If you read my opening post, you’ll remember I confessed to a last minute panic purchase of a bikini, you know, just in case we suddenly go on a warm holiday this year (no hard plans yet sadly). It’s arrival on the 2nd of January made me feel like a bit of a cheat. I’m not happy with that and here’s where I want to be stoic and proudly announce that I returned it immediately. But I didn’t. It’s high waisted and covers that bit of tummy skin that goes stretchy after growing babies, and is considerably more flattering than any other piece of swimwear I own.  It has therefore made its way to my drawer. I’m apologetic to those who may also feel I’ve cheated, but I’m just not that strong.

Bikini aside, I’ve not made any purchases for myself this week. So have I learned anything yet? Well yes actually. Drum roll, please…..

It probably goes without saying it hurts to walk past a shop when you see something in the window you suspect you’ll love. I’m sure there’ll be more of that to come so I won’t dwell there.  Secondly, I’ve realised I don’t look after my trainers. Not that dramatic but I feel an important revelation for me. And here’s why: I think it reveals the true consumer that I am. I am a marketers dream for disposable fashion.

I tend to wear activewear about 4 days a week, and I am a mum. Trainers are comfy and practical and recently seem to have been given a more credible space in the style stakes. An average week will see me rotate between two pairs of trainers. These two pairs live in a box in the hall. Most days will see me slip into whichever pair I envisage working best with what I’m wearing in the last seconds before exiting the house. Then when I get back in, they come off and get tossed into that same box. They get dirty, they get squashed. And they’ll fall victim of the weather. My Converse are one of those two pairs which is why they looked so very woeful at the beginning of the week.

Trainer trends come and go pretty swiftly, however it seems to me Converse are almost always acceptable. For their style longevity, they’re relatively inexpensive.  When one pair gives way, or becomes too dirty, they can be replaced by a shiny new pair. Now that I’m faced with the same few pairs of trainers (or boots and shoes for that matter) for the whole year, it’s dawned on me I rather need to make them last! So I pledge to be a little more organised and have somewhere to store them that doesn’t involve other shoes being thrown on top of them. Perhaps I could try to wipe them down at the end of the day? Or at least the end of the week? And I may try spending a few moments working out which trainers may work best with what I’m wearing before throwing on one of two pairs. I don’t want to spend hours over this – I don’t have time. And I don’t want to start obsessing over protecting my possessions. That could become an ugly characteristic.  But I do want to appreciate the things I have a little more and shed the attitude that permits me to be so flippant. 

In light of my little revelation, all my footwear received some love this week. I’ve checked the weather, tried to keep them clean..ish, and the Converse even went in the dishwasher. I was a bit nervous but they seem to have faired OK – phew!

So here I go on to week two. I’m back to work so the activewear will be put to test. I’m sure to get bored pretty quickly but the bonus is I’ll be ready to create, and drop a squat if that moment presents itself. Ha!   

As always you can see the #ootd on my Insta @wearwhatsthere and check back here next Sunday to see if I’ve had any other little revelations. 

Anna x