I’m reading a book on shopping. No, not that kind of book. Not a how to shop guide. More of a how to stop shopping guide… or a reason to stop shopping guide. It’s called The Day the World Stops Shopping by J.B. MacKinnon, and it’s fascinating, and troubling, and inspiring all at the same time. It’s about shopping, consumption, the need we have to consume, both psychologically and economically, and the consequences of over-consumption. In writing his book, MacKinnon has “undertaken a thought experiment.” “Suppose that we suddenly listened to all those voices through history that have asked us to live with less.” MacKinnon asks the question: What happens if the world stops shopping? And he attempts to answer it.
Before I go any further, I must tell you that I have only begun to read the book. I’m still reading the prologue. I’ll get back to you when I’ve finished the book.
In the meantime, I wanted to explore my own attempts to stop shopping. Or more precisely, my attempts to slow my own consumption by shopping less and shopping more sustainably by buying vintage and second-hand instead of new. I say “my attempts” because I can assure you I am not an expert.
So, this is my “how to stop shopping guide” which is, of course, a work in progress.
First off, how does an avowed lover of clothes and fashion even attempt to stop shopping? Well, by doing other things instead of shopping for starters. Like walking in the bush with Hubby. The antithesis of shopping. Ha.
And by avoiding outings that include shopping. This spring I have yet to visit my normal shopping haunts. These forays usually involve shopping and then meeting friends for lunch. Instead, now, if I meet up with friends, it’s for walking followed by coffee, or sometimes just for coffee. And usually in a part of town where I don’t normally shop. That way I am minimizing temptation by not putting myself in harm’s way.
I’ve made a few dedicated shopping trips since my pledge in January and almost all of them have been to consignment, vintage, or thrift stores. Except for the day I shopped and had lunch in Fredericton with my old friend Debbie. And we know how that ended up. I capitulated and bought my second new purchase of the year. As I said, I am a work in progress. Ha.
I’ve not really missed shopping. Because I’ve not actually stopped shopping altogether, merely tried to stop shopping for new pieces. It’s been fun to research consignment and vintage stores in my area. I made a list and plan to visit them all one by one. I love a good project, and getting to know the local second-hand shopping stops in Ottawa has been a labour of love.
Of course the best way to want to stop shopping, in my opinion, is to know what you already own, and to appreciate what’s in your closet. It’s way easier to love what you already own if you’ve purchased wisely in the first place, bought what you loved, bought good quality (or as good as you could afford), and taken care of your clothes.
The best way to get to know your wardrobe is to do a full closet inventory. I know you already know this, but my method is to keep a written list of what is in my wardrobe. I divide it into two main seasons. Then each season I add to my list anything that I’ve purchased. This may not work for you. But a written list appeals to my love of order. I keep a small book of my dated lists. Some people I know do this in a spreadsheet. There are even aps you can buy. I tried to use an ap one year as an experiment. But each item had to be photographed and uploaded into the ap and that seemed way too labour-intensive to me. I prefer my little hand-written book.
Once you know what you have, make sure you wear what you own. Make a point of showing all those neglected pieces that you once loved some care and attention.
Like this old Cerruti jacket below. I haven’t brought it out for a couple of years. I almost culled it multiple times. But the other day, I knew it would be the perfect jacket with my cream cargoes, black boots, and a light-weight cashmere sweater.
I was planning a day out in Almonte with my friend Marina. It was supposed to be sunny, but cool in the morning. Since I needed to be warm, I wore socks and ankle boots and a cashmere sweater. But I also wanted to be dressed for spring, not winter. Hence the cream cargoes and my old Cerruti jacket. This jacket was part of a skirt suit I purchased back in the early 2000s. The skirt is long gone. But I have held onto the jacket. Its casual shape works really well with the cargo pants. And it has a bit of a shiny finish which adds texture to the all black on top. I added the silk scarf for warmth in the morning and stuffed it into my purse later in the day. I was kind of excited to put together this outfit.
Seriously, folks, if you want to know how to stop shopping, try loving what you already own. You might be surprised what you can do with the older pieces in your closet.
Here’s what else I’m going to try this spring.
I looked up, in my blog photo files, some of the outfits I loved but didn’t wear enough in the past couple of years. I love that yellow sweater with my tan linen jacket and the gold Michael Kors bag. I dreamed up that outfit for a post last year and never wore it. Ditto that pink Cole Haan bag. It’s the perfect spring accessory with my lilac sweater. I’m going to make an effort to wear the outfits below. I’ll use this post as a checklist of sorts.
The whole idea of “The Rule of Five” appeals to me. I like rules. They help me to achieve my goals. And having a strict goal of five new pieces has helped me to say “no” to shopping new. When Marina and I were in Almonte on Friday we browsed in a couple of stores. Marina tried a sweater. I didn’t try anything. I saw a couple of pieces, a pink striped summer sweater in particular, that I knew I would love, and which would work in my closet, but I didn’t cave. That looming number five made it easy to say “no.” Much more than if I had pledged simply to cut back, for instance. Loose goals don’t work for me.
Sometimes, like on Friday, you can’t avoid browsing. I wasn’t going to stand on the sidewalk while Marina shopped by herself. That would be silly. But I knew that if I tried anything on I’d be doomed. So I didn’t. I loved that pink sweater, I patted it fondly, and then I walked away. Walking away is a good skill to learn if you’re trying to stop shopping.
What I did buy in Almonte were some gorgeous silver buttons for my new white jacket. Thanks to Diane for recommending Darrell Thomas Textiles in Almonte. What a treasure trove of a store. So many buttons. And their array of fabric made me wish I sewed. Well, almost. Ha. And Darrell himself was a hoot. He helped me choose my buttons, and even sent us to his favourite restaurant for lunch.
As I said, I’m still reading the prologue of J.B. MacKinnon’s book The Day the World Stops Shopping. I’m going to buy it because I’ll never finish it before my library loan runs out. My problem is it’s so interesting that I read a page and then put the book down to go find Hubby to discuss what I’ve just read. I’ll never get through the darned book this way. I first heard of MacKinnon’s book on CBC radio a couple of years ago. You can listen to his discussion with CBC radio host Mary Hynes here, if you’re interested.
For those of you who were expecting a non-fashion post this week, I apologize. The best thing for me about writing a blog is that I get to talk about whatever is currently occupying my thoughts. Many years of keeping up with curricular goals has made me loath to commit to a writing topic schedule. And other than the last Tim Sullivan book The Teacher, which I just finished, or the newest Anthony Horowitz novel Close to Death, which I am listening to, and MacKinnon’s book which, as I said, I’ve just started, my goal to stop shopping is uppermost in my mind. Or, to be totally honest (which I am aware is redundant) shopping and trying to stop shopping are equally in the forefront of my mind.
Partly that’s due to the button-shopping foray my friend and I made on Friday. I can’t wait to transform that white jacket with new buttons. Partly it’s due to the fact that I must start looking for something to wear to the family wedding in early June. First I need to shop my closet to see if I can cobble together something appropriate which I also like. If I can’t, I’ll do the rounds of the consignment and vintage shops. Then, if I must, I’ll try to find something new. And time is running out.
So, you want to know the secret to how to stop shopping?
There isn’t one. You just have to make up your mind and do the best you can. For me that includes having a number as a goal. And making a point of finding ways to turn old pieces into new outfits. Outfits that make me excited to get dressed. And which make me realize that I don’t need to shop.
So how about you my friends? Let’s talk about you in the comments this week instead of me.
What are you shopping for these days? If you signed on to the Rule of Five Pledge… how’s that going? Do you have any tips for us on how to stop shopping? For clothes, or anything actually. Over-consumption isn’t just about clothes after all. People who have previously signed the pledge say the idea has spread into all aspects of their shopping lives. That’s good, isn’t it?