It’s hard to break a habit that has existed for a lifetime. I’m trying to become more conscious of my spending and to strip back on buying new. Is another faux fur necessary? I’m looking to re explore my wardrobe and learn to love vintage again. To be at peace with what I have, work with what I have got and stop buying unnecessary purchases that I may or may not wear.

To keep up with fashion is impossible, each week there is a new high street trend, catwalk favourite and so on. With a low budget and lack of time to explore fashion much any more, I’ve decided to strip back completely and to wear my old pieces that I have loved before. Albeit some. Items are still attached to there original tags, three years down the line.

It’s crazy to think how much we waste shopping and trying to keep up with latest trends and street wear. Each year the trends remain the same, I’m tired of the mundane and predictable online shopping. I want to update my wardrobe with one off pieces, urban renewal clothing and art deco style jewellery. I love the 70s and draw much inspiration from that era, the whole disco look just sucks me in. I need to hunt down pieces that I really love and feel that for one off pieces and pulling looks together, vintage has everything to offer and more.

The high street is forever adapting to update store fronts and bring in new stock to meet the changing trends and keep up with the cat walk designers it becomes an endless cycle and as soon as you get into one new seasonal trend, gingham for Summer, faux for Autumn and leathers for Winter, the cycle starts all over. It has become a bit boring, there are only so many times the cycle can repeat itself and I’m seeing the same items crop up over and over. Snore.

With this in mind, bored by the mainstream high street, I’m going to try something new, to have fun with my current wardrobe, to mix it up with not new, but vintage pieces found at local markets charity stores and online retailers such as Etsy, which I already love.

I’m looking to explore and update my style through the hidden gems I have had stashed away for months, to get the use out of previous worn once only items and to really fall in love with finding my own style and doing fashion my way. Not by the way of the magazines for a change.

My budget as a working Mum on a part time wage can’t keep up with past shopping habits and my iterest to keep up has long dimished. I don’t want to have the newest dress on the block, to continue to fall into the shopping trap, it’s a consumer market out there for sure and I’m done with it and the waste.

My love of clothing and personal style is as strong as ever, with a penchant for pretty dresses, glitter and chandelier earrings but my eyes have been opened to the online world of vintage, and I know fashion doesn’t have to be new to be cool, to be loved and that style varies for everyone, it is what makes us unique. I’m excited to dive further into my ever changing personal style with the help of vintage and preloved clothing and garments by my side. My style has changed so much over the years and I’m excited to find out what comes next. I like to mix grunge and bohemian. To mix party girl dressing with street wear. I don’t do too good at casual wear but it’s growing on me.

I’m going to look to update my wardrobe with classic and timeless pieces that I can wear over and over again, not just on a one off. I’m going to invest in key pieces and hunt down bits and bobs from vintage stores and marketplaces to update what I already own. I’m going to create my own style and I’m going to have fun exploring and playing around.

I could shop until I drop but frankly, my budget won’t allow much shopping at this stage, my priority is saving to move to a family home, saving for Eleanor’s future. I’ve set myself a challenge to buy vintage and old items only for the next three months to see how I do. No Topshop, no Urban Outfitters, and no Doc Martens (miss you already). Here goes, a challenge that I hope can shape the way that I shop for the future and can teach myself how to fall in love with style and get out from the consumer trap. With this challenge not only can I look to prepare for more important things but I can also save the planet a little and stop with the waste.

I’ve worked through my wardrobe over the past few months and done a real good cleanse, rid of anything I haven’t or don’t wear. I’m moving on with my life and in this case it’s out with the new and in with the old. Wish me luck. If you have any favourite vintage clothing and jewellery stores or wee treasure chests hidden away, please, share with me. I’d love to know and dive right in to a world of vintage and pre loved. Reuse, recycle after all.

 

Keren x