Consumerism really is an easy target nowadays. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize no one needs as much crap as the western world has to offer. No thank you, baconnaise, I'm quite alright. 

It's one thing to talk anti-consumerism, it's another thing to live it. I'm almost itching to buy new clothes because of a past addiction I may have had, but the very absurdity of it turns me away. I've got a full closet! And for what, why in the world do I need that many variations of an outfit? My goal in the next few years or so is to accumulate quality staples and rid myself of the rest - and keep it that way. It's easy to purge but not so easy to keep it purged sometimes.

I love this blog post by Uberblond and identify with it. I want to do this "challenge" and prove to myself and others that it's all a game.

Then I read an article at about the same time about how when Tom Ford was working for Gucci he would pick an outfit a season (one season it was a pair of dark jeans, a white t-shirt and a black sweater), have it bought in multiples and just wear that every day so he could focus on the designing. I got really into the idea and started digging around. karl lagerfeld does a similar thing: he has a shape that he repeats over and over and over again and keeps that same shape in two colors (black and white). both of these guys, among other fashion people, have talked about the liberation of a uniform and how it frees their thought process.

I got kinda obsessed with this and it’s been guiding my wardrobe ever since. in the end, I severely cut down my wardrobe and tried to get it to a uniform. I wasn’t able to go all the way to one outfit only (although I tried) because I have this *horrible affliction* of loving to express through clothes. I’ve realized that when it’s at its best, my relationship with clothes and wanting to play with what I wear doesn’t come from the desire to be one trend or be better than someone else – rather when the relationship is right I use clothes as a creative outlet. but unlike in my junkie days, there now is a control to my clothes, an appreciation for craft and a distaste of the rampant consumerism I fell into. I now very readily wear the same thing over and over again without giving it a second thought.

I think I have an idea of my ideal shape now it's just a matter of creating it and getting rid of the rest and quit playing this game. Here's another great blog post about the topic, by a woman I admire. I worry sometimes that when people talk about how anti-consumerism they are it becomes a high and mighty gloat trip, but this girl makes me want to better myself. This post also makes me want to up my repertoire of useful skills.  More blog posts to come about said skills I hope to obtain.

Keri Smith, regarding things:

Other items that we have acquired that can last for many years and/or be repaired, leather shoes, wool mattresses, wool bedding, hemp clothing, bicycles, canvas quilts, cast iron pans/pots, canvas bags, the 1960’s sewing machine, guitars, amplifier, wooden furniture and more. Interestingly these are all things that we love and care for on a regular basis and in turn we enjoy using them so much more than things that are not designed to last. There is a solidity to them, they are often more tactile (feel good in the hand), and the necessary process of caring for them (oiling them, or cleaning them) causes us to be mindful and appreciate them on a regular basis. This leads to greater enjoyment in the long run.

Get rid of your junk. Do it because you want to cleanse, because you realize you're free without them. Whatever the reasoning, don't only get rid of your junk, but quit buying junk. That's the real test. Anyone can clean out a closet, because it's all too easy just to fill it up again. Once you establish a mindset that's grounded on the premise that we're being fed junk as a culture it becomes easier to resist junk.

It's all about simplicity, yeah? Keeping things simple is so underrated.

Be free!
-Eve