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Applying the Wardrobe “First Impression Test”

I seem to go through phases in terms of the types of posts I do.  Recently, I’ve been very focused on wardrobe management topics, which was also the case last year at this time.  Perhaps it has something to do with the seasons changing and the end of the year approaching.  I don’t think I’m alone in this focus.   We hear lots of talk about “spring cleaning,” but I really think fall (or autumn, as you may call it) is more the time when many of us want to get our closets in order.

Fall Closet Cleanout

Do you get the urge to clean out your closet this time of year?

Of course, I’ve been working on my closet for quite a while now.  This blog is coming up on its two-year anniversary in January, but I started tracking what I do and don’t wear way back in early 2011.  I may have made a bit of headway in those first two years, but there’s nothing like sharing your goals and progress with the world to knock a project into high gear!   Writing this blog has done more for my recovery than anything else I’ve tried, and I’m happy I’ve been able to positively impact others in the process. Continue reading →

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September 2014 “Grab Bag” of Useful Links

Believe it or not, it’s the last day of the month.  Is it just me, or did September really fly by?   It’s time for me to share my September installment of useful links (see earlier versions here).  In response to my question last month, most of you told me you like the current format, so I’m sticking with it.

Links to Ponder

Included below are links to articles I think you might enjoy on the topics of shopping and shopping psychology, wardrobe management, style, and personal development.  I’m also sharing a few early “Recovering Shopaholic” posts that you may have missed the first time around (or may choose to revisit now).

Yes, there are a lot of links in these posts (and this time in particular), but I don’t expect you to click on all of them! Just explore the ones that most intrigue you.   I’m learning to be better at doing that myself, as I work to reduce information overload and fear of missing out (FOMO). Continue reading →

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Resale Shopping – How’s That Working for Me?

Years ago, I used to love watching “The Dr. Phil Show.”  I had watched him on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and liked the no-nonsense, tough love approach he used with people.   One question he posed frequently to guests who kept doing the same things over and over again was,

How’s that working for you?”

That question really cut to the heart of the issue.   We often keep repeating behaviors out of habit or because we’re not sure what else to do, but how many times do we stop to ask ourselves if something is really working for us or not?

Resale Hits and Misses

Resale Shopping

Are those low-priced items in resale stores really “good buys”?

Today’s post represents me doing just that.  For a number of years, I have shopped at resale stores.  I love the “treasure hunt” aspect of it and the possibility of finding something beautiful and unique at an amazingly low price.    Of course, I shopped retail, too.  Let’s face it; I pretty much shopped all the time and few shopping avenues were not on my list.   But in addition to being a general shopaholic, I definitely became a “resale-o-holic.” Continue reading →

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Wardrobe “Benchwarmer” Update – September 2014

The year is almost 75% over and I have yet to do a wardrobe “benchwarmer” update, so now’s the time!   For those who are new to this blog, I have defined a wardrobe benchwarmer as any item that only gets worn once or is not worn at all during the course of a year (see this post for more information).

Benchwarmers

This isn’t the type of “benchwarmer” this post is about…

Wear Statistics and Starting this Blog

Of course, I want to wear my closet pieces far more than twice per year, but I had to start somewhere.  When I launched “Recovering Shopaholic” in January 2013, I had close to 300 garments in my closet, so most of them weren’t being worn all that often.   At that time, I had been tracking what I wore and how often for two years and the statistics were pretty abysmal:

  • In 2011, I had 112 garments and 11 pairs of shoes that were either worn once or not at all.
  • My 2012 numbers were even worse, with 125 garments and 21 pairs of shoes achieving “benchwarmer” status.

Continue reading →

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From “Sale-a-holic” to Yogastic Shopping Planner

The following is a guest post from Mette Balslev Greve, who shares her journey from being a “sale-a-holic” with three jam-packed closets to becoming a conscious shopper with a pared down, cohesive wardrobe.   Mette, a self-described “nerd,” used her love of planning and systems (a girl after my own heart!) to turn things around quickly and powerfully.  She shares her wardrobe management and shopping processes, as well as many of her fun and stylish outfits, on her blog, The Yogastic Shopping Planner.

If you would like to be profiled in the “Stories of Recovery” series (you can be anonymous if desired), or if you have an idea for another type of guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts.

The Before

I guess I used to be a “sale-a-holic.” I’ve bought so much on sale during the past 10-15 years that I had three jam-packed closets full of stuff last year. I really liked some of it, but it was hard to tell where the good stuff was. I couldn’t see the forest through the trees.  Lots of the items still had price tags attached. I used to say that I loved having new things in my closet, but they just needed some time to “settle in” before I wore them. Continue reading →