ask me anything: part 1

the break

In wrapping up my year of nothing new and looking ahead to this next chapter, I put an Ask Me Anything on Instagram. These were the main questions I received:

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How has the year off shopping changed the way you consume?

That’s something I’ll be discovering over the next six months, as I slowly start shopping again. My prediction is that there will still be a process of finding myself and practicing new habits, but overall, anything I purchase will be done thoughtfully and slowly.

Would you do it again?

100%. It was so much easier than I thought it would be, and the year passed very quickly.

What have you learnt?

Less is more. And anything that was considered “cool” last year has already been and gone - making trends feel somewhat irrelevant.

What will be your first purchase?

I’m not sure about the first, but the milestone purchase will be diamond stud earrings. All my jewellery is sentimental, and I’d like to mark this moment with something I’ll have forever.

How much money did you save???!!!!

On January 16th, I had saved $7,600 - but I actually finished the year with $3,500.

Why? I think I started living differently in the last six months of the challenge. I took up hot yoga and have done 80 classes since February, after buying a year pass. I bought more gifts for friends - flowers, wine, etc. We went away more, more weekends offline and out of town. I tried some expensive skincare (nothing of note, unfortunately), and I probably went out to dinner with my husband and girlfriends more, which included paying for babysitting. I also contributed $2,000 to my super before the end of the financial year and invested in a meditation course.

Now, I’m back to saving as much as possible - but overall, I’m really happy with the result. Saving money wasn’t the goal, but my year off shopping did help me reorganise how I spend. Not only that, but I now have a shopping budget for the next six months and plan to always stay in front - not behind. Goodbye, credit card.

Did you face any unexpected challenges in your year of not shopping?

Yes, but not related to the challenge itself. My daughter started Primary School and needed extra help along the way. Having savings meant I could be more present with her - not distracted by needing to make money or shopping - and I’m extremely grateful for that.

How do you feel about starting your new purchase journey this year?

I feel excited. The first thing I’ve noticed is that online shopping now feels a little sad - transactional and disconnected. So for now, I’m keeping the experience offline.

I’ve started using the Carted app to save everything from makeup colours and products to things I’ve seen on Substack or elsewhere. It takes the urgency away and means I can close some of the otherwise open tabs on my computer (and in my mind).

One of my girlfriends is making me a turtleneck, and I’ve just connected with a local pattern maker who’s going to make a pattern of my favourite pants.

Will anything change after your year off? What have you learnt?

The key learning is that nothing that felt relevant and trendy last year still feels relevant now - for example, red. My most-worn clothes have been pieces that fit my body in an effortless way.

Focusing on fit instead of size, and make instead of brand, as well as the quality of fabric and construction, will be foundational to how I shop going forward.

The other day I pulled out an old Altuzarra dress. It’s too small on the hips (my body constantly changes), but it’s a beautiful blue, paisley-ish scarf print - one of my more unique pieces and something I’ve always loved. It now hangs visibly in my dressing room, as a reminder of the more adventurous parts of my identity.

In the next six months, I imagine myself rediscovering parts of my style that I’ve totally forgotten - and being more intentional, but also instinctual, with what I buy. Thinking not only of who I want to be today, but also my future self.

We often talk about clothes as an "investment" - but they’re only really an investment if we wear them for a long time.

Did you ever feel like chucking the ban in?

No - it honestly felt that good. And I knew it would change my life.

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This year reminded me that soft activism works, and that change doesn’t always need to be loud or dramatic to be powerful. The absence of shopping made room for presence in so many other areas of life. Part 2 coming soon, where I share how this has shaped my sense of style - and how I’m approaching shopping again.

In a couple of days I’ll share part 2. If you have any questions you’d like me to add, ask them in the comments and I’ll make sure I come back to you on the next post or below int he comments. xx

This post is a form of soft activism, and is part of a larger body of work that explores Our Relationship With Clothes. Australia is the largest consumer of textiles in the world; I ask questions in the hope of encouraging self-reflection and change.