This Fashion Writer Swears To Not Buy New Clothes In Jan, 2025. Cool?

Why? Good question. To cut down on the blizzardous money spending habits of mine? Maybe. Could be to save the environment. Perhaps I’m trying to make my parents proud. And to write a fun, fun article. Yes to all of these. But mostly because I negligently spent three times my self-imposed monthly budget, just in the month of December.

Can you really stay away from buying clothes?

Mind you, this shopping ban is no groundbreaking imposition that’ll prove detrimental in the life of a Gen Z mortal working at a fashion magazine. Despite what pop-culture may lead you to believe. The mass spending is mostly a result of incessant food deliveries to counter long and drab work days. Fashion, not so much. I shop occasionally. On the street, in the mall, a sporadic browse on apps once in a few weeks, yes, mostly that. So why this, you may ask.

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I think the time is ripe to come clean about my jhumka buying addiction that finds solace in every single hawker that enters my Mumbai local, while doing the to and fro combo for work everyday. The crux of the problem lies in my impulse patterns, often ruled by micro aggressors and stress, which ultimately is why I resort to unneeded buys. I’ve been thinking of this the past week and thought it to be indicative of a larger complication that my proposed solution aims to tackle.

How am I leveling the playing field? Step 1: I’ve already deleted all shopping apps on the phone. Step 2: Will do my best to avoid setting foot in grand shopping complexes, much to the dismay of my boyfriend who surely will demand a trip to replenish his sartorial stock. I’ll just wear an eye-mask, what say girls? Step 3: I will peruse through every single earring on sale by the hawker – only to actively talk myself out of the seduction of oxidised silver. Maybe I’ll treat myself to an ice-cream or establish a reward system to keep me motivated. Phew, it’s hard being a girl!

Then comes a big challenge. The Coldplay concert. Yes, I have the tickets and no I’m not showing off. 26 Jan, Ahmedabad, standing. Okay, slightly showing off. Now this is what one may call ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’ It’s imperative I look the part. Dress the part. I’ve been planning my outfit since the day I was forwarded the screenshot that solidified my presence at only the biggest concert of the biggest band in the world. But in the wake of this challenge, how do I make do with things I already own? You see this guys? This conundrum – this is what I’m talking about. I own ample clothes, receive fairly decent PR packages all thanks to my profession and possess a sound fashion sense to mix and match items. So why is my first reaction always directed towards a shopping trip? Thank you consumerism, you have me in crutches.

And if in case you wish to keep up with my progress, stay tuned. Becasue there’ll be a follow-up piece in February. How will I fare? God knows. 

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