12 Months Without Clothes Shopping Australian Shopaholic Attempts The Shopping Equivalent of Kilimanjaro
One in 12 women are addicted to shopping. We'll never know for sure how accurate that is, but even if that's vaguely close to the truth, it's a frightening statistic. Cable TV even has a show called Shopping Is My Life. One shopaholic, Jill Chivers, is nearing the end of a world class challenge - to "shop her wardrobe" and not go clothes shopping for one year.
15 December 2009 - Australian entrepreneur Jill Chivers officially starts the challenge of no clothing shopping for one year. For a woman who has a converted bedroom as her walk-in robe and freely admits to being a recovering shopaholic, this is no small undertaking. Jill has been recording her ups and downs in her twice-weekly online journal (found one click away on
www.shopyourwardrobe.com).
Why is she doing this? Over the course of this challenge, Jill has often asked herself the same question. Here?s the juice on the top reasons Jill is undertaking this challenge:
(1) Financial. Jill started a new online venture in 2009 which has created a one-way cash flow situation. Cash was indeed flowing, but it was all flowing out. Buying more clothes during this time was described as fiscally irresponsible, wasteful and extravagant (that?s what the accountant said, anyway).
(2) Practical. Having an abundance of clothing is one good reason not to shop anymore. For a woman who has 14 11 pair of blue jeans, over 90 65 pair of shoes, 12 animal print jackets (and that?s not including the non-animal print ones), and a bedroom-size walk-in wardrobe full of other clothes - new clothes are 100% „not necessary?.
(3) Emotional. There?s something about our unconscious consumer society that is causing great unhappiness, even sickness. If this is really is true, then Jill should have been on the critical list. Thank god she got help when she did.
The challenge has changed Jill's life! On this 12 month journey, Jill has had some ups and downs, like any recovering-a-holic. During the challenge, Jill explored the emotional power and psychological impact of shopping and discovered the collusive power of the fashion industry, through media and merchandising, in creating a sense of never-ending "want".
Followers of her blog are from Australia, New Zealand and the United States (so far) and are deeply disturbed but very nice people. She frequently receives comments about how entertaining her take on the topics she tackles is. Jill's style is light-hearted, occasionally informed and always engaging.
Jill now helps other women who want to take control of their spending and live their lives - not spend it. Her 12 month online course helps others who want to "shop their wardrobe" and have their own year without clothes shopping. Members don't want their year without clothes shopping to be a year of "going without" - they want to be inspired, supported, and to have fun. Details about this extraordinary program are on the website:
www.shopyourwardrobe.com.
