When I entered my thirties, I was an emotional wreck. I was a new mommy and still trying to figure out the whole wifey thing. While my world was being turned upside down, I often found myself scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram boutiques. Day dreaming about the clothes and makeup I wanted. Until I realized I had been drowning myself in things like clothes, shoes, and cosmetics every time something drastic happened. Mix drastic moments with my love for apparel and cosmetics, and you have one hell of a shopping addict. I was aware of slow fashion and have been truly passionate about sustainable apparel. Therefore, I knew these bad habits had to change and I was eager to develop an effective method for myself.
Coming from a background in the apparel industry and being a makeup artist since I was 18 years old. I developed a true love for fashion and makeup because they had become my life and who I was. My apparel background taught me a lot about the industry. All about how unglamorous it actually is.
When I found out I worked in an industry that was the 2nd largest polluter, I was saddened but surprisingly motivated. It became my goal as a developer to help reduce the apparel waste that we as a company were creating. Unfortunately, I had come to realize that I had not taken any of this into my own personal lifestyle. I still shopped when I wanted and bought clothing items I absolutely did not need. I was passionate about sustainable fashion and encouraged others to make a difference, when I hadn’t made a complete change myself.
Change Is Good
During my moment of revelation, I decided to identify my style and truly become someone who practiced what she preached. It’s not easy to decide you want to change your habits and express yourself in a new way. It takes time and it takes patience; you just really have to want it. For me, fashion is a way to express who I am as a woman and to have fun with it. I enjoy the creativity that goes into building a wardrobe and I appreciate all the things that go into creating an actual garment.
I began by slowly find clothing pieces that worked perfectly for me. If something didn’t fit right or complement my figure the way I wanted while trying it on, then I moved on. I mean, think of it like dating and searching for that special someone. You meet, you try things out, they’re just not a good fit for you, so you move on. Imagine if you kept around every single guy you ‘tried things out with’. Things would get pretty hectic and you would soon lose sight of who you are, and even worse lose sight of what you want and need. Just like a life partner, your clothing should complement your personality and connect with the characteristics that make you who you are.
It took me a little while to figure out that I want to keep my style classic and simple with a touch of trendy. This has led me to decide what type of stores I want to shop at and what type of quality I want to purchase. As I try to keep my closet cohesive in style, I also make sure that I am aware of the processes and resources that go in to my garments.
Let’s Take Things Slow
Slow fashion became a movement during the early 2000’s and has somewhat evolved to what we now know as minimalism. It involves purchasing better quality garments that last longer, shopping less at fast fashion retailers, to ultimately reducing the amount of apparel waste. Slow fashion considers all aspects of the apparel industry and values fair treatment to all producing and consuming factors.
Consumers have demanded product at an extremely high pace with the lowest cost, which has unfortunately led to the extreme mass production of poorly developed apparel garments. Therefore, these fast items do not last very long and end up deposited in landfills, making the apparel industry the 2nd largest polluter in the world. The consumers are not all to blame, there are other major factors like energy and water waste that go into account. But as a consumer I feel we have the power to make a change on our end.
We have been taught to donate and declutter all while retailers and influencers are throwing new products at our faces, daily. I don’t blame you if you enjoy shopping every paycheck and treating yourself to that outfit you’ve been eyeballing all week on Instagram. Trust me, I know the feeling and yes, I have been there many times. It took me a year to develop good shopping habits and I have now come up with different methods and beliefs on how slow fashion can help you build an amazing wardrobe while saving you money and time. We have to shift our mindset and remember to ask ourselves if it’s something we actually need. My approach to slow fashion may be different from others, but that is the beauty behind fashion – you can make it your own.
Identify Your Style
Transitioning to slow fashion does not mean you need to sacrifice your sense of style and become a minimalist. To be honest, fashion itself doesn’t mean you need to follow the latest trends and look like everyone else. I believe you can still have your own personal style all while having an ethical approach to how you shop. Regardless if your style is edgy, sporty, minimalist, or preppy, you decide what best suits your personality and expresses who you are.
If you’re having trouble identifying your style go to your closet and pick out the pieces you wear often and like the most. These pieces are likely to be your favorite because they are appealing to your eye and perhaps fit the best. For example, if you notice your favorite pieces are mostly casual (jeans and t-shirts), then your style is just that – casual. Now work off of these items and decide what other pieces of clothing you’d want to add. The best way to start is by building a capsule wardrobe full of staple pieces you absolutely love.
Build A Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a mix of staple garments (and accessories) that are worn throughout the year and interchanged with other pieces. You’ll begin by gathering your favorites that you wear year-round: jeans, basic t-shirts, sweatshirts, blouses, shorts, blazer, cardigans, dresses, etc. These items should be the absolute best of the best.
As an example, I love the Mom Jeans from American Eagle. I purchased two pair, one in light denim and the other in black. I also have two pair of Levi’s Skinny Jeans in two different styles. These jeans give me what I need when it comes to style and fit, therefore, I’m good to go. Same goes for basic t-shirts and tank tops, find the ones that fit the best, are a decent fabric quality, and are within your budget. Some people can easily be fulfilled with having only a capsule wardrobe. But if your style includes trendy and seasonal pieces then it is time to start shopping seasonally.
Shop Seasonally
If you read my post about breaking bad habits, then you learned all about shopping seasonally. This method of shopping is the money saver and gets you on track to building a wardrobe you love. Now that you’ve identified your favorite staple pieces for your capsule wardrobe, you can add in 2-3 trendy and seasonal pieces. Start off by deciding what you need for the season you’re shopping for. Maybe you’d like some updated summer dresses and a couple of flowy summer tops. Try to be as specific as you can and give yourself time to truly identify your needs. If you shop without a clear direction, then you’re bound to “over shop” and ultimately spend too much money.
If you want some guidance on this step, I’d love to help. I create Seasonal Wardrobe Guides for ladies who don’t have the time and need assistance on building their seasonal wardrobe. Just fill out this form and you’ll receive a wardrobe guide based off of your answers.
Purchase Better Quality
Earlier I mentioned fast fashion and how it critically impacts our environment. In my opinion, it doesn’t mean that all fast fashion retailers are terrible. They can be very reasonable in cost, which then makes it tough to completely ignore them. Therefore, I believe we can still shop at fast fashion retailers during our transition to slow fashion. Here are some tips on how to shop for better quality.
The most important and probably the easiest identifier is the fabric of the garment. Touch and feel the fabric as much as you can, your hands will tell you if this item is poorly developed. The quality of the fabric should also be expressed in the cost of the garment. Next focus on the construction of the item, make sure threads or any detailing are well put together. Something that has threads sticking out can easily lead to tears and means it was made much too fast. This type of garment is not worth your time nor your money.
Another big one is a two-for deal (BOGO), this typically happens with basics. It usually means that these garments are poorly developed and selling two at a low cost does not matter. Because the retailers are most likely making a decent profit. I believe some companies mean well and do offer great deals. Therefore, you be the judge and remember to touch and examine the garment before making a purchase.
Purchasing better quality help ensures my garments will last longer. Ultimately helping me to save more money and time in the long run. Shopping for better quality is only one step to getting your garments to last longer. Those annoying care labels we usually cut off are actually extremely vital to the longevity of your clothes.
Read The Care Labels
Doing laundry is not fun and that is that, but it’s something we all have to do so why not do it right. After spending your precious time and hard-earned money on perfect garments for your wardrobe, take the time to properly care for them.
Here’s a simple tip – separate your garments between dark and light – if the items aren’t super filthy then you’re usually safe to wash them with cold water on a delicate cycle and dry with low heat/delicate. I find it best to look at the labels of items I am unsure about. Some blouses and sweatshirts typically have special requirements. Take the time to glance at the label before cutting them off. If it’s something unique you’re mostly going to remember when it comes time to be laundered.
Be sure to store and hang your garments based on the construction. Hanging a knitted sweatshirt can stretch it out over time or cause those horrible hanger molds on the shoulders. Try folding these if you have the shelf space or hang them through the hanger like you would pants. You may also want to try this with certain dress styles, be mindful of straps and the weight of the garments.
Now Fall In Love
Building a wardrobe you love shouldn’t cost a fortune and doesn’t have to be the “out with the old, in with the new” method of fast fashion. Your style, budget, and time can all bask in the glory of slow fashion, all while the environment gets a much needed breather from the constant pollution of this industry we hold so dear. Following my method and approach to slow fashion can really help you to save money and time, all while building a wardrobe you love.
When it comes time to getting rid of your clothes try gifting to friends with a similar style as you or find secondhand stores that will appreciate your clothing as much as you have. There are also online platforms that allow you to sell your clothing and accessories. Now for those items that are damaged and unwearable try to find ways to upcycle them: rags, pet blankets, pillow stuffing, etc. There are many retailers that will recycle unwearable clothing for you (The North Face, Levi’s, H&M, Madewell, Zara) and some will even provide a discount in exchange.
This entire process takes patience so remember to take it slow and enjoy the ride. You’re on to something good here.
Thanks for reading. XoXo
