Owl

I just fell in love with the pictures of this owl from gothamist. The first is the most eye catching, but the second one reminds me of Peeps (who is known as an owl cat in these premises).

This picture is the very definition of puffed up. This more moderate one below is more Peeps-like, although my young lady has her own puffed up moments. I wish I'd woken to see this fabulous creature on my air conditioner. I really like owls.

The Things I Didn't Buy This Week, Part 1

Here are some of the items I didn't buy this week. In a different year, I'd have snapped some of these items up, but for the reasons stated, I let each go. That's not to say I didn't like/want them, but in the spirit of my new frugality, I let all of these pass.

Rachel Comey top from Creatures of Comfort--around $110. I love this fabric and the top is beautiful and it is 70% off and in my size. But on further reflection, the top isn't wearable for my lifestyle and climate. It's silk so it's not good for humid summers; it's also one shouldered and has such an elaborate detail that it would be hard to cover it in a cardigan without causing an unsightly bump. It's also not something I need that would add value to my wardrobe. Furthermore, the one shoulder thing is not me and is very much of its time meaning this will date. I still love the fabric and hope to find something in this pattern, but as I have the essay dress in another fabric, this may remain something I like from afar.
Savings--around $130 (tax and shipping extra on this one).

Another lovely Rachel Comey blouse that's 70% off at Creatures of Comfort and is also in my size. Pros--I love the neck and shoulders, it looks like it would drape really well. I think I'd wear it (although it may mean I wouldn't wear something else I own and love). Negatives--the fabric is somewhat dull, would need a lot of dry cleaning. As it falls short of spectacular I'm passing, despite the $96 tag.
Savings: around $105--as there would be tax. And probably $235 or so as it would have been easy to snag both of these.

Rag and Bone cardigan, around $148, so that's about $162 with tax. Pros--it's green, soft and warm. Minuses--it's $162 and I really don't need another cardigan, particularly one that is this heavy.

Rag & Bone sweater dress--around the same price as the cardigan. Pros--it's cheap and interesting. Rag & Bone always seduces me with its aura of English model off duty. Minues--I don't need it and it is so thick that any day I'd need to be this warm, I'd need something on my legs; I may be English but any remote chance I'd ever have of being a model is long gone. 

More to come--some of the items like the cosy large Rag & Bone cashmere cardigan are not pictured online (and that's still something I would consider as I think the price per wear works out). But I still vow to resist it, so it maybe just as well I can't find any images.

What I Didn't Buy This Week

I'm thinking of making this a new feature, one that allows me to see exactly how much I would have spent if I wasn't watching the pennies.

This week marks what might be the end of the fall/winter sales--and the big discounts that often tempted me. This week, I resisted the allures of yet more J. Crew merchandise on 40% off final sale, Creatures of Comfort's Rachel Comey blouses at 70% markdown and some Rag and Bone sweaters and pants that were equally marked down. Conservatively, I think I've saved about $500 that I would have spent on all of the above. When time permits, I will pull some pictures and show you what I resisted...

Holiday

It seems so distant now, but just three weeks ago I was home, sans shoulder ache and not on any fixed schedule. Bliss. It was also 45 degrees, and there wasn't a snowflake in sight--right now, NYC is anticipating its second big snowfall of the day.

Here's a few pictures of what I am now missing:

                                                            My two year old niece.

                                        Walks in Tweezeldown woods with dear friends

                                         Hunstanton Beach on New Years Day

    An icy cobweb decorating the view from my bedroom window.

                            
                          Walking around small seaside towns with Mum and Dad.

                                            Debsy in a tiara.

                
 Strange death-obssessed wax art in the V & A, complete with bonus rats.

Work

Classes have now started, so I don't have as much time to catalogue my clothing or do much of anything else. I have finished writing all my syllabi, something that takes far longer than you would imagine, and I've also reached the half way mark in my 30 day yoga/pilates challenge. Today I did one yoga in the morning and an early evening pilates--the latter was actually fairly easy as far as pilates goes. I think the Friday night pilates class is the one that really kicks my butt--or, rather, abs and legs. I also have really sore shoulders--I think all those planks and downward dogs, not to mention other poses/asanas that require lots of shoulder strength, have really done a number on me. Hopefully the pain is a good sign that I'm getting stronger.

86 Sweaters

Or thereabouts. I've just been going through my closets and drawers, organizing everything to eliminate clutter and to remind me what I actually own so I don't spend more. Evan has teased me many times about the number of sweaters I have--and he was right. The 86 includes tanks, tunics, short-sleeved tops, cardigans, lightweight, medium and heavyweight sweaters and jackets, cotton, silk, cashmere and acrylic blends. Most are from Mayle, J. Crew, Club Monaco and Inhabit. Some are very old (the ones my mum knitted for us as kids), others are unworn with tags still attached (granted most of these are my new purchases). I found at least two I forgot I owned, ones I will wear that were piled next to ones I rarely touch. I also found the one I've been searching for all week.

I've also gone through t-shirts--I'm not a big t-shirt buyer or wearer but found that I have enough for a lifetime. Granted, it's partly because I never throw them away (although my dear late cat Lupin was cremated with the t-shirt I was wearing to sleep in the night she died--I wanted her to have some of me with her for eternity as some of her will always be with me). I still have the ones I owned in Madison and one is nearly transparent it has worn so thin. I've also got about 10 long sleeved striped t-shirts, so again, I'm set there. Sweatshirts are about the only thing I don't own in big number--I have two, the standard American Apparel grey one and the grey sequined J Crew number I've worn once.

Next up, I tackle tights, gym clothes and nightwear. I haven't even got to dresses yet. I don't have many pairs of pants but at this point, I think I'm sufficiently horrified that this may be a good way to put myself off buying clothing.

On that note, thank you everybody for the excellent tips. They are truly helpful. I am a little appalled with myself (to put it mildly) for spending so much time and money on clothing. And I purged a lot of stuff when I moved 18 months ago, donating many dresses, shoes and other items to charity, which makes this all the more disgusting. Yes, I am ashamed of myself.

But on the plus side, I'm hoping this will teach me to have fun with the clothing I have. It's a pretty nice collection of items and there's enough to wear for any event and weather--with 86 sweaters, for instance, I could wear a different one every day for nearly 3 months. Why, then, are the same ten or so in constant rotation each winter? I know many are not suited for the deepest cold, but I do wear the same four sweaters and three cardigans so much?

Cutting Back

I've noticed I'm not alone in vowing to limit my spending. Several bloggers, including Amanda, have devoted posts to this same issue. I was talking to Caroline today and we both decided to save for something we really want--like a RM Roland Mouret dress, or possibly a great bag. While this seems counter intuitive I think big purchases often lead to limited spending as the emotions/guilt/pleasure lead to cutbacks both before and afterwards. While I may not go this route, one thing I am going to cut back is those small splurges that add up. I've already mentioned that I am not going to buy the following this year--unless I really love a special item or absolutely need it:

colored opaque tights (I have drawers full of them)
pyjamas/nightdresses
bras
cardigans
J. Crew costume jewelry

These little splurges often go overlooked (it's just $5, $10, $20, $50) but they add up. They've also filled my closet, drawers, and other available spaces. I do not need any more of any of the above and can no longer say it's an investment. Cutting back on spending on clothes also comes with the advantage of cutting back clutter. And our one bedroom is way too full of stuff.

I also vow to cut back buying books and dvds. This one is tricky--I do need them for my job and for research and libraries don't always cut it (books are recalled or out on loan, or simply not there--something that is notoriously the case at NYU's Bobst). I still haven't worked out how to manage this cutback but I have to do something as I have way too many unread books and unwatched dvds on my shelves.

Still, I don't think these spending cuts are enough. I no longer buy something because it is Mayle and I haven't got it and it is in my size. I've got to love it and it has to be something that will add value to my closet at a reasonable price--although I have yet to sort out the details.

Basically, I'm on a clothing freeze right now. That may be the easiest way to do it. If anybody has any advice, please share.