Choose Well. Buy Less

 

ENJOY DECEMBER!

Buy Less, Choose Well & Make It Last  – these wise words were spoken by iconic British designer Vivienne Westwood. In a live interview, Westwood spoke about capitalism and the need to change our spending behavior and address the ethical and environmental issues of the fashion industry.  There are many reasons why you may want to buy less closet items. You may want to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing production, break the fast fashion cycle, or curb some psychological reasons for shopping.  Or, you may just be tired of buying clothes that don’t FIT well. 

Consider this as 2023 Plans or New Year's Resolution that could have limitless possibilities. 

• Intentional purchasing - ✔
• Less overall volume - ✔
• More satisfying solutions - ✔
• Wearability and Fit - ✔ and ✔

When it comes to making better fashion choices we have two options. Option 1: you can spend money on a large quantity of low-quality pieces that are trendy right now but are cheap enough to discard once the 'gram has seen them.  Option 2: you can spend the same amount of money buying fewer pieces that are high-quality, go with almost every outfit, and will last for the next few years. We are all guilty of thinking we get good value from Option 1. But it’s not long before all those pieces end up at the back of your closet, never to be worn again. The true value comes from having a wardrobe of outfits that you’ll wear time and time again. 

Do you shop for trends every season and/or Shop because of boredom? 

The first step to buying less clothes, is to figure out why you are buying clothes. Examine the things that give you the urge to shop. If it’s sales and trends, you might question the brands you’re shopping. Clothing brands, especially fast fashion companies, encourage you to get more, more, more. They benefit from making you feel like you have to reinvent yourself. - If you’re bored, look at what you’re doing when you get the urge to shop. Are you browsing Pinterest, or are some ads piquing your interest? It has become so easy to click, and add another piece of clothing to your basket when shopping online, so try going outside to the stores. 

 

Will you Love it for a Lifetime?

How much use you’ll get out of an item is the cornerstone of determining its actual cost to you. A $25 dollar purse might feel like a great buy in the moment, but 6 months or a year down the road will you still be using it? Will it have held up well? Will you still love the style? If you don’t, can you resell it? There's a chance the impulse-buy bag is likely made out of plastic or other synthetic materials, with construction commensurate to its price tag. It may look cute on the shelf, but after 6 months of heavy use (because we all know our go-to bags take a beating), it will likely be fraying or worn. 

Take Better Care of the Clothes you Have.

Even if you can’t replace your entire wardrobe, one thing we can all do is take better care of our clothes. Simple things like checking the care instructions can ensure your clothes don’t become worn out and dull over time. Washing your clothes less frequently in general not only helps maintain the quality of your clothing, but is also better for the environment as it reduces water waste and water pollution from detergents. Another great way to make your clothes last longer is to learn how to do basic repairs. Being able to replace a button or stitch up a small rip in your clothing means you can avoid throwing away pieces that are otherwise still wearable.

Do you remember your Mom telling you about separating your garments into whites and colors, and not mixing delicates with tougher fabrics? There was some good reasoning behind that after all. Make it last!  Buying less, choosing well and making it last speaks beyond our clothes. It is about a way of life where we have a sustainable and kind collaboration with the environment, which provides us with so much of our livelihood. There's a lot of talk lately about 'Slow & Sustainable Fashion'.

So, what is Slow/Sustainable Fashion?

Slow fashion is about shopping intentionally and realizing that less is better. It is making the purposeful choice to buy better-quality items, less often than purchasing cheap items frequently. Sustainable fashion, also called "eco fashion". The goal is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely regarding human impact on the environment and social responsibility. It can be seen as an alternative trend against Fast fashion.  Read about some of the best brands Here.

Set Criteria that New clothing needs to Meet.

Create a specific list that your clothing needs to meet, so you can eliminate things you don’t need before you even buy them. Do you work in an office or need sturdy clothes for the outdoors? Do you have to run to daycare twice daily, or do you need to dress up often? Does your clothes really fit your lifestyle?  Is it worth it if you only wear it a few times?  Having a wish list curbs impulse buying, and you can create an inspirational mood board with a few photos of your loved pieces.

My criteria for purchasing new clothes is simple. One new item in, one Out. In other words, one old item has to go, so I can reuse the hanger. If you’ve already made the switch to slow fashion, and want to share. Let us know. . .What you choose and why?  And, Are you still loving them today?  

** Thanks for Visiting! This post is F Y E. I'm not a Stylist/Fashion Consultant, and NOT giving any advice here! If you like this post, please comment & Email it to others.  Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin, and Pinterest Or Subscribe to see More.**