what a year does

For a year (okay, 10 months) I wore a uniform.

I volunteered for a program within Americorps that describes itself as an urban Peace Corps program. I was in the city of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, stationed at a high school for most of the time, but also indulged in a variety of other volunteer-activities in and around the greater Philadelphia area.

My uniform consisted of 

1. pair of Timberland boots

2. White uniform t-shirt with organizations' logo & corporate sponsor

3. White pique short sleeve polo with organizations' logo

4. ugly khaki pants, the most unflattering fit for women (tapered with pleats at the top)

5. a piece of "red" consisting of a) red jacket with logos all over and american flag on sleeve, b) rain/cold weather red jacket, or c)a half-zip pullover "sweatshirt" with the logo embroidered across the front.

at first, it was horrible. We also were severely restricted on hardware, excessively showing hair-thingies, earrings/necklaces etc. were forbidden.

(the reason for these restrictions were for the best: we worked in low-income schools, schools were 50-100% of the students were receiving free-lunch, where many lived in subsidized housing, and where many did not have stable families or incomes. If we were uniform, they wouldn't have any distractions when we would help out in their classrooms. Essentially, they were better dressed than we were...)

Although the volunteering was good, incredibly good, I (am many of my other work-mates) were ecstatic to be free the uniform...except one thing.

After a year of uniformity... it is so hard to get back into fashion. Actually, fashion is GREAT right now. Mags, blogs, stores...they all have fashion that is sooooo good right now (that's the best my vocab can describe it..basically there is so many things I like, and things that I want, I try..but I just can't buy.

I have fashion guilt. How do you deal with it, buying $300 dollar shoes, $200 dollar jeans, and a $75 dollar top?  Cuz when I volunteered at S* M* high school in Philadelphia for a year, and the elementary school next door, some of the kids there went hungry for dinner, and breakfast, and lunch, if they didn't come to school to eat.

I realize now how little of my clothing & jewelry I actually wear. I have 3 ear piercings, but I wear the same pearl-drop earrings every day. I have an amethyst necklace from Santorini that I also wear, daily, and my rings (band & engagement). Sometimes I wear a watch (though I've become clock-dependent on my cellphone, lately). I have 2 pairs of jeans I alternate, and several tops + my favorite grey cardigan, and my many scarves...

I'm not going to sell all my clothes & worldy possesions...or anything severe like that, but I do think it over, before I purchase any fast fashion, or unnecessary goods.

I can't even decipher what is green/eco-friendly fashion right now...

I'd just like to become a more conscientious shopper.

But I know how hard that is...