For many fashion lovers, our New Year’s resolutions have included seemingly lofty ambitions like buying more second-hand clothes, visiting charity shops, and avoiding fast fashion. But in reality, for many of us, all this is easier said than done. So this year, we asked the experts. How can we make our wardrobes more sustainable?
Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a fashion psychologist and Big dress energy. She believes the majority of people resort to buying fast fashion as a result of the pressure to wear new clothes to their next event. , “Think about how you want to feel, what energy you want to emit, what you want to look like,” she told Hypebae.Connecting these three things, think about what you already own in order to buy a wardrobe. You may already own one, but you’re swayed by the ideology that newer is better,” she adds.
Celebrity stylist Amy Bannerman has previously worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Sophie Turner and Jonathan Van Ness. She believes the first step toward a more sustainable wardrobe is to consider longevity when buying new things. Will it fit my existing wardrobe, or do I need to buy additional items to make it work?’” Bannerman also says that when we add to our wardrobe, , begin to consider aftercare. “I also look to see if it washes well. I’ve found that a lot of sweaters don’t look very good when washed,” she explains, noting that quality knitwear often stands the test of time. Added.
We partnered with Forbes-Bell and Bannerman to create a 5-step guide to building a more sustainable wardrobe in the year ahead. Read on to find out some important tips.
1. Start researching new buying decisions
In his book, Forbes-Bell details the 4321 rule, which provides a useful process for analyzing future purchasing decisions. Four encourages you to ask yourself, “Would your ideal future self want to wear this outfit four years from now?” Three considers three outfits that can incorporate their new purchases, or three different occasions where they can be worn. Because shopping drives a surge of dopamine and adrenaline, we often become biased towards making more thoughtless decisions in the process. It gives you space to think seriously about the decisions you are making. Finally, one represents a good night’s sleep. Forbes-Bell believes that even after each of these steps, if you’re sure there’s a reason you’re making a new purchase, it’s likely to be a welcome addition to your wardrobe.
2. Find out what’s not working in your current wardrobe and fix it
Wardrobe decluttering may seem like the most obvious option, but it really is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It’s changing and evolving, and what worked well months ago may no longer feel right. Consider pieces that don’t fit or never fit, styles that you like but need to replace (or buy a higher quality version), and most importantly, pieces that need a little more love. Think about the items you no longer wear for trivial reasons, such as missing buttons or being too long. Is tailoring and repair possible? Garment repair services such as The Seam and Sojo do a great job of making minor modifications to items for a fraction of the price.
3. Find your favorite brands on pre-owned platforms and sell on those brands too
For many of us, designer items aren’t always the most cost-effective, so it’s often easier to rely on cheaper brands.but even shopping Them Branded second-hand goods make a small but impactful impact. The less the need for new items, the less the brand produces, which affects the supply and demand system. Basically, the less new products you consume, the better for everyone else. He suggests starting by turning your attention to ‘classic staples’, avoiding trend-driven ones that will become trendy.
4. There are many reasons to go to a charity shop
One of the first steps most of us consider to be more sustainable is to shop at a charity shop.However, to create a system very It’s important to combine your shopping at the charity shop with your donation for maximum impact. Bannerman also believes that to truly maximize the charity shop, it’s important to make it part of your regular routine. “That doesn’t mean you go out one day and expect to find that dream item. It just means that every time you pass you stop by and do a rail scan in literally two to three minutes. Good stuff.” If you want to get it, you have to put in the time, like doing sit-ups and going on dates,” she explains.
5. Borrow someone else’s wardrobe
As Forbes-Bell puts it, key opportunities often lead to overzealous and unnecessary buying decisions. So before buying anything new, it’s worth considering items that are still new, rather than completely new. your Wardrobe. That’s where fashion rentals come in. Platforms such as ByRotation, HURR, and Rotaro feature an ever-growing selection of the designer’s items to rent from the platform itself or from other fashion lovers across the country, perfect for special occasions.
