Shopping My Own Closet

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In the weeks leading up to my solo adventure, I stopped by several stores, looking for something cute to pack for my trip. I’m not sure why I think I need new clothes when I travel. This time it seemed like an automatic response to knowing I had an adventure coming up.

As I browsed clothing racks, looking for flowing pieces I could layer over tank tops or short sleeves, I had a realization. In fact, it was more of a “what are you doing??” thought.

The last couple of years I am more interested in slow fashion, rather than fast fashion. So what was I doing, out looking for more clothes to buy, just because I have an upcoming trip? Standing in a department store, I determined that day to do differently. I decided shopping my own closet made much more sense, on many levels, over purchasing more clothes.

These are the outfits I pulled together for my trip, shopping my own closet. Have a peek!

What is Fast Fashion and Slow Fashion

Fast fashion is the term that describes clothing that’s created quickly and inexpensively and moved into stores to take advantage of trends. Supply chains among retailers make fast fashion possible.

As a result, consumers can update their wardrobes quickly and affordably. Sounds good right? However, this over-consumption of cheaply made clothes is contributing to the huge growth in textile waste, pollution, depletion of natural resources and human rights violations in factories. The fashion industry has moved deeply into a throw away mentality.

On the other hand, slow fashion does the opposite. It advocates for manufacturing respectfully in regards to people, animals and the environment. It also supports creating clothing ethically and in a process that ensures quality made apparel that lasts for many years. Slow fashion focuses on high quality, sustainable materials. These clothes are often sold through small, local shops using locally sourced materials. Or they’re sold through online shops with sustainable practices including shipping methods. Toad&Co is such an online shop.

Thrifting is part of the slow fashion movement as clothing is kept in circulation rather than thrown away. Read more about the benefits of thrift store shopping here.

Shopping My Own Closet

Truthfully, I didn’t need to buy more clothes, not even through a thrift shop. All I needed for my trip, including the long flowing garments, hung in my own closet.

And, I enjoyed shopping my own closet immensely! I carefully considered what I needed for the trip. Although it’s warm, the evenings cool down, here at home and in the state I’m traveling too. I quickly discovered I could pull together the perfect outfits, a sort of capsule wardrobe, that didn’t require much room in my carry on.

I found the experience of doing flat lays for the outfits fun too, as I climbed up on a step ladder to snap photos. In fact the whole process was much more entertaining than shopping in a store.

Here are my outfits, shopping my own closet.

Travel Day

I’m flying to my destination. Airplanes are typically too cool for me, so long sleeves or a lightweight jacket or wrap are a must.

For the trip out, I chose black skinny jeans, a black and pink long sleeve button down shirt and my boots (man made uppers). My boots are the MOST comfortable walking shoe that I own. So they are going with me. However, they take up too much room in the carry on to pack. So I wear the boots.

I can roll up the sleeves of my shirt if I get warm or leave them down against any chill.

• black jeans – 2 years old, purchased new
• plaid shirt – 3 years old, purchased new
• boots – 2 years old, purchased new
• heavy socks – 1 year old, purchased at a discount shop for .50 for a pack of three

Day One Outfit

Black jeans again, paired with a light sage green racer back tunic and a darker sage green short kimono. The embroidery on this darling kimono is gorgeous and carries over to the back up near the neckline, although my long hair usually covers it.

The kimono is lightweight enough to allow air to flow during the day and yet offers some protection against cool evening air.

The gray and black shoes are my ONLY new purchase for this trip. I bought them a month ago, after wearing less supportive shoes at Silver Dollar City hurt my feet. I’ve been walking daily, for the last 30 days, also in preparation for this trip, and I properly broke in the shoes.

• black jeans – 2 years old, purchased new
• racer back tunic – 4 years old, purchased new
• short kimono – 4 years old, purchased new
• walking shoes – 1 month old, purchased new

Day Two Outfit

This outfit is built around the long, flowing kimono is shades of gray. See? Why did I need to shop for flowing garments when I already own them?

Underneath is a gray, short sleeve, stretchy tee. If the weather is warm, I can always remove the kimono, although it is very lightweight, and just wear the tee. The skinny pants are dark gray.

I hope there is a breeze when I wear this outfit, so the kimono billows around me!

• gray pants – 3 years old, purchased new
• gray tee – 6 years old at least, purchased new
• long kimono – 4 years old, purchased new
• walking shoes – 1 month old, purchased new

Day Three Outfit

This long tunic is one of my favorite garments. I typically wear it buttoned up over leggings. For this trip, it will serve as a lightweight open jacket. The sleeves can roll up or button at the wrist.

Beneath is a long white tank top and the gray skinny pants. Boots and a pair of dark socks complete this outfit.

• gray pants – 3 years old, purchased new
• white tank top – 3 years old, purchased new
• long tunic – 4 years old, purchased new
• boots – 2 years old, purchased new
• heavy socks – 1 year old, purchased at a discount shop for .50 for a pack of three

Bonus Outfit

This is an extra outfit, in case I need a change of clothes, get caught out in rain or just decide to wear something different one evening.

Black jeans pair with a white sleeveless top with a few buttons near the neckline, and a white tasseled shawl. The shawl actually has arm holes which is nice as I don’t have to hang on to it. It stays put.

• black jeans – 2 years old, purchased new
• white sleeveless top – 5 years old, purchased new
• white tasseled shawl – 5 years old, purchased new
• walking shoes – 1 month old, purchased new

 

Travel Home Outfit

For my final morning at my destination and the flight home that afternoon, I’ll wear the Toad&Co camp shirt paired with black jeans and walking shoes. If my boots won’t fit into my carry on, I’ll swap out the walking shoes for them.

I love the organic cotton camp shirt and its high quality construction. This shirt will last me many years. Toad&Co is an eco-friendly company I appreciate and want to support. Click LINK if you want to learn more about this brand.

For the return flight, I’ll drape the white tasseled shawl over my arm to serve as a lightweight blanket, if I need it on the plane.

• black jeans – 2 years old, purchased new
• camp shirt – 5 months old, purchased new
• walking shoes – 1 month old, purchased new

This was outrageously fun, creating these looks and photographing the flat lays. And more than having fun, which I’m a big fan of, I feel really good about supporting slow fashion and making wiser, more eco-friendly choices for myself.

My desire isn’t to make anyone feel that they have to do what I do. It’s about me learning how to live more sustainably and then doing better.

Which of my shopping my own closet outfits is your favorite?

Books about fast and slow fashion, from Amazon:

 

 

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