Getting and Spending: "When do we stop accumulating?"
I had dinner recently with my perceptive and expressive friend Jude, who interrupted an intense discussion of jewellery renos to ask this question. We were in a raucous trattoria; it hung in the air like the steam from her espresso. We stop when we stop is the facile answer—but what calls a woman to action? Reasons include: 1. Exhaustion: The chaos of bins, boxes, exploding drawers. Oh look, a top you forgot you bought. 2. Ennui: We are bored by coastal quietude; the edgy looks overwrought; the trends, silly. We care, but are not ruled by fashion''s shifting weather. (See my post on " Image Interest ".) 3. Ecology: We decide to buy less for the planet's sake, often in concert with choosing responsible brands, and to "Rewear, Repair, Restore". (See " How to Sustainably Shop for Your Clothes ". ) 4. Energy: Our effort or income is required elsewhere. "A sample sale was once a thrilling event", said Jude, "but I no longer want to...
