Investment over impulse
On Sunday I was down in Killarney as I had been asked to speak about sustainability in fashion at the OMF Events Swap Shop which took place in Social 15.
Obviously I shop and take a lot of my personal shopping clients to high street stores, but I’m very aware that over consumption of fast fashion is damaging the environment so there’s always that issue of trying to achieve balance and helping people to make informed decisions about what they buy.
I personally like to mix vintage with high street and swap shops are a great way of having a fun day out and getting to swap your clothes for someone else’s, thus getting a 'new' piece for your wardrobe.
People really need to get over this hang up of wearing already worn clothing. Realistically we have washing detergents full of chemicals that reduce even the slightest trace of dirt.
While some might think using a personal shopper is all about excessive spending and buying bag loads of things, the opposite is in fact true. I personally would prefer for a client to go away with a few well chosen pieces, that they love and will get great wear out of, instead of buying loads of items that when they get home, they feel they won't wear them as they’ve been pushed too far out of their comfort zone.
A personal shopping experience should eliminate those impulse buys that we are all guilty of and just hang in the wardrobe unworn and haunting us.
When I shop for myself or for a client, I really think about whether a piece will fit in with my existing wardrobe? Can I dress it up or down or can I wear it in a few different ways, because if I only wear it one way I know I’m going to get sick of that item pretty quickly.
You also don’t want the expense of having to buy loads of items just to go with that one piece to make it work for you.
I also find knowing your own sense of style helps to lessen those wasteful impulse buys. Instead of just buying trend-led pieces, you end up buying items you know will work for you and it helps to focus your attention when you do go shopping.
Most people have an idea of what they would like their style to be but just have trouble getting there, so with a stylist they can help you to put looks together using items from your existing wardrobe, plus some new carefully chosen pieces.
While I do love a brightly coloured vintage print, I went for many a year having a wardrobe packed full of them and I ended up not getting the wear out of that many of them because I just didn’t have the simple basics to tie the look together.
Now that I’m older and wiser, I see the benefits of having a basic capsule wardrobe of neutrals to ensure I always have the basis of an outfit and I can layer print and colour with these items.
It doesn’t have to be a huge amount of pieces and it will be different for everyone but mine always includes plain v neck t-shirts, straight leg jeans, a khaki military jacket and plain white converse.
Finding and putting together this wardrobe is invaluable in saving yourself time getting ready and saving you money in the long run as you’ll always have something to wear no matter the occasion. The key is to make considered purchases and the environment and your wallet will thank you for it.