Join The Great American Apparel Diet to clear your closet.
Image Courtesy of The Great American Apparel Diet
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If you're like most people, then January 1 seems like the perfect day to start a diet—whether you're cutting back on calories, junk food, wasteful spending, or even stress. But for a Sally Bjornsen and a group of her friends, the restrictions started in September when they began what they call The Great American Apparel Diet.
The challenge? To abstain from buying new clothing until September 1, 2010. The difficulty? As they say on their site, "You see, like most women we are attached to our wardrobes in some form or another. In fact, buying a new something-or-other is as natural as a dark chocolate pick-me-up." But together, the 39 women who contribute to the Great American Apparel Diet blog are giving up pants, tops, skirts, blouses, and other clothes that they pay for themselves; gifts, shoes, accessories, and underwear are all allowed, though some of the bloggers have chosen to give up shoes and jewelry, too.
While the women talk about their daily obstacles—like finding the perfect pair of jeans, giving up an on-sale coat they've always wanted, and rescuing a set of good-condition pajamas from a roommate's giveaway bag—they're also offering advice on spending less (which means, in this case, decreasing your carbon footprint), choosing sustainable fabrics, and the importance of knowing where (and how) your clothes are made; all of which should make those of us not on the diet think twice about what we're putting in our closets.
So whether your resolution this year is to save money, get organized, or get fit, see how cutting back on shopping can help you get there—and if you're not up to the task yourself, then follow the women on their own journeys to rid themselves of the excess baggage that goes along with impulsive and emotional spending.
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