“I have a chronic bank-account-degenerating condition characterized by a nagging, insatiable need for new stuff. Even with a closet full of brand new clothes, I often find myself standing in my closet with that all too familiar feeling of having nothing to wear. I think to myself, “if I just had [insert item of the moment] my closet would finally be complete and I’d never need to shop again.” But shortly after splurging on that missing piece, I discover another “must-have” and the inner-monologue-and-subsequent-retail-binge cycle starts all over again. Why do I remix? To prove to myself — and others with similar too-much-is-never-enough infirmities — that having great style doesn’t require a wardrobe stocked to the gills with brand new items… To learn to put down my credit card and reprogram my out-of-control shopping habits… To stop identifying my style by the number of times I repeat an outfit… And most important (this is where remixing gets deep): to take time out to appreciate the abundance in my life… both in my closet and beyond its doors.”
If you haven’t already, find Keira at A Pretty Penny and follow along in her style adventures.
29 Responses
Great reasons, Keira! And well stated.
Kendi – I love that you're doing these features. It's such an awesome complement to what the 30 for 30 really is.
Um yeah, how AMAZING is this?! IT's sooooooo well written, I'm in awe. I laughed, I cried (well.. not really), but most importantly, I RELATED. Thanks Keira.
And thanks Kendi for posting this.
A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984
Very inspiring comments! I love Keira's style and thanks so much for featuring her!
cuteandlittle.com
Me too Keira! I see new things all the time (mainly at Anthro) that I immediately think I must have. It's been fun pulling out older items to mix with newer ones. This is already teaching me to pause when eyeing up new things and ask myself do I really need this? (when it goes on sale, not during the challenge!)
Beautiful words and beautiful sentiment.
She makes a great point!
Great point and I agree! 🙂
commonsenseandstilettos.blogspot.com
i, too, have learned so much from the challenge. thanks for featuring keira!
dear pretty penny
i had never heard of your blog until now. and i already decided that i love you. we have the same brain when it comes to clothes, shopping, and standing in front of a chock full closet and still needing that other "must-have." it's a sickness.
your sister in the trenches,
keogan
This is great!! I'm starting to learn that too. You can mix and match things you already have in your closet instead of spending tons of money!
Well written! I love Keira! She's so adorable!
This was well written. I totally relate. It's frustrating to think you have "nothing" to wear, but to know at the same time that is total nonsense. People who live on dirt floors with two articles of clothing to their name are in the real crisis. Props to Keira for recognizing there is more to life than what's in your closet!
I love that you post people's views and excitement about your 30 for 30 challenge! It must be so fun to see the effect your challenge is having on other bloggers!
I write a blog for recent college graduates with my good friend (www.therealpostgrad.com) and your remix idea would have been an awesome idea for us to cover!
Our posts sort of detail us trying to navigate life after graduation and utilizing what's already in your closet is such an important thing for post grads just starting out!
Hope to catch the next remix cycle!
I seriously think the SAME exact thing every time I want something new. Like this week, Im pretty sure I need NEW brown boots. If I just had these new ones ALL Of my outfits would look better.
I need to work on this. I should be remixing!
http://www.thatssomichelle.blogspot.com
I just found your blog (via What I Wore) and I LOVE it! It looks like we shop at alot of the same places, so I am loving the ideas to rework things I already own! Also, not to be a creeper, but how tall are you? Thanks for having such a fun blog!
Ahhh She and I are on the same brainwave this week 🙂
I just blogged yesterday about my 13 for 30 and how it makes me realize im a spoiled brat! its such a small chunk of my wardrobe yet i still feel like i need so much more. It's a horrible disease I tell ya!
We really need to sit back, evaluate our lives (and posessions) and realize how friggin lucky we are.
p.s. CONGRATS on being blogger of the moment and modcloth, couldn't go to a more genuine and hilarious blogger!
I love the witty charm you articulated in this post! I "remix" too–and with a closet stuffed full of J. Crew–my outfits are always slammin'! However–I can't seem to not con't to shop! Somebody smack me!
Keira, what an amazing post. I feel like this is a great companion piece to your other insightful post about continuous shopping and debt.
Kendi,these features are great. It's wonderful to see different bloggers exemplify remixing.
OH Keira
I think we suffer from the same disease. Too bad there is no vaccine for it.
Look your outlook and share your philosophy. Goal this holiday is to re-mix all holiday wear already in my closet. NO NEW HOLIDAY CLOTHES!
I love Keira`s blog! It doesn`t hurt that she`s beautiful and looks good in everything, but most of all, she`s very smart.
Another awesome feature. I love hear about why other bloggers remix.
Kendra
http://closetconfections.com
I love the boots.
Also I wanted to tell you that you look amazing. You are very beautiful!
This was great! I love this 🙂
I know I also have an overabundance of clothes 🙂 I didn't take the 30 for 30 challenge, found out about it too late. I've had interest though, to do it on my own.
This post made me think of my own experience. In 2006 I had the chance to go to Thailand with Christian Freedom International. I taught Art and ESL at a boarding school with 31 students ages 11-17. You think "boarding school" snobby rich kids in Europe (ok I'm stereotyping;) but these kids were like refugees,"IDP's" Internally Displaced People. They were poor. They had been hand picked out of 5 refugee camps in Thailand to attend this school.
I had some extra money so I asked the cook, NaNa if there was anything that they all needed. I came away with a list. I found out each of the kids only owned 2 pair of underwear. They would wear one and wash the other.
Ok it's only underwear, but it made an IMPRESSION on me. I was able to go and buy maybe 2 more for each of the kids and even for the staff.
We are soo blessed. We live in ABUNDANCE compared to most of the world. I've thanked God multitudes of times since then for the clothes that I have.
ok, this is kinda long. Your post just reminded me of that. 🙂
Great reasons.
http://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/
wow I love it!!!! I didn't get start the 30 in 30 with you because I didn't find out about it till too late but I'm doing my own starting this week and I'm excited about it. These features are inspiring me more to do it.
edible-sound.blogpsot.com
Can we all just give Keira a round of applause for being adorable and sensible? Thank you for writing such a beautiful and poignant post.
*standing ovation*
Hey! Just stumbled upon your blog today and I love it! Especially because I am going through a similar remixing challenge for myself, and for very similar reasons. It's nice to know there are other people who think the same way and it's great to be inspired by other people's remixes. Thanks! x