I will keep the links on the side bar of this blog up-dated with others who are also trying to stop shopping, particularly for clothes this year. As I stated in my first blog, I am not unique in this resolution, and now I shall prove it!
These web-links are also my excuse to post something, as I have not had any time this year to go thrift-shopping. To be honest, I'm beginning to feel bored with this blog, so hopefully I can find some inspiration in other's writings.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
holy clothes!
When I embarked on this mission, blogging my year of strict second-hand shopping, I had organized my future posts into two categories: thrift stores and consumerism. Only seven days into my 365-day goal, a third theme has surprised me: spirituality. This probably does not surprise those who know me well, but in my effort to take myself less seriously in this blog, I never intended on preaching a sermon. Nonetheless, a new perspective on shopping has inspired me to re-evaluate my faith.
To be perfectly honest, I cannot remember the last time I opened my Bible on my own. When I came across Colossians 3:12-17 out of context, I felt like reading more into it actually opening my Bible.
The chapter, 3:1-10, begins by talking about holy living, dying to old habits, and making new ones - even Paul believed that old habits were easier to break when replaced by positive actions. My tangible understanding of this is the replacement of first-hand with that of second-hand shopping. Verses 12-17 talk about putting on love and clothing one's self with compassion - now that's a priceless outfit! This may sound trite, but the references made to this "holy clothing" bridged my fashion blogging to my spiritual searching.
These clothes of compassion and love, however, do not fit without the preceding one-size-fits-all statement in verse 11. Paul states that all people, regardless of their race or social status, are equal in this compassion of Christ. I translated this verse differently as I read it, but the meaning does not change too radically:
Here there is no gay or straight, man or woman, atheist, religious, affluent or homeless, but Christ is all and is in all.
Rather than merely accepting or tolerating those who don't fit the "Christian" mold set out by fundamentalists, we, who claim to be spiritual, must actively love the "others" of society, until the "other" turns into "each other." This scripture suggests that rather than converting and forcing others to fit into what we perceive of as "holy clothing," we should recognize the sacredness in every person. In doing so, I find that it is myself struggling into these clothes of love, growing into them slowly, and occasionally, needing to sacrifice a few pounds.
To be perfectly honest, I cannot remember the last time I opened my Bible on my own. When I came across Colossians 3:12-17 out of context, I felt like reading more into it actually opening my Bible.
The chapter, 3:1-10, begins by talking about holy living, dying to old habits, and making new ones - even Paul believed that old habits were easier to break when replaced by positive actions. My tangible understanding of this is the replacement of first-hand with that of second-hand shopping. Verses 12-17 talk about putting on love and clothing one's self with compassion - now that's a priceless outfit! This may sound trite, but the references made to this "holy clothing" bridged my fashion blogging to my spiritual searching.
These clothes of compassion and love, however, do not fit without the preceding one-size-fits-all statement in verse 11. Paul states that all people, regardless of their race or social status, are equal in this compassion of Christ. I translated this verse differently as I read it, but the meaning does not change too radically:
Here there is no gay or straight, man or woman, atheist, religious, affluent or homeless, but Christ is all and is in all.
Rather than merely accepting or tolerating those who don't fit the "Christian" mold set out by fundamentalists, we, who claim to be spiritual, must actively love the "others" of society, until the "other" turns into "each other." This scripture suggests that rather than converting and forcing others to fit into what we perceive of as "holy clothing," we should recognize the sacredness in every person. In doing so, I find that it is myself struggling into these clothes of love, growing into them slowly, and occasionally, needing to sacrifice a few pounds.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
"green" clothes
Ads promoting "green" items inevitably appear everywhere I look: Facebook, You Tube, Billboards, radio commercials, you name it. Who isn't bombarded with it every day? While this heightened awareness of the earth is wonderfully progressive, and long over-due, I find myself feeling emotionally divided by some "green" ads. My empathetic side rejoices over the new earth-friendly alternatives, while my cynical side questions the hype and high price of "saving the earth."
So, when I read "A World Consumed by Guilt" in the NY Times, something resonated with me. This article discusses the irony of hemp bluejeans and soy underwear, which cost more money to buy and involve almost as much chemical processing as standard clothes. It's great that we can recycle objects, but we often forget how much processing goes into the recycling, depending on how far the original item is altered to create something new. Moreover, the hype surrounding "green" shopping has become so fashionable that to shop "green" is becoming a status symbol, in its own way. Only some can afford to buy all organically grown specialty foods and items, and those left shopping for non-recycled bargains are made to feel guilty by the media.
This article highlights the pros, cons, and ironies behind "green" fashion, concluding that the only truly green wardrobe is the one from your own closet, however, that may be so unfashionable as "not to be seen in public," (see slide 9 of the slide show). While this is a bit tongue-and-cheek, most of us know that what we already own is quite adequate for work, school, or going out.
Check out the article and the slide show:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/fashion/13green.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/13/fashion/20071213_GREEN_SLIDESHOW_index.html
I'll keep the blog updated with some fun thrift stores I find around Milwaukee, plus the chic fashions I find for those who are not content with their own closets! It's January 5th and so far I've avoided all the after Christmas sales with no remorse. Only 360 more days to go!
So, when I read "A World Consumed by Guilt" in the NY Times, something resonated with me. This article discusses the irony of hemp bluejeans and soy underwear, which cost more money to buy and involve almost as much chemical processing as standard clothes. It's great that we can recycle objects, but we often forget how much processing goes into the recycling, depending on how far the original item is altered to create something new. Moreover, the hype surrounding "green" shopping has become so fashionable that to shop "green" is becoming a status symbol, in its own way. Only some can afford to buy all organically grown specialty foods and items, and those left shopping for non-recycled bargains are made to feel guilty by the media.
This article highlights the pros, cons, and ironies behind "green" fashion, concluding that the only truly green wardrobe is the one from your own closet, however, that may be so unfashionable as "not to be seen in public," (see slide 9 of the slide show). While this is a bit tongue-and-cheek, most of us know that what we already own is quite adequate for work, school, or going out.
Check out the article and the slide show:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/fashion/13green.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/13/fashion/20071213_GREEN_SLIDESHOW_index.html
I'll keep the blog updated with some fun thrift stores I find around Milwaukee, plus the chic fashions I find for those who are not content with their own closets! It's January 5th and so far I've avoided all the after Christmas sales with no remorse. Only 360 more days to go!
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