Yes, You can rewear that outfit!
(As much as you want)
This month has marked some very important anniversaries for me (I moved to Italy a year ago and I turned 26), but this in particular stands out: since January 10, 2023 I haven’t bought any new clothes for myself. Yes, you read that right! That’s over a year without shopping!
What started out as simply a means to save money while I get on my feet (living in a new country and all), turned into a personal competition with myself and a wonderful exercise in understanding myself and my style more intimately.
The majority of my closet is vintage/thrifted, or hand-me downs from my mom, sister and friends. I very rarely buy “new” things simply because I love the serendipity of finding a great item while thrifting, I have an expensive taste, I can make most items myself, and I can never actually find what I want. But! The main category of clothes that I do buy “new” is athletic wear. I simply refuse to sew with those kinds of stretch fabrics. So, not buying anything “new” wasn’t something new to me. But, I thought that not buying anything second hand would prove to be a challenge. Honestly, it really wasn’t. There is so much else to do when not spending time shopping, funny how that is.
1. I realized how grateful I am for the closet that I’ve curated up to this point
It’s not perfect, it has gaps, some things don’t fit quite right and I have days when I simply “can’t find anything to wear”. But, in the end I do always find something to wear. I have some very special pieces that evoke fond memories, I have a good basics, I have clothes that have stood the test of time. And most importantly I have a closet that reflects my values and I feel good about. In the last year, I have become very aware that the closet that I have now has served me beautifully and loyally for years and has (almost) always felt relevant to me.
2. I’VE BECOME MORE AWARE OF MY PERSONAL STYLE AND HOW I WANT MY CLOSET TO REPRESENT ME
The psychology of clothing has always fascinated me, and is part of the reason I love working in this industry. Your outfit or your daily costume says so much about who you are. Who you are on that day, that morning, that hour. It speaks volumes since it’s the mode in which you have chosen to present yourself to the world at that particular time. To take a peek into someone’s closet is a rare honor that we don’t really think about, but it says a lot about who that person is, where they come from, and maybe even who they wish to become..
3. UNDERSTANDING WHAT PIECES NO LONGER SERVE ME OR FIT THE WOMAN THAT I’VE BECOME SINCE I BOUGHT IT
As the year progressed I began to realize that no matter how many times I tried on a certain pair of pants or a particular top. It simply didn’t spark joy for me in the way it once did. I emotionally outgrew some pieces in my closet, and in the process of letting go of them I felt a slight weight lift from my shoulders. During this process I also gained clarity over what I did wish that I owned in its place.
4. I gained more clarity on how I’d like my personal style to evolve
My current closet doesn’t perfectly resonate with me, and that’s okay. Everyday I get a little bit more clarity on the evolution of my personal style, I can reflect on what core types of pieces or aesthetics I’ve loved for several years and know that those are what I should be bringing more of into my closet. When I am ready to shop again, I’ll know exactly what I’m ready to add and I’ll have peace of mind that it will work well with the other pieces that I already own.
5. I DISCOVERED I AM MY OWN TRENDSETTER.. NOT BEING DICTATED OR TEMPTED BY TRENDS
When you’ve cut yourself off from buying clothes you realize that whatever trends you see happening in the world around you, don’t have the same effect on your daily outfit choices. It’s liberating to not feel that you have to conform to those arbitrary trends, because you’ve chosen a different path. It also emphasizes dressing for myself and putting together outfits that genuinely make me happy.
6. EXPERIMENTING AND HAVING FUN WITH MY CLOTHES!
So much experimentation happened in the last year! There were many fun outfits that pushed a little at the boundaries of my comfort zones. I saw clothes that I’ve owned for years in a new light and as potential for new outfits. I utilized the power of scarves and accessories to put a twist on an outfit I wore before. I started to feel the inklings of a” signature” style begin to take root.
7. REPEATING OUTFITS THAT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD
I’ll say it again for the people in the back, it’s OKAY to repeat your outfits!! In fact, why wouldn’t you? In the summer I wore the same black dress a million times, but it worked and I always felt beautiful while wearing it. And to be honest, very few people remember what you wore, nor do they actually care if you’re wearing the same thing. (If they do, that’s not your problem)
8. Having a community is great support!
During the summer an organization that I’m part of called Remake hosts a “90 day No New Clothes Challenge”. It feels great to be part of a collective action if you’re considering swearing off clothing shopping for a time. Receiving support from other Remake ambassadors and my family and friends helped keep me motivated in my journey of not buying new clothes!
I hope these lessons from my year without shopping for clothes have inspired you to consider doing the same! In today’s world it might seem incredibly difficult to give up what seems like such an essential part of your life, but I promise that the opposite is true. You can replace those impulses to shop with much more productive habits and experience a level of freedom that you may have never felt before.
I’ll leave you with a couple of tips if you’re considering joining me!
1. KNOW YOUR “WHY” AND GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR VALUES!
Just like you would write down your “why” when starting a new diet or workout regimen, it’s also very important here. Knowing your “why” can save you in tough moments where you might feel the sudden urge to shop.
My “Why” looks like this:
1) To save money and be financially responsible to myself (soooo important that I could leave it at this)
2) To appreciate and explore what I already own
3) To better understand how I want my style to evolve without the pressure of external trends.
Your “why” and your values are inherently connected. If you haven’t reflected on your values lately I invite you to do so (just 10-15 minutes to journal and consider is enough to get the wheels turning!). I try to do this every six months, as it allows me to also reflect and see if I’ve been living true to them or not. In terms of your closet and shopping habits it’s important to note how they may or may not be reflected. This can unveil an even bigger exploration of understanding yourself. A few of my core values are directly connected to my consumer behaviors.
Those are: to leave things better than I found them (to take care of and cherish what I own), to make the world a better and more beautiful place (support brands that take care of their employees, people in their supply chain, and have a respect for the planet)
2. Have a spirit of exploration and adventure!
Just like any journey with unknowns, this journey also requires you to embark on it with a willingness to be open minded. Situations or events might come up that could make you think you need to shell out for a new dress. But, what are some other options that you could explore instead? Could you borrow something from a friend or relative? Is there perhaps a clothing swap happening near you? Maybe you do in fact already own something that can be (dare I say) worn again?
But also be kind to yourself when there is a genuine need to buy something new. For example, this summer I had totally underestimated how cold it gets in Dolomites and I horribly under packed. To keep from totally freezing on the top of the mountains, I bought a bamboo scarf. This was a purchase that was still in line with my values (made ethically in Italy & bamboo is a great fiber that also keeps you warm!) and it served as a nice souvenir from the trip.
3. Join a community!
There are so many communities of people who are interested in living with less, living more consciously, slowly, sustainably, you name it. Find one for support! Bonus points if there are any local groups you can take part in. My favorite one (that I mentioned earlier) is Remake. They have communities all over the world with plenty of in person events, such as clothing swaps!
So this leaves me one year down and still counting. I’m curious to see how long I continue on this lil journey of not shopping for clothes and when I’ll feel ready to allow myself to indulge once again.
If you’ve done a no-shopping challenge before, are currently or considering doing one. I’d love to hear from you!
Un abbraccio,
Aleksandra
