A new challenge!

Time to break yet another bad habit

Last week, I wrote about how I’ve feared my summer wardrobe in the past but have come to something of a detente with my style and sensibilities. I fought my 37-year-old body and skin for ages, refusing to mentally part ways with what suited me in the past and scared to show off my skin. But over the past year or so, I’ve stopped buying clothing that’s too small out of some odd stubbornness and I’ve figured out what suits me personally. I have found pieces that I love AND that work for me, instead of just grabbing anything I was visually attracted to. I think they call that growing up? I even went to Penneys and left without a single thing recently - I didn’t even buy knickers.

The result is that I now have quite a decent wardrobe full of clothes I can actually wear. No more jeans I hope to fit in to again. Decent quality basics, neutrals and stand out pieces. I have trousers and blazers, evening gowns and occasion wear, and enough smart casual lewks to see me through years of events.

Two lovely new dresses I bought just because, with nothing in particular to wear them to - these inspired this new challenge!

But in reality, as someone who now works from home full time, I rarely wear anything nice. Most days I’m in sweats, or shorts and a t-shirt. I’ve been something of a hermit working on the book, but when it’s done and dusted I plan to get out and about a bit more, and it occurred to me that I’ve been stockpiling fashion for later like a squirrel hides its nuts. I’ve built up a scrummy stash, and now it’s time to let it have its day.

As such, I have made a deal with myself that I won’t buy a single new item of clothing for nine months (I was thinking a year, but I don’t think I can look any further ahead than the end of March 2024 right now, don’t ask why cos I don’t know).

The simple fact is, I have enough stuff. I have unworn dresses I bought with potential book promo in mind (because I am a magpie, and I want to represent myself fabulously when selling this thing). I’ve outfits I bought for weddings, but then the weather wasn’t quite right or I had awful period bloat that day. I’ve nice going out tops that have never seen the light of day. I even have THREE fabulous blazers I have never worn because I don’t have an office to go to every day anymore.

Most comfortable in a stretchy LBD that I can style up with accessories, but…

…this is living in my wardrobe waiting for its moment in the sun, and I must give it to her!! She is divine!!!!

So, I have sorted my wardrobe, tossed and donated anything that doesn’t work and organised everything that does. I’m allowed buy necessities - underwear, tights, gym gear - and sustainable accessories (no fast fashion bags, belts, shoes). But no new garments until next spring.

It’s eminently doable - I’d already vacuum-packed away a lovely stash of gorgeous woolies, jumper dresses and sparkly bits for Christmas before I made this decision, and opening them in the winter will be fun. I shouldn’t NEED to order or browse for anything. I like giving myself a challenge, to break another bad habit. And it IS a habit. I actually loathe shopping in real life and can’t abide trying stuff on, but love nothing more than a good scroll on my favourite shops when I’m bored, and adore the thrill of a package arriving. Sadly, too often that turns to misery when nothing fits right or looks good and I am sick to death of returning stuff.

You’re getting worn, clothes. Or else!

I am not suddenly trying to be any sort of sustainability expert or proclaiming myself to be some sort of eco-saint, far from it. There are brilliant Irish gals out there - Fionnuala Jones, Fionnuala Moran, Roz Purcell to name but a few - who are amazing at eschewing fast fashion for years now, and are consummate second hand shoppers. I am absolutely not one of them, in fact I actively despise rooting around or buying stuff off strangers (don’t come at me Depop hive, it’s just not for me!). But they have all in their own way inspired me to be a little more mindful, less of a brainless consumer and to break the shopping habits that decimate both my bank balance and the planet. Shout out to my girl Nadia El Ferdaoussi as well - she’s been (shock! horror!) rewearing entire outfits to events for years and looking incredible while doing it.

So wish me luck! Or even better, join me? If your wardrobe is in decent enough shape, if you’ve been stockpiling since the panny-d like me, then you’ve everything you need at your disposal, right? It’s worth a try and if I break at any point, I will ‘fess up, I promise.

Yours in eternal optimism, etc

xoxo