Things that helped me in my sustainable fashion journey - for anyone just getting started :)

I've been shopping and wearing pretty much only secondhand clothing (with the exception of underwear and a few items I don't feel comfortable with secondhand) since 2020.

I'd say 90% or more of my wardrobe is secondhand at this point, and I've also curbed my shopping habits a lot to save money, consume less, and enjoy what I have more.

Before I get into it, I also just want to say that wherever you are on your sustainability journey is a good place to be. Even if you don't choose as strict of a moral code for shopping as I do, I think it's good when anyone tries to be more conscious and sustainable in their own way. I'm not here to shame anyone or berate them for 'not doing enough.'

Here's a few things that have worked well for me:

1. Only buy secondhand - Since 2020, I've thrifted pretty much all of my clothes. There are so many clothes out there that already exist (and are getting discarded + adding to pollution/overconsumption), so I morally cannot justify buying brand new clothes. Doing this has made my personal style so much more unique and cool. I'm known among friends, family, and coworkers as someone who has amazing style, and people come to me for advice more than when I was a shopaholic buying everything influencers told me to. This is because I don't follow microtrends, and my wardrobe is full of one-of-a-kind things you could only find at a vintage or thrift store. Plus, I have to go shopping in-person (or to specific online thrift stores), which makes the entire shopping experience more intentional. I can't hit "add to cart" easily online.

2. Shop by season - I used to be a bit of a shopaholic, so these days I only allow myself 1 shopping trip per quarter (4 trips a year). This has helped me quit emotional shopping and has forced me to be so much more intentional in what I buy. When I go shopping, I go in with a plan and don't really deviate from it. I only shop when I need it.

3. Swap out your wardrobe seasonally - I live in AZ, so I really only have to do this twice a year, but when one season ends, I box up all those clothes and store them, then unpack the clothes from the season I need and have those out and available in my closet. This helps me have a better idea of what's actually in my wardrobe instead of having things get lost in the mix. It also makes me feel like I just went shopping when the seasons change, and I remember all the cool clothes I have from the new season.

4. Shop for your life IRL, not you online - Social media, Pinterest, etc. is all full of microtrends and it's easy to feel like you "need" things you don't in order to be stylish. For example, this winter fur coats/faux fur coats were all over social media, and for a minute there, I really wanted one. But I live in Arizona, where it will literally always be too hot for a fur/faux fur coat. A past me would have bought it and had it sit in the closet and maybe wear it once when I travel to a cold place. But that's a waste of money and space, and by the time I'd have a place to wear it, the trend would have passed. Instead of shopping for the fictional me that only exists on IG, I shop for the real me. And she wears more sundresses and shorts than fur coats. This is also why I don't have a ton of formal wear or tailored suits in my wardrobe. Because IRL, I just don't need it even though it's trending online.

5. Use Good On You and other resources - For the things I can't get secondhand (for me personally, I just can't do secondhand underwear, for example), I use Good On You, The Ethical Fashion Directory, and Remake to help me find brands that align with my personal values.

6. Learn to make, mend, launder, and upcycle clothes - My mom taught me to sew as a kid, so I'm really lucky to have that skill. But over the last 4 years, I've invested a lot of time into perfecting that skill and leveling up. My clothes last much longer because I know how to mend them and make them last. I have also taught myself a lot about laundering different clothes and textiles at home to help the things I own last longer. Also, when I want something I can't find at a thrift store, I thrift something similar and use my skills to make it into what I want (but better bc I designed it!).

7. Be kind to yourself! Nobody is perfect! - Switching to sustainable fashion/lifestyle is hard. Sometimes you will 'break' one of your personal shopping 'rules', or you'll buy something you don't need. That is ok. Just by making an effort, you're doing something great. Stick with it because I promise your wallet, your mental health, and your personal style will thank you! :)