I enjoyed looking at those threads you shared @Sanne and I could feel myself itch with the desire for something new, but that feeling passed :)
Definitely have been noticing how little I need, even with my small wardrobe I only use a portion of it over and over. The things that feel ease-full, lovely and to which I have a connection.
I see this challenge (and my no-shopping year in general) as a re-boot even though I was moving in this direction for the last decade. Even when I wasn't making much money, I would try to seek out quality in thrift stores (silk shirts for $2-$5, especially in remote towns) or spent outrageously on one special thing and wear it with my mother's old clothing :)
Haha, I had the same feeling and it also passed quickly when I thought about all the combinations I could make with my current wardrobe and all the clothes I'm barely wearing. Not that I have an extreme amount, I basically have a sort of capsule wardrobe right now but some pieces get more love than others. This challenge helps me to appreciate and wear everything and better see what doesn't really work as well and why.
I did some math last year about outfit repeating. If I have 20 outfits every season I would only have to wear each outfit 4 to 5 times that season. That's nothing. I could make way more outfits than 20, I could make at least 45 different combinations (wearing items multiple times but in different combinations), so I would only have to wear the same outfit twice in one season. And I don't even care about outfit repeating. That's crazy. That's telling me I don't need more, I need less. If something wears out, I will have to make do with something else, I will still have enough.
I don't even have the feeling some other people here have, that they don't know if they'll make it because something might wear out. Even if something wears out I will still have a few more. The only thing is my black trousers I wear all the time, I will miss them if they wear out and when they are in the wash. Of course the same for some other items but they won't wear out this year.
The re-boot is exactly it. It's also a re-boot for me and the next needed step for me. And I love thrift stores but they're also dangerous for me because I also tend to buy things I don't need and will not wear as frequently. Hence the rules!
Fast fashion does not appeal to me.
For next year: liking the idea of one thing a month (if even!) and agree with your 'extra rules' too
- Buy durable / good quality - will I wear it a minimum of 30 times - will it become a staple piece
- Buy second-hand if possible and good enough (same standards should apply)
- Buy fairtrade and eco friendly if possible
- Buy less than 12 pieces = even better
**also if you are on IG, there is an interesting project called #10x10 which challenges participants to choose 10 items (including shoes, but not other accessories) and wear only these for 10 days, in differing combos..I like this type of creative encouragement--even though it's not difficult if you only have a teeny wardrobe anyhow :)
Nice to see you're liking the challenge and rules! Would be good to do next year and maybe make a thread for it.
Thanks for the 10x10 tip! That would be good for me, because I would have to think what items would work good together. That would be a good challenge to start from for making my wardrobe more coherent and to think about what I actually need and want in a perfect smaller wardrobe.
