Shopaholic Update for May 2015 – FAIL

We are now in the month of May for 2015, and I have to say giving up pleasure shopping completely blows!  Especially on the clothing front; I am more into the classics & basics – banking on the idea that less is more when it comes to style, but I miss clothing shopping a lot and I have caved more than once over the past three months.

Nova Scotia had a brutal winter this year, and not only did we ginormous amounts of snow to contend with, but we also had the addition of icy sidewalks and icy walkways, so the ability to go for a leisurely  promenade outdoors for much of the winter was impossible unless you wanted to risk breaking a bone or two.  Throw in the hilly town of Halifax, and it was old lady shuffling everywhere I went, right up until early April.

Needless to say, I have been mega down, and feeling the need for retail therapy.  I have always treated myself to a new sweater or bubble bath when I have felt less than fabulous.  I have tried painting, playing the piano, exercising, but nothing feels quite as good as a new pair of skinny jeans or a new spa product you’ve wanted to try.  So blast it!  This no shopping thing is ridiculous!!!  I haven’t even made it to month six yet!

On the product/toiletries front I can report, I have finished  three partially used shampoo bottles, and two bottles of conditioner.  I still have a drawer with two full bottles of shampoo and conditioner in addition to the ones sitting in my tub.  I have used a full sized tube of tooth paste and a traveler’s sized one.  I have done splendidly well in not purchasing any new products, not even one!

Abstaining from clothing shopping has not gone so well.  Must I confess?!  Well, for anyone who may require some solace in their poor shopping habits, I hope I am able to help.  I bought a pair of leggings from American Apparel,  a hippy dippy maxi dress from The Black Market (a fantastic little shop in downtown Halifax, many items are made in India, Thailand and some of the proceeds from sales go to these developing countries).

Check out the cute dress; resisting the red paired with the turquoise was futile!!!!

Last Thursday, aka pay-day was the worst day thus far.  I bought a pair of black skinny jeans (a wardrobe essential) and a pair of black cigarette dress pants.  Can I justify my purchases, well, I am going to Cuba in early June and I “needed” a new dress, I discovered a couple of holes in my blue skinnies and I have not bought a new pair of dress pants in well over a year.  Did I truly need to buy these items?  Absolutely not, but damn, they sure look great and I feel the satisfactory retail therapeutic bliss which only a shopaholic knows.

So, what is next?  I have discovered on Pinterest this shopping concept called “The Five Piece French Wardrobe”.  It revolves around having a basic wardrobe and building around the “basics”.  Being someone who is not a huge trend follower, but more into classic styles, I believe this challenge will be doable.  Stay tuned for details as I tackle minimizing my wardrobe as I trim it down gearing it towards “style” and less towards “fashion”.