SUSTAINABLE FASHION (and pockets)

On this #fashionFriday and in honor of Earth Week, I wanted to share a few things I do to manage my love of fashion and shopping, while still being as sustainable and earth conscious as possible. (In addition to using my pockets to pick up trash and hold recyclables, of course.)

1. Purchase second hand. This is something that I began doing during training when I couldn't afford designer retail. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find how many second hand items were in quite excellent condition. To this day, I have a hard time spending full price on anything without scouring my favorite consignment shops and sites first, like TheRealReal.

2. Utilize rental services. Did you know in addition to renting dresses for special occasions, you can also rent everyday/work wear, bags, and jewelry? It was hard for me to justify too many new purchases this past year, but I was still able to satisfy my "shopping itch" with new rentals every month. 📦 My favorites are from Rent the Runway and Nuuly (discount codes in the discount section).

3. Focus on quality. There was a time that I was into the trendiness and affordability of fast fashion. But these pieces would never last, and sometimes wouldn't even be appropriate for donations (since many organizations ask that items be in wearable condition). By spending a little more for quality items, it forced me to focus more on classics, since I knew they would last for years to come.

4. Resell. Another benefit of purchasing higher quality items is that they potentially have a higher resale value. Not only does this cut down on overall waste, but it can help recoup some of my shopping costs.

What does Earth Day mean to you? 🌎 And how do you stay sustainable?