In looking back over the history of this blog, I realize the most successful and interesting entries are those that do two things: 1) engage readers to offer their feedback and 2) relate to a particular topic or theme.

I’m considering a book proposal a la Elizabeth Gilbert, on one year in my life. This time not on travel, but my renewed vow against commercialism. I say renewed because in 2005 I said I was not buying clothes for an entire year. I was going to go item by item and wear every single thing in my closet. That vow was broken because in summer of 2005, I got a new job and moved to Qatar. I did manage to make through 5 months – about May – before my unplanned life changes took over and I found myself half way around the world from North America.

This year, I hope to make it all the way to next January. And you can share the journey with me.

No clothes – as my husband so kindly reminds me means – no new shoes, pants, sweaters, shirts, or exercise goods.

Looking around, I’ve also decided to add perfumes and cosmetics to this list. But the need for lipstick means that I have to go back and scratch cosmetics off. But perfumes is on.

Of course I struggled tremendously after New Year’s day and closed my eyes against the tempting screaming red headlines of retailers desperate to recoup losses of the lowest holiday sales record in history. Usually they made their fortunes off of bargain hunters like me. But not this year. I closed my eyes and kept walking, hugging my husband’s arm close.

He says he’s rooting for me but doesn’t think I can do it.

Blogging about it will certainly help with accountablility and also to see if this idea is interesting enough for a book as Gilbert’s was.

So here we go.

Have you ever tried to go a year without buying clothes and think I’m being silly?
Or do you have any advice since you’re a stalwart non-buyer yourself?