Naked, ahem, Gentleman Interview: Mike Schumaker

Here's our final interview for 2010 and proof that the $100 Wardrobe Challenge isn't just for chicas. Ladies and gents, presenting Mike Schumacher (@mikeschu), minimalist, vegetarian, and all around great guy:

What inspired you to take the $100 Wardrobe Challenge?

 I'm always up for some sort of challenge, and I needed to be stretched in the clothing department this time around. As a guy, I don't spend a lot time on clothes shopping, but I tend to spend big when I do.

What is your favorite clothing item right now? How many times per week do you wear it?

I have a grey wool cardigan that has been getting a lot of use as of late. I used to have three cardigans in the rotation, but I chose only one as the primary one. I wear it four or five times a week when the weather's cooler.

Has the Challenge influenced other parts of your life? If so, what parts?

The challenge has me thinking of other things to stop spending money on that I was used to doing. For instance, I used to spend a lot of money eating out and grabbing a cup of chai, but I don't nearly do it as often as I used to. The same goes for books; instead of dropping money at Borders I'm using the library more.

What did you discover about yourself in doing your closet purge?

Most of my clothing hasn't been fully purged yet. I also signed up for The 333 Project at the same time, where I can only wear 33 items of clothing for three months, exclusive of socks and underwear. The other clothing is boxed up and waiting for January 1st when I can look at it again. Once I do that, I can look at what I haven't used for the last three months and then see about donating what I really don't want to keep.

I do know that I am not wearing as many pairs of shoes as I used to. I went with three pairs of shoes during the challenge. I used to own about 15 pairs because I had two color sets to shop for (neutral colors and brown). If anything, I learned I can get away with much less clothing if I stick to one base color and work from there. [Editor's note: Umm, Mike, brown is a neutral!]

What is your shopping experience like now that you are doing the Challenge?

Most of my clothing choices are now limited to replacing what I own, when I need to. Years ago I used to hoard clothes because it was rare when they fit properly. I was never a big clothing shopper because I had found clothing to be very painful to buy. In fact, I hired a couple of consultants to help shop. It was a lot of money and ultimately worth it, but it didn't help with getting to a smaller wardrobe.

How much have you spent to date and on what?

 $20 on four pairs of socks. I don't think they should count, but technically they're clothing. Otherwise I haven't spent a dime.

Have you inspired anyone else to try the Challenge?

Only those who read my blog know I'm undertaking the challenge. I might have nudged Jen Patterson to do the challenge, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

 

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Hey Challengers!

It's More Than Just Clothes

For me, the $100 Wardrobe Challenge is a lesson in mindfulness. It's a touchpoint, a way for me to stay connected to what I need versus what I might want--the impulse to acquire is often intended to assuage boredom or other human afflictions that keep us from living the true expression of ourselves. Yes, lofty and philosophic, I know, but this is about more than clothes. It's about understanding the face, the mask, we don as we move through the world in an attempt to show people who we are or want to be. It's about letting go of the clutter, the extraneous stuff that keeps us in a place of managing our crap, rather than living with enough so we can get out in the world, build relationships, and have amazing experiences. After all, relationships and experiences are what make us human, not madras plaid shirts and skinny jeans. 

Naked Lady Interview: Jessie Chatigny

Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce the lovely Jessie Chatigny:

kick-ass writer, right-hand woman (to the left-handed yours truly), new momma, and $100 Wardrobe Challenger. In our 4th interview with the bevy of beautiful Challengers, here's what Jessie had to say:

What inspired you to take the $100 Wardrobe Challenge?

I have always been a clotheshorse. Love them, but hate shopping because I'm cheap. The result is a lot of clothing I feel "meh" about: hand-me-downs and good deals that threaten to overrun my closet! I love cleaning it out, so the Challenge appealed to me as a solid way to get a deep clean. Like a microdermabrasion for my wardrobe.

What is your favorite clothing item right now? How many times per week do you wear it?

A "New" French Connection dress from Buffalo Exchange: winter white, three-quarter sleeves, cute with or without tights, means it's good for all seasons (at least in San Diego) and old pencil cord crops from Banana Republic.

Really, I've recommitted myself to dresses. I have a seven-month-old son and have found myself short on time to think about putting together something. Also, a dress doesn't demand an exact size like, say, a pair of skinny jeans do. As a good friend said, "a waist is a terrible thing to mind." Dresses are the one-piece answer to looking pulled together.

Has the Challenge influenced other parts of your life? If so, what parts?

I love not being in the consumer mindset. Oddly, I've been better able to rustle up passable meals in a pinch from what I've got in the pantry already. I also, as a super avid reader, purged my book collection. If I will not read the book at least two more times I pass it along to a happy fellow reader.

What did you discover about yourself in doing your closet purge?

So many things. First, I keep sentimental clothing. Basically, if I like you and you once gave me a horrible sweater that makes me look fat, I have it still (or at least I did pre-purge). As I threw out each sentimental-only item, it helped to remind myself that these people are so lovely, that they wouldn't want me to keep something I don't like at all. Also, I justify having drawer full of sweats and oversize Ts because I work in the fitness industry. I always need clothes to work out in, right? Well yes, but turns out I never want to look like a schlumpy slob when I work out and only wear cute-ish workout wear.

What is your shopping experience like now that you are doing the Challenge?

Basically, I haven't been. And it's really nice. After cleaning my closet, I was able to identify areas in which my wardrobe was lacking (a basic sweater without holes in the elbows, for example), and I'll keep my eyes open for those items.

How much have you spent to date and on what?

Since July:

$5: dress at Target

$20: dress at Buffalo Exchange

$14: shorts and shirt at lululemon (with a $20 gift card--does that count?)

$40: sweater at Banana Republic

So, $79 so far. With the last bit, I think I'd like to pick up a pair of yarn tights: I've been wanting a pair for a couple of winters and have settled a couple of times for things that are close but not quite.

Also, when I've purchased an item, I cycle out four more. Preferably, of the same ilk.

Have you inspired anyone else to try the Challenge?

Unfortunately, no.

Any other comments?

I like how this challenge is just long enough to create a new behavior pattern. Like a drunk going teetotal.

Also, even though my son is only a pipsqueak, he has far too many clothes especially for living in a climate that is diapers-only for about five months a year. Just because people gave me wonderful hand-me-downs, doesn't mean I keep them all. If I don't like it enough to actually have bought it, I send it back out.

I'm keeping a Trader Joe's bag tucked in my closet to capture items cycling out.

Naked Lady Interview: Peggy Gartin

Today we present interview #3, the lovely Miss Peggy Gartin, gorgeous gal and major Challenge champion (connect with Peggy: @thepegisin on Twitter or at her website, The Peg is In):

(Peggy is modeling the white sleeveless blouse she mentions below and the shoes she bought. The Dooney & Burke purse cost me nothing…it was a hand-me-down from my stepmother!)

What inspired you to take the $100 Wardrobe Challenge?

When I read about the Challenge, I recognized it was talking about me. I was only wearing a small percentage of the clothes in my closet, and those pieces weren’t getting treated very well. Everything I’d bought was a good guess at what I’d wear, but only a few things were actual hits. Hanging onto everything meant the closet was so stuffed; I couldn’t see what I had. I couldn’t even get in the closet!

It was time to admit my mistakes and set the unused clothes free for someone else to enjoy. The $100 Wardrobe Challenge was a good way to give my most wearable clothes some hanging room and turn my closet from a disaster area into a usable space.

What is your favorite clothing item right now? How many times per week do you wear it?

I found a white sleeveless blouse from H&M that I hadn’t worn at all—I’d forgotten I had it! It fits so well, it’s like it was tailored for me, and it goes with everything. Wore it to a job interview, so you KNOW I like it! I wear it once or twice a week now.

Has the Challenge influenced other parts of your life? If so, what parts?

The Challenge really just asks you to analyze what you’re doing, and put the good stuff first. Prioritize correctly, and put things where they belong, not just where it’s most convenient at the moment. I love waffles, but I only make them a few times a year, so why is my waffle iron on the counter every day? I moved that and other stuff I don’t need daily into my pantry, which makes more sense, and now my kitchen counters are less cluttered. It’s more inviting to cook.

What did you discover about yourself in doing your closet purge?

I always thought I was just chronically untidy when it came to my clothes. I used to take off my clothes at the end of the day and just throw them on the floor of my closet. That would build up until laundry day, when I would haul the mess out, divide it, and wash it. I think I did this because the closet was just overstuffed and I couldn’t face it, so I didn’t fix it.

Since I did the purge, however, I like the idea of walking in my walk-in closet. I take steps to keep it neat. At the end of the day, dirty clothes go in the hamper, and reasonably clean clothes get hung up. The only things on the closet floor are my shoes, which is as it should be. I’ve kept this up for a record 2 months now. My mother won’t believe it when she sees it! She’ll think that very neat aliens kidnapped me.

What is your shopping experience like now that you are doing the Challenge?

I passed up buying things I would never pass up before…like $5 tank tops in a bunch of colors. Before the challenge, I would have brought home 6 of those. They’re $5 each, for God’s sake! But that’s $30 plus tax, or one-third my Challenge budget. And it’s not summer. And if they don’t fit well or go with what I have, it’s all a waste. I don’t feel deprived, I feel in control of my spending!                  

How much have you spent to date and on what?

I spent $22.10 on a pair of PF Flyers sneakers at Nordstrom Rack that I simply couldn’t pass up. That’s it! They are khaki-colored with khaki laces and white soles, and I didn’t have anything like them already. They also fit in with my strategy of using the J. Crew catalog as a “look book” for putting together outfits—they look like the sneakers J. Crew sells, but cost a lot less. I agonized over buying them, but it was a good buy and I wear them a lot.

If you picked up stuff at the Naked Lady Party (NLP), did you go home and remove the same amount of stuff per the Challenge?

I missed the Naked Lady Party, and I hugely regret it. I actually reserved two bags of clothes from my purge to bring for swapping. Word to the wise: Go to the Naked Lady Party, no excuses! [Editor’s note: Don’t worry, Peggy, more Naked Lady Parties are in the works!]

Any other comments about the Challenge?

Thank you, Sophia and Shanna, for this challenge! It really has been a good exercise for me in prioritizing, focusing, and spending my time and resources wisely. As a jobseeker, this is more important to me now than ever!

Naked Lady Interview: Stacey Ross

This is interview #2 in a series of interviews with $100 Wardrobe Challengers. Ladies and gents, please welcome the fab Stacey Ross of San Diego Bargain Mama (http://sandiegobargainmama.com/) Stacey can be found on Twitter at @sdbargainmama.

What inspired you to take the $100 Wardrobe Challenge? 

As a family, we are doing all we can to watch our unnecessary spending. The cost for our kids' team sports and music classes seriously add up, so to make up for that chunk of cash I decided to not buy anything wardrobe-wise for four months unless it totaled less than $25 total.

What is your favorite clothing item right now? How many times per week do you wear it? 

I wear blue jeans two times a week (usually switch between two pairs).

Has the Challenge influenced other parts of your life? If so, what parts?

My family also went on the Challenge!

What did you discover about yourself in doing your closet purge?

I discovered that I don't wear 90% of my clothes, and also rediscovered that a good part of my wardrobe is from other swaps that I have done. And honestly, I have a lot of high-end clothing that I would have never bought for myself that friends just decided to not keep anymore and give to me. I have been trading with girlfriends since I was little!

What is your shopping experience like now that you are doing the Challenge?

Shopping? Grocery shopping is about it. I stay out of the stores almost completely, now. I want a pair of boots, though!

How much have you spent to date? On what? 

$12 on three tank tops, $5 on designer jeans, and $2 on an embroidered shirt.

If you picked up stuff at the Naked Lady Party (NLP), did you go home and remove the same amount of stuff - as challenged?

I came home and removed a ton more, BUT I must add that all of my items are in two large tubs awaiting my neighborhood NLP!

Any other comments? 

I highly recommend that everyone has a NLP and evaluates his or her spending and, one, is it a smart purchase? Two, is there a way you could be saving money and still get it (wait for a sale, get coupon, etc.)? And three, where else could that money be better spent?

 

Naked Lady Interview: Jennifer Patterson

This is the first in a series of interviews with $100 Wardrobe Challengers. Ladies and gents, presenting the lovely Ms. Jennifer Patterson (known as @saucy_minx on Twitter):

1) What inspired you to take the $100 Wardrobe Challenge?

When I read about the $100WC online, and listened to Shanna's interview with Kay Ballard, a lot of her points resonated with me. But the clincher was the observation that most people don't wear the majority of clothes in their closet. I was all too familiar with the phenomenon of staring at my closet in the morning and thinking, "no, no, no." I had mock-wailed to my friends, "I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear!!" I knew it was ridiculous, but I didn't know what to do about it, save spending a lot of money. Then when Shanna asked, "what if you opened your closet and had only to choose from clothes you love, that love you?" The idea was shocking... and enticing.

2) What is your favorite clothing item right now? How many times per week do you wear it?

My favorite item right now would probably my black cigarette pants. I wear them once a week or less, but I could wear them more because they're so versatile. I bought them as traditional black capris and had the sides taken in, plus a notch added to the bottoms, for a retro look ala Audrey Hepburn. I was giving a Rat Pack-themed surprise birthday party for my boyfriend and needed to look the part, so I splurged... but it was an excellent splurge that has given me several great outfits long after the party. I love the '40s and all things retro, and dressing that way helps me accentuate my figure, express my style, stand out, and just plain have fun.

3) Has the Challenge influenced other parts of your life? If so, what parts?

YES. The Challenge has made me more aware of clutter in general. It's made me reevaluate the value of things I've been hanging onto for years. I'm starting to realize the psychological weight of all that's stuffed away in closets and storage bins, how I will get frustrated at the thought of digging through this to get to that, and give up before I started. A lot of what I own feels temporal and disposable. I expect to be making a few Goodwill donations before the end of the year.

4) What did you discover about yourself in doing your closet purge?

I discovered that I still had some clothes I hadn't worn in years - clothes that are beyond fashionable now, and let's face it, probably weren't even fashionable when I bought them. I also had clothes that were too big for me, a few that were too small, and some that were just plain redundant (three black 3/4-sleeve shirts, really?). I had been spending a lot of time skimming over those things every morning - pointless. For the most part, I knew exactly what had to go. A few items, like those still with tags, were harder to part with. Sometimes it takes one or two purges for me to be ready to let a piece go.

5) What is your shopping experience like now that you are doing the Challenge? 

Well... I do still feel the urge to shop! Some special occasions (or not-so-special, like a change in season) feel like the perfect excuse to stock up on new outfits. But I have been resisting... basically, my shopping experience is easier and less frequent. I buy what I need: groceries, office supplies. I'm no longer spending hours combing through clothing racks for anything random that catches my eye. I might spend an afternoon thrift store perusing or using up my store credit at Buffalo Exchange one of these days, but so far I haven't

6) How much have you spent to date and on what?  

In the first week of the Challenge, when I was still waffling as to whether or not I was going to join, I spent $30 on a skirt at Loehmann's. I had gone in looking for back heels. Typical!

7) If you picked up stuff at the Naked Lady Party (NLP), did you go home and remove the same amount of stuff - as challenged?

I didn't count, but I'm sure I did. I have been clearing out my closet in stages, with more still to go. I also ended up realizing I didn't completely love everything I took from the Naked Lady Party; some I had taken at the encouragement of others and because it was free. Those items went straight back into the donation bin!

8) Any other comments?

This Challenge has been great for making me aware of my habits and given me the tools to objectively evaluate them. I'm sure I will be more mindful of my clothing purchases going forward :)

Jen comments on her fave frugal outfit of the moment (pictured above):

This is a favorite frugal outfit because I put it together with the help of a scarf. I got this lovely scarf from the lovely Shanna at the NLP, and when I got home, I thought it would like nice with my purple shirt. Then I realized I had recently bought a purple-and-lime green bracelet on a whim. And then I remembered those green heels I never wear! It was fun to realize I had all these pieces that could coordinate in a new way.

 

 

hey $100 Wardrobe Challengers! -->>would you be willing to make the 5 ingredients pledge?