Do You Have A Shopping Problem?

"Do you have a shopping problem?" a coworker asked recently at a meeting, to which I responded "I don't have a shopping problem, I have a shopping interest." This question was provoked by my Balenciaga jeans, which I did purchase from Net-A-Porter about 4 years ago, hopeful that I would get the $700 price tags worth of wear out of them... and definitely I have. Also, I married into a Basque family which Balenciaga was founded by a Basque man, Cristóbal Balenciaga, so I appreciate the cultural connection when I buy from this brand. 

I've loved dressing up since before I could walk. My costume closet was overflowing with princess gowns and dance costumes, my mom would even hand sew me and my American Girl Dolls matching outfits in the 90s *super cool*. But why does loving fashion and expressing yourself through what you wear become associated with a "shopping problem?"

The problem with shopping is if you do it to constantly acquire material things that aren't necessary. That's how I shopped in my teens and twenties, when I gave into the social pressure that I couldn't wear the same thing twice; honestly a phenomenon I think was spurred by the advent of Facebook albums and perpetuated by Instagram. Overtime, I've realized what I actually wear or don't wear, and what I actually do or don't look good in. I love color but don't look good in pastels and tend to never touch the things in my closet with busy patterns, so I stay away from purchasing those things and move towards solids and attire that's professional enough for work but can also be dressed down for occasions outside of the office. For a few years I was victim to buying a brand new dress for every single wedding I got invited to, but realized there really are only a handful of dress codes, seasons and climates and I can rewear the same dress from my college roommates wedding in Atlanta for a wedding with work friends in Beverly Hills. Changing the jewelry, makeup, shoes and bags makes for a completely new look. 

There are a few reasons to have this 'capsule' wardrobe: 

1. SUSTAINABILITY - millions of clothes end up in landfills everyday and the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of carbon emissions. 

2. CLUTTER - if you have too many clothes shoved in your closets and drawers, it's overwhelming for the brain and totally gives me anxiety and analysis paralysis when I go to get dressed. 

3. MONEY - it's more cost effective to have less items that are high quality and more likely to be worn again and again. As a yoga teacher and someone who loves to workout, I wear and buy a lot of yoga clothes. I'm in the influencer program for Vuori, my favorite athletic wear brand, so I get discounts and deals on their clothes, which saves me money while promoting their brand. 

I work in the tech industry and people LOVE to talk about how Steve Jobs wore the exact same black turtle neck and jeans every single day to cut down on more decisions he had to make. Well, I personally  love deciding what I'm going to wear everyday. Fashion gives me an opportunity to express myself each and everyday. There's no shame in having a uniform if that makes your day better, just as there is no shame in wearing hot pink lipstick and high heels to the office if that gives you confidence. 

Do you have a shopping interest? ;)

xoxo

maddymo

Currently Reading:

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Revised and Updated Third Edition: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late

Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes

Own It: The Power of Women at Work