Everyone is on a different stage when it comes to ethical style. And like I always say, it is a journey. Here are a few big and small ethical style resolutions to get you started or keep you going in living a more sustainable, conscious, and mindful life, in style. Try one, try them all, but just keep trying for improvements. And let me know what you are doing this year to make it the most ethically stylish year yet!
- Quit fast fashion altogether. If you make one ethical style resolution, let this one be it. Yes, it is easy and fun to shop at Zara. But fast fashion (or really any type of fashion, if you are going to only wear it once or twice) has an enormous environmental, human, and social cost.
- Determine your definition of ethical fashion. Deciding what ethical fashion means to you immediately helps you become a better shopper. In my early years of ethical fashion, just being made in the USA made my list. I have become much more narrow with my definition, and it is still evolving. But, being clear in the here and now makes it much easier to say no to many things.
- Go on a spending freeze. One of the best ways to reduce your impact is to not buy anything. Obviously, you will still need necessities, but stop browsing Amazon, stop clicking on your favorite ethical fashion sites, and avoid the Whole Foods beauty aisle for a month (or more). Just stick to what you need. You may find that you don’t miss it as much as you thought you would.
- Decide that your new clothes must pass the 30 wear challenge.
- Do an ethical style challenge. Try one every month if you are feeling really ambitious. Pick something you’d like to focus on, like learning to mend your clothes or researching ethical alternatives to your favorite brands.
- Clean up your beauty routine. Start slow, start fast, just start. This is for the planet and your health. Take a look at my starter guide for some hints.
- Donate or sell what you aren’t wearing anymore. But do it the right way. Just dumping a huge bag of clothes at your local Goodwill is not the sustainable or responsible way to do it. Take a look at Selflessly Styled’s post on how to donate better.
- Don’t buy something just because it is on sale.
- Shop only second hand. Try Poshmark or ThredUp online, or check out your local thrift shops.
- Research ethical and eco-friendly fabrics and brands. Take a look at my Big List of Ethical Fashion and the Ethical Fashion Dictionary to get started.
- Stop impulse shopping. Go with a purpose, leave with a smaller footprint.
- DIY beauty and personal care products. Some of the best beauty products are made at home, with whole, natural, effective ingredients.
- Minimize your beauty routine. Less is often more when it comes to skincare. Sometimes the things we are using to fix one thing, only cause another problem (retinols and dry skin, drying shampoos and frizzy hair…). Figure out what you can (and probably should) eliminate.
- Find a good tailor and get your clothes repaired. How many shirts with missing buttons and pants that are too long are sitting in your closet, unworn? Fix them and add life to your existing wardrobe. Get a pair of ill-fitting pants tailored and you may find that you love them more than the day you bought them.
- Find a good cobbler and get your shoes resoled. Or get them soled before they need it. Your boots will last so much longer if you put a rubber sole on them before the season starts. They might also be more comfortable!
- Switch to a reusable menstrual cup. I think you’ll like them more than you think!
- Reward yourself with experiences, not stuff. Maybe a facial instead of a blouse.
- Focus on your personal style and less on trends. This is one of the best ways to eliminate fast fashion from your life and allows you to focus on high quality pieces that look good on you.
- Clean out your inbox. Unsubscribe to all the shop emails and you might be less tempted to shop!
- Learn how to read clothing labels. Figure out what materials to avoid and which ones are ok, and which ones are the best. Take a look at the Ethical Fashion Dictionary for a start.
- Look for recycled, deadstock, or vintage material.
- Learn basic clothing repair techniques so a missing button or a small hole doesn’t make something unwearable.
- Avoid Dry Clean only. If you’re anything like me, it never gets to the dry cleaners anyway and sits in a bag in your closet for months (making 30 wears impossible). Plus, you know, it’s toxic!
- Don’t forget your accessories. We often overlook shoes, undergarments, jewelry, and accessories when thinking about ethical fashion. Don’t!
- Ask about your clothes. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your favorite brands and retailers to find out more. If there are enough people asking, they may make changes.
- Consider renting, especially for special occasions.
- Invest in quality items that will last.
- Subscribe to minimalist and conscious lifestyle podcasts and blogs.
- Subscribe to frugal living podcasts and blogs. There is a lot of overlap between ethical style and frugality.
- Take a little time to research alternatives. Sometimes, you can find exactly what you are looking for, more ethically made, with a little research.
- Always bring your own bag. Yes, even when clothing shopping. This is how my sister knew that I was taking sustainable fashion seriously. She told a mutual friend, “She even brings her own bags to the mall.” As in, not just to the grocery store. Yes, Jenny, I do. You can too!
- Try zero waste bathroom products.
- Make small changes, one at a time. Switch one product at a time as you finish another up
- Wash your clothes in cold water. They won’t fade as much, and you will save a lot of energy.
- Air dry your clothes.
- Start a capsule wardrobe.
- Host a clothing swap. “New” clothes and old friends? Wonderful. Add a little eco-friendly wine to the mix, and I think you might have a near perfect evening.
- Just get started. Whatever your ethical style resolutions are this year, just get going. Do the best you can, forgive yourself when you can’t, and make each year a little (or a lot) better than last year.
What are you doing this year to make it your most ethical yet? I’d love to hear. I’d also love to add to this list, so let me know what you think is missing!
