Over the past few years I have become a lot more conscious of what I’m wearing, including both the creative component to creating my personal style and the ethical and sustainability implications of what I put on my back. Although I am far from being where I aspire to be in terms of wearing 100 percent ethically produced clothing that is kind to both people and the environment, I’ve taken a couple of easy steps to bring me closer to that goal, including integrating used clothing into my wardrobe.
This Fashionista shares my interest in used clothing through her love of thirfting. Her black silk shirt embellished with little sprigs of amber is at once chic, affordable and environmentally sustainable. What I love about this outfit is the dedication to a color scheme, black and brown, and finding a way to make the once taboo combination of colors dynamic and fresh.
Simplicity is key for pulling off an outfit like this; the subtlety of the color integration is what makes the difference between the brown and black not appear so stark as it would’ve if she had put all brown on the bottom and black on the top or vice versa. Another crucial thing to remember when wearing a head-to-toe dark outfit is that it’s the details that make or break the outfit.
What I love most about this Fashionista’s outfit is her accessories, the imitation whale’s tooth pendant necklace and the gold Casio watch. The placement of the necklace draws attention to the detail of the shirt, while the watch stands largely in juxtaposition to the rest of the outfit, flashy in place of subtle.
The two main lessons to learn from this Fashionista are: don’t be afraid of sticking to a simple, dark color palate. Rather, scour your local thrift shops or parents’ closets (my personal favorite store) for items previously loved. Besides knowing that your clothing will stand out from the mass produced items everyone else is wearing, you can also feel good to know that you upgraded your wardrobe without causing any additional stress on the environment!
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