With all the temptations of social media and online shopping, it can be hard to resist the urge to splurge. Sometimes, you can feel as though you need a wardrobe refresh. You might have, for example, changed sizes, perhaps your style has evolved, or, you just need a new basic top, jumper, or pair of jeans. In these instances, you might need to buy something new (or new to you).
So, how do you ensure you’re taking steps to be more mindful about your shopping habits and the garments you purchase?
We would always recommend looking for items secondhand, first. However, if you can’t find a preloved version of what you’re looking for and need to buy new, here are some good rules to follow to ensure you’re shopping mindfully - especially when it comes to the high street or fast fashion brands.
Buy only what you need and don’t succumb to impulse purchases and you’re already on your way to becoming a more mindful consumer.
Here are our tips/guidelines to follow:
Will you wear it over and over?
Before buying something, think about the ‘30 wears rule’. This is actually more of a guide than a rule, but it means that you’ll wear the item 30+ times, therefore justifying it as a worthwhile purchase. If you think you’ll only wear it once, it’s not a mindful purchase.
Instead, you could borrow or rent something similar from a friend or peer-to-peer rental service - especially if it’s for a specific event like a wedding or birthday.
Single wear outfits, for example for a wedding, Christmas day or your birthday, generate the same amount of CO2 as 56 million cars do in a day. That’s an incredible amount of CO2 to manufacture and deliver something that only gets worn once.
Can it be styled in multiple ways?
If you’re shopping for basics or wardrobe essentials, you know it can be worn time and time again, but, if you’re shopping for a trend-driven piece, make sure it has the longevity to stay in your wardrobe for years to come, not just for the duration of the trend.
Luckily, there are ways you incorporate trends into your wardrobe without limiting the way you can style the item. For example, if there’s a certain print or colour that’s trending, try and find an item that incorporates the trend while also being wearable, e.g. zebra jeans, a bright pink jumper, or a green handbag.
Try to style the item in 5 different outfits in your head before buying and think about how the item can be worn seasonally. Can it be layered? Will it look good with flats and heels? Could you tuck it into jeans or wear it with tights? Try and figure these things out before buying something just
because it looks good on the website.
Do you already own something like it?
Everybody is drawn to a certain style, fit or colour of items. We know what suits us, and we tend to gravitate towards similar garments and ‘safe’ styles. However, that can mean that sometimes we end up looking at items that are similar to clothing we already own.
To avoid purchasing something similar to items you already own, you can use a wardrobe digitization app such as ' Whering' to take photos of your wardrobe and log your belongings. This way, you can view your wardrobe in the palm of your hand and you’ll be able to quickly tell if there’s a gap in your wardrobe for the new item or not. If you don’t already own a grey sweatshirt for example, but think you’d wear one regularly, then you’re choosing to buy more mindfully, knowing there’s a gap in your wardrobe for it and it’ll pass the '30 wears' rule.
Is it an impulse buy or do you genuinely need it?
Trends can suck us in with clever marketing, styling, and sales. They entice us to buy into trends, even though they may not be aligned with our personal style. Trends make us feel a part of something when it comes to fashion, and feed into our desire to be seen as stylish or ‘on-trend’. Retailers know this, which is why they produce clothes so quickly in order to stay relevant and on-trend with what consumers are shopping for.
Make sure you aren’t drawn into buying something impulsively and instead think ‘Do I actually need this?’. Refer back to the 30 wears rule, take a look at how the item can be styled multiple ways, and again, think if you already own something similar. If you can hand on heart come to the conclusion the piece is unique, wearable, and durable then the item may be worth purchasing. If not, don’t buy it.
A good way of working out what you actually need is assessing your wardrobe and keeping a note in your phone (like above), that has a list of items you genuinely need. This way you can tick off items you need and have planned ahead for, rather than impulse buying.
Can you wait and come back to it in a few days?
Impulse buys are easy to fall victim to, and taking a step back can ensure you still want the item after some time has passed - indicating it’s the item you like, rather than the price point (especially if it’s on sale), or a trend that may be fleeting.
With secondhand shopping, it can be hard to wait a few days with items as they may be sold within that time, but refer back to the note on your phone we mentioned earlier and if it’s not something filling a gap in your wardrobe and looks as though you may not get 30+ wears out of it, it’s okay to leave it behind. You might feel as though you’re missing out, but it’s important to shop mindfully and consume mindfully, even if it’s secondhand.
We hope that this blog has provided some helpful tips on how you can shop mindfully and support the planet.
For further tips, or if want any advice on how to grab second-hand pieces and opt for more sustainable purchasing habits, find out more on Instagram @luciejenbea
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