Timeless or Trendy: Making the Most of Your Wardrobe

You may have heard about the infamous green House of Sunny dress that went viral on tik tok in the past months. Everyone wanted that dress-- they needed it.

But it is now being blacklisted by consumers. How can all of this happen in the span of just a few weeks?

We are living in a time where there are around 52 fashion cycles each year; new clothing trends are being released each week. I find myself getting distracted by the upcoming styles, don’t get me wrong, trend forecasting is exciting. However, these trends are also the pieces of clothing that I wear the least and tend to get rid of the quickest. The lifetime of trendy clothing can be a week long, dying off as soon as the next trend enters. Instead of having the urge to buy the latest trends, I have been redirecting my energy to making lifestyle changes to consume less, plan upcycling projects, clothing swaps and experiment with my existing wardrobe. I propose a guide to creating a balance of trendy and timeless clothing for fresh looks that will withstand the test of time to cultivate your personal capsule wardrobe.

Let’s break this down:

1. Lifestyle

I find myself craving the experience of going out and shopping, expanding my wardrobe and keeping my closet alive with new clothing. This is a lifestyle that we are taught and encouraged to engage in by society through social media, marketing and advertising. Instead of feeding into this urge to shop, I could go on Pintrest and create a look book that can be found in my existing wardrobe. I could even go window shopping to seek a new perspective of my closet and gain inspiration for new style combinations.

2. Upcycling

Upcycling is a perfect way to liven up an article of clothing that you already own, but just doesn’t click with your current style. Even if you don’t have the knowledge of alterations, there are plenty of no-sew projects online. You can ask a friend with sewing experience, or visit your local alterations shop. Another simple way to upcycle is by cropping pants or tops. This is a quick and easy way to change an unloved piece of clothing you own.

3. Clothing Swaps

Among your friends, I’m sure there is an amazing collective style. Recognize that your closet could use some shifting around, and offer up a clothing swap to your friends. It could be as simple as everyone bringing 10 items they are willing to trade, or as complex as a school-wide swap with a points system to appraise clothes. It never hurts to ask, and chances are that others need to clean out their closets too.

4. Experimenting

Styling an article of clothing in a new way can offer a different perspective of the item and your overall sense of style. For example, a button up shirt can go a long way. Wearing it open with a shirt underneath could appear more casual versus tucking it into a pair of jeans with a belt could portray young professional energy. Be a problem solver and make it work. If you’re confident in an outfit, it’s bound to look amazing.

I hope that these tips will pose new projects, personal reflection and inspire you to be a more conscious consumer. As a human, your style will fluctuate and change, but by implementing lifestyle changes and creative solutions to your consumption needs, you will decrease your carbon footprint.