I’ve always been a “purger” of my closet. I have no problem getting rid of clothes I don’t wear – it’s cathartic for me. As I’ve gotten older, I think I’ve realized that too much “stuff” can be anxiety-inducing for me and ensue overwhelm.
BUT, when it comes to shopping for new clothes. I could be a bit more strategic and thoughtful about my purchases. I can fall into the trap of impulse purchasing and later experience buyers remorse. I can become the person that when I see something, I want it immediately. Sadly, for many of us, I think the days of Amazon Prime and instant gratification is an enabler to this problem.
I’ve seen a movement among many fashion bloggers and “influencers” that are steering away from “fast fashion” and making ethically conscious purchases – whether that be through thrifting, shopping locally, or putting their money towards ethical and environmentally sustainable brands.
Karla Reed (Instagram: @karlareed) is one that has recently shared her journey of moving away from “fast fashion” and focusing more on ethical brands, like ABLE, or well-known brands, like Madewell, who are making efforts to carry fair trade items in their stores.
On her Instagram platform, Karla has explained why she chooses to partner with certain brands and what you can expect in the quality of a product. She is also helpful in that she explains what is considered “sustainable” material, like cotton or tencel, and which are “no-no’s,” like polyester. When you pick up that cute shirt on your next Target run, check to see what it is made of. Note: You may have noticed Target is starting to carry fair trade clothing, which is great!
Karla recently partnered with ABLE, like I mentioned above, an ethical fashion brand that employs and empowers women as a solution to end poverty. They were kind enough to offer a 50% (!!) off code for their leather bags. I had been eying their bags for a while, but I couldn’t quite meet the price point. But, when I saw this 50% offer, I thought this was a rare occurrence and now was my chance to get a bag.
I picked up the Mamuye Classic Tote in the color “Whiskey”. It’s a great bag for carrying your laptop or using as a carry-on when you travel. You can tell it’s great quality leather and will last me for years to come.
Not soon after the 50% sale, ABLE announced they were having a Warehouse Sale. What?! So, I made a second purchase (and then I had to restrain myself…did i say this was a post about conscious shopping?, haha!) I got the Abera Convertible Backpack in the color “Cognac”. I’m really excited about this one because, with its detachable straps, it can be used as both a purse and/or a back-pack.
I also picked up the leather conditioner they offer, because if I’m going to invest in these pieces I need to take care of them!
Now these bags are on the high end in terms of price point, but they are what I consider “investment pieces”. Who is guilty of going to Target and picking up that shirt you never intended to buy or falling into a black hole of online shopping while indulging in your Saturday morning coffee? (Me!) Often times those quick, mindless purchases will not serve you in the long run. You should be asking: Do I need this? Will this fit seamlessly into my wardrobe (i.e. can be worn with several items)? Do I already have this in my wardrobe? (i.e. are you just adding to that pile of classic white t-shirts you already own?)
The struggle is real, and it can be hard to invest your money in more expensive pieces because of the initial sticker shock. But, it’s important to shift into a Cost-Per-Wear mindset.
Cost-Per-Wear
The cost of an item divided by the number of times you wear it.
Example via Clever Girl Finance:
Let’s say you own a pair of shoes that cost you $250 and a designer handbag that cost you $1000. At first glance, it seems like the shoes are the cheaper buy. However, if you’ve only worn the shoes twice your cost per wear is $125. If you wear your handbag every day for a month, your cost per wear is ~$33. So in reality, your handbag purchase is actually the cheaper and more sensible purchase!
Taking this philosophy into account, I’m making efforts to curate a closet of only items I LOVE to wear. Like I said earlier, I don’t have problems purging, but I really need to get to next level “Marie Kondo-ing” to create a closet where not one piece sits lonely for an extended period of time and my purchases are a thoughtful inclusion to my wardrobe.
Paige of Style This Life (Instagram: @stylethislife) does a great job of keeping a simple closet of a few items she loves for each season. In fact, she even keeps track of how many times she wears a particular item – again, back to the cost-per-wear philosophy. By doing this, you really see what items you gravitate toward the most, which in turn informs you on what kind of purchases you should (and should not) be making in the future. I have not tried this yet, but am intrigued. As Paige has shared, it’s as simple as writing out all your items on a clipboard, hanging it in your closet, and putting a check mark next to the items you wear each day. If you want something more “advanced” you could set up a spreadsheet or use the Cladwell App.
Kate at What Kate Finds (Instagram: @whatkatefinds) did a year of 5 finds in 2019, where she only bought five clothing items per month for the entire year. You can see how she did here. While I think I could constrain myself to five times a month (five purchases is a lot for me), I do think I could put in place a similar rule. Maybe a limit of 2 purchase a month? I think this is a great approach to pairing down those impulse buys and really think about what you are purchasing month-to-month.
With all of this said, there are many things you can do to create a more sustainable and ethical wardrobe and I’m making steps toward implementing a few myself.
- Look past initial sticker shock, and implement the cost-per-wear philosophy to make a thoughtful purchase.
- Buy second-hand. Check out a local thrift store or shop online platforms like Poshmark or The RealReal for quality items that are gently used and sometimes half the cost.
- Get a better understanding of your style preferences by ticking off items you wear each day.
- When you are on the hunt for a particular item, first check out brands who are implementing fair trade, ethical, and/or sustainable practices.
- Check labels. A shirt made of 100% cotton is most likely going to last longer than one that’s polyester.
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