Fashion Week came, the catwalks conquered, filling fashions magazine’s pages with content, that most of our bank accounts wont let us day dream about… Yet after fashion week left a country or city near you, we are still left with the age old question what will we wear? especially since seasons are changing and spring will be upon us. and with our out of wack climate changed seasons being the newest seasonal trend, summer will be here asap!

the shows in Paris, Milan, London and New York city had us feeling inspired to look at our own wardrobes, to see what could use a little zhuzh. Fashion Week offers us another Inspirational reminder! while the fashion industry has acknowledged and talked about ways to be more sustainable….. we still witnessed elaborate runways which after a ten minute show, sets will end in a landfill. attendance was lower this year as buyers and attendees decided to sit out the seasons parade of shows and cut back on their travel, leaving behind the mayhem and unsustainable practices that are fashion week. Yet those who did attend, some arriving from industry paid first class flights and jets, to enter running cars to be whisked away to events. sipping on water from single use plastic bottles. leaving events with brand filled goodie gift bags filled with yet again single use products. as many other media outlets had also Noted, this year and Previous years the endless waste that does comes with these limited time Extravaganzas.

our continual observations of the fashion industry Has us rethinking how we approach our love of fashion. and how we can translate our individual styles, while knowing it takes all of us to make sustainable choices. While the fashion industry might have a beyond murky relationship with their image of trying to be eco friendly, there are still ways we can alter our fashion consumption by adopting thoughtful and useful practices to make our wardrobes more sustainable. especially when revising our look for a season or special event. And while greenwashing isn’t just limited to the fashion industry, there are ways we can make fashionable, conscious choices in our closets.

1. Rent Your Next Wardrobe Purchase

we suggest the next time you have an event or special occasion stay on your couch, and shop from the many fashion rental sites. Not only do you get to shop from a treasure trove of designers and styles, but the items are delivered to your front door. another benefit in renting your Wardrobe is that you don’t need to rent just for an Elaborate Function, renting your wardrobe is great for that short period of time during and after pregnancy, when you don’t want to buy a whole new closet yet you still want to feel comfortable and look great in what your wearing. Another occasion to think about renting wardrobe items is when you are heading to a seasonal location that varies from where you live, like heading to the mountains for a trip to the snow, or to a location that is rainy and wet, or the always dreamy yet warm tropics. renting clothing items allows you the flexibility to wear Pieces that will help you feel great for any special Occasion that arrives, while helping keep items from needlessly being bought for an event And then having the garment pointlessly sitting in your closet afterwards. Another way to be Sustainable in your choices of clothing is to pick materials that are made and developed in a more Conscious ways ie. cotton vs polyester.

2. On-line Consignment Shopping

Thankfully consignment shopping has come along way, from the era of dark musky smelling shops you had to head to in previous eras to find second hand items. the process of shopping second hand also Meant that you were likely had to shift through mounds of items. enter the internet, Shopping Consignment is now easily done online, no matter what you might be on the hunt for, from gently used items from luxury brands, furniture, or collectables. buying things second hand helps keep still desired items From needlessly ending up in the trash. shopping consignment is so much easier thanks to websites developing a seamless shopping experience that allows shoppers to sort by brand, style, size, with notes on the items condition so you are aware of what you are buying.

3. organize And Invest In Your Wardrobe Staples

Our closets can easily be overwhelmed by clothing items. A key step in analyzing what works for us and our wardrobes is by organizing our closets. This can be overwhelming for many. so we have an easy 3 step process to follow. Step 1 go through all wardrobe items pick Out Your always clothing items. this is not a time to be judge mental, grab all items that you naturally gravitate towards each day. Your Always Items can be anything from a classic blouse, to Your Favorite High wasted leggings, or a vintage motorcycle jacket, or maybe an OG 1990’s hair scrunchie,  again no judgment here. These are your “always” items. With your always items group them together, see what you have in this pile, maybe some pieces might go together for an outfit or not, if you don't have anything that goes together to make a complete outfit don't worry. 

Step 2  is to go shopping in your closet look for items that might be complementary to your “always” pile. In the second step, note items that you might not be comfortable with wearing. Our tip here is to look up inspirational styling options whether it be on Pinterest, your favorites Hollywood stylist, or even on Instagram. If you are able to layout an outfit, take a picture of it. This will help you on the days you are in a rush, need inspiration, or find yourself in a style rut. If you find that a piece of clothing still is not melding with your wardrobe, this is a great time to decide if the item should be donated or passed on, RIP.

Step 3 make a note of where you are missing items in your wardrobe. Going through the hassle of getting organized pays off, you are less likely to spend on trendy fast fashion that we all know is awful for the the environment and will likely not work for your closet. You have a clear mindful Picture of what you actually need, and you can invest in quality items that are likely to be more sustainable purchases as they can hold up with the longevity of use.

Shopping Guide

4. Mend and repair clothing

a great pay off to staying away from fast fashion, is that your beloved sweater or shoes that you’ve had forever, and that you invested in buying a quality made product, is the Likelihood for you to be able be repair or mend your favorite Garment is more probable. so instead of Immediately discarding a damaged item, try taking it to your local taylor. better yet google or lookup on youtube how to repair, sometimes a simple sewing kit is all that you need.

the same goes for your favorite flats or heels, if the sole of the shoe is wearing thin take it to get resoled. there is also hope for Your favorite purse if it’s damaged. inquire a shoe repair shop which might be able to help with purse repairs. again getting the longevity out of your wardrobe is key, and what you want when investing in wardrobe essentials, and thoughtful when also thinking of ways we can positively impact our environment.