Shop Your Wardrobe

Jill Chivers

Jill Chivers is a woman with a mission. A self confessed shopaholic, she just completed a year without clothes shopping. Now she’s determined to help others whose shopping has gotten out of hand through her Shop Your Wardrobe Program.

I’ve been in her program for the past three months, and learning all sorts of unexpected things.

She who hates shopping?

What am I doing in a program for shopaholics when I can’t stand shopping? It’s been one of those things I started for one reason, only to discover a whole other side to the process.

Jill is a former corporate trainer. I met her online and we had some email exchanges about visual tools that are available in Australia. I liked her, and after hearing some of her audio, fell in love with her Aussie accent. Honestly I signed up for her course so I could see how she structured the course. It was curious about the instructional design and delivery models.

Stories sucked me in

Jill is a wonderful storyteller. The course emails are always entertaining, and contain direct and indirect lessons. She explores all sides of the issue she is focusing on. I started noticing I would think a lot about them. She gives suggestions for simple action steps, with worksheets and other things to help.

A simple practice built into the course is spending 10 minutes a week sorting something in your wardrobe. I noticed I was avoiding it. But I kept reading and noticing how often I could relate, even if my action was the opposite. She was talking about the compulsion to shop, I had the repulsion to shop. But opposite sides of the same coin share a lot of things.

Food, clothes, books, e-courses– it’s all compulsion

I started noticing how I shop for food. There is always some great new recipe to try. One new special ingredient or spice. Why was I always going to the store when I have cabinets and a freezer full of food?

Why was I buying more books when I have a huge pile unread? Same with more courses, downloading e-books, looking for new iphone apps, or buying fonts.

Reading Jill’s stories, I started to recognize more and more ways I could relate. I didn’t have one bulging closet full of clothes. I just spread the behavior over all sorts of different things. So I could justify it. I wasn’t that bad. Ha!

Starting to see opportunities for improvement

Slowly, I actually started to tackle small areas for ten minute sorting. I started with spices. Then another kitchen shelf. I’m avoiding books, but know I need to get there. I even did a drawer of clothes.

I’m starting to see how my attachment to things is based on associated emotions. I have clothes that no doubt look awful on me, but I keep them and wear them because of how they feel or what they remind me of.

Jill’s course is teaching me there are other ways—  like what works as a wardrobe. What looks good on my current body type. What fits properly. How to think strategically about building a wardrobe that works for me. I’m starting to feel hopeful that I won’t have to dread every clothes shopping trip.

Looking forward to learning more

The course doesn’t take a lot of time. It’s always interesting to read the lessons. And you might be surprised as I have been to find all sorts of ways it helps. Check Shop Your Wardrobe out if it peaks your interest, it’s affordable and very well designed. Yes, I am also seeing some great instructional design and delivery models!

Great job Jill.