Month: May 2013

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Project 333 Week Seven Update

I’ve now officially passed the halfway point for Project 333!  When I started the challenge, I had my doubts about whether I’d be able to complete it.  Now I definitely feel I will make it to the end of June.  I’m sure I’ll still experience some struggles along the way, and I may even have to do another swap or two, but I’m confident I’ll be able to see the challenge through to completion.

The Easiest Week So Far

Week seven was actually a fairly easy week, perhaps my most relaxed week thus far.  Perhaps it’s taken me this long to build a workable wardrobe capsule and adjust to getting dressed with fewer garments to choose from.  I actually commented to my husband the other day that “Project 333 isn’t all that hard.”

In fact, the most difficult part for me is posting my outfit photos each week.  If it wasn’t for that part of the equation, I think my stress level would be low and I’d really be enjoying the pleasure of a streamlined closet.  Posting the outfit photos does have a positive effect, however.  It pushes me to wear better outfits and dress a bit nicer, even if all I’m doing is running out to do a few errands.

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Buyer Beware – The Dangers of “Fast Fashion”

The following is a guest post by one of my loyal readers, Deby.  This story was originally submitted as a comment to “Why Continue to Shop?”  Since it’s such a powerful story with some excellent points, I asked if I could use it as a guest post for wider exposure.  Deby graciously agreed!  

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts. 

I have a recent shopping story to share. Always interested in new trends, I read several fashion magazines each month. Most recently, I thought it might be fun to have a sheer shirt to layer over a camisole for summer. Since I began downsizing my wardrobe, I decided I was only allowed to have one sheer shirt and it had to coordinate with at least three bottoms. Placed floral prints are very popular now, so this was what I was looking for (I often focus my shopping expeditions to look for very specific items).

Beware of "Fast Fashion"

Looks pretty, but sometimes looks can be deceiving…

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Shopaholic Lies and Covert Operations

Awhile back, I wrote about the “The Reasons We Shop Too Much” and recently shared a more personal perspective in “Why Continue to Shop?” Today I’d like to look at how our compulsive shopping affects our spouses and loved ones.
Secret Shopaholic Behaviors
Many shopaholics, who may be honest and trustworthy in other areas of our lives, engage in lying and hiding behaviors to cover up the fact that we shop too much.  In “The Serial Return Phenomenon,” I wrote about how compulsive shoppers return items we buy as a means of extending our shopping.   The returns fund future buying excursions and allow the shopaholic to get another “fix.”  The following are some other duplicitous behaviors commonly committed by compulsive shoppers, myself included.

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Project 333 Week Six Update

It’s time for another Project 333 update, this time for Week Six.  Lots to share this week, including for the first time, seven outfits!  Read on for my wins, challenges, and outfit photos, as well as some powerful epiphanies I experienced this past week.

An Alterations Casualty

I am a huge proponent of the power of alterations, but there are times when tailoring just doesn’t work out.  In last week’s update, I mentioned that I needed to return my grey skirt to the tailor to have the hem fixed.  Well, I got the skirt back and the hem looked better, but the silhouette of the skirt had become unflattering as a result of the shortening and narrowing that was done (in short, it made my butt look huge!).

Due to the wrinkly style of the fabric, it was a tricky alteration to pursue, but I can be pretty stubborn when I want something.  The skirt had been a favorite of mine for years, but my style aesthetic had evolved such that I prefer shorter and narrower fits.  I probably should have just passed the skirt on, but instead I tried to transform it through tailoring.  Now I have to donate it anyway and I wasted a chunk of change on trying to make it work.  This one goes in the failure column…

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Why Continue to Shop?

This post was inspired by a reader question in response to one of my Project 333 updates.   I love how my readers challenge me and lead me to think more deeply about my behavior and thought processes!   I’m so happy I started this blog, as it’s already exceeded my initial expectations.  I’m delighted that it’s helping others deal with their wardrobes and shopping, as well as accelerating my own awareness and growth.

Here is the reader question I’ve been pondering over the past couple of weeks:

Why do you continue to buy clothing when you have so much already that you haven’t made decisions about?”

I decided to answer this question in a post, as I’m guessing other “shopaholics” will be able to relate to my answers.  As I wrote about in “The Reasons We Shop Too Much,” there are many motives behind compulsive shopping behavior.  Just as a compulsive overeater doesn’t overindulge because she’s hungry or loves food, the frantic buying behavior of shopaholics can rarely be attributed to a love of fashion or genuine wardrobe needs.

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