How to Keep Loving Your Wardrobe (Without Buying Anything New)
It’s something a lot of us have difficulty doing: rewearing our same clothes over and over again.
Some fear judgement from others who might “notice” that they’re wearing the same outfit yet again. Most of us are so used to getting new items that we get “bored” from our current closet. Some believe our clothing is what will make people like us or not, requiring us to keep up with all the new trends and always buying new.
But remember, society’s consumerism mindset is what convinced you of that.
However, I do believe that fashion can be a great way to express ourselves, to be creative and feel confident. The items in your closet should definitely make you happy and feel good!
But how can we do this without constantly buying new items? What can we do to both reduce our closet purchases (and thus our socio-environmental impact), rewear our garments more often, AND still love our wardrobe?
Here are a few ways to do so:
Take part in 10x10 or other fashion challenges.
This is where you compile multiple outfits using the same few items of yours. For example, a 10x10 challenge makes you choose only ten items (usually tops, bottoms, dresses etc but excluding undergarments & footwear) which you mix and match for the entire ten days (without adding in any other items). Finding new outfit combinations within your wardrobe that you had never tried before both allows you to be creative and can make you fall back in love with items that you were no longer inspired by.
Separate your wardrobe into “capsules” that you rotate every season.
Not having worn certain items that were stored away for a few months might make them feel new again. If you look at your tops for example, you could choose ten tops for Summer, ten tops for Fall, ten tops for Winter, and ten tops for Spring. As you can see, this still allows you to have ample clothing (40 tops total in this example), yet challenges you to focus on only a few per season that you rewear for those few months. Choosing a variety of styles (especially if you live in a climate with ever-changing weather) in every capsule will help keep it fresh and versatile.
Have closet swaps with your friends.
Having new-to-you items will still make your closet feel renewed, without having to buy anything new. Even if you aren’t all the same size, many items such as jewelry and other accessories as well as some oversized/one-size over layers are exchangeable regardless of size. If you aren’t sure if you’re ready to let go of certain items, some friends simply borrow a few items from each other’s closets for a few months before returning them and choosing a few more again. This also helps you know if you’ve “missed” that item at all while your friend was using it, and if not, your friend might want to permanently add it to their wardrobe knowing they’ll make good use of it.
Always check secondhand sources first before buying anything new.
If you absolutely need to get a specific garment (say, for an important event), try to find ways to avoid buying new. This could be online, in thrift stores, or maybe even in a friend’s closet. Borrowing is even more sustainable than buying secondhand. Regardless of the secondhand source, it keeps that circular economy going!
If you do purchase, make sure it’s rewearable.
Whether you’re thinking of buying secondhand or not, make sure it’s a versatile item you can wear as part of multiple outfits. This is especially important with every day, casual or business casual items. These are the items you’ll likely wear the most, so having it only match one outfit means it will likely stay on the hanger. Being able to dress an item up or down is best. That being said, if your style is wearing a full sequin emerald green dress at Christmas, you don’t have to shy away from that side of you, but I’d encourage you to look into consignment shops in your area or online who might align with your style (making it a breeze to resell your special item after a few wears). You might also have a friend with a similar style who would want to occasionally borrow your more unique items as well. If it won’t necessarily be endlessly rewearable for you, having it be rewearable for others is key. (Note: this also includes taking care of your items by only washing on delicate or by hand, air drying, and following other care instructions. Loved clothes last!)
Is there anything else you do to ensure you appreciate your garments and love them longer? Let me know in the comments below! :)
Here’s to falling in love with our wardrobes again, ♡
-Chanelle oxo