So, you just saw your favorite celebrity, influencer, or public figure wearing the hottest new style. You don’t know how to feel about it, or you love it, but aren’t sure it would look good on you… so how can you try it without dropping tons of money, or fully committing? Well, there are actually quite a few more options than you might think…
Let’s Talk…
Spring is finally here, and with the change of season comes that itch to want to completely transform your wardrobe. Natural, for sure, as trends are an ever-changing thing, and in our age of fast fashion, they move quicker than ever. I too get that feeling of wanting to try something new!
Maybe some of you are at a transitional point in your life- new job, graduating college and entering into the adult world, or maybe your style is just a little different than it was last spring/summer. No matter the reason, the feeling is normal, and I can strongly relate.
A lot of people in the sustainability realm might tell you, “To heck with trends!”, “Repurpose your old clothes!”, “Make do with what you have!”, and while that is a fine ideology, I’m not going to ignore the fact that regardless of those statements, we are still going to want to invest in a new wardrobe. New year, new us… right?
Something I’ve learned in starting this blog and my own personal sustainability journey, is that we as consumers are going to, in the end, do what we want to do. I could sit here all day and type out how much textile waste there is, and make bold statements like, “we don’t need any more new clothes in this world”, but that’s just not realistic.
To me, sustainability isn’t about never buying new clothing, but it’s how we do it. As, I’ve talked about before, I am fully aware of the high price tag sustainable and ethical clothing can have, so before I really dive in, I want you to know I’m not just going to sit here and give you a huge list of brands out of your price range; however, there are so many different ways to transform your wardrobe at low cost and without leaving a negative footprint on our planet.
Thrifting
So, yes… I’m starting with the obvious. Over the years, thrifting has picked up at a racing pace. Whether people have just realized it’s cheaper, or better for the planet, it’s a booming business right now.
Here’s why thrift stores are so great for this sort of thing- The thing about trends is that they cycle through. I’m sure all of us have heard from one person or another that “they wore that a couple decades previous and here it is again, resurfacing in the industry.” I know from personal experience, I’ll show my mom the newest trend happening in fashion and 95% of the time, her response to me is always, “oh my gosh, I wore that in high school…”.
Thrift stores are like a fashion world archive. There are clothes there from all decades and seasons. Just because it’s not being sold in a Zara or Urban Outfitters, doesn’t mean it’s not on trend!
And the best part about thrift stores? The price. Especially when in those experimental phases of figuring out what kind of new wardrobe you want to have, or what new styles you want to try, you’re not looking to spend a pretty penny. Thrift stores are great for experimenting!
Whether you prefer to shop online or in person, in today’s day, you can find thrift stores in both places!
Some of my favorites:
Online:
In person:
- Thrifty Shopper
- Goodwill
- Depending on your area, search thrift/consignment shops near you!
- If near Kent, OH, check out Village Discount
Renting
So, if you’re already on the thrifting train, or want another alternative, another avenue I’ve been taking advantage of recently is renting. Today, there are so many rental services out there for all occasions. For the price of one piece of clothing, depending on the rental service, you can rent up to 6 pieces per month!
Life has been throwing a lot of different events and occasions at me lately, so I decided to try out clothing rental. Just under a year ago, I rented for the first time from The Lauren Look and fell in love with the process. Now I am on my second month of NUULY boxes and can’t imagine a life without it.
This option is perfect for experimenting with style because once you rent for the month, typically, depending on the rental service, you are allowed to purchase the clothing items at a super discounted price due to their “worn” factor, or you just ship it back. So, that way if you fall in love with an item or style that you just know you can’t live without, you don’t have to!
I will admit, this is a pricier option when compared to thrifting. To be transparent, after this month, I am going to be putting my subscription on hold with NUULY- but… that’s also an amazing perk! With NUULY specifically, you are able to pause your subscription for any amount of time you want or need. Maybe this isn’t something you do every month of the year, but it’s a great option when it comes to seeking a new sense of style!
To check out my own personal experience with renting, check out Unboxing and Rating My NUULY Rentals.
Some of my favorites:
- NUULY Rent
- Rent the Runway
- The Lauren Look
- Disclaimer: they currently aren’t taking any new rental subscriptions but be sure to check them out for the future!
Trying something new shouldn’t have to be stressful! Hopefully with this, you are leaving feeling a tad more confident and ready to conquer this ever-changing world of fashion!
