Hey friend,

One of the first steps I took on my sustainability journey was to start shopping more eco-consciously. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters today, both in manufacturing and in garment waste. Dressing sustainably helps me feel like I am doing my part to lessen that harm. If you’d like to do the same, here are my top tips for creating a sustainable wardrobe.

Tips For Creating A Sustainable Wardrobe 

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Living a minimalist lifestyle is one way to maintain sustainability, and capsule wardrobes are a great part of that. But if a limited closet isn’t your style, which it certainly isn’t for me, I love clothes, and having as many options as I can shove into my dresser….so if you’re like me that’s not a problem—the spirit of the capsule wardrobe can be applied to a closet of any size.

In short, capsule wardrobes are closets of limited size—maybe around 30 items—that can largely be paired together. The simplest way to do this is to choose an aesthetic or color palette you love, and only buy clothes that coordinate with your preferred palette. This gives you the versatility of a large closet without the amount of space or money typically required. You’ll have fewer clothes in total, but the outfit combinations will seem endless.

If you’re reluctant to downsize quite that much, you can still use this idea. I find it easiest to sort my personal style into various aesthetics, leaving out anything resembling formal or business wear. On a casual day, my fall style could most commonly be sorted into categories like alternative, dark academia, or cozy casual. I arrange my clothes into the appropriate categories and organize my closet into sections and color-coded.

In doing this, I still have plenty of variation in my wardrobe. However, I’m now more intentional about the clothes I purchase, I try to wear the clothes I have more often, and I always pick out my outfit ahead of time so I’m all set in the morning.

Assess the Clothes You Already Have

When I clean out my closet, I start with clothes I no longer want or need. In our house, any clothes that don’t fit, are no longer our style, or haven’t been worn in a super long time are put in the donation bag for the local consignment store, or if it’s a nicer item I list it for sale on Poshmark. 

Sometimes, there are items I have trouble parting with—if only the zipper wasn’t broken, or the hem was a bit shorter. I’ve cut several shirts into cropped tops or hoodies, giving them a new life in the process. Basically, if something is damaged, you should assess whether to repair or replace your old clothes.

Shop Sustainably for New Items

My favorite tip for creating a sustainable wardrobe is completely free and quite fun. I thrift! You’d be surprised what amazing treasures you can find at places like Goodwill. If going into the thrift store is too inconvenient or if you don’t have a nice thrift store in your area, my absolute favorite online store is Thredup! An online thrift store that is beyond brilliant and the perfect way to shop for second-hand items that are affordable, on-trend, and of amazing quality. All your favorite brands can be found there (even designers!)

You can get 45% OFF plus FREE shipping on your first order on ThredUp! Shop now and use this link to score this awesome deal!

If you want to incorporate sustainability into your accessories and jewelry choices, then choosing lab gown diamonds over real ones can be a more ethical choice. The Beauty of round lab-grown diamonds is just as stunning as real diamonds and is made without the impact of mining and the damage it causes.

If you choose to do your shopping at a typical store, try to avoid fast fashion retailers. Instead, visit environmentally conscious stores such as consignment stores or small business boutiques.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these sustainable tips! If this stuff is your jam, make sure you subscribe before you go so you never miss out on new posts and so we can connect and stay friends!

Much love, JessXO