How to Make Your 2023 Wardrobe More Sustainable
According to fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell and eBay’s pre-loved stylist Amy Bannerman.
For many fashion lovers, our new year’s resolutions included seemingly lofty ambitions like buying more secondhand clothing, visiting more charity shops and avoiding fast fashion. However in reality, for many of us, all of those things are much easier said than done. So this year, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to ask the experts: how can we genuinely begin to make our wardrobes more sustainable?
Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a fashion psychologist and the best-selling author of Big Dress Energy. She believes that the majority of people resort to buying fast fashion as a result of pressure to wear a new outfit to an upcoming event. As soon as you’ve made a plan to go somewhere, “think about how you want to feel, what energy you want to give off and how you want to look,” she tells Hypebae. “Think about what you already own that you associate with these three things and shop your wardrobe. Chances are that you already own it, but you’re letting yourself be swayed by the ideology that new equals better,” she adds.
Celebrity stylist Amy Bannerman has previously worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Sophie Turner and Jonathan Van Ness, and is currently a pre-loved fashion stylist at eBay. She believes that the first step towards a more sustainable wardrobe is to consider longevity when making new purchases. “Ask yourself, ‘Will you wear this in years to come? How many ways can you wear it? Does it work with your existing wardrobe, or would you need to buy additional items to make it work?’” Bannerman also suggests that we begin to consider aftercare when adding to our wardrobes. “I also look at whether it will wash well, I find a lot of sweaters don’t look quite so good when they’ve been washed,” she explains, adding that quality knitwear often stands the test of time.
With the help of Forbes-Bell and Bannerman, we’ve compiled a 5-step guide to building a more sustainable wardrobe for the year ahead. Read on to discover our top tips.
1. Start Interrogating New Purchase Decisions
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In her book, Forbes-Bell details her 4321 rule which offers a useful process for analyzing future purchasing decisions. Four encourages you to ask yourself, “Will your future, ideal self want to wear this outfit in four years’ time?” Three is considering three outfits you’ll be able to incorporate your new purchase in or three different occasions where you can wear it. As shopping can encourage the rise of dopamine and adrenaline, we often become partial to making more thoughtless decisions in the process. As a result, step two reminds you to take two deep breaths, allowing yourself the space to really think about the decision you’re making. Finally, one stands for one good night’s sleep. Forbes-Bell believes that if after each of those steps, you still believe there’s reason to make the new purchase, then it’s likely to be a welcome addition to your wardrobe.
2. Work Out What’s Not Working In Your Current Wardrobe, and Fix It
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A wardrobe clear-out might seem like the most obvious option, but it’s genuinely one of the most important things you can do for yourself. As much as we’d hate to admit it, our tastes are constantly changing and evolving, and what worked for us even a few months ago might not feel quite right anymore. Consider what pieces don’t fit and will never fit, what styles you like but might need to replace (or rather, buy better quality versions of,) and most importantly: what pieces might just need a little more love. Think about items that you don’t wear anymore because of minor details like missing buttons or long lengths, can they be tailored or fixed? Clothing repair services like The Seam and Sojo do a great job of making small amendments to items for a small price, and you’d be surprised to see what a little crop or taking in could do.
3. Start Searching Your Favorite Brands on Secondhand Platforms, and Sell On Them Too
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For many of us, designer items don’t always seem to be the most cost-effective, which is why it’s often easier to resort to brands with cheaper prices. However, even shopping those brands secondhand will have an impact, albeit a small one. The less we require new items, the less the brands will make, feeding into the system of supply and demand. Essentially, the fewer new products you consume, the better it is for everybody else. Bannerman suggests that if you must continue to shop with cheaper brands, start by focusing your attention on “classic staples, avoiding anything trend-led that will date quickly.”
4. Head to the Charity Shop, for More Reasons Than One
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One of the first steps that most of us think of when trying to be more sustainable is shopping at charity shops. However, in order to make the system truly circular, it’s important to combine donating and shopping at charity shops for maximum impact. Bannerman also believes that to truly maximise the charity shop, it’s important to incorporate it as a regular part of your routine. “It doesn’t mean setting out one day and hoping to find that dream item, it means popping in every time you’re passing and doing a scan of the rails, literally in 2-3 minutes. If you want to get the good stuff you have to put the time in, like sit-ups or dating,” she explains.
5. Rent Other People’s Wardrobes
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As Forbes-Bell said, big occasions are often what spark frantic and unnecessary purchasing decisions, so before you resort to buying something new, it’s worth considering items that aren’t entirely new but are still new to your wardrobe. That’s where fashion rental comes in. Platforms like ByRotation, HURR and Rotaro have ever-growing selections of designer items for rent, either from the platforms themselves or from other fashion lovers all over the country, perfect for special occasions.
