The other day on our morning news show, Canada AM, they did a feature on this woman who was about to take a 30 day clothing challenge. The deal? Wear only 6 items for the entire 30 days (underwear/coats/shoes/accessories don't count). Interesting.Started here - http://sixitemsorless.com/the-experiment/ - the challenge questions the power clothes have over us. I'd also like to think that it's a great way to see that, as the norm, we own too much. Too many clothes, too many electronics, too many fill-in-the-blank. And the concept intrigues me - mostly because The Husband and I made a conscious decision to cut back years and years ago. Trying to live in a minimalist way sure helps when you pick up and move around every three or four years.
The challenge started me thinking - and I realized that I've begun to collect. My minimalist ways have slowly moved off my radar and I find myself with too many drinking glasses, too many running shoes (I buy running shoes like a normal woman buys dressy shoes), too many candle holders...The list goes on!
Now I could easily do the 30 Day Clothing Challenge - I work from home and most days I wear the same comfortable men's long-sleeved t-shirt, yoga pants and a men's plaid shirt if I'm cold. There's three items - now another long-sleeved shirt, a pair of jeans (in case I'm going out) and a dressier top (to wear with the jeans when I venture forth from my house that serves as living and working quarters) and I'm set. But what about a 30 day ban on not buying something for my house (latest quest: table linens), or a 30 day ban on not eating out (because that has become a major budget busting issue for me, not to mention the busting out of my pants with all the rich food I'm eating)? Now those would be a lot harder!
What about you, People of Blogland - could you do the 30 Day Clothing Challenge? What 6 items would you wear? Is there something in your life that you'd like to ban for 30 days? What's the one thing you could not, under any circumstance, ban from your life for 30 days? And do you think clothes have power over us?
Jeans, sweatshirt, three relatively similar tank tops, and a spare sweatshirt that's rather nicer for when the other needs washing and I don't want to look like I work from home whilst going out.
ReplyDeleteActually, that's exactly what I do anyway. I just cycle through more shirts because I get lazy about the wash.
I've been wanting to do a purge after this last move too. We don't have tons of stuff, no horror from the movers, but I know we could turf or donate at least half the basement. I'll take some of those glasses off your hands though. We need more. Our good ones (as can hold a full can of something, etc) keep disappearing. Seriously, not broken or anything, just no longer there!
In terms of banning things that involve money, I kinda don't have stuff to buy much right now, thanks to the weeks in isolation :D In general though it might be book and movie purchases, but I don't consider them awful, and damned not going to stop buying books! Or maybe best thing would be a 30 day ban on wasting time and being a lazy ass.
Witnessing a single episode of Say Yes to the Dress and then What Not To Wear on TLC, yes, clothes have a horrible power over people in general. Really, astoundingly so.
When I first read this, I thought you meant six "outfits". I said to myself, easy-peasy. I do it anyway, hehe. All those other clothes hanging in my closet are just for decoration. But then you broke it down for yourself, and it became more of a challenge. Like you I go for comfort when at home, and wear something more "public friendly" when at the grocery store (about the only place I go these days, very sad). The required layers for winter really limit my options. So I'm not sure six items would work. Also, I'd be doing the laundry more often, and just think of all that water and energy I'd be using.
ReplyDeleteAs far as "stuff", yes, we have too much. Things we don't touch from one year to the next but can't bring ourselves to toss. We do do a clean out every year, not because it's planned or anything, merely because we are going crazy looking at the same crap. A yard sale, followed by a trip to Goodwill with all the leftovers, helps tremendously. My rule for yard sales is, once it leaves the house it doesn't go back in.
I'd love to ban TV for 30 days, but the men in the house would mutiny. Under no circumstances would I ever give up tea, for the joy of brewing a fresh cup and just sitting quietly for a few minutes.
Heh. I have to force myself to wear something other than my standard couple of outfits every day. Some days I have to make a conscious effort to not wear sweats and a t-shirt outside the house. It's not a minimalist thing. I'm just lazy. I have scads of nicer clothes to wear, but why wear them when I'm not going anywhere and no one is going to see me?
ReplyDeleteWhat I need to do is ban myself from eating junk for 30 days. Then I'd be able to fit into some of the those clothes I'm saving for the day when I can wedge myself back into them.
Ah, the memories of living in isolation :) I became very good at mail order shopping (with the Internet, I would have been in heaven - not that I bought a lot). The real problem came when we flew out for holidays - then the crazed spending knew no bounds. Ah, the memories of making a ridiculously large salary :)
ReplyDeleteI think that the 30 Day Challenge is much easier for those of us that don't leave the house! It's easy to wear the same clothes, no one sees you - the laundry is an issue, though. I can see myself succeeding with the challenge until it came time to do the 12 wash in so many days. I hate laundry - that wouldn't make me happy.
I've watched Say Yes to the Dress - I love the over-the-top brides! And their families. I find it hilarious - and, yes, I'm going to call it research. Don't like What Not to Wear - mostly because I could be a candidate and half the time I think they looked fine before.
Good luck keeping track of those glasses, Hayley. Perhaps you should check with the cat?
I love your yearly garage sale/purge idea, Lu! And the rule about not bringing it back into the house is perfect. We did a huge purge back when we had to put our stuff in storage - a big garage sale - but I made the mistake of packing up all the stuff that was left. Marked the boxes "Garage Sale" and thought I would have another one when we got settled. Not one of my more brilliant ideas! I'm going to remember your rule for next time.
ReplyDeleteThe layering is an issue - we're lucky our house is nice and warm, usually I'm running around with three shirts on to keep warm. That would really eat into the 6 items!
It's hard to ban stuff when others in the household aren't willing to play along. I tried to give up my morning coffee once (not a bad habit, but I wanted to try) - couldn't do it because The Husband brewed a pot every morning and the smell was just too much.
Oh, I hear you, B.E. I have stuff crammed in my closet for that day when I can fit back into them! I think banning junk for 30 days is doable - but my problem when I give myself ultimatums like that is I have to go out and binge before I ban. It's like my brain doesn't believe I'll ever have another potato chip. And then throughout the restricted time period, that's all I think about! Yet, I can go weeks without a potato chip if I'm not consciously cutting them out of my diet. The brain is a powerful thing!
ReplyDeleteAnd loves its potato chips :)
Oh, and I'm all over that lazy gene - so much easier to grab the same thing every day!
I could almost do this, I think. But,I'm messy and would have to do laundry too often. And I only do laundry once a week. So maybe 8 pieces? Surely I wouldn't spill lunch on all those tops?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could do the outfit challenge...not that I buy a lot of clothes (hardly ever)...and I mostly live in yoga pants or jeans with a tshirt and sweatshirt...but I do like to change colours every day.
ReplyDeleteWe got rid of tons of things before we moved to Nova Scotia, but we (I should say "I") have accumulated a lot of stuff at auctions since we moved...seems to be adding up. However, I am a purger. We have the "one in, one out" rule about clothes...you get something new, you must give away something.
And...we donate "stuff" to the SHAID or SPCA garage sale every year.
My husband says he's scared he'll be given away sometime so he keeps moving around the house!
3/4 of what is in my closet and dresser could be given away but for the fact that I occasionally need something 'nice' and 'nice' is defined by the event. *sigh* I could live in sleep pants, tank, hoodie, jeans, and sweater/tee shirt year round if life would let me.
ReplyDeleteSo...okay. I could not survive the 30 day - 6 items of clothing - challenge. And I don't consider myself a clothing fanatic. But SIX things. Never. I can't even wrap my head around the idea. She's going to wear the same six things over and over again all month!?! That's...crazy. Seriously. So I guess that answers your last question. Not at all :D
ReplyDeleteBut I'm all for the concept of trying to get a handle on all the stuff. And more importantly why I feel the need to collect it in the first place. After our basement flooded in the spring and we had to sort through what basically amounted to a bunch of crap, I turned over a new leaf. We now, like Sara, have a something comes in, something goes out policy! And a don't buy it in the first place policy!
I could never ban books or reading though I would like to get up enough gumption to ban TV watching for a month.
Too funny, Anne :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you on laundry. We're on time of day and I stick to weekend laundry schedule like a tongue sticks to a frozen metal pole! I'd be in dire straights if I spilled something.
My husband says he's scared he'll be given away sometime so he keeps moving around the house!
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious, Sara! Keep moving, Sara's husband, keep moving :)
Great rule - I need to apply that to my ever-growing collection of wine glasses/drinking glasses/shot glasses - I have no willpower when I go to flea markets or auctions. That and china. Oh, so pretty!
I love the SHAID garage sale every fall. What a great way to raise money. And we've gone the last two years we've been here and always manage to come home with something (I insist since the money goes to SHAID) - usually it's a new stuffed toy for Taz!
You keep those 'nice' things, Silver - you'll be needing them with your about to take off publishing career! Book signings, meeting with editors and agent, interviews!!
ReplyDeleteBut I hear you on the fact that we need stuff in our closet for those times when we do get dressed up. I lamented to The Husband over the busy Christmas season that I had nothing to wear except the same 'nice' top I had been wearing to every party. Fine if there's different people, not so good if you run into the same person who was at the same party the night before!
How do you really feel about that challenge, Karyn? LOL! We won't subject you to the 6 item torture - yet!
ReplyDeleteIt's always amazing how much a basement can accumulate, isn't it? They're like giant pits that beg to be filled - and that's usually where the crap goes. I know the first time we lived in a place with a basement and it came time to move, I was astounded by the stuff that had collected there. Without me being overly aware! No wonder I hate basements.
Yes, TV is a tough one...as I get ready to head out to the giant boobtube to watch Oprah. And maybe have a glass of wine in one of my vintage wine glasses!! Ah, Oprah and wine - living the high life now :)
My closet is pretty empty to begin with, so I truly don't believe the challenge would be too difficult. And I haven't bought new clothes in about 7-10 years. Although aren't you all forgetting about underwear (should count as one item)?
ReplyDeleteAs for banning other things, I live pretty much as minimalistically as possible. I walk or use a bike for transportation, I do not have cable or even regular tv, I don't go places that cost money. My books come from the library and the only thing I spend money on is food.
Before my divorce, I'm not so sure if I would have been able to, but now I have no doubt whatsoever.
Hah! And here I sit with classy glasses, good china and linens galore and my crummy family hates it when I use them.
ReplyDeleteThe six thing: I would need the one pair of jeans that fit, the black stretchy slacks, two semi-decent tops, a T and a sweat shirt, assuming jackets, hats, scarves, mitts, mitts and gloves don't count.
Awhile ago, I said to self, "Self. Why am I wearing Grunge Exclusives? Why don't I wear the good stuff around the house"? Our social life consists of retirement parties and funerals. All the rest of our clothes(two or three closets full) can be for when we clean and garage or basement - which ain't gonna happen. How are you fixed for painting clothes?
I only do laundry if Husband is whiny or has blood in his eye.
My thing is dusting. I would need blouses with tails for the 6 thing, or how else would I dust the surfaces you can see? If I dust the hall table, where do I write the telephone numbers?
I vote all we Far Flung Folk meet at a central motel and have a trade of our excesses. Does anyone know of a motel that can accommodate that many transport trucks?
Does anybody need never-worn semi-dress shoes size 8 1/2?
I do not accumulate junk, I am accumulating modern items that will some day make me rich as Croesus at an antique store!
We can't have a garage sale at our house because we both made too many nasty enemies through our jobs. So, I am making the church rich through their rummage sales. What is SHAIDS?
The SPCA won't take our cast offs as the animals are particular after all.
You are living the minimalist lifestyle, Josie - many could not survive and many would complain bitterly of the lot in life they have been dealt. It is refreshing to meet a person who accepts and acknowledges that strength :)
ReplyDeleteI am a huge library fan - I would never read the amount of books I do without the local library helping out!
Outer clothing and underwear don't count in the 6 items - so you're good with the stuff you have on your list, Connie :)
ReplyDeleteI will admit to dusting with the sleeve of my long-sleeved t-shirt. Never thought to utilize the tails on a shirt - and since I love to wear men's button up shirts, this would be a great use of the long tails that cover my writer's butt. Thanks for the suggestion.
SHAID is an organization here that shelters helpless animals in distress (acronym). They're policy is to find homes for the animals that come to them - no time limits and they only euthanize when it is of necessity because of medical conditions. It's a wonderful organization. Here's the link: SHAID