I take vacations from work, and a break after the competitive part of my sports season is over. It doesn't mean I won't eventually return to work, or to the gym! Same with shopping!

I was going to start my fast in February, but inadvertently didn't make any purchases in January. I have been using the month to do some 'deep' work on figuring out my style going forward. Like some others, I am feeling a style shift but was having trouble understanding and interpreting my 'feelings' and articulating how I want to evolve my style.

During this month long pause, reading your thoughts and those of other forum members, as well as doing some work (thanks SF for the info about the 'Unfancy' worksheets), and studying my Pinterest Style Aspiration page, I feel better about moving forward.

Though I wanted to wait for some Angie trend reports for S/S before starting up again, I have an opportunity coming up next week - a few overnights in The Big City, with several hours to crawl through the shops.
I have a list that I plan to stick to. I will also use the opportunity to recon what is in store. I want to take DH to the new Nordstrom's also!

RunCarla -- I just started working from home a couple of days a week in the past two years. What I wear at home and what I wear to work are two unique sets of clothing (with no overlap whatsoever). I have been struggling to figure out a plan going forward. I have ideas, but they are very vague ideas, and nothing is concrete. Having no plan worries me.

Thank you, Shevia. I agree. The no purchasing challenging will transition to a shop style maintenance plan because I never intended to give up shopping for any great length of time. I merely wanted to get a grip on my sales shopping obsession. One interesting thing that was pointed out to me is that I am no longer on a treadmill .... looking for the next thing to buy without enjoying what I already have. This was an unexpected benefit.

I have long admired your five-piece wardrobe plan, Shedev. You are at the point that I would like to achieve going forward. I had to achieve the right foundation before I could successfully implement that plan. I feel I am very, very close now. And I do believe people can change.

Barbara Diane -- this thread was for you as much as it was for me. I loved reading about your plans. I still remember the lessons I learned during the Orphan Challenge. I wish with all my heart, I had thought to collect them in a single file to reference back.

Thanks Suz, Joy, and Irina. You have no idea how your support helps me.

I too love reading your musings. Thank you for sharing. It sounds like this is really working for you, which is so great.
I've never been a compulsive shopper, nor do I spend over budget. But when I moved two years ago, I suddenly had to buy a whole lot of stuff, in part because the climate was so different (and a lot more different than I had expected!) and in part because my new workplace is quite a bit dressier than my old. I had almost no summer work clothes, because at my previous academic post, we had all worked from home all summer - no aircon in the offices. By the time teaching started, it had cooled off and only a few weeks of warm weather clothes were needed. And then the boat - and the need for shirts for that! So for these reasons, I had shopped more than usual since the move.
Then I found late last year I had my wardrobe in shape, and I was feeling good. But shopping had become a bit more of a habit than it had ever been before! I used to shop in two big batches, one for Christmas, and one for my July birthday, and then I just picked up the odd thing here and there. I had found it was becoming much more of a habit to pick up something far more regularly however!
So this year, inspired by you all, I have been thinking aside from my usual splurge twice a year, I am aiming for not more than one thing a month. Maybe less if I don't find something I adore. I might make an exception for a khaki jean jacket or a good stretchy black work jacket with one button, both of which have been HEWIs for me. But other than that, much less needs to come in.
So far so good: the January purchase was a Metalicus navy cowl neck singlet top, which has already been put to good use. Let's see if I can reign it in again in February. I don't need a full shopping ban, but really I need to go back to older habits.

Congratulations on your shopping fast. As you know, I am a skeptic about the benefits of this process as well. I tried it a few years ago, and it was easy to stop shopping, but had no lasting effect.

I find what Gretchen Rubin says to be very instructive in certain situations. When I think about what she says however, I don't think it applies across the board. For example, I am definitely a moderate drinker, and I have other things I have no problem doing in moderation, but put something salty and crunchy in front of me like chips or anything fried, and I'm a non-stop eater. The same goes for certain other foods, like chocolate. However, if I decide to abstain, and not eat any chips or chocolate, I can easily do it as long as I don't take that first bite. I find first bites easy to resist, no problem. It's moderation I struggle with here.

My take on life is that moderation would work better for me in certain circumstances if I could manage it. My shopping plan for 2017 is an attempt to create moderation without abstention. My thinking is that if I abstain and don't have a plan for moderation, I will eventually want or need to update my wardrobe, and that could be a trigger to let loose with my spending on clothes, kind of like a single potato chip when I'm holding the rest of the bag.

So far my plan is working out. It includes multiple steps.
1. I don't Internet shop every day.
2. I stick to my color scheme.
3. I stick to my style descriptors and what I know works.
4. I check my closet to make sure something I already own isn't too similar and cannot substitute.
5. I stick to a strict budget.
6. I have a one in one or two out policy.
7. I keep a spreadsheet of what I spend.

It seems like a lot of steps but it is working. So far this year I have purchased socks, a necklace, earrings, and one new dress. For me, that is a big reduction over last year, and successful moderation. It's only February, but I believe that moderation in shopping is going to be an important part of my wardrobe management. Without it I don't see how my style will remain fresh.

I am glad you are posting about your shopping fast and your insights. Staysfit says what a lot of what I find works for me. I do not do well with fasts. Tell me I can't have something and that is all I think about. Some things are very easy for me to give up or to do in moderation. I can not have one potato chip. So I don't have any. I know that sounds like a restriction on potato chips but it works for me.
I have found with shopping for clothes that having a good sense of my style is key. I thought having a list would be next but that is not working out. I need some flexibility. And some emotional organized shopping.
I also started using the YLF finds and collections. I like it better than pinning. The problem with pinning is that I don't have dates or sources to the items. Once again YLF proves to be amazing.

Sterling--stay strong! You can do it! The pants are minor setback but you can return them.
Catty- thanks for that article! I typed myself as a moderator. I sometimes think life is easier "moderators" than the all-or-nothing abstainors. Very interesting.

Congratulations, Lucy, on your decision to limit your purchases to one great item per month in January and February. Good luck fulfilling the February goal. I like the idea of shopping twice a year. It would be a major goal for me (if I thought I could achieve it).

Staysfit -- your system is working for you and I will likely evolve to something very much like it later this year. I feel I have benefitted already from this purchasing fast. For one thing, I am not longer in constant shopping mode. You can't imagine how huge that single accomplishment is for me.

I agree, Style Fan, YLF is amazing. It took me a while to learn how to use the Finds Section. I admit to still learning about how to use collections, but I will get there eventually.

Thank you, Smittie. Your posts always encourage me.

Thanks Sterling and all!!

I am a moderate person and don't last long on total bans - I have done them before (drinking, shopping, buying magazine in the old days).

We have had some expected but higher than anticipated expenses come our way which has reinforced a decision to halt summer purchases. And it is so humid buying winter things is not appealing as yet.

Come March I will start looking, but the budget could be quite lean sadly.

I understand lean budgets, Kiwigal. There are times in life when that just happens. The money I didn't spend in December/January was used to fund my traditional IRA, which in turn, benefits me tax wise. So I had a goal for that money.

On Thursday, I start minor bathroom renovations. Messy renovations, but hopefully, a small project that will be complete in less than a week.

Congrats on being successful in your purchasing fast. Counting today, I'm at 39 days. January was the month to set a new goal and February is the month to get into it and stick to it! I have set up a budget and given myself an allowance, which I think will work for me (well I know it will because I am determined to make it work for me). When the allowance is gone, I'm done, and so far the only thing I've purchased is a few sewing patterns and fabric to make DH a shirt.

Congrats and keep strong! Sometimes this is necessary to rewire our brains. I didn't do a lot of "fun" shopping since last summer because I was too busy with other things. Stress eating resulted in a bit of a weight gain and I bought two pairs of jeans and new underwear to be comfortable. Thank good I am fan of the slouchy fit when it comes to tees and sweaters. Otherwise I bought some items for my upcoming trip and replaced both my sneakers and my sandals with quite similar versions. All very basic and not at all experimental. I plan to use my move to sort through all my clothes and accessories in April, we'll see how that goes. Further shopping depends a bit on how soon I have a job (and what clothes I need for it) and of course on the weight and if the additional bit is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Thank you, Karie!!! Congratulations on your shopping fast!! It really does get easier, doesn't it?

Thanks, Astrid. I find moving to be an excellent opportunity to cull possessions and take stock of life. There was a time in my life when I moved about every three years. I can't tell you how valuable those moves were to me in terms of evaluating where I had been and where I was going. Best wishes on the move and finding future employment.

Thanks, Sterling.

An update on my Banana Republic order.

First, I placed this order by mistake. I still don't know exactly how that happened, but it happened. Enough said.

Second, I cancelled the order.

Third, Banana Republic shipped the order FOUR DAYS after the order was placed. And when I say shipped, I am lying. They said they shipped it on a Saturday. I very much doubt the order was shipped before the following Monday (or even Tuesday). BUT they charged me on that Saturday.

Fourth, and most importantly, the order did not arrive on time. I thought it got lost or was delivered to the wrong address. Whatever. I called. They put me on hold and never came back. I was furious. Eventually, the order showed up. It now sits unopened on the floor of my foyer. It is going back. I am not even going to bother opening it.

Fifth, I now have to go to the damn Mall to return this shitty ass order. It is a waste of my time on a weekend. I am pretty mad.

Sixth, this will be the last time I will EVER enter a Banana Republic store.

I cannot tell you how mad I am at this retailer. I am burning with fury. IF the order had arrived on time OR if that person hadn't put me on hold and never bothered to come back, perhaps things might have gone differently, but they didn't.

Um...Sterling, you didn't mean to place the order, but you DID place the order, so the fact you have to return it isn't the retailer's fault?
I'm totally supporting you on this shopping fast. Still not bought anything, over 2 months now. But you know as a recovering shopaholic I don't mind going to the mall on a weekend! I went last weekend and looked at clothes, as I had not said that I would not buy anything, I will break the fast whenever I feel ready to. But you know, the fast seems to have helped me to become so-is it patient, picky and practical, Angie's 3 Ps-that I didn't like anything enough or the odd thing I did I already had something similar. Going to the mall is sort of training my brain it seems. I have "different but not really" burning in my thoughts about the stuff that catches my eye. Yes, it must be related to my style since it calls to me. But what's the bet I can wear something of that style tomorrow out of my own closet? So it still sort of trains my eye, like exercising a muscle. Maybe you could look at clothes without buying with that in mind? Cheers Jenni

You are right, Jenni, I did place the order. I feel foolish for having done so. Going to continue to exercise that muscle. Nice way of thinking of it.

Sorry I'm late to the thread, Sterling! I've been following along and meaning to pitch in, but I had to think about it. I'm interested in what others are saying about moderation, because I hadn't looked at it this way before.

I think you're doing great. Maybe your accidental purchase will be a watershed moment when you can examine your motivations and change your habits in a way that suits you. This week's rage and frustration could be next week's funny story.

Here's the thing. I'm a moderator, but I'm not a natural at it. I've built moderation muscles around various impulses over the years and shopping is one of them. I always have to work against its addictive power and I have a few strategies to keep myself in check.

First of all, I keep a couple of barriers in place to shopping online. I never use a credit card and I keep debit card purchases to a minimum. I can't shop in a single click because I need to jump through all the security hoops at the checkout.

Another favourite strategy is stalking high ticket items to buy in the future. If I see something I like, I have to ask myself if I want it more than the thing I'm stalking. I currently have prescription sunglasses and a new handbag in my sights.

I've also raised the bar for quality and provenance over the years, with my own version of Angie's 3P's. This has helped me walk past many an ill-considered purchase, and by now I enjoy the contents of my wardrobe more than I enjoy shopping in most places. Anything I buy has to be at least as good as what I already have.

But I still have a massive closet. I love it all, but it's all over the place. The shopping diet/fast is basically to help me focus on my future direction and edit accordingly. And after a spell of (not) shopping, right now I am actually Not Shopping.

I suppose what I'm saying is that you shouldn't take too many tips from me, because our lifestyle needs and style goals are not the same. On the other hand, you have my full support.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for weighing in Approprio. You developed wonderful strategies to enforce moderation. This fast has actually damped my shopping compulsion. I wonder if it will return in full force once I resume shopping this Spring. I love your idea of stalking high ticket items. Have a good week.