I’m back with another clothing post, people!
We hear a lot of buzzwords on Instagram and social media like “capsule wardrobe”, and “minimalist lifestyle” and “slow fashion”. But what do any of these words even mean? And why shouldn’t you just go to Forever 21 and buying the cute, cheap new sweater that you’ll wear maybe 5 times?
“Slow Fashion” = buying/selling clothes that are made to last, that won’t end up in a landfill in six months
To understand slow fashion, we must first understand what “fast fashion” is. I’ve included a video here that explains it well.
Once I became aware of all the clothes I bought cheap, as the proud bargain hunting gal I am, and never wore, I was able to notice it and start making changes. And one of those changes came in the form of the 10X10 challenge.
The 10×10 clothing challenge is just what it sounds like – wearing the same 10 articles of clothes for 10 days!
This comes on the heels of sustainability and minimalist movements, which strive to stop us from having so. much. stuff! The 10×10 challenge helps you see firsthand that you really don’t need all the clothes you think you do.
This was my 3rd time doing the challenge, and I truly enjoy it every time. It makes it so easy to decide what to wear in the morning because I’m picking from only a few items I love a lot.
2 sweaters, 3 shirts, 1 dress, 1 tennis skirt, 1 pair of shorts, one pair of jeans.
So why does this matter to me?
Before I get into my outfits, I want to cut to the chase. I enjoy this challenge and have continued to do it because:
- I love the way it makes me notice which pieces of my closet I really love, and it makes me feel okay about wearing it a lot because I like it.
- It shows me how few items of clothing I really need!
People! This has radicalized the way I dress and the things I buy (and don’t buy!). I used to spend so much time stressing about wearing all the things in my closet and trying to keep up with people and trends. It has been so calming and stress-relieving to make simple changes such as shopping less and wearing my favorite pieces that make me feel comfortable and confident over and over again!
My 10 items:
This was probably my favorite 10 items I’ve done so far. This time, I went a little out of my comfort zone with bolder prints and colors, while still picking versatile pieces that can create endless outfit combinations, a few of which I’m including here.
The floral dress
I picked this dress because it’s one of my favorite pieces in my closet, it’s comfortable enough to wear to class, and I thought it would be fun to see how else I could wear it. Like with my jeans, for example!
The white sweater
This sweater is another one of my absolute favorite pieces. It’s flattering, comfy, and has a timeless bohemian feel. I paired it here with my tennis skirt, for a look that’s a little cuter than a t-shirt, but is still comfortable!
Mikayla’s 10×10 challenge
One of my best friends and fellow slow fashion enthusiast Mikayla did this challenge with me (actually, a confession: I only did 8 of the 10 days because of Ring Day + a football game, whereas Mikayla did the full 10 days and ROCKED IT!) and I’m sharing a couple of her outfits too!
Minimal doesn’t mean boring!
Mikayla’s outfit is comfortable, and accessories don’t count in your 10 items, letting Mikayla add the cute scarf for a pop of color!
**shameless plug – if you’re looking for tips on styling your scarves and hair scarves, look no further than this blog post I did on it several months ago!**
So, where can you go from here?
I encourage and challenge you to challenge yourself!
It doesn’t have to be something as radical as a 10×10 challenge or donating half your closet. Here are some easy, tangible things you can do to participate less in fast fashion, and to love your closet more!
- If you see something you like, wait 24 hours, sleep on it, instead of impulsively buying it
- after you wear something, turn the hanger around, or separate it from the rest of your closet. After a set amount of time (maybe 3 or 6 months) go through everything you haven’t worn in that time period!
- when you can, try to shop at places that prioritize slow fashion. I’m linking a list of just a few of them here. Personally, I’m a big fan of Everlane and Girlfriend, but I’m still getting my toes wet in this area.
- Thrifting is also a great way to save the planet, and get high-quality clothes for low prices!
My hope is that you enjoyed this post, learned a little about slow and fast fashion, and think through how these things look in your own life! Happy (hopefully not) shopping!!