Comments on: Ask Magpie: A Year Without Clothes

By: Valerie

Valerie — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:22:54 +0000

I’m in! I started from 1st January this year. I have to confess I’m finding it a little hard so far :p Most of my clothes are black and I’m just dying for some colour…. but sticking with it!

By: Karla Linden, NMT, LMT

Karla Linden, NMT, LMT — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:43:09 +0000

I’m inspired, after the Christmas crush, to take inventory and enjoy the lavish and luscious abundance of clothing that I already own. With the exception of 10 days in India, when I intend to do some exotic shopping, I’m with you on this experiment.

My blog is on LiveJournal and it is Friends Only – I’m “Manifestress” over there – comment to be added.

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:35:31 +0000

Our year without clothes is almost done, and there aren’t currently any plans to do it again next year. But good luck on your project!

By: Trisha

Trisha — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:55:45 +0000

I wonder if anyone is thinking of doing this for next year, 2011 and wants to keep in touch, mutual motivation? I live in England and read about this idea of going without buying new clothes for a whole some time during this year, but it has struck me more and more that that is what I’d like to attempt for next year – starting January 1st 2011. As I work from home (mostly) as a designer it should be relatively easy. But I am engaged in a very visual world, I teach Textiles at university level too, although mostly by distance learning. I have decided to concentrate on making my own art again in free time, instead of wandering the shops looking for stuff. Actually I’m not into buying a lot of clothes, but I do love them and try to buy key pieces each season, etc. To be honest, I hate the trawling of shops, the wasted hours, the rate at which things change and the waste. I am enviromentally friendly, or try to be in other areas of my life. I hope to concentrate using a collection of fabrics from the 60s and 70s, inherited from my aunt who died last year (vintage by now) to make textile art and possibly any clothes I actually need or fancy making. A long, long time since I made clothes myself, not since the eighties, so should be interesting. I have just bought loads of pants and small items in summer sales and hope these items will last the year. Any tips will be welcome as will anyone who cares to correspond/keep in touch, encourage or join me.

By: Frugality « Behind The Stall Door

Frugality « Behind The Stall Door — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:37:51 +0000

[...] at Magpie Girl recently wrote a post about her goal of going a year without buying any new clothes. This got me [...]

By: Lorraine Reynolds

Lorraine Reynolds — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:45:07 +0000

i am a little behind the timeline. i started my no new clothes journey at the beginning of this month. after returning from a business trip to bangladesh. (one of the poorest nations in the world.) i decided that i would not buy another piece of new clothing for the rest of the year. it’s an experiment that i know i can finish. and i encourage everyone i meet to try it as well.

if every american bought less think of what our world would be like. if americans stopped wearing $5.99 t shirts, clothing could actually be made in this country again. but when you buy a 5.99 t shirt, i really cost the retail store $3 to bring into this country, which means that it cost the factory that made it $1.75. 1/2 of which is cost of goods and the rest is profit. so think about it, how much money do you think the person who sewed that t-shirt made for the labor they put into it? about .25 – do you think americans would work for that? that’s why everything is made in third world countries.

ok- enough of my soap box. time to make that old t shirt into a shopping bag!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:39:08 +0000

Count me in!

I’m resurrecting my Not Buying It blog today!

Sheesh! I still have clothes I bought last year with the tags attached.

Wee, what fun!

( My donation project will be giving away my business attire to our local Clothes That Work.) :-)

By: Mindy Lacefield

Mindy Lacefield — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:13:40 +0000

If I hadn’t bought that shirt in october, it would probably be last spring since I bought new clothes. but i bet i can make it till next october with no new clothes purchases. i love thrifting so that’ll have to be my saving grace if I “need” something. thanks for coming up with this. i love it!!!

By: Monica

Monica — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:07:24 +0000

i love your idea and plan on doing this for my ‘personal new year’ challenge but i plan on attempting on going a whole year with NO clothes, new or used, if possible, in the hopes that i can get back to sewing more clothes for myself. i also plan on not buying fabric since i have so much and want to work my way through my stash before buying more, if i can.

thank you for your inspiring idea and for the reminder that we can play along and make some of our own rules; i certainly plan on having a few ‘coupons’ for a purchase or two through the next year but will have a friend track them so i have someone to be accountable to!

By: Chixidixi

Chixidixi — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:22:44 +0000

Sign me up. I am going to start with a week though.

By: Deborah VanDetta

Deborah VanDetta — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:35:36 +0000

I love this idea. Since…I hate shopping for clothes and this return of the 80s is really bizarre. I have been wanting to do more sewing and altering my clothes so this pledge will help my creativity too! Love it!

By: Allyson/@HBMomof2

Allyson/@HBMomof2 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:16:42 +0000

I am in too and I have recruited a bunch of my friends. We are going on a one year clothes diet together! What was interesting was after I emailed a bunch of my very successful, college educated friends, I found that most of them mostly have been doing this for other reasons already. (Layoffs, deaths, kids in private school, etc.) All of us close, none of us knowing. You started an interesting dialogue between us. So count in a bunch of women from Orange County, California, the capital of looking good and costing a fortune. Hopefully, we can make a little dent in that!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:44:42 +0000

Been thinking about doing this for awhile…and wanted to find someone NOT to shop for clothes with — so here goes!!!

By: Allyson

Allyson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:57:35 +0000

You have officially rocked my world. I love this idea. I am going to chew on this for a day or two before I make this commitment. (My hubby perked up significantly when I read this to him.)

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:38:26 +0000

Well, I’m all for conserving resources. It sounds like a challenge, and besides, it will encourage me to sew if I want something new.

I give myself a pass though, if I gain/lose two dress sizes. My weight has been fluxuating in wierd ways for the past year or so (probably the result of cutting my gym membership when I was poor).

By: lisa (msla)

lisa (msla) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:08:47 +0000

I’m thinking of joining as well. I’ve got to think through the work clothes thing (eg, I need a suit jacket – which I might write a pass for). So excited to see this go viral, Rachelle!

By: Carpe Diem » Blog Archive » Enough already!!

Carpe Diem » Blog Archive » Enough already!! — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:27:00 +0000

[...] have just read this post at Magpie Girl, about the idea of not buying any new clothes for a whole year. I have been thinking [...]

By: Judith

Judith — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:06:10 +0000

I’ve only just started reading your blog, after it came up in recommended feeds on Google Reader. Looks like it came at just the right time! I have been thinking a lot about buying less lately and making the most of what I already have. I live in a house that is full to the rafters with clutter and it seriously drains my energy and spirit. I’d already been thinking about not buying any new clothes for a while, but having a real pledge, made here, is the final push I need. I may well make the same promise about books and magazines while I am at it, as they both take a lot of money and space from my life.

By: kazari

kazari — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:38:55 +0000

Hmmmm, I love this idea, and being on maternity leave for twelve months certainly makes it financially sensible… but it also means my clothing needs are going to be pretty different from now (working full time). I’ll have to think about this one…

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:26:59 +0000

I love this. But … hmmmm … I have a feeling I’m going to get married within the year. Hmmmm. Could I get married AND not violate this commitment? Hmmmm. I’m sure my boyfriend would be thrilled with this concept. I already have a thirft-store wedding dress. Really, aside from some white tights, what else might a girl need? Who needs coordinated bridesmaids dresses? I can always borrow a stole or shawl … Hmmmm…….