Recession Resolutions and Confessions of a New Yorker Consumerist

So as a result of the recession, and my addiction to shopping, I have resolved to not buy any clothes or shoes for 3 1/2 months starting Sept 1st. We'll see how this goes...

One thing that I have found very difficult about living in New York is not getting sucked into the consumerism. I would challenge anyone living anywhere to see if they could go one day without thinking about buying something (except food or water) and bet they couldn't do it. I would challenge a New Yorker to go one hour and bet they couldn't do it. Every day I'm surrounded by billboards, taxi ads, subway ads, and EXTREMELY well dressed people that all tell me if I don't go buy a new jacket I will not be as happy as they are. I don't watch TV and I rarely read fashion magazines, and yet I cannot escape the fashion consumerist culture.

Now of course I know this isn't true. I can make a lot of choices to not consume, yet for some reason I am under the impression that I NEED make up and hair products and new jeans. Just last week I bought a designer Kate Spade bag (In my defense it was leather and 50 percent off) for 200 dollars. I later bought a pair of 180 dollar designer jeans (they were so cute and I had birthday money...) But as much as I thought that bag or those jeans were going to make me feel more complete, when your wallet is empty afterwards and then you see the PERFECT shoes to go with the jeans...you feel empty again.

One of my favorite books is Walden: Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau. The man basically decides to abandon the consumerist culture that he sensed growing centuries ago, by living in the woods, building a house, gardening and trying to be self-sustaining for a few years. This type of lifestyle appeals to me because I see how stuff can just eat you up as it makes you want more stuff. Henry says the "The man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest." And I DO get pleasure from big grass fields, roses, sunsets, music, and clouds the way I'm sure Henry did, but man those jeans were cute.

My fiance has agreed to be my official shopping police, and to help me has agreed to do the same. I'll let you know how it goes...I'm hoping to gain more from this than just the money I save.

New York Shopping: Marimekko

Welcome to my first edition New York Shopping Guide.
Today I want to introduce you to....

Marimekko
Located at 1262 Third Ave on the Upper East side in Manhattan this boutique is a chain from the a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company established in 1951. Though popular
worldwide, it hasn't hit the US big...yet.

They specialize in unique bright fabric designs which are sold as comforters and all kinds of accessories. The fabric can also be sold by the yard or stretched onto a frame to make a trendy wall hanging. Most of these photos are shrunken down pictures of LARGE pieces of fabric, if that helps you to see how large the cows and flowers are.




They also have quite adorable clothes and bags with neat patterns

My favorite bag on the website:

Here is some of the cute fashion:


Also go for the stationary, cooking utensils, umbrellas and other cute accessories. They also have fun bright colored shirts for men!

Marimekko wallpapers for your desktop available here:
http://www.alwaysmod.com/marimekko-wallpapers.html

Props to my friend Lydia who works here. :)