February Purchases

This is my second month of sharing my progress sticking to a $100/month clothing budget. It's going about as well as my diet.

I had black lace tights on my wishlist since the Rodarte for Target collection came out. I checked a few different stores before finding my own (non-designer) pair. Sears came through with its Apostrophe line.

1. Black lace tights (2 pair), $5.99 x 2 = $11.98
2. Gray lace tights, $5.99
3. Legwarmers, $6.99 (not pictured)



Then, I hit TJ Maxx one evening when I had some time to kill before taking the bus to rehearsal. I found way too many things that I liked!

4. Sheer, printed tank, $19.99
5. Cardigan, $14.99
6. Ruffled tank, $11
7. Striped tank with embellished neckline, $9.99



I went to WalMart looking for a new black turtleneck. I walked out with a chambray dress, which I haven’t worn yet.

8. Chambray dress, $14.

At this point, I was nearly to my limit with $98.92 in purchases. However, I needed underclothing items for Comic Potential.

9. Nude tights (Danskin) (2 pair), $9.95 x 2 = $19.90
10. Ruffled underpants (Fredericks of Hollywood), $18.00


(If you want to see these items, come to the show. Yes, even the underpants.)
I can excuse the purchases for the play, but I still wasn’t done spending. I wore my peggings last Saturday and nearly had a wardrobe malfunction. I’m not sure why, but they don’t stay up anymore. They seemed ok when I put them on and left the house for the day, but a few hours into my busy Saturday, I had to hold them up as I walked or risk mooning everyone on Harrison Avenue. I still had hours to go before returning home, so I bought an emergency belt at Body Central. I plan to wear it as a necklace, later.

11. Chain belt, $9.80

While I can also excuse a fashion emergency purchase, the remaining items are more difficult to justify...

I had to go to the post office to mail a swap and thought I’d swing through Macy’s on my way out and look for the “ruffled, leopard-print, sheer blouse” on my wishlist. I walked out carrying a leopard-print cardigan with a jeweled neckline.

12. Leopard cardigan (INC), $19.75 (but originally $79!)

We can excuse a super bargain, right? What about blog-inspired sweater lust? Golden Means blogged about the Limited’s Frog Closure Cardigan, which bears a startling resemblance to a sweater worn by Emma Pillsbury on Glee. I resisted immediately ordering it from the Limited’s website; I thought I’d wait until March and my next $100. However, an opportunity to visit an actual Limited store arose on February 26…and I saved shipping by purchasing it in the store.

13. Frog-closure cardigan, $59.50.

Oh, boy. The total for Feb is $221.88.

I’ve compared my $100/month clothing budget as a “diet.” When you’re dieting, and you have a bad day and eat everything in sight, you musn't starve yourself the next day to make amends*. Likewise, I’m forgiving my February transgressions and starting fresh in March with my usual monthly budget. However, I will be staying far far away from Target and its scheduled releases (JPG and Liberty of London). Instead, I’m saving my $100 (and probably a bit more) for a pair of cowboy boots.

*The feast and famine cycle will only make it harder to lose the weight.