SELF-DENIAL IS IN these days, what with the economy and the ecology in grievous trouble and the ensuing need to cut back, strip down, and get simple. Some things are easy for me to give up, but not clothes-shopping. So I’m going on a fast (making something into a project helps; so does telling everyone about it, so failure is public). The last thing I bought: black leggings (French import) with adorable yet sophisticated little cut-outs at the ankle, very Rodarte-esque. I delete retail e-mails right away and try not to go into stores or on sites where danger lurks. One month down. How long can I hold out?