I recently read the book “The Lions Of Fifth Avenue” by Fiona Davis and I stumbled onto this quote.
Whenever she wore her latest find, people asked about her outfit instead of asking about her life. It was a kind of armor, she supposed.
Fiona Davis
The book is not in the self help genre, but instead historical fiction. The quote hit me right in the heart. I always wondered why I had such an obsession with my clothing and how it invaded my inner psyche.
Growing up in a single parent home didn’t allow for extra’s like expensive clothing. I learned early on that my clothing would be one of the things that gave my bullies fodder to belittle me beyond measure. I changed schools many times and each time being the new kid was harder than the first. It was always the same cruel ritual of the teacher walking me up in front of the class and pointing out I was new, as if I needed another target on my back. I then would be placed with a student who would help me get acquainted with my surroundings and most of the time it was the class overachiever who was not really invested in the job of helping the shy girl dressed in Kmart attire from head to toe. I learned later that those were just the qualities my tormentors looked for in a victim. I had many opportunities to evaluate the bullies from my lunch table quite often. Every day, one of my admirer’s would walk by and push my lunch on to the floor and laugh hysterically.
Façade
An outward appearance that is maintained in to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.
What I noticed in all the wonderful people who pushed my lunch to the floor was they all had designer clothes on. Certainly this is why they didn’t get picked on, right? I decided right there in that lunch room I was going to fix this issue and I got my first job! I had a paper route earning me 11.75 a week and then began expanding my babysitting empire. I spent every penny updating my wardrobe. I became obsessed with it! Never having a penny to my name, but I had the Calvin’, Sperry’s and Esprit. My universe began to shift and all because of the new clothing and me hiding behind that façade. I fixed the problem right? I found my armor.
The journey into minimalism has taught me to take a hard look at cutting back on my clothing addiction. I think the understanding the ” why” is more important than just decluttering my closet. I figured out the why behind the what. Looking into the way back lens helped me to see the real reason that I have so much armor.
What is your why behind things you can’t stop buying?
- To fill an emotional void?
- The thrill of the hunt?
- To boost your mood?
- To help with stress?
She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25
Shopping Stats
- 31.7 % of buyers say they bought just because it was on sale
- 18.1% just went to look but ended up purchasing
- 11% had mood improvement
- 47.4% love the thrill of the bargain hunt
- 24.4% of buyers still have bags of clothing in closet with tags still attached
Darlin, you don’t need all that armor, because what lives inside, they can’t break!
JmStorm
Making of a Minimalist 