What would you pay for free shipping?

Black Friday is behind us and Cyber Monday has passed… and I did it!  Not that it was a test, but with such abundant temptation to shop from every angle, it’s a relief to know that I didn’t break down and buy myself another white t-shirt just because it was 40% off.

On the other hand, that isn’t to say that I didn’t look.  I did. I didn’t even just peek. I full on put something in my shopping cart at VictoriasSecret.com.  To be fair, it was a pair of mittens and a hat, which are totally allowed considering that they fall within the realm of accessories. Yet, when it came down to it, I ultimately decided against the purchase because I had to reach a minimum of $25 spent before the free shipping kicked in. The total of my shopping basket? $23.01.

While the invention of “99 cents” might be the greatest in advertising history (thanks Mad Men!), the inventor of “free” shipping is right up there too. Do you know how many items are on the Victoria’s Secret website for $2.00?  I bet you can guess… none. The least expensive item was a pair of $3.99 clearance underwear. Considering that standard shipping costs are usually around $7, the underwear were worth it, right?  Right?!

Even though I walked away this time, this one would have only amounted to a minor offense. On any other day of the year, many sites require $50, $100, or $150 to get to “free” shipping.  I’d rather not admit how many times I’ve fallen for this ploy, but I’m sure you can relate.

Shop wisely my friends!

One Week Down!

Hopefully everyone had a great holiday!  Over the past few days, I’ve enjoyed getting a chance to wear my Turducken t-shirt (check that off the list!) and cozying up at home. I’ve never been a big Black Friday shopper, but that being said, I usually can’t resist a few of the online deals… 50% off at J. Crew? Don’t mind if I do! 40% off and free shipping from The Limited? Yes Please!

This year, instead of perusing a retailer’s site just to see what I might need, I’ve taken on a two-pronged approach: unsubscribe from the site’s email list-serve and delete. This morning, instead of waking up to what could have easily been 50 emails advertising Cyber Monday deals, I had only eight emails from online shopping sites.  Talk about feeling cleansed!

With Thanksgiving over and Black Friday behind us, it’s officially the holiday season.  Time to gear up for the holiday parties that consume my weekends from now until the end of the year.  Don’t worry– I’ll keep you posted on what I’m wearing and how you can find great outfits in your closet too!

Day Eight: Pink Silk Blouse, Black Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater, and Jeans

You’ve got me feelin’ emotions…

I’m now two days in and I’m starting to realize the number of emotions associated with both this project and the clothes themselves. I feel excited, as well as determined to meet my goal after falling short last time. I also feel cleansed, super-organized, and even ‘centered’ after going through everything in my closets and drawers.

At the same time, who knew that an act so simple as pulling a sweater out of from the depths of a closet shelf could evoke sheer happiness or that rescuing a shirt from the back of the bunch could induce sadness or anxiety? For many people it is the smells or sounds of a place or time, but for me, it is also what I was wearing, that helps to bring a memory back to life. I can’t help but smile when I put on the dress I was wearing when I got engaged or feel pride when I see the blazer I wore to the job interview that I nailed. I haven’t worn the blouse that I wore to my grandmother’s funeral since– but after really thinking about it this weekend, I still can’t seem to get rid of it.

Shopping for clothes can also be emotional. Who hasn’t wanted to cry when they tried on a bathing suit under the florescent lights of a dressing room with pasty white skin? On one hand, there can be frustration or regret, but on the other, shopping can be filled with excitement and triumph. Finding the perfect skirt to go with that sweater you bought on triple red line clearance last winter because it was too good to pass up? Victory! Schlepping down Michigan Avenue in the rain to find a dress to wear to a party you don’t want to go to? Defeat…

As I’m writing this, I realize that I couldn’t have picked out a more perfect outfit for today: the same gray dress that I wore to Thanksgiving last year. I’m smiling just thinking about the wonderful memories surrounding that day and looking forward to planning my outfit for this year!

Day Two: Gray Dress, Black Tights, and Black Boots

By the Numbers

And we’re off! The Wear Everything Project is officially underway. As an added bonus this time around, I’ll be documenting my outfits (as much as possible) so that you can see what 305 items of clothing really look like!

That’s right folks, 305 items of clothing. Am I a bit ashamed? Of course I am. Does any one person really need 11 V-neck T-shirts? What about 13 button down shirts? I guess I had to have something to wear under my 17 cardigans…

It’s amazing to see what’s buried in that closet once you really start digging! As someone who loves a good pivot table, it’s also interesting to have the data on what colors and brands I’ve been collecting over the years.

Black is the most commonly found color in my closet, clocking in with 54 items. Gray, White, and Navy were the next most frequently found hues—25, 22, and 21 items, respectively. I can’t say I’m entirely surprised, look at what I picked out to wear today…

Running the numbers on the brands I’ve been amassing was also fascinating. With 48 items in my closet from Express, they should be paying me for all of the advertising I’m doing! Forever 21 came in at a distant 2^nd Place, with 32 items and The Limited slid into 3^rd place with 28 items.

So with two articles of clothing down and 303 to go, how long do you think it will take me?!

 

Day One: Navy Tissue Turtleneck (J. Crew) and Gray Cords (Levi's)

 

Recovering from a Clothes Hangover

After spending all weekend preparing, I think I’m ready to really do this! I’ve cleaned out my closets, purged items that I already know need to go, and have inventoried everything—from beach cover ups to zip hoodies—in one handy dandy spreadsheet.

Unlike last time, when I just tagged items as I wore them, I thought I would gear up for the challenge by really taking stock of what I have in my closets. So as I cleaned and sorted, I entered everything into an Excel spreadsheet, including the Item Type, Item Color, and Brand. As I sit here now, I feel cleansed and organized after all of my hard work. My closets and drawers are cleaned and organized and I have a tidy set of bags ready to cart off to Salvation Army. At the same time, I also feel an overwhelming sense of what can only be described as the equivalent of a clothes hangover. Looking at my spreadsheet, it’s obvious that I’ve been over-indulging in clothes for far too long. Do I really own 22 pairs of jeans? How did that happen?! Is it really possible that I could wear a different pair of jeans every day for almost a month?

So that begs the question: How many pairs of jeans does the average American woman own? According to a survey featured in Glamour Magazine, the average gal owns 8 pairs of jeans. Leave a comment and let us know how many pairs of jeans you own! I’m sure you’ll be surprised when you start to count!

I guess I’ve always known I was above average, but c’mon…It’s obvious that things need to change and I’m ready to prove that I can wear it all!

New Challenge, New Site

I’ll be posting my new journey via wordpress.com

Check back soon for an update on all the fun and excitement to come!