Weekend in Boston

This weekend I was finally able to get out of town for a change and visit a friend in Boston. While I wasn't happy about the $150 train ticket (seriously Amtrak, this is robbery) I wanted to remind myself that it's worthwhile to spend money on travel and have a reason to wear my clothes, rather than spending money on clothes that sit in the closet, as I have no where to wear them.

While I was waiting for the train, I spotted one super stylish passenger:

Everything is neutral, but it's so polished. The pearls, the manicure, the metallic bag - I love it.

For my travel look, I grabbed one of my empire waist tops and my skinny capris. I too was hoping to look polished, so I accessorized quite a bit. Although my overnight bag is my L.L. Bean backpack from high school that is purple tie dye. I'd like to get an over night bag that will enhance a look, rather than kill it. Just something else for the wishlist...

The Rundown

Top Max Studio - Capris TJMaxx - Fedora Market in Italy - Sandals Naturalizer - Necklace Gap - Bracelet Arabella - Earrings TJMaxx

Boston is full of shopping opportunities.  Lots, and lots. This weekend however, I did no shopping at all. When I went out to lunch, rather than ordering the cheapest thing on the menu, I ordered what I really wanted. I didn't complain about $9 cocktails at the bar, I enjoyed my drink and had fun dancing -- rather than thinking about some top or pair of shoes I could have been buying instead.

For the most part, I avoided shops entirely. I glanced into windows, occasionally paused and gawked for a moment or two, but I kept moving. I kept my camera by my side and tried to stay in that photographic mindset.

I did go into one thrift shop and sorted through those numerous color coded racks, I found a really gorgeous BCBG brown velvet blazer for $6, but it was a bit too small for me. I know a week ago I would have bought it anyway. This time I lamented, but I put it back. I left the store completely empty handed.

The Rundown

Dress TJMaxx - Sandals Naturalizer - Sunglasses Kohls - Bag Avon - Earrings Made by Me - Bracelet Kohls - Belt Gap

So far in the face of temptation, I've maintained restraint. I hope I can stay on this path!

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Forty One

Last night I decided to go through my closet and pull out all my unworn items -- anything that hasn't been on the blog or wardrobe remix came out. Of course I I do not have a photo of every outfit I've worn since I started the blog, but this seemed like the simplest approach.

I decided that everything needed to go out in plain sight and easy reach, so they are all on the bookshelf. All forty one pieces (this is including new things I have yet to wear). Seven of my items are empire waist tops. Other than skinny jeans, what does one wear with an empire waist top? As I've mentioned, jeans went from being worn several times a week to a couple times a month, making the need for the empire waist tops much less.
On some level I still really like them. What makes it hard to just get rid of them? I remember how much I used to love wearing them.

Today in my world of Wardrobe Remix, simply throwing on a top over a pair of jeans feels like not even trying, so how will I make these tops part of my daily rotation again, or is it even possible?

I also had a really tough time picking out an outfit for today. It took me over two hours, and normally I spend 10 to 20 minutes putting a look together. I'm sorry for not getting much blog reading done, I just wasted so much time stressing over what to wear!

The Rundown

Dress Avon -Vest TJMaxx - Sandals Onex - Lion Belt Ebay - Earrings Arabella

Ultimately I ended up choosing a simple black vest from my unworn pile, just because it seemed the easiest. I threw it over this satin print dress that I've actually worn quite a bit, with my black sandals I wear constantly, and my new earrings that I've not yet worn.

Yesterday I chose the yellow cropped cardigan from my unworn pile and wore it with the poppy dress, now making it's third appearance. I guess I really have to thank Ali for putting the poppy dress in my head, it's clearly become a favorite.

The Rundown

Dress Kohls - Cardigan F21 - Sandals Onex - Earrings So Good Jewerly - Bracelet Thrifted

I think I need to take half of those 41 items and just get rid of them. Even with all those things out of the closet, it doesn't look any less full.

I promise I'll get to all your blogs soon, and Miss Vinyl Ahoy, MarchMusings and MeredithW, I haven't forgotten -- Thank you all so much for the lovely awards!

For two of them, I'm supposed to say seven things about myself, sooo...
(what don't you know yet?)
I don't chew gum.
I get anxieties about traveling alone, but I still like to travel.
I want to be a better photographer.
I didn't finish college.
I have listened to "If I Ever Feel Better" by Phoenix 120 times, and it's my most played song.
I can't count.

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Could you live with 100 items?

Falling right in with my current wardrobe and shopping dilemma, this NY Times article popped up on my reader just before I was about to start writing this post. The article discusses a couple who decided to slowly start giving away their possessions until they reached 100. (They didn't mention if that was each, or between the two of them, but I'm going to assume each.) Now, this couple is out of debt and very happy.

Meanwhile, I think I've got about 100 things on my desk alone.

All I can seem to think about is how this woman must not care about fashion, at all. She probably has four outfits, two pairs of shoes, one bag, and her wedding ring. I know I would never want to live like that. I'm sure I could, but would it make me happy? At the end of the article they do recognize us fashion lovers:

"Of course, some fashion lovers beg to differ. For many people, clothes will never be more than utilitarian. But for a certain segment of the population, clothes are an art form, a means of self-expression, a way for families to pass down memories through generations. For them, studies concluding that people eventually stop deriving pleasure from material things don’t ring true." 

The article also discusses the idea that if you save up for a purchase, think about it for a while, anticipate it (sound familiar?) that you will gain much more happiness from it, than something you buy on a whim.

So, after thinking, and reading all your great comments, here is my plan:

Shop my own closet.
Have I had my eye on that cute pink $42 skirt from ModCloth? Yes. Do I have a pink skirt in my closet already? Yes.

The Rundown

Skirt Free People - Top Kohls - Sandals Nine West - Belt NY&Co. - Bag Jessica Simpson - Necklace (made from clip-on earring) Earrings, and Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box

The reason I haven't worn this skirt is due to it's unfortunate length, hitting me mid ankle. Fortunately I had the bright idea of folding it over and hiding the bunchiness under the belt.

Learn to let go.
I'm always thinking I need to hold on to things for all the usual reasons...
"As soon as I get rid of it, I'll need it" ...
"This might be really trendy again next year"....
"If I alter the length and the bust and the waist it will fit and then I can wear it again"...

If I'm not wearing it, it needs to go.

Consider purchases more carefully.
I consigned some items at the thrift store and made $8. I was tempted to spend it all again in that same moment. There was a silk polka dot dress for $5 and a woven straw cross body bag with faux leather trim for $3. But I told myself I already had a polka dot dress and more bags than I have room for, so I passed.

I've decided I don't want to ban myself from shopping, I enjoy shopping!! I just need to cut back. Out of curiosity, I wanted to see just how bad I've been this summer. 
May - $76
June - $289
July - $146
August - $158

Based on my average spending, I've decided an acceptable monthly limit is $80. I'm even going to be really nice and allow myself $40 for the remainder of August. Hopefully I will be able to stick to this and be happier for it.

Getting right into my new challenge, here is a top that I've never worn with anything but jeans, and as a result, has been sitting unworn. (I wear jeans so much less than I used to before the blog!)

The Rundown

Top Gap - Skirt TJMaxx - Sandals Frye - Belt Forever 21 - Bracelet Etsy

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