I know what you’re thinking. And no, I will not be living in the buff this year.
I have decided that 2015 is the year that will be completely free of any clothing purchases for myself. I was inspired by this personal challenge near the end of 2014 when it dawned on me that I had a somewhat large wardrobe, but kept wearing the same 10-15 comfortable and functional pieces that I love.
My decision to go without purchasing any clothes this year came as a result of three steps I walked myself through during the process of decluttering my closet. At the end of this process, I found the motivation that is driving me to complete the “Year of No Clothes” Challenge.
Step 1: Analyzing current wardrobe
I opened up my closet to start the declutter project. Holy smokes….there are a lot of clothes in here. For someone who isn’t really into clothing, I sure do have a lot of it. Truth be told, I’ve never really been interested in fashion or the trends that come along with it. I tend to gravitate towards more classic pieces that are pretty timeless, and there are only a few items in my wardrobe that I’m very fond of. This left me wondering, “why in the world do I have a closet full of all these clothes when only 10-15 items are worn on a consistent basis?”
I pondered this thought as I sorted through all of my clothing and realized that I had way too many items that I’d worn only once or twice. Some of these items weren’t cheap either! We’re talking $50-75 sweaters that I had literally worn a handful of times at best. What an absolute waste of both money and closet space.
So in the beginning of November, I became ruthless in my act to purge all of the clothing, shoes, and handbags I hadn’t worn in quite some time. Considering I had just gone through everything in August and thought I had purged all that I possibly could, I was pretty disgusted by the amount of garbage bags I had filled with items to donate.
Simplifying my closet was a real eye-opener for me in seeing how much clothing and accessories I had that weren’t being worn. In fact, they were actually just getting in the way. I had to sort through all of these unused items every morning while I got ready, just to find the things I truly wanted to wear. Such a waste of time, and frankly a bit frustrating too.
Step 2: Epiphany regarding clothes
After the purging process, I reviewed the leftover items and realized that I had enough. There was plenty of clothing to choose from so I that would have something decent to wear to any occasion that could possibly arise.
At this point I thought, what if I just stopped buying clothes altogether? I mean, I surely don’t need any more, so why allow myself to buy any and then fill up this (now) nicely spacious closet for no reason. Then an idea dawned on me; I should challenge myself to go an entire year without buying any clothing or accessories.
Step 3: Taking action
At first, I immediately shut the idea down. That’s just insanity, I don’t think I could do it. No new clothing for an entire year would be a really hard goal to obtain. Then as I truly absorbed the massive piles of clothing sitting around me, I decided that taking such a drastic stand against purchasing would probably do wonders for me. I clearly had a problem with buying things I didn’t need, and it was punching me right in the face.
I set one rule that the only wearable item I’m giving myself permission to purchase this year is a new bathing suit that I’ll be in need of this summer, as my new post-baby bod isn’t quite ready for my old bikini yet.
Through this challenge, I hope to alter my mindset about possessions and learn to genuinely appreciate the items I already own instead of always being in pursuit of more. I think it’s going to be the wake up call that I’m in need of. Heck, maybe I’ll even be forced to improve my sewing skills as things need patching up during the course of the year. That would be a bonus!
This wasn’t exactly my New Year’s Resolution, but just something I thought would be a fun challenge to help push me beyond my comfort zone a bit. Now that it’s only three weeks into 2014 and I’m already starting to get the urge to browse for new clothes online, I came to the conclusion that I need to make this commitment more set in stone.
What better way to do that than publicly commit on my blog that I will not be buying any clothing, shoes, or accessories in 2015? <–It’s official, no turning back now! 😉 I know that sharing this challenge I’ve set for myself will open me up to a great support system that will help me stay strong in sticking to my goal. Any encouragement or tips you have for following through with this commitment are needed and very much appreciated!
Is anyone else participating in a challenge of this nature right now or considering going a whole year without purchasing clothes? If so, I’d love some accountability buddies.
I also encourage you to check out this awesome course on how to Dress with Less and Create Your Capsule Wardrobe. So many great tips!!
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This is awesome! I love how you went through your decision making process. I came to the same conclusion a while ago – I’m not into fashion or trends, but I would shop clearance racks just in case I came across a good deal. Yet, my closet was full and I wore the same things over and over. I did a big purge right before fall, but there’s still more I could get rid of.
I’ve never really had a huge interest in shopping so I stopped buying clothes without thinking about it. I think I’ve bought new clothes less than 10 times in the last year and a half. Good luck on your challenge!
Thanks Erin! I was the same way, shopping the sales for “deals” and ending up with a bunch of items I didn’t even need.
That’s so great that you were able to stop without much difficulty; I hope I get to that point soon. Thanks for the support!
You can do it!!!
Mrs.Frugalwoods recently recapped her experience and mentioned that an “absolutely no new clothes” rule was easier to keep than something with exceptions.
Also, Michelle from Shop My Closet is offering skype sessions (free!) to help people mix and match what they have to come up with new outfits.
Thanks for stopping by Anne! I appreciate the encouragement and the resources – I’ll have to check those out for some extra help!
Good luck on your shopping ban! I’m trying to do something like this too but for 6 months and then I’ll see where it goes but I agree, I have a closet full of clothes and don’t wear everything I have regularly so it’s definitely time to stop shopping.
Thanks Chonce! Good luck to you – feel free to commiserate with me if you find yourself having a difficult time. We can keep each other in line! Hah. It’s too bad there are so many beautiful malls in Chicagoland….it sure makes going cold turkey on them hard!
Definitely! I was going to suggest the same thing. Yeah I pass the Aurora outlet mall every day on my way home from work but I haven’t went there in at least a year. The fact that it’s super crowded and uncomfortable 24/7 definitely helps me stay away haha.
That place is dangerous with “deals”! I used to love going there at least once a month back in the day though. Agreed, it’s always so crowded now that it makes me a bit claustrophobic. I’ve only been once in the last year, which is pretty good for me!
I love this. I used to shop for clothes weekly. But being a minimalist, I would get rid of something every time I bought something. I could only let myself have 31 tops, 4 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of jeans, 5 dresses, etc. However, at some point, like you, I realized I only wore a certain rotation of clothing, so I cut the numbers in half. Now I only shop for clothes if something wears out. All I know is, whoever gets your castoffs is going to really love you. It sounds like you have some fabulous stuff to get rid of! Best wishes on your challenge, Christina! 🙂
Thank you Kay! You’re an inspiration to me, as my ultimate goal (after 2015) is to only buy something new to directly replace something else. I’m hoping that will be the solution to keep my wardrobe from getting out of control again. Thanks for the support!! 🙂
Good luck! I don’t buy clothes as often as a lot of my girl friends, but I don’t think I could go a whole year without any. I tend to shop sales and thrift stores to keep the costs down. No clothes for a whole year is admirable though!
Thank you Fig! I am really fired up by all the awesome support I’ve been getting, so I’m feeling like I’ll really be able to commit to this! 🙂
No new clothes for a year is a great plan. I dropped off a trunk full of items we purged from our closet last week. The sad part is that the change isn’t particularly noticeable in the closet 🙁 But it’s also inspiration that I don’t need any thing else!! I think if we can stop the mindset of shopping out of boredom or as a treat, the challenge will seem much less like a challenge.
That’s great though, Mrs. Maroon! Try to focus on how far you’ve come, a trunk full is quite the accomplishment. I am working on getting out of that mindset as well, there are plenty of other ways to “treat” myself that don’t involve purchasing things.
So does this mean you’re joining me in the challenge this year? 🙂
I LOVE this post!! You have no idea how badly I need to purge old clothes. I’m not a shopper and I especially hate shopping for clothes, but I have so many “work” clothes that I don’t wear any more. I need to free up some space!!
Thanks Sara!! Yup, I got rid of so many dress clothes since I don’t really need to wear them anymore. So freeing, isn’t it? 🙂 I felt like I was throwing away the terrible memories of my awful commute with it, so that was a bonus.
I am do doing this…what a great idea.
Thanks for stopping by Kimberly! 🙂 So glad to have another buddy in this challenge with me. I’ll likely do a 6 month update (or perhaps even sooner, depending on how this goes), so definitely share your progress with me. It helps to have someone else to keep accountable!
All the best with your challenge! I am doing the same thing myself this year as part of a ‘spending fast’. I love clothes but have way more than I need, and certainly enough to see me through any situation for the year. The first thing I did was unsubscribe from all emails telling me about all the ‘bargains’ I will be missing!
Thanks so much Angela! That’s such a smart move on your part to help yourself succeed. Good luck to you as well! 🙂
I hope your challenge is going well! I’ve been doing the same, but not on a calender year. I came back from my summer trip to Europe on aug 24, after a shopping trip, and my goal was not to purchase anything new until next summer. Well it’s been over 6 months and Ive been successful. I have not purchased any new clothing or accessories, except for one new pair of loafers that I needed to get after having foot surgery. I adore beautiful clothing, but it definitely isn’t necessary to own oodles of it. If I like my clothes, I’m happy to wear them frequently. What helps me is having one or 2 special times a year to shop and enjoy it and that’s it. I’ve travelled to Europe for the past several summers so for me, that’s where I’ve been indulging. Anyway! I feel quite confident I can continue – my motivations are, saving more as I’m planning to but a house in aug/sept and a trip to London in July, where I will definitely indulge in a few stores with a pre planned budget!
So far, so good! I haven’t technically purchased any clothing or accessories for myself since late November, so I’m keeping up with my challenge 🙂 Although I’m finding that many of my clothes are starting to look worn…should make for an interesting fall/winter later this year when I’ll need to wear my cold weather clothes again after spring and summer are over. I’ll likely do a 6 month update post in June/July with my progress.
That’s so fantastic Stephanie! You go, girl. Best of luck with continuing to stick to your goal, it sounds like you have a lot of wonderful things that are motivating you and I’m sure you will succeed. Thank you for sharing!
Also…forgot to mention – deals don’t entice me. I think when you can get into the mindset of quality over quantity or sale price, you are far less likely to shop. There will always be a new deal, always. I’d way rather spend more on something I will wear often. For example, I bought a $385 work dress last spring. Which I know to some, would be way outside their budget for one item. But I bought little else for spring and I wore that dress nearly every week in the spring and summer because I loved it so much. I can live without the deal, and without spending unnecessary hours roaming the packed malls on weekends.
I agree! I haven’t always been this way, but I have gotten to a place where I would rather pay an astronomical amount for one item and really love the heck out of it for years to come, than have a bunch of less expensive items that I’m less than thrilled to own and can’t wait to replace.
I would say purchasing that dress was a very wise (and even frugal) choice. I’m sure your cost per use was very low, which is a factor really important to me personally when I buy clothes now. Nice job!
I did this a few years ago and found it incredibly liberating! That year I bought only clothing that I needed for my wedding and honeymoon. Oh, the time and money it saved! Now, I’m trying to build a good, functional wardrobe of clothing I love. A few more pieces and I should have it!
That’s so fantastic Christin! I’m realizing that I need to work on building a more functional wardrobe as well after 2015 is over. I have many pieces, but not enough to make for lots of outfit options. I need to be more intentional with the pieces I do have in my wardrobe, which should be a fun goal to have in early 2016 after my ban is over 🙂
Hi Christina, just wondering how your challenge is going! Are you very used to it now, or looking forward to it being over? Have you hit any major hurdles with it you didn’t expect? I don’t think I could manage to not buy clothes for a year, but it is inspiring to read about your challenge all the same 🙂
Hi Amelia! Thank you so much for the comment! I did in fact hit some hurdles earlier this summer. I ended up needing to purchase a pair of capris for this summer because I lost too much weight from last summer (I had my daughter last June and have lost almost 70 pounds since!) and didn’t have any that fit properly and made me feel confident. So I did break my clothes buying ban a bit, but find myself being able to stick to it well otherwise. It’s pretty liberating to not be focused on purchasing clothes all the time though, since I just don’t give myself the option. I will be doing a full recap at the year mark, definitely stick around for that 🙂
I did my last shopping trip in August 2014 when I was overseas. I had another overseas trip planned in July this year so my goal was to go that period without shoppng in between (basically a year). I caved slightly in June; I bought a really nice white blazer which I knew I would get a lot of use out of, and I didn’t already own anything like that. Then I bought 2 pairs of shorts. I kind of regret the shorts, I didn’t really need them. But what’s done is done. Other than that Ive stuck to it. So now I’ve just returned from London where I had my summer 2015 shopping trip. And now I’m happy to take another new break and hopefully not shop again for a good long while. I did much better with shopping this year over last; I gave myself guidelines, had a defined budget and purchased more items that I could wear on a regular basis. It helped having some guidelines. Now I feel pretty good about my redefined wardrobe and feel confident I can return to a mostly shopping free life!
Stephanie, it sounds like you’re doing an awesome job at trying to minimalize the amount of clothing you purchase! Even if you have regrets about the shorts, you are still doing amazingly well!! Kudos to you, that is really fantastic. Keep up the great will power 🙂
Hello Christina, I’m inspired by your experience and other challenges I’ve read recently. I don’t have many clothes but still far more than I actually need. I want to stick to a minimum item-wardrobe that truly suits me and have good quality and design, commit to a challenge that can both liberate me from shopping and give me the opportunity to create and define my own minimalist style.
Maybe a year is an excessive period of time for me, I travel overseas twice a year and temptation in Barcelona is enormous, so perhaps I should limite my challenge to 6 months no-clothing buying period. I must drew a plan that I can easily follow. Thanks for sharing your experience. Georgina
That sounds like a great goal to set for yourself Georgina! I think even 6 months is very commendable! 🙂
I’m naturally a minimalist wardrobe person and I love it. I don’t need tons of meh clothes. I just want a few pieces I LOVE. When I shop, I don’t consider the price as much as — I only buy things I can’t NOT buy (if that makes sense). If I only like it, I don’t buy it. If I adore it, I buy it. Thankfully, I’m very picky. It works well.
That’s awesome Brittany! I definitely agree that it’s worth it to pay more for each piece if it’s better quality and something that you’re absolutely in love with!
Just found your blog & I’m lovin it! Perfect timing too! I’m going to try your “The Year of No Clothes Challenge” starting 2016. Little nervous about it but I find I don’t get a chance to wear all of the clothes I love before the season is over because there are so many of them. Wish me luck!
Yay that’s awesome Laura!! I did cave and ended up buying just a few items of clothing this year (not even a handful), but only because my weight was fluctuating after having a baby and some of my clothes just plain old wore out. It was a wonderful challenge for me though and forced me to really think long and hard about my clothing purchases before making them – so I still consider it a success 🙂 Best of luck to you, please do let me know how it goes!!
This is just the blog post I was looking for. I’m wanting to make the same commitment in 2016 and was searching pinterest for anyone who had some experience. I’m going for it! I appreciate your honesty about caving but also that you didn’t beat yourself up about it or use it as an opportunity to splurge. I hope to approach it with the same scrutiny and grace. 😉
Aw that is awesome Vannessa, best of luck to you in your challenge! Absolutely, I think the important thing is limiting your purchases as much as possible and learning from the experience. If you end up needing to buy a few items like I did, don’t beat yourself up! Do let me know how it’s going as the year progresses, I’d love to hear about the success I know you’re going to have with it 🙂
This post totally inspired me to do a No Clothes 2016. I only have breached 1 time and that was in fact a conscious planned purchase for shoes that I did in fact need. The other time I plan to breach my goal (and I knew when I did this) was while I am on my vacation abroad. Inevitably I will get some momentous attire. Thank you for the inspiration. I see how it has inspired others as well!
That’s so awesome to hear Heather! I “breached” during my year of no clothes as well but it was also for things I truly needed, so it certainly didn’t feel like a failure in my challenge. If anything, this challenge is just a great way to become more conscious of your purchases and really put thought into the clothing you do buy.