Back To The Closet...

I've been neglecting TCB. My days are consumed with job hunting. I mainly do that from the comfort of home in my pajamas. No one wants to see pictures of me in my pjs, lol. The cord to charge my camera has gone missing. I refuse to buy another one as I'm sure the cord will be found (I hope). My outings have become less frequent due to the weather and really not having specific places to go. My interview suits hang in the closet just waiting to be worn. I have a basic ensemble that I wear when I run errands - boots, dark rinse jeans, long sleeve tee, and a boyfriend cardigan. I jazz it up depending on my mood with various accessories and my signature big bag of the moment.

Honestly, fashion just isn't on my mind lately. Of course, I care about how I look but I feel out of control. I've been out of work thirteen months and some days it can be a struggle to get up and join the world. Some days I'm depressed, often I'm angry, but mostly I feel bored and hopeless.
I'm mentally tired from looking for a job but I can't not look. I have to keep pressing forward. Out of a seven day week, I have a headache at least three times. Stress. I try focusing on other things but my thoughts always come back to money, bills due, and my rapidly dwindling savings.

Why did my parents raise me with such high morals? Lord knows if I was a different Kim, I'd be serving drinks and doing a, um, tasteful floor show at a high end gentleman's club. Those girls can make $500+ a night or so I've heard.

Anyway enough about that. I started this blog to not only cut way back on my excessive shopping but to learn a few things about myself. My closet is jam packed with clothes, shoes, and bags. The two shelves in my closet are filled with shoe boxes and I have three stacks of shoes on the floor of my closet. I know off the top of my head that I have about eight black bags. Do I really need all eight of those bags? My attachment to material things has become out of control. There's two Gucci bags, a Louis Vuitton bag, countless Coach bags, three Tory Burch bags, and the list goes on and on. I never even noticed I had a problem. I just bought what I liked, never really paying much attention to the cost or whether I needed it or not. Having made this self discovery, the closet will be cleaned out. There are people in need all around me and now more than I ever I understand just how blessed I am. I don't need eight black handbags. I'll pick my favorite one or two and donate the rest to Goodwill. Those ten pairs of jeans that I no longer love, could possibly be the most amazing jeans for someone who doesn't have any jeans.

Either I have way too much time on my hands to think or my job loss was a wake up call for me to get focused on what is really important. I'll ponder this for a few days and let you guys know what I come up with. Ciao!

Happy Twenty-10 & The Adventure Begins

It is officially on and cracking. Yeah. Oh joy. Pardon my lack of enthusiasm, I am giving up one of my most favorite things to do, shopping.

My twenty-10 did not start out so well. I had a migraine that kept me bed ridden New Years day and returned yesterday so I was unable to post. Yesterday I ran a few errands (before my migraine returned) I took a stroll around Nordstrom. For those of you who know me, I love Nordstrom. I really do. I visited every floor, touched various garments, almost tried a couple of things on but alas, I left sans a purchase. This challenge is pretty easy right now because I'm unemployed and have no disposable income to shop with.

The challenge will really be a challenge when I start my new job (No I haven't accepted any job offer. I'm speaking life into my situation, you know, the law of attraction.)

Defining Accessories, Basics, & Necessities

My, my, I'm quite pleased and pleasantly surprised at the positive feedback for TCB. Thanks! I need all the support I can get. As I think about not shopping, I feel like I'm ending a passionate love affair or at the very least a really great friendship. I get a little queasy and nervous at the thought of no. shopping.

I only have a few more days to plunge right in or call the whole thing off. Lord knows if I was working right now, I'd go on one last MAY-JAH shopping spree. I would burn my credit card up in Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, Loft, F21, J. Crew, Banana Republic, and a few of my favorite boutiques. Woo! Just the thought gave me such a rush! Who's idea was this again? Oh yeah... *virtual side-eye to my bff*

Oh well, let's move on. I wanted to define accessories, basics, and necessities. I have allowed these three items to stay on my list because I know who I am. If I try to stop shopping as in not buying anything, I'd fail a month into the experiment. And if I have to spend an entire year wearing only the clothes I own, I'm going to need a new broach, scarf, cocktail ring, or necklace every now and then.

I like to have a lot of basics on hand and I mainly purchase those on sale. Yay me! Basics for me are the layering pieces like camis, tanks, and tees.

And finally the necessity category, underwear. When I was employed I bought two sets of underwear every payday. I'm sorry but I am weird about my underwear. In my opinon having too much underwear is a very good thing. When I go away for the weekend, I take at least four extra sets. I once was stranded on a business trip two extra days and some of my coworkers made it known that they were wearing the same underwear. Smug little me sat at breakfast smiling because I was so fresh and so clean clean. Sing with me: "Ain't nobody dope as me I'm dressed so fresh so clean..."

I plan to be very honest on my journey and if I buy something, I'll blog about it. Hopefully along the way I'll discover other hobbies or perhaps have a life changing epiphany.

Welcome to The Closet Boutique

The Facts:

• I'm a shopaholic.
  
• I have a lot of clothes. No. Really. A LOT of clothes.
  
• Shopping is my sport, my drug, my love, and sometimes my best friend.
  
• I shop when I'm bored, depressed, happy, angry, etc...
  
• I don't need a reason or special occasion to shop.

How 'The Closet Boutique' was born (I blame my gray dress):

Hours after searching for a particular gray dress, I stood among piles and piles of clothes, shoe boxes, handbags, and more clothes. My entire closet stared back at me and I was defeated. There were clothes covering my sofa in the living room and I had not even searched my four laundry hampers. Yes you read that right. I have four laundry hampers. After a lengthy search, I found my gray dress along with some other clothing I completely forgot about. There were items I did not even remember buying. Having found my dress I began the arduous task of putting my closet back in order.

Fast forward to a few days and I was chatting with my bff and told her about my search for the gray dress. Laughingly, I told her that I could hardly step inside my closet (walk-in closet). She said it would be interesting to see if I could make outfits with just the clothes I owned and cut back on my shopping. I spent the next few days brainstorming and 'The Closet Boutique' is here.

One Year. One Shopaholic. No Shopping???

Seeing how shopping is my drug, I can't just quit cold turkey. I have to set some guidelines in place. Starting January 1, 2010, I'll maintain my style wearing only the clothes in my closet.

Here Are The Guidelines:

1. I can only shop for accessories, basics, and necessities.


2. If I do shop my spending limit is $50.


3. The item (s) must be on sale, and be able to work with my current wardrobe.

I'll post pictures of my daily outfits and journal how I feel about not shopping over the course of the year. Something tells me this will be a lot harder than I think. Wish me luck!!