch it and learn! And thanks so much for sharing Liz!
AAAAAND... yes, patterns and DIY's have slowed down a ton... bummer, I know. BUT, I have been applying for lots of things lately and already heard back... going to be in the French Nest Open Air Market on Oct 20, and possibly selling my stuff in the downtown boutique Kansas City Kitty in January. YIKES, there is a lot to do!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Clothing Challenge Update
About 2 months ago I decided I was going to give myself this Clothing Challenge. I'm still reading Over Dressed by Elizabeth Cline, but I have to take frequent breaks... to crochet of course, and also because it just really depresses me sometimes.
On the plus side, this clothing challenge has been so completely awesome! It's been a rough couple months and I have definitely had some shopping cravings. Instead of heading to the mall, I've headed to Goodwill and Arc. AND found some amazing stuff... and you could too!
I made it out of Goodwill with these goodies for under $20! Let's face it... even at a cheapie store like Forever 21 if you choose to buy something, you probably don't make it out for under $20... and you don't have clothes (and boots) as cool and unique as these.
And CHECK THIS!
The top pair of boots is from Free People and cost about $328. The bottom pair I got at Goodwill for $5! Reusing something that's not wanted... and money goes to a good cause!
And typically I can't afford a vintage 1970's Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress... but at Arc... I can!
I am so sold on this! I don't think I'm EVER buying new clothes again! So read Over Dressed, and find your local thrift store. Yay!
On the plus side, this clothing challenge has been so completely awesome! It's been a rough couple months and I have definitely had some shopping cravings. Instead of heading to the mall, I've headed to Goodwill and Arc. AND found some amazing stuff... and you could too!
And CHECK THIS!
The top pair of boots is from Free People and cost about $328. The bottom pair I got at Goodwill for $5! Reusing something that's not wanted... and money goes to a good cause!
And typically I can't afford a vintage 1970's Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress... but at Arc... I can!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
A Clothing Challenge
I have a lot of clothes... almost an embarrassing amount. I just LOOOOVE them. Shopping and outfit planning make me happy, and clothes are often what I bring home as my souvenirs from my travels. I really love my clothes.
So then I read this article from Apartment Therapy. So what really does happen to your clothes when you donate them? Not as much of what you donate ends up with the less fortunate as you would think... and a lot of it ends up in Africa. I know because I have a very clear memory of shopping for kind of hideous neon shorts at the market place in Iganga as a joke/bonding experience. And all our clothes ending up there... is not particularly a good thing for the African economy...
So then I read this article from Fashionista a couple days ago... and I really got to thinking...
For the last 5 months in California, if we wanted to shop, we went to the Salvation Army's sale... because when you're an unpaid intern, you don't have a very high shopping budget... ok, you don't have ANY shopping budget. The clothes I found for a dollar were often just as cool and far more unique than anything I could find at the shopping mall... not to mention cheaper and more eco-friendly!
So here's the deal... my birthday is exactly 5 months from today. I made it 5 months in Cali without too much shopping... so I can do it again, right? Here's the challenge... any clothing that comes into my closet in the next 5 months will either be from a thrift store or handmade by a local artist. And if it comes into my closet, I better plan on keeping it there for a very, very, very long time. And if I make it 5 months... maybe I'll make this a forever thing... who knows?
Anyone else willing to take on this challenge with me?
Guilt free shopping, eco-friendly, helping the world a little, saving money, forcing you to get a bit creative? Sounds like a win - win - win situation to me!
Image from this other really good article you should probably read.
So then I read this article from Apartment Therapy. So what really does happen to your clothes when you donate them? Not as much of what you donate ends up with the less fortunate as you would think... and a lot of it ends up in Africa. I know because I have a very clear memory of shopping for kind of hideous neon shorts at the market place in Iganga as a joke/bonding experience. And all our clothes ending up there... is not particularly a good thing for the African economy...
So then I read this article from Fashionista a couple days ago... and I really got to thinking...
For the last 5 months in California, if we wanted to shop, we went to the Salvation Army's sale... because when you're an unpaid intern, you don't have a very high shopping budget... ok, you don't have ANY shopping budget. The clothes I found for a dollar were often just as cool and far more unique than anything I could find at the shopping mall... not to mention cheaper and more eco-friendly!
So here's the deal... my birthday is exactly 5 months from today. I made it 5 months in Cali without too much shopping... so I can do it again, right? Here's the challenge... any clothing that comes into my closet in the next 5 months will either be from a thrift store or handmade by a local artist. And if it comes into my closet, I better plan on keeping it there for a very, very, very long time. And if I make it 5 months... maybe I'll make this a forever thing... who knows?
Anyone else willing to take on this challenge with me?
Guilt free shopping, eco-friendly, helping the world a little, saving money, forcing you to get a bit creative? Sounds like a win - win - win situation to me!
Image from this other really good article you should probably read.
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