Day the Fifth
Last week I mentioned that I was not buying any clothes for a year. (On October 1, 2010, I plan to walk out of my house shedding the tattered remains of my dignity, drive straight to Nordstrom Rack, and buy whatever clump of garments I find closest to the door. If you see me standing at the register with an armload of ill-fitting sleeveless turtleneck sweaters in sherbet tones and crystal-studded capris, have pity. I'll probably knoweth not what I am doing.)
Ironically, one of the books I received at the Broad Summit weekend last month was an InStyle magazine book on how to dress. I sat down and looked at it the other day and realized a couple of things.
1. I have never bought into the whole flesh-toned pumps thing.
2. There's no real advice out there for women who want to dress their age. It's like life stops at 35, and after that it's either Chanel suits or a barrel held up by suspenders.
3. I had a whole bunch of not-terribly-flattering clothes in my closet, bought for the simple reason that I had no idea how to minimize this and play up that, bought because they were half-off, or bought because they looked good on someone who didn't look anything like me.
Oh, what a fool I'd been. Forgive me, Halle Berry!
Since I'd been filling up donation bags with Jackson's outgrown stuff anyway, I filled up three bags with puckering shirts, unfortunate trouser choices, and dresses that showed parts of my legs I need to pretend don't exist anymore. The bags are still in my trunk, waiting for me to figure out where to leave them since the Salvation Army closed and I don't seem to know how to work a Yellow Pages, or Google.
So now not only have I vowed before God and everybody not to buy clothes for a year, but I have even less of them to cover my sagging frame than ever before (which is to say, 4x as many as your average elegant Eritrean). My two remaining sweaters are looking at me very nervously, as are three bras, a Jorge Posada Yankees jersey, and some crumbling Birkenstocks.
Ironically, one of the books I received at the Broad Summit weekend last month was an InStyle magazine book on how to dress. I sat down and looked at it the other day and realized a couple of things.
1. I have never bought into the whole flesh-toned pumps thing.
2. There's no real advice out there for women who want to dress their age. It's like life stops at 35, and after that it's either Chanel suits or a barrel held up by suspenders.
3. I had a whole bunch of not-terribly-flattering clothes in my closet, bought for the simple reason that I had no idea how to minimize this and play up that, bought because they were half-off, or bought because they looked good on someone who didn't look anything like me.
Oh, what a fool I'd been. Forgive me, Halle Berry!
Since I'd been filling up donation bags with Jackson's outgrown stuff anyway, I filled up three bags with puckering shirts, unfortunate trouser choices, and dresses that showed parts of my legs I need to pretend don't exist anymore. The bags are still in my trunk, waiting for me to figure out where to leave them since the Salvation Army closed and I don't seem to know how to work a Yellow Pages, or Google.
So now not only have I vowed before God and everybody not to buy clothes for a year, but I have even less of them to cover my sagging frame than ever before (which is to say, 4x as many as your average elegant Eritrean). My two remaining sweaters are looking at me very nervously, as are three bras, a Jorge Posada Yankees jersey, and some crumbling Birkenstocks.
37 Comments:
I so, so buy into the flesh-tone pump thing and always have. And in summer beige, tan, nude (whatever) wedge sandals. SO elongating and slimming! Though you seem the type to likely scoff and someone commenting "elongating and slimming."
I stopped shopping for the last 2 months. That ends today.
I was seconds away from declaring my allegiance and vowing to a) go through my closet and purge, and b) not buy anything new, but then I remembered that I am pregnant and I didn't have anything that fit me BEFORE so there is pretty much no change I'll have anything after and maybe I should hold off on any vows until I make sure I have at least one pair of pants.
there's a flesh tone pump thing? who knew?
then again i don't wear pumps.
i made an informal vow to stop shopping for clothes last january and i've broken it for 4 items, one of which was a replacement so it doesn't count.
i have also been shedding all the glorious stuff i have acquired over years of obsessive (yet bargain conscious) power shopping.
now i want less, but better, and better fitting.
it feels good to get rid of things. it feels better than bringing things into the house. i fear our growing minimalism will soon mean we own one bowl and a pair of trousers we take turns wearing (good thing mr. monkey is of similar size to me).
Take the clothes to consignment and use the money you earn to buy some items from the consignment shop. It won't really be like buying clothing then, more like trading.
I am so impressed with your commitment. I went on a clothes diet once for a mere two months. A year is very brave.
I will be reading on the edge of my seat.
Sorry, you just lost me at the whole flesh toned pumps thing...currently my no. 1 obsession. Pity I have 4 bloody children and its summer in Australia so all I wear is thongs (flip flops?). Ugh.
Right, new plan: Send Eden an item of clothing once a day for 30 days. Or...send her one thing, and each day she'll showcase the good, bad & evil that arrive on her doorstep.
I know there's a gimmick in here somewhere.
This is why I always dress like a 17 year old boy. Jeans and a t-shirt? Check. Jeans and a t-shirt and a hoodie? Check. Jeans and, hold on... a polo shirt because a grown up told me to dress nice? Fine.
That is not to say that this doesn't require the same vanity. GOD FORBID I choose the wrong t-shirt to wear!
That said, on the list of reasons I decided to go to nursing school is: job with a uniform.
Eden, there are some pretty good over-40 fashion blogs. Passage des Perles, Une Femme D'Un Certain Age, etc. We do not need to abandon hope all we who enter here.
I'm in the process of purging my closet of all things unflattering/unsuitable/beige. Want some clothes? I have a feeling that things that look atrocious on me might suit you.
Everything I've got is in the size 8 - 14 range (not because I've changed, but because women's clothing sizes make no freaking sense).
Also, flesh-colored pumps? That's a thing?
I think I only bought 3 articles of clothing in 2008 because I was saving for a down payment. And those things were jeans because I wear almost nothing but. It was a great exercise because I'm now much more cautious about shopping, and rarely buy things I don't need.
There's a Goodwill on Bath Street in SB next time you're in town...
freecycle! Give them to someone who can use them, and have them come pick them up.
I've dropped a couple of sizes, and am hoping someone in my area will offer some clothes in my new size, so I know someone would appreciate them.
I understand that the logic behind "flesh" colored high-heel shoes is to create a kind of illusion wherein your feet enlenghthen your legs instead of being separate hoof-like entities onto which you've wedged a couple of purple Fluvogs (boy am I explaining this badly), but to me it just looks like you're wearing brown-ish shoes and why would you do that if your dress is green? But then again I have trouble taking these things seriously so you go ahead and keep on wearing them because honestly, I probably thought you looked really nice in them last time I saw you.
Eden, I just donated three bags of clothes (and an old but working TV!) to a local no-kill animal shelter that runs a thrift store to help defray their operating expenses. Since I like most animals better than I like most people, this seemed like a better option to me than Goodwill. Maybe you have something like that near you?
Thank you, I'll look into it!
Um, will you be allowed to knit?
Two words: Clothing swap. Literally half my closet right now is made up of cast-offs from friends and co-workers. Works great with jewelry/accessories too. Just add some wine for a fun evening!
i was also going to suggest freecycle or AmVets because they pick up.
Alpha will also pick up. Proceeds from the thrift store benefit people with developmental disabilities. Call 964-1123 to schedule a pick up.
If you run out of clothes, I have an awesome "Writing well is the best revenge" shirt I can give you.
This challenge would not be hard on me as I hate buying new clothes.
Problem would be my t-s would get so ratty I would be embarrassed to be seen in public with them on. I do have SOME standards ;) (The jeans just get better looking in my opinion).
I don't get the whole flesh-toned pumps thing either. But shh don't tell anyone.
And how am I the ONLY one who did not come home from Napa with that damn InStyle book? So unfair.
I'll meet you at Nordstrom Rack in a year. It will be fun! Seriously.
A friend of mine made the same solemn vow not to buy clothes for a year and then hosted a clothing swap for charity. Everyone brought their clothes to her studio (she owns a hula hooping studio in Nashville) to swap, plus a small donation, and everyone went home happy. Something to think about if you can't track down the number for Salvation Army. You've got some cool stuff in your closet. We've seen!
There are several reasons that I love novembers. First, it is my birthday month. Second, I get to read your writing on a daily basis. I know that this has often been repeated but you are just so funny!
Thanks for keeping up!
You have all those other great shoes you used to put photos of up on Flickr, so if you have a couple pair each of pants/jeans and anywhere from 5-10 tops to wear, you've got yourself at least a year of mix & match "looks" as far as I'm concerned.
Making this change has simplified my mornings like nothing else, and I am *no* morning person (please read my blog post from yesterday... if you aren't a morning person either, you'll totally get it)!
I'm not just allowed to wear jeans and t-shirts until I get old and die? Oh dear.
I have to ask you to stop throwing in phrases like "a barrel held up with straps" because then I spit all over my screen and my 3 year old says "What's funny, Mama?" over and over and then I have to either make something up or try to explain hobo humor.
Appreciate your cooperation.
It took me until the age of 48 to realize that something I saw on a rack that would be perfect for my sister Mary, or my friend Jane, or that roommate from college -- all of whom always look put together in their own quite determinate styles -- would not necessarily look great on me. I'm not them! So now when I shop I work hard at seeing how well something really looks/feels on me, and have fewer, but much more useful, clothes in my closet.
I'm a purger and I hate shopping. So my closet keeps getting emptier and emptier. Oh well.
Good for you for not shopping for a year. Once I can afford too I might actually head out to the nearest Kohls. But I sure won't be buying flesh tone pumps. They creep me out too.
Wow, I've been on a clothes diet for the last year or so and didn't even know it! I just thought we were broke! I feel so virtuous now :>
Fluevogs? Fluevogs! Such a funny word. Sounds like something the Swedish Chef would say on "Sesame Street" (or was it the Muppet Show?) but I digress... Had to look it up. Funkalicious, albeit expensive.
You could always swing by and borrow something from me (though anything from my closet would be 10inches too short and 10 sizes to big for you)...could be a new trend!
Is there something wrong with a barrel and suspenders? Goes anywhere. Wears like iron. All my surviving clothes are some version of the barrel. I don't need the suspenders because the barrel is snug.
Just catching up here and really enjoyed this and your story about flying with Ma Gyllenhall.
I'll bet she has been reading Fussy ever since.
There is a Spay & Neuter Clinic that has a thrift shop in Ventura - I give them all my stuff. It's behind the ghetto Vons (on Main/ W of Ventura) and they're open from 10:30 - 4.
An aside: The Ventura Saturday Farmer's Market could also be a lure - way less crowded than SB... just sayin'
JUST WAIT until you get the hang of that Google contraption. It's like, the possibilites are ENDLESS!
Flesh toned pumps??? Beige??? What were you doing, running for Ms. Swimsuit Alabama? Ewww.
Anyway I ADORE the hoofy Fluevogs, have one pair I'm waiting to see if the toe style comes back in fashion. Awesome.
Crusty Birkenstocks, not so much.
I gave up on fashion long ago and have lived in my own gypsyhippie/urbanblackgoth/agingartisticjewelryhorse world (that covers three decades there)for a long time. Screw fashion. DIY and become a beautiful bird. Except when you go to work. Then you wear anything you don't have to dryclean that won't frighten anyone that's black. See?, simple.
Oh, and P.S., oatmeal and glitter?? CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD.
"There's no real advice out there for women who want to dress their age."
Take heart! I've written a blog, Passage des perles, for nearly two years devoted to style and culture for women 50+, but younger women enjoy it too!
And I recommend Une femme d'une certain age, Deja Pseu's wonderful blog, too!
In Style is not especially stylish.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home