Hello,
And welcome back to your Sunday 7 and yet again, I welcome you back after an unplanned blogging break of 3 weeks (… I think?!)
As I’ve said many times before, blogging/instagramming is a creative little outlet for me, both of which I enjoy immensely, but the past few weeks of #RealLife has been *very* demanding and well… something had to give…
… much as I like to think I am Super Woman and able to do EveRYtHiNG… I’m not.
Anyhow… I am back.
Regularly.
I hope!
Today I want to talk about #SlowFashionSeason, something I’ve mentioned previously, in recent blogposts…
… I signed up to it (Slow Fashion Season I mean…) which entailed not buying any new clothing for a 3 month period, from 21st June – 21st September.
However, not all shopping was banned: buying of secondhand / vintage / preloved… from charity shops, specialist vintage boutiques and of course, good old eBay *was* allowed.
The first thing to share with you on all of this is:
I BLOODY DID IT!
Vintage Dress (bought from the fabulous Preloved One Scoop Store) worn over a 20 year old Ghost Dress
I didn’t buy anything new for the full 3 months.
So how did I find it?
And what led me to signing up to #slowfashionseason exactly…?
1. The Build up – understanding myself:
I had a very big build up (aka psyching myself up…) to the whole #slowfashion movement (as it’s often called…) which started last summer.
When packing for a week’s holiday in August ’18, I found myself digging deep, right to the back of my wardrobe, not to mention rummaging through “to sell on eBay” bags of clothing, and aside from a couple of new tops (a vest top & a blouse, oh and a swimming cossie as well… ), my entire holiday wardrobe was old.
When I say old, I mean 13 – 20 years old.
13 year old Topshop dress
There was a small smattering of more recent purchases from that same Spring season (such as sandals…) but it was all old stuff.
And all of it was ‘on trend’ and current looking to be honest.
19 year old Ghost Bias cut satin skirt, worn August 18: Bias skirts hit the & saturated the high street a couple of months later for Autumn/Winter ’18
It was an all-inclusive holiday which meant I needed smarter, dressier clothing for the evenings which made a welcome change to my usual kid-centric, French campsite holidays: a golden opportunity to re-wear some gorgeous old pieces.
Instagram changing room try-ons had reached tipping point for me (last summer) with a relentless barrage of new-new-new stuff, with very little style & substance (for me!); there were people blogging about this phenomena, others taking to their grids to post defensive captions about their love of fashion… and as for me…?
… well I didn’t fancy sticking my oar in.
I didn’t want to get judgy and sanctimonious about stuff which I’d previously done myself.
Was still doing… regardless of the lower level / frequency of it… I was and had done a changing room try on and posted it on my Instagram stories, hadn’t I?!
Who am I to judge others who aren’t slowing down and who, may well *never* be ready to slow down?
#thisismyjourney #theresnojudgement #youdoyou and #I’lldome
My reaching for a holiday wardrobe made up of (almost) entirely old was an innate decision… I didn’t deliberately plan to do it, it just felt right.
I started to use hashtags such as ‘rewearing’ and ‘sustainable fashion’ or ‘slow style.’
Two months later, the Stacey Dooley’s Fast Fashion Secret’s was aired… highlighting the environmental destruction and cost to our planet… from our hunger for new.
Like others, I was pretty shocked by what was highlighted in the documentary.
And although I slowed my shopping *right* down to (an average of) just one, sometimes two purchases a month… I was still buying new, and blogging weekly, about ‘new in.’
Using the delusional argument to myself that I was merely inspiring others on Styling what they already have… in showing what the new trends are out there, and highlighting how most of us have similar in our wardrobes already.
But the writing was on the wall…
I just wasn’t willing to read it.
Another 19 year old Ghost skirt worn on holiday in Aug ’18 with a (then) new H&M Top and Topshop Bag
Until I found other inspiring accounts such as @notbuyingnew and watching @enbrogue (as per my blog interview) taking on a year long shopping ban (of new and preloved) and I guess, regardless of already following others who have always advocated secondhand only (such as @thestyleallie) there was something inside of me which clicked.
Something which made me think: I can do this too.
I’d been putting off watching the Netflix documentary “The True Cost” of the clothing we buy and wear because I knew the impact it would have on me.
(click the link to watch the trailer… then go watch the whole thing!)
It’s a harder hitting documentary than Stacey Dooley’s and it did the job for me.
Almost.
I will admit that, at the time of watching this second documentary, it was coming up to my birthday, (early June,) and I’d placed 3 orders with 3 different high street stores, (my go to’s at the time: Topshop, H&M and Zara…) but when the parcels arrived, nothing in them really excited me, nothing was made well, I barely tried most of it on.
I kept two pieces: some Lyocell shorts from H&M for work:
H&M Shorts worn with a Charity Shop cardi
And, this coated cotton, silver Jacket from Zara Men:
Silver Zara Jacket – bought from men’s collection for an oversized look
These were my last, *new* high street purchases this year, both were bought in early June.
And returning those pre-birthday H&M, Zara and Topshop orders…?
Far from feeling heavy hearted about it, returning the majority of the orders felt good.
I was *definitely* ready to commit to not buying new.
2. Three whole months of Not Buying New – how did I find it?
Honestly?
It’s not been too bad!
For the most part…
Perhaps because of my ‘gradual weaning’ off of buying too much?
As I say, from August 2018 through to early June this year, I’d slowed my shopping right down anyway and had started buying preloved items, like this Alexa Chung Safari Suit (skirt & jacket worn separately here) bought from One Scoop Store in March this year:
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- Preloved Alexa Chung safari skirt
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- … and the matching jacket!
I liken that frenzy for new season, must-have, latest and greatest to being an addict.
All of those little fibs we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better…? You know the ones:
- I love it, and will wear it loads
- It’s going to have to work hard for me, can I style it at least 3 ways?
- It was the last one left *and* it was *my* size: it was fate!
- I loved the blue version so much, now it’s out in green and in pink, I *neeeeeed* to have those as well
Etcetera, Etcetera…
I’ve used all those ‘shopaholic’ justifications to make purchases in the past.
And then some.
Hell, I’ve even been an #enabler on instagram in the past with the “of course you need it in both colours!” kind of comment.
I mean… who hasn’t?
It’s just for LOLS and Bantz, right?
Topshop Mensy Trousers bough from eBay – I already have these in Khaki and felt like I’d get the wear out of both colours for work: in reality, it’s just plain greedy & a bit unnecessary to have the same item in both colours.
Once I stopped buying anything new, and was forced to look at my own wardrobe… I realised how completely, chuffin’ HARD it is get items up to #30wears.
There are some items (jeans for example) which are easy to get to #30wears.
Here’s a quick bit of ‘Fashion Maths’ to highlight this point:
If you have 12 dresses in your wardrobe… and rotated those same 12 dresses, and wore nothing but THOSE 12 dresses for a whole year: you’d get to 30 wears per dress.
Most people (from what I see on Instagram) own ONE HELL OF A LOT MORE than just 12 dresses.
I own ONE HELL OF A LOT MORE than just 12 dresses!!
Add into the equation jeans, skirts, smart trousers, utility pants, jackets, blazers, coats, shackets, tops, tee’s, knitwear….
Well, you get the picture.
Within just a couple of weeks of not buying new, I certainly got the picture from my own wardrobe.
In the case of some dresses and pieces… it can take *years* to get to #30wears.
If ever.
I could see just how *wasteful* I had been, and honestly I’ve found that *really* difficult to admit to myself.
(I actually felt quite sick about it, especially after I’d watched The True Cost.)
I’ve injected a small smattering of ‘new to me’ in my wardrobe, across slow fashion season. All these preloved items were purchased via online secondhand boutiques, eBay and charity shops.
Although I question my own *compulsion* to continue shopping when I have a full, healthy looking wardrobe of my own at my disposal.
a preloved Jack Wills Gingham top, bought for £2 in a local vintage emporium
I have also bagged things up for charity shops and sold a couple of items on eBay; I’m even attempting to repurpose/ up-cycle/ re-fashion a few pieces into something I will like and wear more.
I am purging my wardrobe of all my historic wasteful purchases.
Hoping (maybe even a bit of praying!) that they will go on to loving new homes, and not landfill.
I unfollowed all high street brands on Instagram, unsubscribed to their weekly (daily in some cases) emails of offers galore, and avoided online browsing of these same brands.
I don’t want to be part of it… contributing to fast fashion, anymore.
It’s that simple.
It does hurt, more than a little… thinking about how my own vanity has contributed to the most appalling environmental devastation.
It also hurts because I love fashion, and I miss online browsing.
I made the error of judgement of looking online last Thursday, and almost immediately, I wanted half a dozen things (or more…) and started to feel really crap about myself.
Thoughts of being ‘out of date’ and frumpy, and old-fashioned flooded my mind.
And yet, the urge to actually *buy* anything… was missing.
I was all too aware that I might feel crappy, but in reality, I just didn’t *need* anything at the moment.
I know that sounds weird, but I suppose, it felt good that I didn’t listen to, nor allow my old shopaholic-demons to win.
#progress
So what now?
3. My Fashion Future
Well, I guess I should start by telling you all:
“Hi. My name is Beany and I’m a fast-fashion-o-holic. I’ve been clean for 3 months now…”
And I’m very much planning on continuing on this path.
I am not making a joke about addiction here by the way… far from it.
But, to use a social media cliché: I feel ‘woke.’
Which means I can’t go back to the High Street and start buying new, as though the past 3 months never happened.
I’m going to avoid buying from the high street where I can afford to.
I’ve found some gaps in my wardrobe, which I’m willing to take my time to fill.
I’ll never be a capsule-wardrobe type, I like variety and I have plenty of it in my wardrobe already.
But, as an example: I am woefully lacking in office appropriate knitwear.
I’ve struggled finding anything suitable in my local charity shops and have had a couple of poor secondhand knitwear experiences via eBay, so although I will continue to keep an eye out there, I’d be ok with buying new knitwear from ethical brands.
Whilst I still can’t afford to buy from most sustainable, ethical brands… the cost is prohibitive to me and more over, there’s usually only *average* sizing available, which excludes me, and my extra petite frame.
There are a handful of smaller, sustainable knitwear brands I’ve recently come across where pricing is more palatable (for my budget) and of course, I will be buying a lot less than ever before.
I will also continue to buy anything I feel my wardrobe needs, from eBay (secondhand only).
My very last resort might occasionally be the High Street’s sustainable offerings.
And in case you are wondering: of course there are *loads* of things I see on others, via my Instagram feed, which give me all the heart-eyes, but…
I can more than survive without it.
Full disclosure:
During my 3 months of #slowfashionseason:
- I did receive a pair of brand new socks each month as part of my Genevieve Sweeney Sock Subscription – which was a Christmas Present from a lovely small, ethical & sustainable British Brand. Plus, socks are probably the easiest item to get t0 30 wears in any wardrobe. I think I will have to end my subscription in December, as I basically have socks-a-plenty now.
- I received gifted items from Organic Basics – underwear which I blogged about; this is another ethical, sustainable brand whom I plan to buy from again in the future, when the need arises.
- I received a gifted watch from Nordgreen, again, I blogged about this ethical Scandi brand.
My #preloved purchases over the past 3 months were mainly from One Scoop Store, eBay and an assortment of local charity shops – which came up trumps with this oversized, vintage St Michael’s Mac:
I love this Mac! It’s massive on me, but it’s giving me all the Margaret Howell vibes
And that’s it for this week: I’d love to hear your thoughts on my reformed shopping ways – leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.
I think one of my biggest challenges now is this blog: and where to take it from here…?
This is something I rarely do, because I’m usually very clear in my own mind about the direction I want to go in: but I’m putting it out there to you guys: I need your input on where to take this blog/ what to do with it?
I guess I feel a bit lost with the ‘fashion blogging’ side of things.
Look forward to hearing your suggestions!
Thanks for reading.
Bx
There Are 16 Comments
I’m going g to keep trying to buy less. I know I need to break this addiction. It is an addiction I have a beautiful wardrobe of clothes and I don’t need more. Can you via your blog help me navigate Ebay. It’s the sheer number of items on there that make me avoid it. It’s not a pleasure to me to shop there. Help!
Yay! That’s great Susan! You can do it but just remember if you can’t manage to change the old habits of a lifetime, over night… that’s ok.
Just slow down gradually?
Going cold turkey as I did – was actually not cold turkey at all: I’d been thinking about doing it for months!
That’s a great idea for a blog post – eBay! I’m on it – thank you xx
An incredible account of the journey you’ve been on Bean. I’m too tired to say more than that now, but m mulling it all over. There’s still plenty you can say and do with this blog, it’s just a new direction, an exciting one and one that has legs xx
Aw thanks Jenny! I really appreciate that. I didn’t mention my age with the blogpost but that’s been a factor too in the sense of – I’m not so young and hungry for it anymore – it doesn’t mean I don’t love fashion but it’s all the same old things (trends!) over and over and i find it difficult to get excited about them now. Mainly because I already have those styles! I’m a hoarder!
It’s time for a new direction, you’re right… I don’t know why it makes me feel so nervous but it does. Xx
Fab post! I’ve found myself slowing down, as in reality I can’t afford to keep up with the fast fashion, even when it’s high street, as it all amounts up. I’ve also realised now what I actually wear in real life, rather than thinking ooh this would look good if I went out (I hardly ever do!). I’m also starting too get more wear out of my clothes by wearing them to work, rather than keeping them for best. I’m all for eBay and other sites, which I’ve used far more recently. Anyway, that’s enough about me! Thank you for posting this xx
Hi Charlotte, thanks for popping over – you’ve raised a valid point about our ‘shopping mindsets’ -we’re almost indoctrinated into ‘event shopping’ whether it’s for a wedding, a holiday, a graduation or Xmas-do outfit… when really, what we need to think about when we shop is longevity, usefulness and comfort.
This ties in nicely with next Sunday’s blogpost too!
Thanks – it’s interesting (and helpful) to hear I’m not alone!
Xx
Hi Bean, I love following your journey. I think I am on a similar journey, driven by my age (48), a preoccupation with my work (I am now at a point in my life my work is so much more important to me than what I wear) and also a new urge I never really had before: saving money. We have good incomes and I always felt money spend on clothes was justified because of those incomes. But lately I noticed I feel much more content with money sitting in a bank account and if spend at all it is on outings with the children, trips away and making our home more comfortable ( I love getting new bedding for example and we are actually having our garden partially redone and our kitchen painted) . But first and foremost, I love the feeling of having money saved up in different saving accounts, it makes me feel safe.
I also work from home and I have become a lot more introverted over the years, and as a result not pressuring myself into going out all the time. And that makes it unnecessary to have so many outfit choices. I also want to be very minimal in what I wear, I have always felt comfortable in understated outfits and that has grown over the years.
I am trying to find a new balance now, because I did buy some dresses and tops this summer I hardly got to wear, and exactly for the reason I mentioned above: no occasions to wear them to. I did wear them on Mallorca, for dinners out, but all in all a total of 4 times for each dress this year maybe? These are Cos dresses though, so I now I wil wear them for years to come, I actually have some from that brand that are 7 years old that still come out of storage each year.
Like you I try to avoid looking at websites. I am a huge fan of Arket and Cos and whenever I see them on Instagram or go to the website I want to buy basically everything, sigh, it all looks so good, right up my street. So I am for now fighting that feeling and I am reasoning with myself: ‘Do I WANT that jumper or do I NEED that jumper?’ Do I need another bag?.
I have not looked at my fall/winter wardrobe yet but I know there are a few things in there I have had for quite a few years but not loving them (anymore). I wear them out of habit and they are scratchy, with the wrong fit or just worn out. I plan to take them out and decide whether to keep them, throw them out AND having a good think about replacing them with something similar of better fit/quality.
It’s a journey, that’s for sure.
I also have a blog and it is dead in the water lol! Because I no longer enjoy blogging about fashion, which makes sense as I am myself trying to not look at fashion anymore. And as I said, I love my work more so I rather spend my time on that. So no advice from me, sorry.
Reading your blog gives me incentive to keep trying to do better, buy less, and appreciate what I have. I can’t thank you enough for that!!!
As far as your “fashion” blog goes, write about whatever your enjoying, whether it’s styling socks or something in your house. You are endlessly creative and see the world in a unique way that many of us appreciate and find inspiring. Keep up the posting
Hi Rebecca- thank you! That’s great to hear!
And thank you for your kind words about future blog ideas – I suppose if I’m honest with myself, I’ve not felt confident about sharing non high street fashion but you’re right: more styling posts and documenting various stages of where I’m at any one time would be a good start. Thank you! Xx
Hi Sevi, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it- and so interesting to hear your Age 48 journey because it does sound very similar to my own, age 48 journey!
I wanted to try and stay focussed on the matter in hand for this blogpost, and have kept it superficial (for want of a better word) but like you, my age is definitely a factor in my current thinking.
And like you, work has become a big factor in my life since July: I only returned to work in April, after 9 years at home with the children and that role was a very poor fit and demoralising. But a recent change in job role (for the better), the caring responsibilities for elderly parents, and the demands of primary aged children have all come together to make me take stock of myself and what I’m doing here, on this blog or on Instagram.
Any ‘shopping’ money saved these past 3 months, has been reinvested in family treats – or experiences for us to share and remember and my goodness that feels good! So I think you and I are also on the same page on the money front too: family/saving or home only!
I can’t tell you how good it was to read all of that in your comment.
Like you – I have items (sweaters is what I’m predominantly thinking of here) which I could wear, but they were not the best purchases in the first place and don’t make me feel good (misshapen, slightly shrunken from washing) which is why I plan to recycle (charity or otherwise) those items and almost start afresh on that front with better quality, better materials and much more thought put into the new purchases. Given you work at home, it’s definitely worth you doing this as well!
Cos and Arket may prove to be my weakness of sorts at times, but the likes of Topshop… I can’t even walk past their store now (or any high street store) without having images of environmental devastation and destruction flash across my mind. Which is *as* dramatic as it sounds!
Thanks again Sevi – really good to chat.
Xx
Another superb blog post Bean – totally inspiring! You have strengthened my resolve to change my compulsive shopping habits for good. Touch of what you have written totally resonates with me. I have given up on my blog……over the summer I experienced burnout from trying to keep up with everything so I’ve just made peace with it and let it go. Maybe I’ll pick it up again in the future…..maybe I won’t. Thank you though for your wise words and encouragement!
Thank you Michelle – I’m so pleased to hear you’re on board with the Slow Fashion Movement, which, bring a part of (in my opinion… ) a far more current and in-touch with reality, than the fast fashion industry… those who continue to support it blindly just seem oytvif touch to me?! That said, there are more and more bigger Instagram fashion accounts factoring sustainability into their thinking: some of it is greenwashing but right now, every mention of sustainable fashion gets people thinking about it which is great.
Blogging though- what a struggle. A fashion blogger not blogging about fashion? It’s hard! But I guess, for now, I will continue writing about fashion related content: just not showcasing fast fashion?!
Thanks for your support M! #wecanbethechange
I am totally with you on all of this. I’ve not yet reached your level of abstinence as I have bought 2 tops from Zara, a skirt from Uterque and a dress from Sezane this month, but I’d estimate roughly 80% of my wardrobe is ‘preloved’. I love ebay and all my best stuff has come from there – my best buy being GoldenGoose trainers bought 18 months ago and probably worn at least 200 times since. It would KILL me to throw clothes away so everything I no longer wear gets offered to my sisters first, some things go to ebay and the rest to local charity shops (although I still hoard way too much). My 15 year old daughter is a pure thrifter and loves a charity shop rummage – she enjoys being an individual and wearing stuff nobody else has (as well as the ethical implications). Secondhand is the way to go!
Hi Marie, firstly: I have to congratulate you on the most important thing you can do as a parent – you’ve obviously been a great thrifting role model to your daughter! I’ll be blogging about that in my next post…
And I always say this to everyone: don’t beat yourself up about how quickly you’ve slowed down, or whether you should stop buying outright… every slower step is a step in the right direction!
I’m a little jealous of your golden goose find! I’ve got an alert set up on eBay – it’s been 2 years now but the right thing hasn’t quite turned up yet.
Thanks for leaving a comment, it’s good to share our progress/difficulties & continuing the no fast fashion conversations can only be a good thing!
Xx
Hi Bean,
Well I’m 3 months in and on holiday and the hot weather is helping in my zero purchases. I’ve noticed lots of mid season sales in my inbox (all deleted:)). In my world autumn starts 21/9 so who is kidding who?
I’m checking out a couple of Spanish brands whilst in Palma. Not the usual suspects I hasten to add. I may buy a couple of things but I travel hand luggage only so there won’t be a lot. Always good to have boundaries. As for blogging that’s tailed off so much in the last year.
Many accounts Ive followed for a few years now rarely post at all. I still get lots of interior posts more than fashion now. Fashion is a merry go round and I’ve jumped off!!
Hi Alison – hope you had a lovely holiday!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment… it sounds as though you’ve been doing pretty well to me!
Blogging about fashion when you’ve turned your back on high street fashion is kind of tricky, isn’t it? I can totally relate to the Merry Go Round aspect you’ve mentioned.
I’m hoping that by carrying on, I can inspire others to style their own clothing instead of shopping all the time…
… and perhaps just keep this sustainable fashion conversation going?
Xx