It’s that time of year, right? New Year, new me, goal setting and a whole new perspective on life.
The manifestation boards are all out, diets are underway, and we are trying to focus on our fitness plus maybe lose a few pounds after the Christmas season. It’s also a time for setting yourself challenges be it in terms of your financial situation, health and career aspirations.
One challenge I’ve seen lots of people talk about and set out to achieve is not to buy any clothes for a full year. I can safely say with full confidence, I would totally fail at this! I wouldn’t even last a month to be honest. I love clothes too much to give up buying the odd piece in H&M or online. Fashion, styling and clothes are part of my job especially on social media and although I think it’s a brilliant incentive and challenge to do in terms of the environment and your pocket, I just know in my hearts of heart – I would not be able to do it.
We live in a consumerist society where we’ve been sold the lie that we can shop our way to happiness. I hold my hand up here 100% as a fashion influencer who regularly posts my own fashion content which perhaps does influence people to buy. Equally I’m also very much influenced by what I see after a session of doom scrolling online and one-click into TikTok shop or straight from Instagram Reels has me going straight to Apple Pay to purchase something else I do not need and then wait for that much anticipated message from a courier to say my ‘order is out for delivery’. But let’s be honest, there is no long-term happiness to be found in the bottom of a shopping bag or box coming in your door – just scrunched up receipts and a twinge of regret.
So, after doing some research into this no shopping for a year challenge, here are some tactics and mindsets to help you fight the urge and if you are trying the challenge – may the odds be ever in your favour!
1. Interrogate yourself and your wardrobe: Who do I get influenced by? What do I really want when I think I want these new jeans? What and who am I dressing for? Dig deep to get to the root of the desire to buy something new. Can you live without it? Does it make sense?
2. The Environment: It’s no secret that the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world and it’s getting worse. Buying something is easy, getting rid of it in a sustainable, unharmful way to the planet – less so. Even brand-new returned goods often end up in landfills. That mindset of “oh I’ll just return it” hits different when you know that it’s probably not going where you think it is.
3. Stop having a monthly budget for clothing: Instead, track every clothing expense that comes up. That way, you’ll know what you are saving each month from not spending money on clothes.
4. Invest in other areas to improve your life: For most of us, money is finite and it’s just not possible to have the best of the best in every material goods category. There’s a world of finer things beyond clothes. This is not an indication to keep shopping for other things, but as an opportunity to take stock of general wellness. Could your money make more of an impact if it’s spent meaningfully on other things in your daily life? What deficiencies are building when clothes shopping is constantly prioritized?
5. Remember, it’s ok to repeat outfits, even for special occasions: Shopping your own wardrobe is something we all need to do more of. The delight of finding something you haven’t seen in months or had forgotten about never gets old.
6. Be proud of loving the same items for a long time: There’s a sense of great satisfaction about re-wearing something over and over and getting your money’s worth. Remember the 30-wears rule. Sustainability and good practice come into play here when you wear something AT LEAST 30 times.
Remember, just because you love it, because social media or even your friends say it’s a must-have – doesn’t mean you have to have it!
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