Last updated: April 26, 2023
Sustainable clothing and reducing how much you spend on updating your wardrobe go naturally hand in hand.
Fast fashion is a massive problem worldwide, and continuing to buy new clothes just because it is cheap and “in fashion” can harm our planet in more ways that are simply increasing the amount of discarded clothing. It can also be expensive to keep buying cheaply made items time and time again.
Instead, you want to make sure you are buying clothing with longevity and will be a staple in your wardrobe for many years to come.
So how can we reduce how much money you spend on clothing?
Unsubscribe
Hit that unsubscribes button in your emails to avoid the temptation of wanting to buy when stores have offers or sales on. If you are the type of easily swayed person and you want to reduce your spending, then unsubscribing from offers can be an easy way to remove temptation.
Buy High-Quality Sustainable Clothing
Before you click purchase, have a look at the materials the times of clothing are made from. You want to make sure that the items you buy are sustainable and will last you a long time. Choose cotton Country Road clothes that are designed to last and made using materials that can be worn repeatedly.
Invest In a Capsule Wardrobe
Create a basic wardrobe that can be worn over and over again regardless of the season or style. Typically these will be more neutral colours and avoid high patterned styles so you can mix and match pieces with other items. This way, you can still add in items frequently, but you have a capsule collection that sees you through the year.
A good tip to consider before creating a capsule wardrobe is to write down the type of clothing you usually wear and what you need outfits for. For example, if you work from home or wear a work uniform, you can avoid more formal wear but if you have to go into the office and conduct meetings, your capsule wardrobe should contain more formal attire suitable for this type of environment.
Capsule wardrobes typically contain fewer quantities of;
- Basic T-shirts
- Jacket
- Coat
- Jeans
- Trousers
- Dress/Suit
Avoid Online Shopping
It can be tempting to get carried away when shopping online, or avoiding buying digitally can increase how much you spend as you aren’t physically keeping track of your money.
Draw out cash and buy as much in store as you can to help you to avoid splurging when you don’t need to and keep within a budget. This isn’t always possible, so being strict with yourself when shopping in-store and online can help you from spending more than you need to buy clothing you don’t actually need.
Don’t Buy for Special Occasions.
As tempting as it can be to buy a new outfit for a birthday or social event. Typically, these purchases will be more expensive than your run-of-the-mill spending habits and will get less wear.
When buying anything new, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how often you will wear something. If you wear it less than 30 times, then chances aren’t a sustainable or affordable purchase. It will be money wasted on something you could only wear once.
Buy Second Hand
If you really need to buy something new, why not look at buying preloved items that still have a lot of life in them? There are many exceptional finds to be had in charity shops, and not only will you be saving items from landfills, but you will also be saving yourself money.
The main drawback of shopping second hand is finding the right items for your needs, and if you want something for a special occasion, then it might mean you need to start looking earlier to keep an eye out for just the right thing.
Use Discounts
Time when you shop to maximise offers and sales when you need to buy new clothing. Shopping out of season can reduce how much you pay for items if you aren’t bothered about something being in style, as you can use sign up offers or store cards to help you reduce the cost of your purchase.
Upcycle
Teach yourself a new skill and repurpose old clothing into something new. Not only will you be able to save clothing from going to waste, but you can also teach yourself a skill that is rewarding and useful. There are many tips and guides online to getting started with seeing and upcycling clothing items, and before you know it, you can have a new and unique wardrobe that is cost-effective and sustainable.
This is a collaborative post. A full disclosure is available from the main menu.
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