Budget Cuts

(Photo: Alamy - Guardian UK article)


I am contemplating making an announcement to my hot local barista guy…maybe a press release. Something like this:

Due to budgetary cutbacks, I am being forced to amalgamate several departments in my life. After internal discussions you have been selected for multiple roles in the reshuffle. New responsibilities include being my lover, as well as retaining your current role as the local hot barista guy. Here’s my Discussion Paper where I have examined the potential issues that may arise. It will be open for comment until 26 May. Please make your submissions via phone call…here’s my number…a meeting will take place at [name of sexy restaurant] to resolve any differences. I look forward to your cooperation in this matter.

Reply ↓

On "downsizing wardrobes".

In spite of a self-imposed shopping moratorium (sharpened by constrained storage space and a severely limited budget) and reading much self-congratulatory blogging around "DECLUTTER YOUR WARDROBE NOW AND REAP THE BENEFITS, YOU FILTHY HOARDING SPACE-HOG", I still have a lot of clothes, shoes and accessories.  I instantly dismiss the people who write 'oh, well, it's easy, you just throw out anything you haven't worn for a year / 6months / since last winter / 3 weeks ago.'  I mean, do these people not purchase anything of VALUE? Vintage clothes? Things inherited from beloved stylish grandparent? The dress-that-never-goes-out-of-style and that makes them look like a coquettish vixen when they've got back into their fitness program? Sigh.  So, in the absence of any advice that appears to be from anyone who knows about Proper Clothes or Fun, I ignored their tedious, insensitive words, and just kept almost everything.

For the record, I kept it all because:
(1) I rarely spend money on clothes lightly, it has to be beautiful or workable in some way first for me to be interested.

(2) I detest supporting that short-turnaround fashion cycle which creates huge, disgusting amounts of waste in the textile industry and perpetuates sweat-shop labour

(3) A lot of this is vintage clothing or good quality items which I bought on sale - and could not have afforded otherwise.

Then in another well-meaning foray into the world of Wardobe Downsizing, I discovered a kindred spirit when I came across this comment on a blog called Small Notebook:

I used to be a personal stylist and I LOVE clothes. I have been the same size since high school (I haven’t had kids and likely will not have them in the future) so that does help. however, I own a ton of clothes. As in, soooo many but I realized that they make me happy! Not in an eternal way (Jesus does that), but they are fun for me. I used to feel guilty about them but then I realized that people who own a huge personal library don’t feel guilty for owning so many books, or someone with an art collection doesn’t feel guilty buying another painting, and my grandma who grows a bazillion varieties of dahlias every year doesn’t feel guilty for owning more varieties than she “needs” so why should I feel guilty? Everything I have I love and I agree fit is the MOST IMPORTANT part. So, my take on wardrobe is different, but works for me. (Anna)

THIS is what I am talking about. It's OK to collect books...art...music...tribal totems...tattoos...broken hearts...but not excellent clothes? Sez who?

Then the pendulum swings the other way and I think, My God, what if I were one of those people who was happy with an all-black wardrobe of eight items (or whatever)? One flat shoes and one high heels, one skirt, one opera trousers (as I call them), one jeans? One cashmere cardigan, one winter coat, one multi-fit dress, like this one that I still have a crush on? I think I secretly want to be minimalist but the textiles and colour fiend in me makes me rebel instantly.

As I am at art school now, rather than in a conservative corporate environment, the options for dressing more outrageously for the day have multiplied. (However men in an engineering office are hotter, plus, I mean, there are actually men there, unlike art school: almost all women.) But at the same time, it takes longer to choose an outfit. [This belt? Or this one? Which coat? I'm just not feeling the  whole sunshine yellow thing after all today....maybe green dress with tribal thing? Cripes, not with that ass. Or the vintage Harry Who skirt? Oh fuq it, where are my jeans, I am going to be late. NO! you are not wearing jeans! Wear the thing with that other thing and the pink socks, bring this jumper, and slap anyone who laughs. And next time, choose your clothes the night before, like you used to when you were organised, remember that time?].

And going through a Fat Phase - although now on a moderate fitness thing - some of my clothes just take one look at me and start laughing helplessly. It's the size range that gets me. I swing across about 3 clothes sizes in the space of two years. Fit, unfit, fit, unfit, heartbreak, thin, etc. Ugh.  

the only things that I truly can be OK about donating to charity are clothes that I have never, ever worn - for YEARS - and which are officially now and forever two sizes too small, and I know someone else will love them and give them a good home.

There's more, but that's for another update sometime..

Cloth and Buddhism

"...There are also several less-known forms of quilting that were traditionally done in Japan and that are associated with Buddhism.  Quilting was done to make the type of priest's surplice known as a funzoe (rag patchwork) that was layered and quilted. The funzoe was thought to embody important Buddhist teachings.  It was made from scraps of old clothes donated by parishioners.  The monks would gather the rags, wash and cut them, then layer the pieces and put in beautiful stitchwork over the entire surface. The surplice was worn hanging diagonally from the shoulder, over a monk's robe, and it had two religious meanings. First, retrieving the rags from the dustbin and allowing them to end up in a place of honour signified that the cloth itself had attained Buddahood. Second, the practice suggested the interconnectedness of all human beings. "

Yoshiko Jinzenji, 2002, Quilt Artistry - Inspired designs from the East. Kodansha International Ltd, Japan. Page 32