Breaking Up with Fast Fashion: My 6-Month Journey
As I stood in front of my overflowing closet, I was struck by the sheer amount of clothes that no longer brought me joy. The once-worn sorority formal dresses, endless pairs of black leggings, and quirky, outdated trends had lost their appeal. I realized that I had been collecting items without truly appreciating each piece. It was time for a change.
Rethinking My Relationship with Fashion
I embarked on a 6-month journey of not buying any clothes, including basics. This decision wasn’t easy, but I wanted to cultivate gratitude and consciousness about the things I owned. By month four, I had to get creative with my wardrobe, but it was worth it. I had built discipline and started thinking about the future, rather than giving in to impulse purchases.
The Savings
Using the previous calendar year as a benchmark, I estimate that I saved around $1800 during my 6-month no-buy period. Where did that money go? I spent it on new work outfits, bridesmaid dresses, sweatshirts, and frivolous items from Forever 21 that still had price tags.
8 Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: Mental Strength
I can resist impulse purchases and wait for classic pieces that will stand the test of time.
Lesson 2: Timeless Fashion
I’ll focus on buying primarily classic pieces that won’t go out of style soon. A little hemming can go a long way in making them fit perfectly.
Lesson 3: Quality Over Quantity
Fast fashion pieces deteriorate faster than investment pieces. Now, I think about what types of clothes I’ll get the most utility out of and splurge on those.
Lesson 4: The Hassle of Dry Cleaning
I learned to hate dry cleaning! It’s expensive and inconvenient. From now on, I’ll opt for washable clothes.
Lesson 5: Clothing Care
When I had to make do with what I had, I invested in proper detergents and took better care of my clothes. This saved the fabrics and made them look like new after each wash.
Lesson 6: The Power of a Uniform
I started wearing a “uniform” to work every day, which gave me mental space and simplified my morning routine.
Lesson 7: Self-Acceptance
I won’t buy clothes with the goal of losing weight to fit into them. Clothes should fit me, not the other way around.
Lesson 8: Prioritizing Experiences
I realized that I’d rather invest, save, or spend money on experiences with loved ones than on clothes. Building my future and creating memories is more worthwhile than the temporary high of buying new clothes.
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