Challenge Accepted

So here we are. I have made a decision to purchase no clothes in 2021. Not “no new clothes”, which could leave an opening to go thrifting. I mean: nothing new for which I exchange money is to enter my closet.

I am hovering between thinking that this is the most frivolous and privileged kind of resolution I could make, and wondering if I am capable of being stronger than my urges to have something new.

Can it be both? Can it be frivolous on its surface but also kinda scary because I will have to deal with myself rather than throw money at my self-worth problems? Yes. It has to be both, because it is both.

I need to establish some rules and some goals, for fear that I am going to find ways to finagle some loopholes. So here we go:

☐ Do not purchase any new (or gently used) clothes or accessories (including but not limited to: shoes, socks, hats, scarves) in 2021

☐ Do an inventory of what you have and write it all down. Keep track of how many times you wore it, repairs you need to do or have done. Extra points for being able to remember where you bought it or how it entered the Pantheon and a good memory attached to it.

☐ Keep a log of the outfits you love so that if you are feeling frumpy or unhappy with this challenge and feel like you have nothing to wear, you can find something to scratch that itch.

☐ Plan outfits ahead of time. Set them out the night before as part of your evening routine so that in the morning you don’t have to think about it.

☐ Repair and mend as necessary. Build time to do this into your evening routine. Mend one little thing each day.

In 2021, my heart is not going to be found hanging on neatly arranged hangers in my closet. Hopefully, it will be found enjoying Play-Doh moments and wrestling with rapscallions on the living-room rug.