Hey y’all! Long time, no blog lol. Well, it’s actually only been a week… But I’ve been on top of blogging lately so a week has felt like forever. If you haven’t seen on Instagram, I was on a trip over the weekend with Sailor-Sailor! Head over to my Instagram story highlights titled “Sailor-Sailor” to check out fun moments from the weekend.
P.S. I’m also doing a giveaway with them and some other influencers, so be sure to check that out over there as well!
Today’s blog post is a bit different than most; I’m writing something that I feel is a little more personal. I’ve been on a journey of discovering my personal style over the past few years, and I’m finally realizing how I want to present myself visually and what would be helpful to achieve the look I want.
As the title suggests, I’ve decided to make an effort to step away from fast fashion. If you don’t know what that means, the Google definition is, “Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.”
Going into the blogging scene, it can be easy to get sucked into trendy pieces. And while there are some trends that I’ve always loved and will continue to love (some current ones include leopard print & hair accessories), there are others (in my opinion) that just aren’t worth buying into. I haven’t always thought that way though; it’s been something I’ve learned and thought hard about over the past few years.
I have been into the “preppy style” for a long time. I am comfortable with that style and I feel confident when wearing preppy pieces. I am ready to start investing in one specific style instead of feeling like I’m throwing money away on seasonal clothes. Thankfully, the preppy style is classic and never really goes out of style.
So how am I going to make this change?
Well, I obviously am human and I am also not rich, so I may slip up at times. Or sometimes there may be something I genuinely want from Amazon or Forever 21. But the overall goal is to analyze what I am buying and ask myself some questions. Will this last me more than a season? Is the quality good? Is it ethically sourced? Do I only want it because it’s trendy? Is it worth it?
I understand some people can only afford to shop fast fashion. However, as I’ve gotten older I have found my personal style and no longer care if I am “on trend.” I would also rather spend more money on something that will last me longer, even if that means not having a ton of clothes. For example, I have plenty of pieces from Lilly, Vineyard Vines, and even J.Crew Factory that I have had for years and still look next to new, even after washing and wearing over and over again. So I can either spend $45 on a top from Vineyard Vines that will last me 3+ years, or I can spend $25 on one from Forever 21 that will last me a season. To me, it just makes sense to invest.
Another perk of this is being more ethical and helping the planet, even if it’s just a little bit. Forever 21 is known for having unethical practices, which contributed to their bankruptcy. Not to make anyone feel guilty, but I found this interesting article about poor pay and working conditions, even in the U.S. I am not claiming any and all brands I prefer to shop at are 100% ethical, but y’all get the point. Any little bit helps!
Even if I purchase something a bit more expensive and I decide I no longer want or need it, it will more likely be easier to resell. So not only can I make a bit of my money back, but the item is getting a new life. While I do think it’s great to donate to places like Salvation Army and Goodwill, I recently read that 5% of clothes donated to Goodwill get thrown into a land fill. And while that doesn’t seem like a lot, it add ups! So don’t feel guilty next time you want to try to sell clothes before donating them. That way, you’re promising them a new life.
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I know this post was a bit different from what I usually write, but I still wanted to share it! I hope y’all enjoyed it and it inspires you in one way or another, even if it just makes you think.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Jayme
This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. This post is not meant to call out any particular brands, I just wanted to use public evidence for my reasoning.
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