Underconsumption and elegance?

https://open.substack.com/pub/.....-expanded-

I read this post on Substack a few days ago and it's stayed in my head : unusual in this era of quick sound bites and short-form reading which no one remembers hours later . Linking the word "elegance" to underconsumption sounds a little pretentious to me, but I think I understand where the writer is coming from . The image of the black iron clothing rack ( in some imaginary Parisian apartment ) with 4 or beautiful pieces pulled it together for me.

When Irina proposed the word " refined" for herself in 2026, I thought of how I could turn that around to relate to what I read . Refine in the sense of trimming and smoothing out and eliminating the noise/extra. I don't like too much visual stimulation and a full closet and dresser drawers sit in that category. I probably write something like this every year : I have too much, I want to open up space, blah blah blah. I think I mean it, but don't carry it forward very well. I guess all one can do is keep trying . When the writer mentioned shopping and consumption and the dopamine hit as too habit-forming , I nodded. I also nodded at how one can end up with clothing they like but don't love or ........appreciate. Big thoughts here.

For January, I am doing a no-shop month. Not a single thing for myself , including personal care stuff. I have enough. I even warned my husband that I am sick of food (lol) (this past month as been constant with treats at work, home baking, gifts of chocolates and candy from clients at work , constant cooking and cleaning and I am DONE ) and having a stuffed pantry and that we are buying NOTHING other than the basics until we use up what we have . I got the side eye for that comment .

My daughter is moving out in a few days into her first apartment, and we are super eager to expand into the bedroom and bathroom she is vacating . My husband has declared her bathroom his, which makes me extremely happy. He can clean it, too. Anyways, I'm hoping that being able to spread out and breathe a bit will allow me to appreciate what I have in a new way - having a closet to myself will be great, finally.

II hope this doesn't sound melodramatic, or too navel-gazing......and thanks for reading if you've done so.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone ! Here's to refinement, elegance, and appreciation . As I read somewhere yesterday, "you don't have to try every cookie".

2 hours ago

Irina

Veteran

I’m off to read the article but want to say that having my own bathroom was life changing for me! We also got one each after our son moved out. And separate closets!

Ok, done. Some of my thoughts - underconsumption scares me a little. I feel it puts too much pressure on my decision making. I’m indecisive person as it is. My latest rule is more gentle - if I consider buying something I must love and feel awesome wearing it. Not an easy goal to achieve! But I’m planning to considerably reduce my spending in 2026 and will join you in no-buy January

The main reason why I decided on Refined as my word for 2026 is that I must get serious with editing my closet. I struggle to let go of pieces that I like but don’t love. I need to address it. Also, a decades long habit of wearing “good” clothes to work and “ok” clothes everyday, leaves me with great but unworn wardrobe. I thought of it last year, too and improved a little. My goal should be wearing out lovely pieces that I have. “Live your best life” is my motto these days

1 hour ago

Jaime

(website)

I will read the substack a bit later. I think gaining a new closet is the perfect opportunity to refine and reconsider. You can decide to only move into the new closet what really works for you or represents you or whichever criteria you choose. I think it is very natural to want to find equilibrium after a month of consumption in every sense. Life is a process. It doesn't matter if you have thought or said similar things before, every iteration is a bit different and so are the results.

38 minutes ago

Irina, I have been saying that about myself for years but never heard anyone else articulate it—trying to have a few perfect items raises the stakes of every buying decision so high I can’t handle it. Like you, I am a generally indecisive person. (A college professor who was quite a bit older once said to me in exasperation, “How are you ever going to decide who to marry?!” Lolol)

30 minutes ago

Sal

Thanks for sharing Lisa. I can relate to your feeling and January is an excellent time to reset and refine. And how exciting for your daughter!!

In 2025 I didn't have a no shop month - I paced my shopping quite evenly through the year. But I usually do and would like to get back to two shopping pauses during the year.

23 minutes ago

Suz

Well, I think it's wonderful you are about to have your own closet and bathroom! This is the first time Mr. Suz and I have really had that and it is a true luxury!

I have lots of no-buy months every year. Not intentionally, necessarily. It just happens. January and February will likely both be no-buy for me.

While I think the Substack writer's concerns about overconsumption are legitimate, I'll never be that person with four perfect items on a rack...I like having options.

Having said that, I also like knowing my essentials, knowing what's signature to my style and I am willing to spend more on those items, or at any rate I'm more inclined to seek out higher quality for those and I'm less likely to settle.

I guess each of us has to find a balance that works for us personally -- too much "refinement" and all fun and experimentation goes out the window. Too much "fun" and the closet becomes a place of chaos. But it's so personal. My "lack of fun" might be your place of calm refinement and my chaos might be someone else's joyful abundance.

2 minutes ago

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