5 easy ways to build a better wardrobe
I completely turned my shopping habits upside down just over a year ago, and since doing so the biggest question I've gotten has been: How do you start shopping more consciously? (Well, the first question is usually, How the heck did you stop shopping for nine months??)
If you want to start incorporating fair practices into your clothing and building a better wardrobe, here are five baby steps you can take today.
Lay off the guilt trip. When I saw The True Cost, the documentary on the ugly truth behind the fashion industry, my first thought was basically, "Welp, guess I need to burn all my clothes." Shortly followed by, "A bonfire seems wasteful and possibly illegal." If you choose to move toward an ethical, sustainable and/or minimal (basically any -al) closet, don't pressure yourself to go all-in overnight. This is certainly a take-joy-in-the-process kind of thing. Relish learning more about the companies and the craftspeople who are doing this well. Soak in the idea of a totally new shopping paradigm. These aren't clothesβthey're stories. They're how you are speaking up for the millions of garment workers who can't speak for themselves and helping to shift one of the dirtiest industries in the world. Celebrate your change and take it slow.
Do a detox. While you certainly don't need to purge everything you've ever bought from H&M, a detox is a great place to start. By being super honest with yourself about what you do and don't need, you can start to see a) where the holes in your closet are and b) what your vices are. Do you own 97 black sweaters? Do you still have every pair of jeans you've bought since sophomore year of college? Might be time for a detox. If you need help, I have a free five-day email course called #TheFoxDetox that's right up your alley! Need a little more help? I also made you a 35+ page ebook that walks through the steps of the detox (and oh so much more) to help you Build a Closet You Love.
Make a wishlist. When you do decide to shop (I needed to take a nine-month shopping break), start with a wishlist. I've talked about the importance of a wishlist before. It's pivotal in making the choice not to binge shop, stress shop or bored shop. A wishlist can make us slow down our rate of consumption and buy us some time to think about what our true need is. Having a wishlist is your secret weapon to building a wardrobe with intention. (I even made a handy fill-in-the-blank wishlist just for you if you pop in your email below.)
Mix and match. This part is sooo fun. This is your chance to start incorporating pieces from different eras, methods of manufacturing and even countries. In this outfit, I'm wearing a vintage shirt from a trip to New York (vintage=sustainableβYAY!), Urban Outfitters jeans I've had forever (aka definitely not sustainable but I've had them for years and worn them a million times), sustainably made Italian loafers from Everlane and a vintage clutch from Etsy. I know many people are worried about the monetary investment that comes from fair fashion but don't forget that vintage and secondhand are the most sustainable forms of fashion. Just try to look for better fabrics and construction so they meet the 30 wear rule we talked about in the wishlist blog post. For example, just a couple days ago I bought a 100% cashmere cardigan and 100% wool sweater at Goodwill for $4. Winning.
Consider who you follow. I'm certainly not going to tell you to immediately unfollow every fashion blogger or influencer you know. But what I will tell you is to either take a quick audit or simply start to be mindful as you scroll through Instagram or any other social media. Do the people you follow make you want to spend money you don't have? Do they only post about their new haul or $12 pair of Zara shoes or make you feel like what you have isn't good enough? Consider following women who share your values, encourage and even help educate and becoming more intentional with your social media.