Buy Nothing New : Fashion

Shopping on a whim, or because it was too good a deal to pass up, or in a hurry, under pressure, with screaming kids (or the ones who disappear into clothes rails playing hide and seek – used to be mine!) can lead us to a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. Follow our top tips to have a closet full of clothes you love and zero stress when it comes to choosing an outfit.

Shopping your own wardrobe means looking through fresh eyes at what you already have and creating outfits.

Step one: get some you time. This is not a task you want to leave half done as none of us enjoy the burden of piles of clothes all over the ‘floor-drobe’! It’s up to you whether you do this alone or gather a couple of friends who know you well. I got my daughter to help me.

Did you know? The fashion industry accounts for 8-10 per cent of global carbon emissions and nearly 20 per cent of waste water on the planet.

Step two: Wardrobe audit

Do a quick and honest appraisal of all the clothes you own. No judgement on how much you have or past choices! Start by getting everything out and run each garment past your ‘gut-instinct’. Place into the following piles:

·       Favourites: I love it, I feel awesome wearing it, I wear it a lot

·       Not sure: I love it but don’t wear it much because I’m not sure how/ not sure it suits me

·       Pass it on: OMG I hate it, I feel like a sack of spuds/my granny/mutton dressed as lamb (delete as appropriate 🤣) I never wear it, I don’t really want to wear it

 Short on time? Use your hangers: Try this simple step to declutter your wardrobe: put all your hangers facing in one direction and when you’ve worn something put it back in the wardrobe facing the other direction. You’ll easily be able to see what you've actually worn and what you can let go of.

Step three: re-try on all of your favourite pieces. Make sure they fit properly, check for repair needs – are they so worn that can’t be repaired and won’t be worn again? Divide into a fix-it pile or add to the  pass it on pile. Run them against similar items in your closet to check for duplicate or similar items – do you need more than 1? If no, pop the least fav in the pass it on pile. Put all the keepers on good hangers or fold neatly ready to wear and put them all away. Do not leave unwearable items in your closet—I repeat, do not leave unwearable items in your closet!

A top tip I liked: Revamping your current style aesthetic could be as simple as adding a button-up under one of your favourite dresses, making it office chic, or layering a blazer on top to take the cool level up a notch. Going outside your comfort zone should be your state of mind when exploring new looks for yourself. Explore unique colourways, or choose pieces you usually never would—something with bold patterns, texture, or a structural silhouette.

Step four: Have a styling session with the not sure pile. If you know what you like, try on the not sure garments with different jackets, shoes and accessories from your loved pile. Check your friends opinion if you are unsure. If you are a bit like me and not 100% clear on what style you want is to find content inspiration and build a little style reference deck for yourself. Try making a Pinterest board or bookmarking style tips and outfits on Instagram and going from there. Kick out anything that still doesn’t sit right/ match your style onto the pass it on pile. Anything you choose to keep, hand or fold and put away.

Step five: Sort your pass it on pile. Make a pile for recycling (not fit to wear anymore) donation (to a charity or 2nd hand service), selling (eBay, Vinted, Depop are all great places to sell good quality clothes) or a clothes swap for similar iterations that you don’t like as much. Have another pile of items you don’t wear or that are damaged, and decide if they can be mended or upcycled.

Another hot-tip that should be in everyone’s toolbox that’s both elevated and effortless is a head to toe tonal look in any colour. Lean into mixing genres and “vibes” by pairing tennis shoes with silk dresses or heels with track pants. By daring to try unique combinations, your wardrobe starts to feel new to you, and you can resist the temptation of buying extra pieces you don’t need.

Step 6: Organise for success. As you are reintegrating items back into your closet, consider organising by colour and style. This will help reveal if you have too much of the same thing or lack options in a specific category. It will also simplify getting dressed. Once you’re aware of everything you own, you can shop with intention and consume more responsibly by choosing items you genuinely need. Shopping this way has helped empower me and make me feel good about my purchasing habits, avoiding impulses and buying things I don’t need or already have.

 Step seven: Mind the gap & shop your values. Your wardrobe needs to be functional and reflect you and your lifestyle. By piecing together new combo’s and ditching what doesn’t work for us we start to see our true personality coming through. Gaps may crop up when you really get to know what you have and there are cost effective, sustainable ways to fill them so you can feel awesome and ditch the guilt.

The endless creation of clothes for new trends comes with a heavy environmental and social impact. The fashion industry is one of the worst for pushing consumers to buy new to stay on trend. There are now so many ways to shop secondhand and avoid buying new, save money and still get what you need. Visit your local charity shops or Head to a Swish - these events are like a private viewing of an amazing clothing outlet, often served with a glass of fizz and a lot of fun! Join us at a Lil Swish – visit the events page to find out more.

Lastly, when you do decide to shop to fill a gap, it’s important to strive to integrate items that are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also in alignment with your values. This helps you curate a closet that is sustainable, ethical, and makes you proud. When you purchase clothing with integrity and a beautiful story to boot, you tend to take better care of your items and hang on to the items you love longer—and that’s one of the most mindful messages conscious consumers can spread.

Useful apps

For second hand searches – great for both designer items and everyday finds.

Depop

Vinted

Ebay – for second hand (remember to filter for used condition) everything!

Good on you – to check out the ethical and sustainability rating of brands for anything you can’t get secondhand.

Shop your own wardrobe