I admit that I’m disillusioned by mainstream fashion, and with good reason.
Fast-fashion is frivolous, and pretty ferocious too. (I’m not saying style is frivolous, nor is caring deeply about looking great).
I have an issue with retailers who aggressively promote constant new weekly ‘must-haves’. With this unrelenting message of needing more, it subtly encourages us consumers to believe we lack just enough to never feel satisfied!
The industry also does a good job of convincing us they’re always about to give us something better, to help us feel younger, sexier, slimmer.
Yet, don’t be fooled. It’s nothing. Empty promises. They’re simply trying to hook us into more sales, feed the wheel of persistent consumerism. Speaking directly to our egos and our insecurities.
Thankfully though we don’t need to remain slaves to the next fashion forecast. We can build on changing our unsustainable greed, and feel awesome doing it!
That’s exactly what I’m getting stuck into! So here are my 5 tips to spend less and have more:
- Move your clothing budget to your fitness programme. Whether you spend on hiring a personal trainer, begin taking fast walks, joining a yoga class or swim lengths at gym, start investing in building your body for strength, health and confidence. I’m finding that the more I respect my body, as it is now, the happier I am in the clothes I have.
- Find a re-sale clothing store. Recently I delivered 10 items to my local shop for reselling. 10! And guess what, as soon as I realised I was always reluctant to wear them, (they were beautiful pieces, but simply weren’t relevant to my current lifestyle) I didn’t mind parting with them. Out with the old, in with some spare change!
- Limit your time in stores, malls and magazines. They’re here to entice us, make you feel less than if we don’t yet own what they’re selling. Rather spend that time reading about sustainable fashion, or have some fun in your own wardrobe. Play with your clothes, by trying on new combinations. Wear those unworn pieces, re-organise your accessories, donate spoilt or badly fitting items.
- Get your pieces back into tip-top shape. And it’s not only your body I’m referring to! My trusty mother took to the pins to re-hem 5 pairs of my pants and a skirt. Nowadays, I find myself in flats far more than heels, so my wardrobe arsenal needs to adjust to my seaside lifestyle. My what-to-wear choice has just grown by 6 items, at no cost!
- Become slow & deliberate in your selection. Start to build your wardrobe based on your lifestyle, colour palette, personality and, most importantly practice some awareness around ethical choices! Make time to research good local seamstress or tailoring services, find young designers to support, read composition labels and know what wearing wool, leather, and exotic skins costs your earth and fellow beings.
Here’s to becoming informed and transformed!
