It is extremely easy to continuously buy new things to enhance your style: new shirts, new sports jackets, new shoes, new accessaries, new fragrances. You must admit, there is something very alluring about the word 'new'. But how much 'new' is really necessary? I mean, when is enough really enough?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately actually; I haven't been working so money has been a bit tight, but even so, I still feel a certain enjoyment in getting something new. Of course, I can't get the things I use to when I was working before the pandemic, but I still enjoy going to Marshall's to look around.
I think the curse of consumerism makes it impossible to ever truly feel like we have enough. We're bombarded with ads and messages every single day telling us about a new fragrance or tempting us with pictures of accessories and clothes that we may have come across online.
With the use of data science, these companies are literally able to ruthlessly pursue us with products until we give in to temptation.
I guess the question then is really how to say enough is enough, not when.
I'm willing to bet that most of you reading this have more than enough in your closet already. I know I do. So how do you say enough is enough. How do you stop feeding into consumerism?
One thing I recommend trying is perhaps picking one or two items that don't necessarily take-up a lot of space; something like pocket squares or ties. That way, you still get something new, but you don't fill-up your closet with items you might not wear frequently.
Recently, what happened to me was, I looked in my closet and realized that it was nearly full. I realized that I don't need anymore shirts, waistcoats, or jackets because the more new ones I get, the less frequently I wear my old ones.
I realized that right now, in this moment, I don't need anything else in my closet. Enough is enough. Of course, they'll probably be a time when I upgrade some of the pieces I have which happens to everyone, but for now, I don't need anything new.
I'm kind of writing this with the hopes that that fact will be reified in my head, because as mentioned above, due to marketing and advertisements, it can be incredibly tough to not get anything new.
I think that once I do start working again I'm going to set a certain amount of money for style-related purchases into my budget. I think seeing the actual number written on paper could be incredibly helpful.
Regardless, for now I think I'm in a pretty good place. Aside from a couple fragrances I'd like to try out and review, I don't feel compelled to get anything.
So, what do you guys do to remind yourself that you don't need anything else? Do you have a budget for you style-related expenses? When do you think enough is really enough?
Let me know in the comments!
-Ryan S.
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