Days 47 to 50....yes I said 50!

Yes it is true, I have completed 50 days of Hanger Strike, a stonking achievement, even if I say so myself. I have to admit that so far I have quite enjoyed myself, with the notable exception of last weekend in Edinburgh I haven't felt toooooo bad. One or two moments of sadness have largely been outweighed by the novelty of it all. Never fear though, I expect this to be shortlived. As I begin to run out of random observations about our attitudes to clothes I am almost certain to become increasingly interested in the damaging effect that abstinence has on the mind of a girl about town and am also likely to pay closer and closer attention to the new collections hitting the shops. In particular I predict that the impending Autumn shoe collections will cause my decline into an abyss of winter depression. Gross.

Nevertheless, at this interlude I am chirpy and cannot complain. Indeed, as it stands I feel relatively certain that I have yet to wear the same outfit twice. This week I admit has begun to become more than a challenge but I have an inkling that this is linked more to the distinct lack of laundry I have done rather than a lack of new variations in my astoundingly large wardobe.

Day 47, and a Monday at work, I whipped out my totally favourite T-Shirt and a blue stretchy skirt, comfy but tidy is definitely the bestest way.

The second day of the week and a drizzly morning necessitated a good solid set of boots and a nice H&M number courtesy of the lovely EJ....ahem.

Wednesday was day 49 and a nice evening was spent at Zizzi with EJ and Bambi.

Day 50 was a day on which I made an effort to wear things that have not yet been showcased (except my ever present Hollisters). From the very depths of my wardrobe I dug out an old blue jacket and a nice blue flowery scarf. Topped off with trusty old leopard flatties and a grey H&M t-shirt I enjoyed my outfit immensely.

The fact that I have yet to repeat an outfit has led to quite a lot of conversation this week. Friends and colleagues alike have considered the possibility for some time that I may have enough clothes to complete my entire year with not one single identikit outfit. Up until this point I have scoffed at such a ridiculous suggestion but potentially it is possible that I may actually have the capacity to achieve such a feat. If so I feel that through my blog I will have made a somewhat pertinent point. Namely that there is a significant difference between need and want. When we ladies declare loudly that we 'need' the latest handbag, shoe or trouser, this is not necessarily the case. We may need them if we wish to be bang up to the minute in the style stake however in order to actually have enough to wear on a daily basis I don't think need is quite the right word.

We want to be able to have new things because it makes us feel better in ourselves (for a shortlived, adrenalin filled moment of plastic cash hedonism). We want to stay up to the minute dressed with the latest shapes and styles because we fit in, or indeed stand out as a part of our social group. We have been conditioned to want to wear something new all of the time and never to be seen in the same dress by the same person EVER. Now I reserve the option to completely change my mind at the end of my year but I purport that in fact we don't need any of this stuff, we merely think we need it.