Fifty & Fab
  • Blog
  • Search
  • subscribe
  • About
  • Resources
    • Shop my Look
    • Discounts
    • Menopause
    • Downloads
  • Contact Me
  • IN THE PRESS
  • Work with Me
  • The Legal Stuff
  • Guest Blogs

Buy Less Choose Well .... and a more sustainable approach to my wardrobe

5/7/2019

1 Comment

 
I know I have too many clothes, well probably too much of a lot of things but especially clothes!  I've been thinking about it a lot more just recently.  Sustainable fashion is more than just the buzzword of the moment, it isn't going away and we are starting to see many more ethical brands and initiatives which can only be a good thing.  I recently attended an event with Aspiga and learnt about their approach which was so enlightening (see this post if you missed it).
ethical fashion
Cotton sundress from Monsoon (last summer) and a classic that will be in my wardrobe for years to come.
Chatting to friends and getting involved in the insta-chats there seems to be a few discussions going on including:
​
  • Selling our unwanted clothes.
  • Buying from charity shops or pre-loved boutiques.
  • Donating our excess to charity shops.
  • Shopping our wardrobes.
  • Finding brands with a clearer environmental policy.
  • Recycling clothes that are no longer wearable.
  • Dressmaking.
  • And then may be the more obvious - simply buy less (but choose well).

Now whilst I am pretty bad at being enticed to buy online after browsing Instagram, I do also have a lot of classic, quality items in my wardrobe that come out year after year.  I think my biggest problem is the mistake buys.  When I really should return something as I know it isn't quite right or surplus to requirements but I hang onto it 'just in case' it might 'come in handy'.  And then it doesn't get worn.  I didn't love it quite enough and if I am honest with myself I knew that but the 28 days have passed and it is now too late.

I have a small walk-in wardrobe in my bedroom (I dream of a whole room) and then I store out of season clothes in my log cabin.  Problem is that now we are using clothes across several seasons - summer skirt in winter with boots for example, and our seasons are so flexible there isn't really a clear line and we need more than one wardrobe swap so I end up getting in a bit of a muddle.

And I forget what I have!  I ordered two new cami tops recently - one of those items I decided were an essential basic.  Then when they arrived I thought, hang on I am pretty sure I already have a black and a cream cami hidden somewhere.  I found them!  They don't get worn enough to ever wear out so were perfectly good.  I returned the new purchases obviously.
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Above: one of two Boden dresses that come out every year for my summer holidays in the sun! Below: One of two Boden vests that I've had forever, and right my denim jacket that will probably never need to be replaced!

​Back in the spring I had a bit of a house declutter with help from Jo at Less is More (based in Maidenhead) - see my post here.  But a few weeks ago I was trying to sort out my summer wardrobe and thought this is ridiculous, I have way too much stuff.  So I have booked Jo in to come back for two days in July and we are going to tackle both my wardrobe in the house and my clothes storage in the log cabin.  

I am hoping with Jo's help to really have a good sort out, address where the issues lie, is it storage, is it not wanting to get rid of stuff because I feel I really should wear it.

I also met through Jo, Diana who runs a small business called Diana's Wardrobe, which started because of her shopping (dare I say ... problem and buying too much)! She now sells both online and from her home a selection of high end high street fashion.  She works on a commission basis so the price achieved is split between her and the seller.

Looking back at my list of ideas (above) - I do donate a lot to charity but I am really not a charity shop buyer although I do love looking in the nearly new boutique in Marlow (My Boudoir) and have found a few fabulous items.  But realistically for me I do need to simply buy less (and be really mindful of making sensible choices when I do buy).

Cost per wear is another buzzword that I have used before but I honestly do think it is really relevant.  Primark isn't for me (I've tried on numerous occasions), my favourite shops are Hobbs, Boden, Hush, Whistles, Karen Millen and Jigsaw) and I can honestly say that when I buy from them, that item can be in my wardrobe for years.  I have two halter neck summer holiday dresses from Boden that I get out year after year, they never date and the quality is fantastic.  I also have a few Karen Millen dresses that are simply classics and I will continue to wear - I can put on a Karen Millen size 10 dress and it fits perfectly.  This was an interesting article in the Daily Mail recently, I personally think the capsule wardrobe she talks about is too limited but she does make some really good points - read it here.

My actions:
  • Think twice about pressing order online!  Do I really need it?
  • If I don't love it then return it within 28 days - my trick for this is if I don't rush to wear it then it probably isn't right for me!
  • Sell more unwanted items (eBay and Diana's Wardrobe).
  • Buy quality over quantity.

I have been working recently with Jo Haley (The Positive Image Consultant), discussing colour and style.  There is a huge benefit to seeing an expert - you really do start to make better wardrobe decisions and stop making mistakes (thus saving money as well as clutter).  I will be writing about my work with Jo in the coming weeks so look out for some good tips.

Interestingly I wrote about this back in January 2017 - you can see the post here - and looking back I can see that I have made some changes and improvements and that it is clearly something that has been bothering me for a while.  Definitely still a work in progress but Rome wasn't built in a day!

What do you think?  Are you tackling a similar dilemma?  I'd love to hear from you especially if you have successfully cut back!

Love
Michelle xx
Picture
I have several Karen Millen dresses that remain classics and will never wear out!


​I link up with:

Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

1 Comment
Jacqui Berry link
10/7/2019 08:19:55 pm

Great ideas, thanks for sharing them on #chicandstylish Hun. Jacqui Mummabstylish

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Michelle ...

    ​Welcome to Fifty & Fab – a lifestyle blog to inspire and empower women over 50. I’m passionate about sharing insights on health, menopause, fitness, beauty, and style, tailored just for you!

    Lifestyle blog, blogger Marlow, Buckinghamshire
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Beauty
    Being Fifty And Fab
    Days Out
    Embracing Life (in Midlife)
    Health And Fitness
    Lifestyle
    Menopause
    Style
    Travel
    Travel - Sri Lanka

    Picture
    Subscribe below to receive regular updates by email:
    Subscribe
    Hi, I’m Michelle and my blog Fifty & Fab is all about my journey into and through my 50s.  I started this blog in 2016 with the purpose of helping other women at this stage of life.  I’m delighted that my blog has grown to over 13k visitors per month.  Visit my Work with Me page and request my Media Kit for details of product reviews, blogging services and social media content creation.

    Join my mailing list (above) for regular updates and don’t forget to look at my social media pages too..

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016


Email

[email protected]
  • Blog
  • Search
  • subscribe
  • About
  • Resources
    • Shop my Look
    • Discounts
    • Menopause
    • Downloads
  • Contact Me
  • IN THE PRESS
  • Work with Me
  • The Legal Stuff
  • Guest Blogs