Fashion is important. Have you ever stared at your closet full of clothes only to moan, ‘I have nothing to wear’, much to the confusion of your partner? Have you ever then had to then explain to bemused partner that, while you do actually have articles of clothing at your disposal, none of them suit your taste at the moment or seem to flatter you? And that yes, this is indeed an important matter? Fashion is important to us for the same reason that an environment is important. Just as we are happier in a space that looks nice, we are happier in a body that is appropriately presented. We are walking talking environments. And we take pleasure in presenting to the world a beautifully expressive sight: ourselves!
Image Is Important
While it’s true that we can be grateful simply to have clothes, it’s also true that image is important for our self-esteem. Yes, ultimately we aspire to cultivate the inner peace and confidence that defies clothing choice. But when we have options and the means to choose how to enhance our unique beauty, we want to capitalize on what helps us look our best. And despite the typical focus on impressing others, this is about feeling confident and delighted with how we look and feel as a result of our efforts. Image matters and everybody can learn to enhance their appearance to their advantage.
In addition to dressing well for yourself, consider it also an act of generosity to the world. When you look presentable in a way that uniquely complements you, you are gracing the world with your beauty. You are telling others, ‘you are important enough to look nice for.’
It’s much more pleasant to be in a bar/tram/café surrounded by men in button-down shirts, nice shoes and cologne, than it is to be surrounded by men in T-shirts, sneakers and body odor. The former type need not spend much money on his appearance, either; the key is that he pays careful attention to it.
Putting minimal effort into one’s appearance has nothing to do with income level or culture. People worldwide with very low incomes and very few articles of clothing will habitually dress presentably, while many Americans with plentiful incomes embrace casual to a visually painful degree that defies fashion. Casual itself is not even an issue but it is commonly taken too far, to the point of unkempt. Let’s not confuse presentable appearance with uncomfortable heels or death-grip waistband. And let’s not confuse looking nice with dressing up. Casual does not have to be untidy.
Public Appearance vs. Home Appearance
Let’s also understand the distinction between public outfits from home outfits. Some people look nice and wear the same thing all day, whether at home or out. And, unfortunately for the public, some people do not look nice and wear the same thing all day that they rolled out of bed wearing. It is wise to make sure bed wear does not step into the sun.
The clothing I wear around the house is much more comfortable, soft and warmer than what I wear outside of the house. It isn’t exactly athletic wear or pajamas but what I call ‘lounge wear’ because it is comfortable to wear while lounging in any position. I am a floor-sitter so I like to have clothing that allows maximum flexibility. Such stretchy clothing is not ideal for public display, so I will throw on a pair of jeans or more demure-looking athletic pants before going outside.
It isn’t that I wear uncomfortable clothing in public, but I prefer more comfortable clothing at home – which usually isn’t something I want to be seen in (and it often doesn’t match). This isn’t ideal to me since I always love to look nice but when I am the only one who will see my outfit while I’m home, I am fine with clothing being purely functional. There is a time and a place for varying quality of appearance and just as home is where you can decorate as you please, it is also where you can dress as you please. I prefer looking nice at home simply for my own morale if it is convenient to do so. But I don’t go out of my way if it takes more time or sacrifices ultimate comfort.
A Fresh Look: Why We Want New Clothes
Even for clothes that we only wear at home, sometimes we crave something new. A shirt that you adored when you bought it several years ago can lose its appeal over time. Over those years, your fashion preferences may have changed or your body may have changed and the shirt no longer flatters your figure. You may have gained or lost weight and the pants no longer fit the way they once did. Your lifestyle may have changed and so the once-plentiful opportunities to wear the dress are no longer a part of your current life. Your closet may become crowded by newer clothes you’ve had to buy for your current job and suddenly there are neither opportunities, time, nor space for the older, once-beloved clothes. Maybe, after ten years, you are just tired of looking at something in your closet.
We as humans crave novelty. This drive is neither surprising nor unusual and can be stronger in some people than it is in others, but it is a strong enough force to supply a thriving economy of non-essential goods. Consider the fashion industry, specifically the rag trade. In this discussion we won’t delve into the pollution and detrimental fast fashion environmental impact, nor the social inequities that plague the many people in other countries working in abysmal and dangerous conditions for low wages. There are varying levels of awareness and concern about this among consumers, but despite any awareness or concerns that exist, this industry has grown exponentially within the past two decades once textile production became mostly outsourced.
How to Revamp Your Wardrobe Responsibly
If we instinctively crave novelty and fashion is important to us, how can we express ourselves in new ways with our wardrobe without either spending an uncomfortable amount of disposable income on new clothes or supporting what is a mostly harmful industry?
Buy Fair Trade Clothing
There are thankfully many fair trade organizations and businesses that produce and sell clothing made by people working in safe environments and for fair wages. These garments naturally cost more than cheaper mass-produced alternatives, and for good reason. That is why it is called fair trade. But many people mistakenly think they can’t afford those clothes because they think they need a whole closet full of clothing. They could easily spend the same amount of money (or less) that they spent on their existing wardrobe on only fair trade apparel; they would simply have less clothing. Is that such a bad thing, especially given the fact that the average amount of times a woman wears an article of clothing is only seven?
The fast fashion environmental impact is alarming and increasingly growing worse over the past couple of decades. Fair trade spending is a completely viable alternative to supporting the mainstream rag trade but, still, we face our dilemma of wanting new clothes more often than not due to our desire for novelty in artistic expression, and that kind of frequent spending just isn’t financially feasible for most. Also, I can’t find fair trade clothing that incorporate my own style preferences, and I don’t buy things that I don’t like just to have something new to wear (assuming I don’t otherwise have to go naked, of course).
Buy Used Clothing
Here is a solution to the dilemma of wanting new clothes but not wanting to pump money into the rag trade nor spend money on more expensive clothing that you don’t really like: acquire nice used clothing. Notice I said ‘acquire’ instead of ‘buy’, and I will explain why below. When you buy used clothing, it is true that you aren’t directly supporting a fair trade operation, but you also aren’t giving your money to a business that supports unethical manufacturing processes. It’s a neutral transaction – or even a helpful one when you consider the business or consigner you are supporting with your purchase. Yes, perhaps the garment of clothing was produced in a sweatshop, but somebody else bought that garment and already completed that transaction. You are simply reusing what they decided they no longer wanted. And sometimes, it’s exactly the suit/coat/shoes you wanted!
Buying used clothing (or jewelry, or shoes, or any kind of fashion accessory) is extra fun because in addition to novelty you add the element of surprise. Secondhand shops never know what they will acquire, and you never know what you will find. Granted, you will often find plenty of things you don’t want and spend more time than you prefer sorting through that lot before you find something you like, but not necessarily. It’s a treasure hunt that does not guarantee results but guarantees the possibility of results – maybe even something fantastic.
Consignment vs. Thrift
I personally prefer shopping in consignment stores over thrift stores because those two types of retail establishments usually provide a very different shopping experience, and consignment shops typically have nicer options. Thrift stores can also have some gems, but you have to spend much more time sorting through all kinds of unwanted items since thrift stores will take any donations. Consignment shops are selective in their merchandise because they will only take what they can resell, and items are almost always strictly ‘like new’. Their merchandise is also more expensive since they pay the consigners a cut of the sale, but the prices are still much lower than they would be for new items that are hardly in better condition.
Host or Attend a Fashion Exchange
What if you don’t have the disposable income to shop at consignment stores but you cannot find anything you truly love from thrift stores? Host a fashion exchange!
Also called a clothing swap, a fashion exchange is a gathering at somebody’s home (or a public space, if available) where guests bring any wardrobe items or accessories they want to donate. Once all items are displayed, guests can choose what they want to take. Two good things come out of this event: you clean out your closet, and you get new things – with no money involved! In addition, you can mingle with friends – old or new – and perhaps enjoy refreshments.
Even if you walk away from a fashion exchange with nothing new, you can still enjoy chatting and drinking/snacking with friends. And hopefully everyone is civil, of course. I’ve hosted two fashion exchanges and attended two within the past decade, and I’ve never seen a conflict of interests where two people desperately want the same thing. However, if that is a concern, I recommend drawing names out of a hat to decide who gets to keep the item. That way, if more than one person wants something, there is no bias or concern as to who gets to keep it.
What if you and all your friends are different sizes? That’s why I prefer to call it a fashion exchange instead of a clothing exchange. Maybe I won’t fit into your skirt, but I would totally sport your earrings! Fashion is so much broader than body size or shape and encompasses all aspects of appearance from top to bottom. You can trade purses, boots, bracelets, nail polish, hats, scarves, belts, and makeup. And sometimes, those accessories are all it takes to spruce up an old outfit of your own!
Organize a Virtual Fashion Exchange
A fashion exchange can be done online, too. This sadly eliminates the party component but, during a pandemic, a virtual fashion exchange is still a safe way to acquire fun new items for free! After hosting my second fashion exchange a few years ago, I photographed all remaining items after the event and uploaded the photos to a Google Docs folder that I shared with the friends who weren’t able to attend. You could just as easily create a Facebook event to which participating friends can upload photos of their own items, allowing everyone to peruse and select what they would like. Once everyone has settled on who gets what (if there are multiple people desiring the same item), participants can coordinate when to drop off items at each other’s homes or during a safe meeting depending on comfort levels.
A Special Note on Shoes
I am one of those unfortunate people whose feet hurt in almost every pair of shoes she tries on. I hate shoe shopping because it involves countless hours, usually with no decent finds. A shoe might be otherwise perfect but rub my toe the wrong way, or the heel slides off. However, surprisingly, my most comfortable pair is used! So before you are quick to pass up used shoes, give them a chance. If they are in good condition, go ahead and try them on. Because, if they fit comfortably, you just hit a jackpot! Sometimes it is in unexpected situations that we find our favourite fashion finds.
My aunt gave me a gorgeous pair of Desigual wedge sandals that I’ve happily worn for four years. I have worked in them, walked heavily in them, and trekked up and down stairs in them. They’ve been to New Zealand and back. They are a surprisingly comfortable go-to pair of shoes that both look cute and feel good. And because I have the hardest time finding any shoes that fit comfortably, they are one pair that I strongly recommend trying!
The Takeaway: It Isn’t Vain or Indulgent to Crave a New Look
Fashion and artistic expression shouldn’t require us to make what we personally feel to be unethical purchases, nor should it require us to spend an amount of money we aren’t comfortable spending, just to look the way we want to look. We also should never feel guilty for wanting something new just because we outgrow our current wardrobe and want to express our new inner growth with a different look. Fashion is important enough to leverage our efforts.
We can both appreciate the clothes we own (some of them have served us well, after all!) and opt to move on to new ones. If you can round up enough friends or acquaintances to participate in a fashion exchange, have fun with it! Serve mimosas, tea, or lemonade with snacks. Play fun music to suit the mood. Make an event of it. Temporarily clear off any tables or shelves for smaller items and create space on your floor, couch, bed, or anywhere, for clothing. If you are unable to host (or convince a friend to host) a fashion exchange, dedicate the next leisure time you have to check out some used clothing stores nearby. You never know what you will find!