What I'm Not Buying this Weekend #6

by Margo on May 30, 2009

Welcome to my shopping game that I hope will partially fill the hole left behind in many of our formerly shopping-oriented lives. I believe you may find this exercise to be superior to mere window shopping. And if you fall off the wagon and literally buy something, not to worry. Tell us about that too, so others can catch a bit of the thrill while you were at it. And remember, you’re helping the economy!

To play, please grab the What I’m Not Buying this Weekend badge, located in my sidebar, or just use this link. Then leave a link to your post about a recent shopping experience with Mr. Linky, or tell about it in the comments.

Since we did NOT bring this puppy into our lives, I have to take care of a few pet essentials first. This is my favorite thing I did not purchase:

Dog Whisperer by Cesar Millan Round Cuddle Up Dog Bed $49.99 at Petco
Made of faux bomber leather, this bed would be perfect for a young stud

Although I have done yoga, I’m not an enthusiast. However, I am enthusiastic about yoga wear. I find these clothes to be as close as one can get to wearing pajamas in public, something I have longtime advocated. Actually, I’m quite pleased with the whole blurring of these lines between exercise, sleep and fashion. It suits my soup to nuts life style, of rolling out of bed and not stopping until both girls are accounted for in the evening.

This place has been sending me catalogues for several years:

Except for the 15 year old model showing her belly button, there is something about Athleta catalogues that defies recycling. They jump into my hands and I will turn to a description of a pair of pants that says they are “ideal for yoga, dance, travel and EVERYTHING ELSE YOUR LIFE INCLUDES.” (emphasis mine)

I know I was meant to lead a life filled with yoga, dance and travel, but in general, I don’t think it’s happening. Fortunately right there in the copy, I am given permission to push the envelope. I can wear the yoga/pajama/stretch pants to do whatever the heck I want, or at least everything my life includes. That means if one afternoon I get a wild hair and need to go to the grocery store, it will be perfectly acceptable for me to go to the Piggly Wiggly instead of the Kroger! I can include the Piggly Wiggly in my life without having to change my clothes!

To top it off, Athleta is now operated by the same company as Banana Republic, The Gap, Old Navy and Piperlime. I’m not sure if this is really good news, but as long as I am not shopping, it is ideal for the saavy not buyer, because she can shop at all of these stores in the same place in a conjoined quintuplet shopping website. (hyperbole mine) No mall visiting required.

As a serious student of yoga wear, this pant with it’s own mantra printed on the picture did NOT inspire my first click:

Stretch pants described as jeans? Brilliant. Call them the Bettona Pant for $79? Genius.
“Now there’s no more bending or pulling to get your jeans on,” says ancient wise copywriting practitioner.

In 15 minutes flat these were the items in my NOT buying shopping cart!

I did NOT casually purchase several more items at Banana Republic and two pairs of animal print shoes from Piperlime. Here’s one of the four shoes.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Faina $210 for two shoes

When all was said and not done, the grand total in my multistore not buying extravaganza was not $1246.

I found this weekend’s adventure virtually superior because I could do it all in pajama pants that I now know are made just for dance, yoga, travel and everything my life includes.

How about you? What are you not buying recently? Or how about something you did buy?

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed!

{ 17 comments }

1 Lin May 30, 2009 at 2:57 am: I get those Athleta catalogs too! I am always amazed at the girls’ bodies in there–just once I could look so beautiful. They are all athletic but not too muscular. I’m just all lumpy. Sigh. I guess I won’t be buying these clothes either.
2 ModernMom May 30, 2009 at 2:16 pm: Great list! I’m going to have to go check out that catalog..I’ve never heard of that one??
3 moi May 30, 2009 at 2:24 pm: Hey, the Pirate and I were just talking about Athleta yesterday! Love them! And those BCBG shoes, well. One can never have enough animal print of anything, can one?

I’m not playing this week (a skunk hijacked my post), and am on vay-cay next week, so I’ll get back on the ball the 13th. In the meantime, I’ll purchase vicariously through you all!
4 viridian May 30, 2009 at 3:33 pm: Hi Margo! Stretch pants masquerading as yoga pants – love it. Gotta go to the grocery now.
5 Margo May 30, 2009 at 3:59 pm: hi everyone, thanks for your comments. I am ensconced in yoga pants as I write this.. just got back from helping my husband REALLY buy new sunglasses. He went with the Raybans over the Persols. What’s with that?
6 Sparky ♥ ∞ May 30, 2009 at 6:55 pm: This silly computer finally let your page load. I’m here from Facebook. (Good idea!) )

Cool things *not* to buy! ha ha I love the shoes! We must go un-shopping something soon. I could use a pair like that for evenings in the country. I’d probably scare the snakes back into the woods. [tee hee]
7 The Mother May 31, 2009 at 5:31 pm: I love copywriters who give you “permission” to do what you wish with your purchases.

SO kind of them.
8 ModernMom May 31, 2009 at 8:54 pm: Me again!
Hope you don’t mind awards! I just posted one for you over on my little blog:)
9 WhisperingWriter May 31, 2009 at 11:47 pm: Fantastic list. That dog bed actually looks comfortable. I almost want to curl up in it and sleep.
10 Betsy June 1, 2009 at 1:39 am: Well that pet bed was really cool, but what I really want is to look like that model on the cover!
11 Aria June 1, 2009 at 2:47 am: This weekend, I’m not buying cheesecake. That’s the best I can do.
12 Nancy McCarroll - Arts, Crafts and Favorites June 1, 2009 at 12:17 pm: It would take me a long time to list what I did NOT buy this weekend. I might participate in this!!(soon)
13 Big Hair Envy June 1, 2009 at 4:51 pm: I’m SO jealous of your NO-SHOPPING Spree!! I’ll be ordering one of those catalogs:)

We bought pool furniture last week. It will be a LONG time before I am able to buy new clothes…!
14 Pricilla June 1, 2009 at 5:34 pm: Looks like saved a bundle. I follow you – you see my little goat face?

The publicist was/is sick as a dog for the last couple of days which is why she hasn’t had me visit. She didn’t want me to catch what she had.
15 A Lawyer Mom's Musings June 2, 2009 at 2:58 am: Subtle-like pajamas in public? I’m all over it! Mine are much too obvious.
16 A Lawyer Mom's Musings June 2, 2009 at 2:58 am: Subtle-like pajamas in public? I’m all over it! Mine are much too obvious.
17 Banteringblonde June 2, 2009 at 11:45 am: I just want one of the bodies from the Athleta catalogue – how awesome would it be to look that good in casual sporty clothes?!