Fashion

[MacDuFF]

Hello fashion friends.

I've challenged myself many times since The Year-Long Great and Terrible Closet Purge of 2018 and have had some successes, but more failures.

For instance, "no-buys"...once, I did a no-buy challenge for a month. Result = hahahahaha wishful thinking. A month felt like an eternity! Fail.

A few times, I did more realistic short-term no-buy challenges. The first short-term no-buy was for a week...one trivial week out of 52...how hard could that be, I ask you?

I didn't buy a thing from Sunday through Wednesday and thought so far, so good! 

I spent Thursday equivocating with the terms of my challenge: I didn't say exactly what I wouldn't buy, did I?  Clothes, sure; I have more than enough, but what about necessities (that word was key to my self-deception🙁) such as shoes, pajamas, undies, socks? 

On Friday, I went shopping for "necessities"🙄 and came home with a pair of pajamas, a pair of sneakers (as if I don't have enough already), socks (never mind that I had dozens of pairs of socks), and a top!  Epic fail.

Let's face it, I'm setting myself up for failure with no-buy challenges. Low-buy challenges were more successful, except for the fact that I kept re-defining the meaning of "low."😬

So, forget no-buy, low-buy, 30 pieces/30 outfits/30 days...it ain't happening. What can I say? Fashionista, know thyself; I shop, therefore, I am.

Overall, I'm happy with my wardrobe. For the past few years, I've purchased far less than I ever have. I'm at a consistent low-buy stage, which seems normal for me now.  I count it as a success, so I have that going for me.

This challenge is going to be about being more mindful of what I already own, how to put it all together, and staying away from purchases that aren't going to fit in with what I have...I still fall for the unusual!! and different!! items that I don't wear or items that I only wear one way or infrequently, and, with thrifting, it's all too easy to say "what the heck, the cost is too good to pass up, so I might as well try it." I'm aiming for future purchases to fit into my closet in a more cohesive way.

I'm going to wear every single piece of clothing in my closet, including footwear and handbags, for one year starting March 15th and starting with spring transition items.

Honestly, I don't have a super clear idea of what I want to accomplish with this challenge other than curating, being more mindful of what I already have, and updating my picture archive.

Since I own more tops than anything else, getting a picture of each top and one or two "best loved and worn outfits" with all my tops should get me pictures of everything else I own, too. (I wear and switch out my jewelry on a whim and have my collection pared down to the bone...I can't remember the last time I bought jewelry...so jewelry isn't included in this challenge.)

Pictures have always helped me remember how I put together an outfit or two from each new piece I bought, but I've not done that by season since 2018, and, since I obviously have way too much time on my hands,😆 I'm going to do it again, but with different goals (although I'm sure this challenge will result in more purging).

Sometimes while scrolling through outfit pictures, a new outfit will pop into my head using a top from one picture, a pair of jeans from another picture, and footwear from a third. Pictures help me with the creative process, too.

So, that's probably how I'll go through this challenge. 

Here are two casual outfits I've worn several times in the past few weeks.

1. This appeals to my boho side, which comes out in spring, and works with different base layers (or not) in transition for different temperature/weather conditions. Except for my beloved Dad jeans, everything was thrifted. I love this comfortable, casual, fun outfit...



2. This was inspired by @Lisa Y  (hey, Cuz...thanks again for the inspiration; I like this so much better than with the Tahari jacket).  Except for the crossbody, everything was thrifted. Another comfortable, casual outfit I love...




Thank you for reading my ridiculously long posts; I appreciate it very much. Don't forget to shop your closet! Until next time, I wish you Godspeed.❤️

[AngelPuppy1]

It's hard to set these goals!  I used to do that with my closet(s) and I just can't any more.  It's like telling yourself --- Oh, I'll only eat 1 chocolate a day -- and then, it makes you -- well, maybe not you -- but me -- crave it all the more!  Anyway, I applaud you for trying to make sense of it all and take charge of your items and mixing and matching them in different ways.  You are so right - I totally forget to shop my closet(s).  I go out and get very excited about a bargain and come home and often have an item very close to identical in my own stash!

I especially love the first look you have posted -- although both are very cute and seem practical and fun!  

[newjerseygirl]

@MacDuFF  For Lent this year, I gave up buying new things, clothes, handbags, jewelry, shoes.  So far so good.  One week to go until Easter Sunday.

I will see how long I can continue after Easter. 

P.S.  I will be in your area for Easter.  Leaving on Thursday to visit my son and his family in Matthews NC.

[Eileen in Virginia]

I can relate. My shopping frenzy started decades ago when I discovered the Talbots clearance store a couple of towns away. At that time, I had just been promoted to a management position and needed to add suits and more professional clothing to my wardrobe. The buys were phenomenal and I got into the habit of stopping by every few weeks to see what they had. Now that I'm retired, I only stop there every couple of months.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Talbots had warehouses full of new clothing when most businesses had to close their doors. Not knowing when they'd be able to reopen, Talbots held online flash sales with ridiculously low prices (many items cost $30) to move the merchandise. I've still got items that cost $30 that I've never worn. They're going to the Salvation Army store when I do the great seasonal clothing transfer in a couple of weeks. 

I'm really trying to channel my younger self who got A's in self-control in grade school. So far, I'm doing pretty well, but it would help if there was a nun standing by to hold me accountable for my transgressions. 

[Lisa Y]

@MacDuFF  Hey Cuz! Love your two outfits. I'm glad I could inspire you without outfit #2. You look great! Keep shopping in your closets for new mix and match ensembles.

I tend to go through my closets and bins at the end of each season when I do the "transfer of clothing".  

Just recently, I went through my 23 Y.O. son's room. Yikes!!! I got rid of twelve Hefty bags of clothes, odds and ends, and garbage. My husband painted the room, and we bought a new and larger bed and two nightstands. It looks great but cleaning out our son's closet and dresser was exhausting. I don't have the energy to do my own stuff.

[shoptilyadropagain]

Your two outfits are cute!!!

Don't be too hard on yourself.  I remember your great closet purge and know that you work very hard to only buy thrifted or sale items most of the time and that is to be commended!!

I don't do the shop your closet thing because I have only the basic colors in dress pants (black, navy gray, brown) and my sweaters, tops, tunics, etc either go with one or two colors of pants or my jeans.  I don't buy a whole lot of prints in tops and also do very little layering (turtlenecks, jackets, vests, etc.)  and this method of "deciding what to wear" works well for me.  In other words, you could say I'm lazy when pulling together an outfit....LOL!

[DSD2]

@MacDuFF in addition to being an outstanding fashionista, you are a marvelous writer. I smiled at every single word; what a wonderful read.

LOVE your first look. The casual and breezy shirt, cute bag and very flattering, loose legged jeans are fabulous.

Such a fashion flair! Lovely. 

[ROMARY]

Love your second outfit.

Short sleeved sweater worn as a vest !  

I'm in-vested in vests !

Love the medium grey color, too.

[wilma]

@MacDuFF 

Good luck with your 2026 challenge!

I know what my challenge is this year, because it's the same every year. Buy less! 😱

In my defense I have pared down my closet quite a bit over the years, but I still buy too much. Shopping is a fun activity for me. I really like to buy new clothes and shoes.

[MacDuFF]

@AngelPuppy1   "... I totally forget to shop my closet(s).  I go out and get very excited about a bargain and come home and often have an item very close to identical in my own stash!..."

Exactly!  I used to do this all the time.  Also, sometimes, I'd come home and find I had nothing to wear with my bargain and go shopping again to get something to go with.  What kind of madness is that I ask ya!?  Truth be told, I still make these mistakes...rarely, but...do-oh!🤦‍♀️

@newjerseygirl    I'm rooting for you; it's not easy!  I hope you enjoyed your time with family in our neck of the woods.

@Eileen in Virginia    Frenzy is right...been there, done that.  I couldn't pass up a sale either.  I need a nun with a ruler!😬

@Lisa Y   Hey Cuz!  I don't care what age they are, men collect some of the weirdest stuff. I refuse to even go into the garage.  What the heck could he have stashed in the rafters!?   Handsome has a thing for nuts, bolts and washers. He must have tons in the garage stashed in drawers, large glass containers, baggies, boxes.  It's downright weird! Once, he came home from work, all excited.  "Guess what I found in the parking lot at work?!!"  Judging by his excitement, I was thinking a hundred dollar bill or a diamond necklace, something I could write home about.😆  What was it?  A quart size baggie filled with...nuts, bolts and washers.  OMG!  All I know is that men have a nerve talking about us!

@shoptilyadropagain   I hear ya.  I don't own a lot of prints either, and I dislike layering, too.  I like things easy peasey...one piece and done...button it up or pull it over my head and go.  Transition, with all that layering to accommodate rollercoaster temps and weather conditions, is the bane of my fashion existence!

@DSD2   I'm glad you get a smile from my blahblahblahing.  I admit that I crack myself up sometimes. Laughter is good medicine!  Those Dad jeans are soooo comfortable; I love them and am about to pull the trigger on a black pair on eBay.

Hello to my vestie pal @ROMARY   Semantics, but...when I think of a vest, I think of a sleeveless button front.  The top I'm wearing (which has blue, black and white threads, but does look gray onscreen), is what I usually call a topper.  It's a pullover and has long-ish cap sleeves.  I like both vests and toppers.😁

@wilma   Hahaha, I should just do that, too.  Challenge for the rest of my life:  Buy less.  But, I'm with you, I love shopping and clothes too much to do any challenge real justice.  But, hey, I try, so I have that going for me.

I hope everyone had a blessed Passover and Easter. Hope is alive!