Adventures in second-hand

For the majority of human beings-- who, for the most part, remain eternal adolescents-- sometimes it takes a disaster for us to remove our heads from the sand (for those whose heads are planted firmly up their own arses, nothing, really, will ever cause their removal). I am speaking, specifically, of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Realistic implications of the damage we so casually inflict on our habitat become visceral every once in a while-- the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, steep increases in gas prices, my brother encountering polar bears ever-more-frequently on land in the Arctic Circle. Our attention, unfortunately, is still so easily diverted, at least for those not living on the Gulf and not feeling the effects daily. Who knows why-- ADD? Ignorance? Wayward optimism? The majority of Americans-- 59%-- remain optimistic that the U.S. will find a satisfactory alternative to oil as a fuel for our energy needs within 25 years. With a history of inadequate funding and with a bleak future where real change in energy policy remains unlikely thanks to partisan bickering, that reality is doubtful.

It comes down, for now at least, to the individual to do his or her own part to decrease our reliance on oil-- to become less of a consumer, really, in the face of mounting pressure to exceed the Joneses and buy buy buy. I, personally, am doing my best to not let the Deepwater Horizon spill to be a blip on the radar, something I discuss at my version of the water cooler and then forget about. I've been trying hard to think of ways to decrease my carbon footprint. I take public transit, I sleep with a fan, not AC, until it's unbearable, I shorten my showers, I turn off lights, I recycle. I can do more: I can take the train instead of a taxi late nights, I can bring along my Nalgene instead of buying bottled water when I'm out, I can bring home recyclables from the office, which doesn't have recycling. The biggest way in my own life to reduce my carbon footprint, to become less of a consumer, however, involves my penchant for clothes and shoes. It's an addiction, really, and it won't cease entirely anytime soon. Still, there is a way for me to decrease my carbon footprint within this aspect of my life, in a big way. My decision to make a concerted effort to do so was sealed with a recent piece about the environmental, and human, impact of fast fashion on one of my favorite blogs, Jezebel.com. It is a worthy, and disarming read.

And that was it: I live in a giant city, one of the biggest in the world, where thrift shops and consignment stores and vintage stores and markets with artists selling their own hand-made designs abound. I am not limited to moth-ball-ridden clothing from the Salvation Army. And I need to take advantage of that. So I made a decision.

I will spend the next year consciously trying to not be such a consumer. I will do my best to purchase as much as I can second-hand. It won't be cold turkey (full disclosure: I bought a dress and shoes, new, today), but I will make a fully concerted effort. An added bonus: it will get me out of the house and exploring this amazing city more. I already spent one afternoon doing so, in the East Village. The afternoon proved bountiful. Here, the fruits of my labor:

Dolce and Gabbana peep-toes. A fine beginning for a new adventure: a year of second-hand shopping. I will continue to post the fruits of my labor here.