As the 'Second-hand September' initiative is coming to a close it seemed a great time to think about what's happening in the fashion world.
What is (realistically) out there for those of us who are getting a bit sick of fashion excess and crazy consumerism.
Recently I was listening to a friend's concerns about her teenage daughter's addiction to shopping.
She's not getting into debt or buying above her means (many people are though!) BUT she does NEED a new dress/outfit for every event she attends.
She enjoys buying new clothes and buys cheap and poorly made items to wear once then toss.
Not an expensive hobby in monetary terms but the environmental impact is certainly pricey.
As is feeling the emotional 'need' for something new every time you go anywhere.
Do you remember the days when we had 3 sets of clothes?
Back in the day, I had:
- School uniform... a skirt, tights, blouse, jumper and tie) + sensible shoes (with segs) + duffle coat + canvas satchel.
- Sunday best (or similar)... a hand-me-down outfit (usually a dress or skirt and top) plus the same shoes and coat as for school.
- Play clothes... usually old Sunday best and/or a pair of dungarees + some plimsolls and a pack-a-mac.
Can you relate?
I'm in danger of sounding like an old fuddy-duddy here BUT I miss those days of really cherishing an item of clothing.
Yes, I own pieces that I LOVE today but that feeling is not even close to being the same.
It's great that we all have so much choice and availability BUT the 'wear once and cast-aside' mentality is not what I aspire to.
If you are a bit of a fashion addict (like me) but love the idea of...
- Saving some money.
- Getting your wardrobe more organised.
- Feeling more connected to your clothes.
- Honing your personal style.
How can we do our bit without being stylistically miserable?
First of all... second hand September is a great idea.
It makes us all think a little more about what we actually NEED... not just what we want.
It stops those impulsive shops (I'm guilty of those).
It supports local and global charities.
All good right?
YES...
BUT hang on a minute.
What if we just revert back to type after September, and maybe even go crazy in a strange... "Look how good I was in September, I deserve a treat" logic.
It's easy to do, isn't it?
We've done without for a while so we SPURGE.
So, I challenge you not to buy.
I don't mean don't buy ANYTHING at all, just try not to buy anything without giving it some serious thought.
And don't buy anything on impulse or a whim.
Maybe try not to buy anything NEW in that time?
Only buying pre-loved, recycled, upcycled, second-hand?
Can it be done?
Could you do it?
Read THIS POST which includes some tips to help you shop LESS.
There are loads of ways to jump on the second-hand bandwagon.
You can even get some high-end items if that's your bag... pardon the pun!
Save the planet?
Okay, we can't do that ourselves BUT every little bit helps doesn't it?
There is a quote that says...
"It's only ONE straw... said 6 billion people!"
Simple, modern and perfect.
If we all try to do our little bit maybe some of the horrific statistics you see might diminish slightly.
In the UK alone we buy over 1 million tons of clothing a year and over 2 thirds of it goes to landfill and incinerators.
Disgusting.
And we're only a small county.
AND that doesn't take into account the production of the clothes.
The poor working conditions and crap pay of the garment workers.
The environmental cost of production and the ENORMOUS amounts of surplus/old stock that also goes to waste.
It makes me sick.
Especially as I am part of the problem.
What can we do to help?
1. Restyle.
The best/easiest/cheapest way to tackle the problem is to wear the clothes you already own.
Look online (Pinterest is great) for inspiration.
Try different colour and texture combinations.
Blogs are another great source of inspo!
{Try using the search box in the sidebar to search for the style or colour you want to rework.}
You could even get pieces changed by taking them to a tailor (or getting the machine out yourself).
Giving old clothes a new lease of life feels great.
Of course, there are always items that will need to be replaced as they wear out.
AND some items (like underwear) can't really be bought second hand, can they?
BUT making better choices does make a difference.
2. Buy Quality.
Making some better quality choices means your clothes will last longer and you won't need to buy as many.
Charity shopping is a great idea BUT not if your local shops are full of rubbish.
Finding a real charity shop gem can be hard these days.
Most of the items are cheap fast-fashion pieces.
Finding genuinely fabulous items is almost impossible.
It takes serious effort, TIME and a good dollop of luck.
You could try some of the great second-hand sites:
- Obviously, there is good old eBay (ebay.co.uk and ebay.com)... approach with caution though, it's a minefield out there.
- Charity shops... local and online like Oxfam.org.uk, Shelter, BHF.com... they need some work put in to find the good stuff!
- Hewi (HardlyEverWornit.com). Second-hand designer buys.
- Vestiaire Collective (vestiairecollective.com). French site full of luxury brands.
3. Get a Rental.
If you are serious about not buying anything new for 3 months BUT need a fantastic new frock for a special event then you can always try renting.
There are some amazing rental sites out there.
- Hurr Collective (hurrcollective.com).
- Depop (depop.com). Mobile app.
- My wardrobe HQ (mywardrobehq.com). Selling and rental site that also offers style advice!
- HireStreetUK (hirestreetuk.com). Lower-end rentals.
Could YOU avoid buying anything NEW for 3 months?
I'm giving it a go... wish me luck!
