Article on shopping diets and wearing only a few items - YouLookFab Forum

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Article on shopping diets and wearing only a few items

medusa

Veteran

Another style-related article from the New York Times - this one is mainly about sixitemsorless.com, but it also discusses the great american apparel diet. We've discussed similar wardrobe challenges here before, but it's interesting to see a mainstream take on it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07.....wanted=all

Side note on a pet peeve: It should be six items or FEWER. Drives me crazy.

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

crazyone

Veteran

medusa, I read the article and looked at the slideshow, and was thinking of posting it myself. I was a bit disheartened by the Indian lady who said she was only going to wear black from now on--I don't think the color does her enough favors for her to be able to wear it every day in all items....

MNsara

Veteran

I know, I know (patting medusa on the arm), but that would require an additional syllable. . .

back on track -- I love these kind of articles mostly because they can make me stop to consider the things that I am doing without thinking. . .
Thanks!!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for posting this Medusa!

I enjoyed the article very much and its certainly given me some ideas... I'm pretty sure that I could do winter on 6 items - as long as cami's didn't count!

Kate

Veteran

Thanks for posting this! It's super interesting, and now I'm exploring the posts at http://sixitemsorless.com/

Scarlet

Veteran

Thanks for posting the article. I hadn't seen it. You know, maybe a generalization like this is always dumb (huh), but I think this article is a perfect example of how Americans always veer from one extreme to another--I even have a wardrobe for my dog! I will wear NO MORE than 6 items of clothing!! It's just too extreme. Also I think that all of the people that they chose are above-average attractive, so that they actually make their outfits look better than they are. And that Indian woman only wearing black is a tragedy.

Louise

Veteran

Gosh 6 items for a month I'm not sure I could do that for a week As a side note I think we did a challenge similar to this? I seem to remember Dawn posting 10 items for a week? Or was I dreaming? x

crwilson

Veteran

There's a small part of me that finds this appealing, but only if I could buy six new, super-versatile items. I think that might defeat the purpose.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

You can only wear 6 items for a month? Pass -- I hate doing laundry, and that would require nearly daily washings!

April

Veteran

SO mentioned this article to me last night -- do you think that was a hint?

This is only appealing to me for traveling. Otherwise, I crave greater variety, no matter how beautifully-made and high-quality those six items might be.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

This is an interesting article. I think a slightly "souped up" version of this challenge would make for a great capsule wardrobe!

Kristine

Veteran

I agree with Scarlet. I find ideas like this really interesting, but there's something to be said for moderation. There's a lot in between 72 pairs of active shoes and 6 items for the whole month.

I think it's a luxury to be able to even worry about these things. Many people in the world really only own six items of clothing. It's fascinating how we crave the other end of the spectrum and find that having too much isn't satisfying either.

Ele

(website)

Kristine, you are so right. When I was reading the article I was also thinking about how far the pendulum has swung toward excess, leaving us craving the opposite extreme. Moderation is key in all things, I guess.

While I don't think I could live with only wearing 6 items for a month (the 10-items one that Dawn did earlier this year seems more doable to me), I'm in favour of anything that encourages people to sit up and notice just how insane our consumerist culture has become. 72 pairs of active shoes and a closet full of clothes for a dog!? Reading that actually turned my stomach a little. I probably shop less often and have a smaller closet than the average YLF-er, partly due to financial necessity and partly due to choice, but I'm very happy with my smaller, quality-over-quantity wardrobe. I can't see myself changing anytime soon.

Hee hee, Medusa. I'm with you on the less/fewer thing- drives me batty, too. But not as much as it's/its does

Boof

Thanks for posting the article. I think it's great to challenge yourself to live with less. It's great that people said for the most part nobody noticed that they were wearing the same clothes. I'm definitely trying to be much more particular about my purchases. If I don't absolutely love it, back it goes. I really do want to focus on quality over quantity. I love the simplicity of having fewer pieces that work well together.

I also agree with the tendency to go to extremes in the country. I won't buy anything for a year, I won't eat any carbs, I'll go on an all bacon diet...it's crazy. I'm on team moderation. :o)

anne

Veteran

Interesting article.

I notice this was done in summer, which of course makes it much easier!

My husband could do this so easily if I kept his laundry up! He wears jeans everyday (shorts if really hot) with a t shirt. A woven shirt for Sundays. A jumper and a casual jacket over if it is really cold.

I like the idea of buying less clothes too. I read in an article that it would be better for the environment and the workers if we (in the west) bought half as many clothes and paid twice as much for them. I'd be happy to go along with that if they were of good quality and the expected benefits actually resulted.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

This was really interesting. I wonder if any of the people doing this will decide to severely pare down their closet after going through this process. I could absolutely do this- I only have 4 dresses that I am wearing right now and if I add a top and a pair of shorts I would be set. I'm actually not wearing very much more than that right now, anyway. (ok maybe double)

JennyK (NC)

Great article! I think six items (or fewer - that is a pet peeve of mine too!)is more extreme than I could manage, but I've been thinking about this concept for some time.

I love the idea of having a limited number of mix-n-match items that I spruce up with scarves, accessories, etc.

When we did the "10 items for a week" challenge I really enjoyed the concept!

I'm so emotionally torn on this issue though. It would be wonderful to me to not agonize over what I'll wear to work every day. Wonderful! I love the idea that I could grab virtually anything from the "work" section of my closet and get going. On the other hand, that does mean giving up a lot in the realm of colors and patterns, something I also love.

Interesting note: When I lived in Jamaica I saw that virtually all office workers had an actual uniform. The uniform fit the basic idea of button-down blouse, skirt, black shoes and perhaps a blazer. When I say uniform, I don't mean that this is just how they all dressed. I mean that when you started a job, you were sent to a uniform shop to purchase the uniform that office used. It was this way not just in supermarkets and restaurants, but also in corporate office buildings, doctor's offices, banks, government offices, etc.

Rosie

Veteran

I have to read the article, but am looking forward to it. (I, too, can't stand when people use "less" instead of "fewer" - it is so common.)

Six items is very extreme. I think 30 is much more reasonable, yet still very difficult! For me, my first step is to pair down to 100 items, including shoes and bags, but not jewelry.

bj1111

Veteran

while i applaud the concept behind it, it would require a stone-steady weight with no fluctuation or midmonth shift in weight distribution (hips, i'm talking to you). i would need 6 items for normal wear and another 6 for "that time of the month" wear.

i suppose i could devise a wardrobe that is looser/more forgiving. but then it would not suit my more spare/tailored aesthetic and would feel dumpy the rest of the month. or i could create a normal wardrobe and stuff myself into my pants 25% of the time.

i get that overconsumption is a problem, but echo boof. moderation is key--eat in moderation, exercise in moderation, buy in moderation. yikes, could my mother have been right?!?!?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

What I don't get it is that someone with 6 black blazers could consider them one item. Then all my jeans would be one item too?

Anna

Laura

(website)

Veteran

The six items or less reminded me of how I lived while in college ... and not as a voluntary experiment!

The "diet" website is also very interesting, as it focuses on consumerism, etc. I read some of those stories and struggles and found it fascinating. It is good to free yourself from always wanting things - and here I sit with a never-ending wish list -- there is a lesson there!

shell

Interesting article! I had to giggle at the fact that no one noticed she wore the same 6 items for a whole month, not even her husband!

Now that I'm starting a new office job, I have to revamp my work wardrobe on a small budget. I think mix-and-match items will be my friends for awhile!

Kristine

Veteran

I thought it was funny how the photo shows a mini skirt and jean shorts (at least the photo the first time I clicked on it), then they talk about an insurance executive in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It took me a minute to realize it wasn't the same lady!

Lisa

Veteran

I understand that many own in excess and also agree that often there is a shift from one extreme behavior to another. I know I would not be able to follow a 6 item rule. I would get bored extremely fast. I often wear at least 3-4 items a day, since I am always cold I layer a lot. (pants, top, blazer, or pants, cami, top, blazer) Of course if my situation did not allow for more than 6 items, well enough said. But knowing I can and do own more than that, the idea to pare down to that level seems extreme to me. On the other hand, I do like the idea of having a fully functional wardrobe, which I know I do not have right now as I am in the middle of a very slow closet purge. As others have already stated, it's all in the balance. Finding the balance of what you use and what you don't for numbers of items as well as how much it takes in quantity for happiness.