In the year 2000 we shopped for something new between two to four times a year. One reason was that most fashion brands produced two major collections annually, Spring and Fall. Larger companies would sometimes add a smaller collection called “Cruise” (named after the season when many people would flee the icy cold of winter to warmer tropical destinations).
However, in 2011 that all changed. Brands picked up their pace of producing by adding three additional collections for a total of five collections a year adding more new inventory than ever before. This new business model was merely keeping in step with the popular fast fashion movement which produces twelve, sixteen, and even twenty-four collections a year. Think of it. Producing twenty-four collections a year is sending new fashion into the market place every other week. Because of the frenetic pace of “new trends” we bought 60% more clothing in 2014 than we did in 2011. Most of what we bought was cheaper and we only hung onto our purchases half as long. This is madness and it’s time we all took a deep breath and a step back.
What is it that you want from your wardrobe? Unless your lifestyle dictates you have a new outfit everyday you don’t need a lot of stuff as it will only have you standing starry-eyed in front of your closet thinking you have nothing to wear.
Here are a few things you can do to stop the madness.
~Keep your wardrobe manageable and shop for pieces that you will have for a very long time.
~Get to know what colors and styles work for you. Regardless of how many Kardashians are wearing nude tights my guess is you will not feel confident in them.
~Clean out your closet! A smaller more manageable wardrobe will make your life so much easier.
~ Approximately 84% of clothing donated to charities end up in landfill. Instead of donating your clothing to a charity give them to a friends who will enjoy wearing it for many years to come.
~Shop like it’s 2000 again!
Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic!
