By: Esra Erdogan/Columnist
Fashion lovers are materialistic. Do not let them tell you otherwise. I sometimes disgust myself with all the purchases I make or needless objects I lust over. After all, I could be dedicating my time and money to something a little more virtuous.
Before I guilt myself out of shopping ever again, I should explain where these feelings are coming from. Lately, I have been doing a lot of shopping. My bank account is crippled and my weekends are shortened by the time I spend in the mall.
Ironically, my wardrobe has not improved in the slightest. Sometimes I get so carried away with the shopping part of fashion that I forget to wear the things I have bought. I can’t tell you how many new t-shirts, skirts and heels are sitting with tags still attached in my closet.
I am also a little disturbed by how many days of the week I plan secret trips to the mall or how much time I waste looking at online stores instead of studying.
It’s clear that I have to stop and the easiest way is by committing myself to a shopping ban. For the entire month of November, I am not allowed to buy any item of clothing, shoe or accessory. I know it seems a little extreme, but I really think that people who suffer from the shop-until-you-have-no-savings disease like I do can benefit from this.
In order to be successful in this ban, I am going to have to follow some rules to make sure I do not breakdown and buy something.
Obviously, I have to stop going to malls, even if I am only there to browse through Barnes and Nobles. I do have some semblance of self-control, but I also have a knack for finding things I want at incredible prices only when I can’t afford them.
I also have to cut down on looking at fashion blogs. It is so easy to succumb to a quick online purchase when a blogger links you directly to the item she is modeling.
In order to survive, I have to take some action. The greatest technique to convincing yourself that you do not need to buy is just by looking in your closet. I have so many things that get very little wear and others that get too much wear.
In order to balance this out, I can try to organize my closet in a way that shows my unused items alongside my overused stuff. I already started shifting stuff around last night and I do not think a month without buying will be too much of a challenge.
Another step to take is making a list of things that you need. By having a definitive list, I know how much money I will need to save up to buy the needed items once the ban is over. This approach will also give me a more realistic idea of how much disposable income I have per month so I do not get into the habit of overspending once the ban is off.
Finally, I need to calm down. No more shopping does not mean it is the end of the world. More than anything, I need to learn to love the things I already own. Too many times have I bought something I already own.
I have purchased some items for the sheer reason that it was on sale. This ban will allow me to reflect on my tendencies and try to eradicate them. I do not think my bad habits will disappear in one month, but it is a step forward to becoming a smarter shopper and having a more fluent idea of what I like, need and want.
Haute Topic is a weekly fashion column. Look for it every Wednesday this fall.
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