How to Be an Eco Fashionista
It happens to me all the time, I look in my closet and find I have “nothing to wear” even though I have an abundance of clothes. Today I pulled out a pair of pants that I had only worn a couple of times and the button is already about to fall off after only two washes! So I did my typical thing when that happens. I flipped open my laptop and started looking at one of my favorite shops. This time though, fate stepped in! I saw a pair of bell bottoms for sale that I desperately wanted, and a patchwork dress that was so pretty I needed to have it. My lightbulb moment happened when I realized I could make similar pieces myself!
If you are a fashionista, you may also crave all the new and latest fashion. I feel committed to make a change and stop buying clothes, but let me tell you the struggle is real! I keep thinking that if I actually follow through on that commitment, I might wind up looking pretty haphazard once my wardrobe is filled with homemade clothes. The thing is there is so much you can do to create clothes that are even better than what you find at a store. And when you put your personal touch on those things, they become divine to rock all the time!
Here are some things I am doing to begin to transition from buying clothes new to making and altering them myself.
I am mending things that need repaired. That black pair of pants that has a button dangling by a thread…yup…that needs to be fixed. I also recently got a sweatshirt dress that my husband said looks like a nightgown, so that needs some sprucing up as well.
I am trying to look to my own closet and begin to rethink what I already have. Maybe layering in different ways or accessorizing with things I already own would make the outfits I have more fun.
I’m starting a fashion illustration journal to give me ideas for clothes to make. Browsing at that shop today made me realize I wanted more patchwork in my wardrobe and that a new dress sounded fun. So I’m sketching out the styles that spoke to me to see if I can somehow make something similar myself.
Figure out what you like about the items you see in stores. Is it a certain fabric or cut of skirt, do you like your pants more fitted or are you into flare style jeans? Once you figure out what you like, find a way to infuse more of that into your own upcycled projects.
If you absolutely HAVE to buy something, try to buy second hand when you can. I tried ThredUp last year, but the clothes were pretty disgusting with hair and soil on them, and seams were coming apart. So if you want to buy secondhand do so in person if possible. Or try Poshmark to find used clothes and goods. Poshmark is great because you buy secondhand directly from individuals, but you have to be careful because some of the sellers buy items from stores and then mark them way up to sell on the platform. One bonus of Poshmark is if you receive an item that is not in good condition there is a way to review that item and even get your money back. If you have a big social circle, you could do a clothing swap for a fun evening together, and leave with a few new-to-you pieces.
Ok, I’m officially sewing myself some bell bottoms this weekend, and figuring out how to make another groovy patchwork dress! Becoming an eco fashionista can be challenging at first when you are starting to change your habits, but it truly is worth it.
