Clothing was once highly valued, handed down, and recycled. It used to be normal for fashion designers to offer two clothing collections per year, one in summer and one in winter. But now clothing is becoming a cheap throw away commodity with new collections offered every month. We are all encouraged to get in quick to purchase the latest fashions, while the clothing which was fashionable a few months ago is discarded or pushed to the back of our wardrobes.
There is a solution. You can look great, save money and reduce your impact on the planet by making smart choices. Just invent your own look which expresses your individual personality – this will never go out of style.
First of all, have a think about what types of clothing works best for you. For example, high waisted pants, A-line dresses and gladiator sandals are not designed to suit everyone. Make fashion work for you instead.
Have a look through your wardrobe and pick out all the clothes you like to wear and make you feel good. They might be your favourites because of their colour, fit, fabric or the fact that you always get compliments every time you wear them. Put some outfits together using your favourite clothes and make a list of the things such as garments or accessories such as belts that would make your wardrobe more wearable and versatile. Maybe you could stretch you existing wardrobe by refashioning an outfit with accessories such as belts or trims?
You can take this list with you the next time you’re out shopping. Knowing what you need before you shop means you can avoid making mistakes with impulse buys. You might even find you don’t need any more clothes.
Next, have a look at what’s left in your wardrobe. Pull out any clothes which you still like to wear but seem a bit tired, need repairing or no longer fit. Could these clothes be altered into something you would wear? Why not add a fancy trim, sew on that missing button or get them altered by a local dressmaker into something you’ll enjoy wearing again?
Finally, put out all those clothes you haven’t worn for more than a year. You can donate, swap or sell them and you’ll make more room for the clothes you’ll love.
Armed with your wardrobe audit list you are now in control of your clothes shopping and less likely to be influenced by advertisements telling you what you should buy. You know what you really need and what you’ll look good wearing.
When shopping, avoid clothes that pill or stretch, or impulse buys you’ll never wear. Quality clothes can cost more initially, but in the long run they will last longer, especially if you look after them. Other questions to consider when shopping are:
Op-shops and second hand shops are great places to pick up some really stylish pieces. The other bonus of this type of shopping is that you’ll save money and be the envy of your friends with one-of-a-kind clothes which can’t be copied. Op-shops and second hand shops often have a good range of baby clothes.
Have a look out for vintage clothing shops too. Vintage clothes are second hand and date from the 1920s to 1950s, while clothes from the 1960s to 1980s are known as retro. Many fashion designers get their inspiration from the past and you can do this too by investing in classic vintage garments which never go out of style.
Buy something you love and will keep forever, avoid buying something you don’t really want just because it’s a bargain. If you find that you really want to keep up with the latest in fashion try doing it through accessories. This will save you money and reduce the waste which ends up in the landfills.
Finally, don’t forget to avoid unnecessary packaging and take your own reusable bag with you so you don’t need to use the store’s one.
Once you’ve spent money on clothes you’ll want them to last. Look out for moths particularly at the beginning of autumn and in spring. Brush and shake your clothes and open cupboard doors to let sunlight in. Keep a look out for moth eggs in all your clothes.
Make any necessary repairs quickly so you can keep wearing your favourite clothes (why not put that little kit with buttons and fabrics supplied with some garments to work?) or try darning those expensive wool socks instead of throwing them away. If you can’t mend your clothes yourself, get in touch with a friend or dressmaker to help.
Excessive washing of clothes increases wear and tear and who’s got time to be constantly washing clothes anyway? By washing clothes only when they need it you can also save money on your power bill. You can save even more if you wash full loads of clothing at the lowest temperatures and eliminate using a dryer and ironing. You’ll also be reducing your carbon ‘footprint.’
Using a washing line to dry your clothes means they will smell fresher from being out in the sun. Another bonus is that the ultraviolet rays from the sunlight are also great disinfectants and can kill bacteria and you don’t need to spend as much time ironing line dried clothes either.
If you don’t have a washing line, try drying your clothes on a clothes rack in the bathroom with the window slightly open for ventilation. Small laundry items can be hung up in your airing cupboard.
