It’s okay, here we are, 2024 has finally started. If I usually never make good resolutions, this year I decided to place the next twelve months under the sign of style. You follow me ?
In life, I don’t like injunctions. “You should not wear navy blue and black at the same time”, “It’s better to avoid horizontal stripes with your body type”, “You should skip the skater sneakers, you’re almost 32, you look like a retarded teenager”…Leave me alone with your lousy rules, I’ll do what I want! In my job as a fashion journalist, I try to write my articles without imperatives. Instead, I’m taking stock of the season’s trends so readers can pick up the ones they like the most. You will have understood that instructions to be followed to the letter are not my strong point. So, make resolutions on the 1ster January and sticking to it, obviously, makes me a little upset. Do not mistake yourself : I am capable of having will. In recent years, I have notably succeeded in quitting smoking and maintaining a training plan to run the marathon. Two challenges that I set myself with a concrete objective in mind. This is precisely why I don’t understand the principle of good resolutions at the start of the year. What exactly is the goal of the maneuver? Become a better version of yourself? 1/10 on the motivation scale.
Green is the new black
Except that in 2024, I decided to be a little less rigid. This year, good resolutions are ok, if they bring together the subjects that fascinate me: fashion and eco-responsibility. Two words that don’t go very well together, knowing that the textile industry is considered one of the most polluting in the world. A study by The Eco Experts group published in 2022 even reports thatit would emit as much greenhouse gas as France, the United Kingdom and Germany in one year. This is due to fast fashion, the water consumption caused by the production of clothing, the transport of raw materials and finished products from one end of the planet to the other, the speed at which trends follow one another… So here are the measures that I decided to apply to my wardrobe to try to be a more responsible fashionista in 2024.
Get into clothing rental
In the United States, the concept has been all the rage since 2009, the year in which the sector leader launched, Rent The Runway. In France, several platforms exist, such as Prête and Studio Paillette. But the one I particularly want to try is called Riobee. Launched by journalist Méliza Guidjou, it combines original vintage pieces and classic women’s wardrobe pieces. Clothes and accessories to own for a week, to renew your wardrobe without consuming anything.
Give a second life to my clothes
Thanks to my job, I am lucky enough to have an XXL wardrobe. The problem is that I often forget clothes in a corner. I don’t wear them and they are useless, hanging on their hanger ad vitam aeternam. My mission for the month of January? Sort. What suits me and what I plan to wear in the coming months, I keep. What suits me, which I intend to wear in the coming months, but which is holed, damaged or poorly cut, I keep and take to Laïla, the retoucher on rue du Pot-de-Fer who works miracles. The government has also launched a repair bonus to encourage consumers to prolong the life of their favorite clothes and accessories. What doesn’t suit me and is in good condition, I give to associations like Oxfam or Emmaüs. Since the advent of resale applications like Vinted, they unfortunately receive fewer and fewer clothes from individuals. As for what doesn’t suit me and is in poor condition, I recycle or upcycle. Tea towels, rags or raw materials for do it yourself, it’s time to show a little creativity.
Renew my style without buying anything
And if everything I needed was already in my closet ? What we need to do is dare to try new combinations. I usually wear these flared jeans with sneakers; From now on, I pair it with a pair of cowboy boots. Usually, I slip my oversized jacket over a cashmere sweater; it will warm my hoodies until the sunny days return. I reserve my notched derbies for miniskirts and printed dresses; they give relief to my faux leather pants. I’m saving this pastel handbag for summer; it becomes the healthy glow asset of my winter looks. In short, I disrupt my favorite fashion gimmicks, in order to concoct a brand new look based on what I already have.
Pay attention to the parts I acquire
I fully intend to change my purchasing behavior in a lasting way. However, over the next twelve months, I might treat myself to a few new clothes. Some ideas for limiting damage:
- avoid fast fashion and prefer eco-responsible brands like Asket, Circle and MaisonCléo.
- be attentive to materials and choose them natural (cotton, linen, etc.) or recycled.
- focus on quality rather than quantity to promote local craftsmanship and know-how.
- hunt for second-hand clothes on platforms like Vestiaire Collective, Monogram and Collector Square.
We’ll meet again in a year to take stock!