CHALLENGE: Mastering the ‘Shopper’s Diet’
Does a love for fashion correlate with irresponsibility? Is it necessary for publications to rejoice over pre-recession shopping behavior now the economy’s finally beginning to crawl out of its crater? According to a New York Times article, consumers in various parts of the world have reacted to these problems with their wallets and their style-minded conscious with what’s called a “Shopper’s Diet.”
In this interesting self-help practice, participants narrow down their wardrobe to six articles of clothing and wear the chosen pieces for a whole month. That’s right, six pieces for one month. The guiding principle behind this challenge is to show clothing consumers that, using the article’s example, the several black blazers in one’s closet could simply count as one item.
Comments from the participants who tried out the experiment varied. One complained of mood swings and losing a desire “to get up in the morning.” Another saw the light, or lack thereof, and declared, “That’s it, I’m going to wear only black from now on.”
Now, we at Styleite enjoy a challenge. It’s what makes us stronger, wiser, and — after this experiment — better stylists. So I have volunteered myself as a lab rat of this “Shopper’s Diet,” cutting down my wardrobe for the last week of July down to six pieces, obliging by the same rules, except that my diet will be a crash one.
Picking the six pieces is the biggest hurdle to overcome, because you don’t want observers to suspect outfit repeats. So for those planning on taking the first step, here are some pointers on picking the essential six pieces.
Know what’s essential to a wardrobe: Let’s break this down. The six pieces must consist of a wardrobe’s universal staples: t-shirt, tank top, pants of some sort, blazer, button-up shirt, skirt — you get my drift.
Pick essentials that are versatile: This is particularly important for those taking the extra mile and going on a 31-day shopper’s diet. After some time lapses, that tank top is going to bore you when you look in the mirror. Opt for a long tank top so it could operate as a shirt in one day and a dress in the next. And speaking of day-to-night versatility, pick something that could pass as night wear — like a dark pair of denim shorts.
Ditch the patterns, please: Wonder why that palm tree pattern from a tourist’s Hawaiian shirt won’t disappear from your mind? It’s because it’s so loud! Don’t torture your friends, your parents, and your co-workers with this foul play. If you just can’t live without some design details, stick to modest color block or strips.
Keep the colors simple: Please, you’re not going to fool anyone of your Shopper’s Diet if your outfit occasionally blinds like the sun – which means no neon or anything that looks like it’d come from some rainbow vomit. Be smart.
The weather is your best friend and your worst enemy: It’s summer. In New York City, that means that there will be the occasional downpour and frequent blasts of hell fire from the unforgiving sun. This is why throwing in some outerwear or the thickest pair of jeans you own is not an option.
However, accessories will always be your best friend: The loophole of the experiment, and a good moral to the story — In most cases, the accessories really do make the outfit, because you’d be surprised with what a change of shoes can do to a long tank dress. If you’re like me and wear only a watch and an arm band for accessories, this is a great time to step out of the box.
Most Popular Articles
Follow Us
Tips
Style Dish
Login
Style Sheets
Upload your own looks, shop your favorite brands, and see what other people are wearing!
RSS
