Well, that's a tough one. If you get into certain types of costuming, like makeup or wigs for instance, you want to use new cosmetics and it's difficult to get used wigs that are still in good shape, so those are usually new as well. This is one of the reasons I'm happy when I can use materials I already have, or can get used stuff for my projects.
There's a cost to anything you choose to do, wear, eat. For instance, we used to travel across the valley nearly every week for choir practice, which you would think was better than driving to Dragon Con, which is about 2,000 miles round-trip for us. But in fact we drove more miles going to the weekly local gathering. Even better from some environmentalists' view would be to do neither, of course.
I really enjoy the creative outlet of costuming, which has given me more enthusiasm and energy for creating and making in general, so more things are getting done close to home as well.
I was thinking about the costs as I was getting dressed a few days back, and realized the shirt I was putting on was probably 20 years old. Yes, I have quite a few tops that age, and a few sweaters that are even older, and some skirts in the same range. Only one or two pair of slacks, the good ones.... everything else usually only lasts 5-10 years. Some clothing I don't know the age of because I got them from my mom or the local clothing swap. Shoes and undies I buy or make new.
So, that helps balance things a little. I used to not go to cons because I went camping instead, which seemed to me to be lower impact, and I got to hang out with friends and do fun things, but as the Society has matured, it has gotten higher maintenance, at least at large events like Pennsic, so the difference gets a little smaller between large events and a convention. We are always balancing between one choice and another -- I think probably what's most important is acknowledging what you're doing, what the effect is, rather than trying to reason things away.
I'd like to go to D*C again, and at the moment that's what we're planning on for 2015. We also would like to go to a kung fu seminar in FL next spring possibly...likely that would be driving down with some other folks. And my uncle C has been bugging my mom about when I'm coming out again. *sigh*
Well, so we're working on fixing up the barn and carriage house, setting up a greenhouse, winterizing the house porch, and adding some creative insulation -- the house is fully insulated, but it was still effing cold during the worst part of the winter, so I'll be making cushioned half-walls to put where possible on outer walls. These will mostly be filled with spare comforters and blankets, maybe some off-season clothing, or fabric that hasn't yet been made into things. I'll also be making wall hangings for a few walls. I'll try to post pics of those things here -- it isn't clothing, but it is sewing, so I guess that counts.
And starting research into the possibility of solar power. I'm also going to get back into research about hugel kulture and trying to do some of that here. If we're going to use fossil fuels to travel, then we need to use less of them at home.
