Squashing the Shopping Bug

Posted by Kristin Bassett on February 1st, 2010

: Not one, but two overstuffed closets

My name is Kristin Bassett and I am a shopaholic. There, I said it. Even though it is very apparent to my friends and family that I have a shopping problem, I always stick to my guns when I claim I DO NOT have a problem.

It wasn’t until recently when my friend (who I sometimes think has a shopping problem) made a joke about my upcoming move to NYC and my future inability to maintain my “extravagant lifestyle” of constant shopping when I realized that maybe I need to tone down my shopping habits. Also, the fact that I have forgone groceries in favor of a new pair of boots more than once kind of flipped a light switch in my head.

So I have taken a vow: a vow to stop shopping from February 1 to May 16^th (my college graduation). That means no new shoes that are impractical for most life scenarios, no new skirts, tops and pants that get worn once and no new dresses that are only appropriate for balls and galas I sadly don’t frequent. I don’t need yet another pair of bangles or another cardigan. I don’t NEED anything else…the proof is in the numbers. I currently own: 62 tops; 12 pairs of pants; 16 skirts; 2 pairs of leggings; 24 dresses; 7 winter coats; 2 trench coats; 1 raincoat; 4 fall jackets; 2 blazers; 29 pairs of shoes (including boots and sandals) and God knows how many accessories ranging from earrings to belts to purses.

Since I am no longer shopping, this means that I need to start shopping my closet (and maybe borrow from my roomies from time to time). The second part of my challenge is to see if I can make it the 3 months, 2 weeks and 1 day without repeating an outfit once. I can repeat individual pieces, just not an entire outfit. It’s about time I break out of my wardrobe rut and expand my fashion imagination, forcing myself to use certain articles in ways I haven’t before. Check back every Monday for pictures to see what outfits I have been wearing, how I have been using my closet in a new way and to police my shopping habits (hopefully none).