When I was looking over my list of new clothing from the past year, I remembered a shopping spree in 2007. I’d received the second half of my signing bonus from the Big Corporation and went out with a friend for a day of shopping at Nordstrom department store in downtown Seattle. We bought clothes, lingerie, cosmetics, and I can’t remember what else. We stopped for lunch carrying fancy shopping bags with items wrapped in tissue paper. I was finally out of debt and the shopping was guilt-free. I had a FABULOUS time. But once was enough. Any further big shopping events were confined to an hour at REI or Title Nine.
Summary: For July 2019 through June 2020, I spent $502.28 putting me under the yearly clothing budget ($600).
About 80% of the expense was footwear—a pair of winter hiking boots and a pair of sneakers. The boots* I wanted were only available online at MEC and I jumped when they went on sale in November. These boots got me back on the trail in the snow. I bought the sneakers in February from a local independent outdoor store. I thought of my previous sneakers as new because I bought them since I moved home but, no, they’d been in use for nearly two years and the soles were worn down. For next spring’s sneakers (and other gear), I’ve already started watching online for sales.
On my road trip in October, MAC and I enjoyed a rainy morning at the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. I chose fleece-lined cargos, hiking pants, tank tops, and wicking tees paid for with a generous birthday gift. In Freeport, I also stocked up on underwear at the Jockey outlet. Earlier on the trip, I bought a logoed long-sleeve tee to memorialize my pilgrimage to the famous (to vegetarians, anyway) Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, New York. All of these items are getting lots of wear. Since there was an abundance IN last year but the only thing that I moved OUT was a mildew-stained swimsuit, it’s time for a drop-off at the donation bin.
I have lots of closet space in the new apartment and I keep most items directly on the shelves or in the bins and baskets I used in the tiny house. This winter, I discovered the joy of wearing sweat pants around the house but it was a happy day last month when I got the warm weather clothing out of the storage bin. The three pairs of plaid knee-length shorts I bought 10-11 years ago still fit and seem indestructible (the embroidered label is Titanium). I no longer have any of the clothes from that trip to Nordstrom but I do have a lightweight après-swim hoodie I got from REI that same year that I still wear in summer—it’s made of some magic fabric that doesn’t pill or snag. With the shorts, it’s part of my timeless (AKA don’t-care-what’s-trending) sportswear collection.
*At the recommendation of an employee, I ordered two sizes and returned one pair to the store. Later, I was surprised to read an article stating that many online shopping returns are sent to the landfill. What??? I doubt that would be the case with MEC but is something I will keep in mind when shopping online. For more info, see article link below.
References and related links:
- REI: Recreational Equipment, Inc.
- MEC: Mountain Equipment Co-op.
- MAC: mon amie Caroline.
- update from a tiny closet (post #118)
- vacation bundle (post #126)
- simpler-living report CY19Q4 (post #131)
- Returned online purchases often sent to landfill (SOURCE: CBC)
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