Conscious Shopping & Styling
When we find an item we like, how often do we think about the other items waiting for us back home that look just like it? How often do we buy it without even acknowledging what we already own? I'll admit I've been guilty too of inconsiderate buying decisions, especially when I was growing up.
However, since a few years ago my buying decisions changed dramatically when I started realizing how, regardless of the shiny new hang tags on some pieces, I was always drawn to specific items, and most often than not these were vintage.
To give you a little bit of back story, for me, walking into my mother's closet when I was a child always felt like I was walking into a dream. So naturally I have always had that love for vintage clothing and vintage-inspired clothing. But nowadays, this feeling has evolved into something deeper than that. I consider it a marriage - it's a conscious decision made out of love for not just me, but for the people around me - in this case the planet.
A second ago, I asked you a few questions. Now here's another one for ya:
How many times do we think about what actually happens to those unwanted, unused pieces?
I'll tell you. The average human uses the same item a maximum of 8 times and then throws it out. Last year, Burberry burned $32million worth of unwanted fabric. The Fashion Industry alone went through as much water as a million Olympic pools. Every day, fast fashion is polluting our environment more and more and we are letting it.
We sometimes think of the planet as such a faraway concept and maybe the idea of it disappearing as an even further one. But it's actually the reality we're currently living.
And like any other marriage, love can not survive if there aren't any actions backing it up. That's why it's so important not only to consciously shop but to consciously style your clothes as well. The first thing you have to do is to determine what is your particular style. I tend to go for a cute dress, gold chain/dainty jewelry, and vintage designer heels and bag. I call my look "retro romantic" and I shop and for pieces accordingly.
Aside from understanding what looks best on your skin tone, body type, and knowing what silhouettes and cuts you're drawn to, it's really important we buy what already exists within the supply chain. Enter VINTAGE fashion.
The process of buying vintage, I know, can be overwhelming and time-consuming but trust me it's hella' worth it! Once you find that treasure, that's when you start falling in love with vintage.
