It's difficult, another two months down though

Almost August and massive sales, some up to 70% off.  I have been making things difficult by browsing all my favourite clothes sites, putting them back in my favourites even though there's still 9 weeks to go.  And, eat my heart out, longing to buy something.  Annoyingly, the others are still sailing along easily apart of course from Liz who gave up after two weeks.  The only clothes that definitely need replacing are socks, worn out, and jeans exhausted from constant wear this non-summer.  Everything else I'm just fed up with and it's true you only wear a third of your wardrobe, that's why I'm so fed up with a few outfits.

Two months later

I come back and discover the whole blog layout thingy is changed and unfamiliar.  But it's another two months, relatively painlessly.  However I am starting to look forward to September 30th and think about what I will buy.

The idea spreads

I hear of others who have been  inspired by me to do a year without clothes.  This is very heartening. Today I spoke with Liz, who gave me the inspiration originally, and she told me that when she was gifted socks, she returned them to the shop!

Spring temptations

It's warmer, the birds are busy and the magazines full of summer clothes.  I don't dare look, but did just by chance the other day.  Oh dear, the temptation after just 6 months.  By October, all the summer clothes will be gone.  Now is the time I would usually be spending a bit on new things.  I look in my wardrobe, full of dark, thick winter things and long for a something bright and light.  One good thing though - as my clotes were getting uncomfortably tight I am at last losing weight and able to jeans I haven't all winter.

The Wedding Survived

I wore my old dress, with a bit of bling jewelry and the pink pashmina I got for Christmas which matched the men's pink cravats and it was fine.  People wear all sorts of wedding outfits and I didn't stand out as the one who hadn't bothered.  It was a lesson in being able to cope with what I've got.

Teetering on the edge - a crisis in self confidence

The funeral yesterday was OK, I have a black coat and top.  But the wedding on Saturday has caused a last minute panic to the extent that I went into a couple of clothes shops today and even tried on a dress until I got my sense of composure back.  It was a wobbly moment though. I'll be very glad when it is over next week and I can get back into the one pair of jeans I have been wearing all winter. It is going to be a challenging weekrnd.

Depleted will power

I like the idea that we only have a finite supply of will power and making big decisions depletes it for smaller ones.  This might explain why I am struggling to stick to a diet over this clothes-deprived year.  The silly thing is that I now have an even smaller number of clothes that fit so am seeing out the winter without being able to wear three quarters og my clothes anyway.  Silly or what?

Slump in sales

Since I stopped spending, two stores of what seemed to be major clothes  chains in Sheerness are closing down.  They used to be my favourite browsing places when I had a half hour to spare in town. The steel mill also closed and there are so many boarded up shops, pound shops and charity shops that it no longer is a place you would want to browse now anyway.  I seem to have more money than ever before and have fun thinking of different ways to spend it - a lovely new carrying bag for the yoga mat, scented candles and today a trip to the vet with Sooty.

Four months down, eight to go

It's easy now.  I'm in a new routine of shopping that avoids all clothes viewing.  Actually, I'm hardly tempted.  I have decided what I'll wear for next month's wedding, a borrowed jacket and existing dress.  Some of my thin cotton socks have worn out but otherwise there is no need for anything new.  It all sounds rather boring, no?

December already, I am tempted

Took Ma shopping, she bought a scarf and skirt and I bought her the slippers she chose for Christmas.  There was a 40% discount sale and things (clothes) seemed a real bargain.  I was tempted and would have bought at least three items of clothing for myself.  But didn't.  And I am feeling the strength building up and the desire slipping away, well slightly at least.

Getting easier

Today I threw out a pair of thin socks with an enormous hole in the heel - too big to darn usefully.  A bit scary with at least another four months of sock wearing ahead. But my wardrobe is still full of many things I don't wear and I'm feeling positive about this now.

A small victory

I went to Hempstead Valley, my previously favourite shopping mall with the flagship M&S, Wallis etc to get computer ink, a cup of coffee and lunch.  I walked past the clothes shops without looking and it was a bit sad.  However, I did manage to spend money on a few (non clothes) Christmas presents and a four piece red and white dinner set for the Big Day.  It felt quite decadent, even though not expensive.  Reminding me of when I first learned about the complete set of crockery exclusively for Pesach in Jewish homes, how extravagent!

Panic over

Sam came yesterday and explained that her wedding consists of a small group of close family, two friends each for her and Sandy, and a lunch afterwards.  So my one winter dress will do.  Chris says he prefers the summer dress with the cleavage, I'm always self conscious in that, but will consider it.  Nothing new needed after all.

M&S sales down 10%

I wonder if it is my social duty to help boost the economy...I never thought my year without clothes would have such a dramatic and instant effect!

Oh Liz! I'm disappointed

Liz was tempted by a M&S jumper and hat and has fallen off the wagon, after only one month.  We had a laugh when she told me but I am sad.  She is thinking of an alternative, maybe selling her car, but can't give up the pleasure of clothes shopping.  It's like a drug.

oh no!

Sam is getting married.  In February.  And there's a partner-of-the-father-of-the-bride size hole in my wardrobe.  And funnily enough, it's annoying me that I will have to find something rather than seeing it as a window of opportunity to break my no clothes for a year commitment.  Several friends, bless them, have offered to lend me something, sort of overlooking the elephant in the room which is that I am at least three dress sizes bigger than any one of them.  I've resolved to get my outfit from a charity shop, it's the least compromise I can manage.  First, I looked at hire sites and was horrified at what the mother of the bride (there wasn't a more appropriate category) is expected to hire.  Outfits in shiny satin which would make me feel so uncomfortable.  Poor Chris, he's dreading having to wear a hire penguin suit.  We are both so much jeans and jumpers dressers.  I'm kind of burying my head in the sand right now but know that I will have to start the charity shop trawl soon and that means travelling to posher places and I know I won't be able to find what I would normally have fun shopping to buy.  Misery!

Burning with desire?

Used my new burning bin for the first time today.  It was very windy and the smoke rushed out of the little chimney very satsfactorily.  I burnt three more store cards, old credit agreements and bank statements.  There is a nice pile of ash for the compost now.  I must get a life - this was the highlight of the day...

Cutting the cards

It's a bit miserable really, and only 10 days in - will it get easier?  Today I cut up three store cards, threw the lovely new shiny catalogues in the recycling, unopened and decided that the allotment will be the recipient of my thwarted shopping energies.  Only the allotment won't be ready till next year...what's an addict to do?

Wobbling a bit

We are discussing a winter holiday to celebrate Chris' 70th birthday and I'm thinking of my old,patched shorts.  It would be my default reaction to buy lots of new clothes.  Also, my friend who is an agent for those lovely Neals Yard organic beauty products keeps offering me 20% off.  It's difficult.  On top of that, I'm enduring one of my periodic cycles to lose weight so am feeling extra deprived. Ouch!

October 1st at last

Well, here we are.  Jane and I have exchanged emails about our last minute online shopping but I have the security of two parcels to arrive next week which will hold off the panic for a while.  Now it's  the reality of buying no clothes, or body and beauty products (my extra commitment) for a year.  I'm expecting  the hardest point will be from next spring onwards when the new season clothes arrive and I unpack my summer stuff to discover half of it is no longer desirable, or fits.    This means I also won't be able to gain weight.  I tore my shorts when cycling this week, and there are no summer shorts in the shops now so I mended them.  Chris says I will look like Orphan Annie...we'll see.