ECO-EXPRESS YOURSELF 6

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RECYCLE FASHION
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ECO-EXPRESS YOURSELF

OUTFIT 6 : THE CASUAL BLACK TWO PIECE

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​Please enjoy part 7, outfit 6, of the "Recycle fashion" series.
In short, same girl, old clothes, new style.
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If you haven't read the first post's explaining the purpose of the "Eco-Express yourself, Recycle fashion" series, click right here. You can also scroll down for a quick repeat and introduction after the photos. 
​Basically, everything I wear is about a year old and beyond, and definitely from a previous season. 
​Proving that old trends can be reused for a current look. I do my best to keep the leather faux and cruelty free.

I'm wearing
Everything I'm wearing is at least a year old, so it's hard to keep track of the exact era. But more or less... 
The earrings aren't very visible, but are classic black retro style, and about two years old. 
The black sandals (second photo) are about 4 years old. Then I changed into my classic black kitten heals, that are about 6 years old. Still working just fine, but close to being worn out. The next time, I'm investing in something a bit more high quality that can be more easily repaired. Both are faux leather.
The black cropped T-topp is about four years old, and originally bought to wear with one of my sarees for a more casual look. Luckily for me, the cropped look is trendy again, so I got double usage for it.
The black midi-skirt is about three years old, and a trusty favourite of mine. It's one of those, "it always flatter me" pieces, so it's the best fashion investment I've made in a while. And to think, I almost didn't buy it because I thought it was too expensive. It's so easy to get tricked by the cheap prices of fast fashion. In reality, your not saving money by buying cheap stuff that won't last, and you don't have to buy luxury brand things to get quality either. You'll wan't your favourite basics to last you a very long time, so invest in quality, and make sure the material is durable (maybe something that won't go out of style too fast either). This doesn't mean you can't shop at HM anymore (for example), just pick the "Premium Quality" or the "Conscious Collection" basics instead of the cheapest one. The ladder, is good for both you and the environment, so I try to get everything I can "green".

Whenever I buy new clothes, I try to use the "quality over quantity" rule and take my time finding the right style, shape, color, cut and material. If anything is off, I usually end up not using it (or using it once), then start searching for the same thing I just bought all over again.
​Learn to recognize what you actually wear and feel good in, and what you don't. The most important rule is always, "What do you feel good in?", then comes the colors and shapes, what looks good you, what doesn't, and so on. If it looks good on you, but you don't feel like wearing it, it's a waste of money and resources. Try not to fall for the, "This looked good on this other person" trap. When you're out shopping and find something you like, ask yourself, "Will I actually wear this? If so, when?" 
Spend some time searching for the right item. Stuff you loose interest in too fast, or stuff that's not perfect for you, isn't worth having anyway. If you invest in the right item, you'll need less stuff. If you buy the almost right item, you'll easily find yourself wanting more. It's like food- Eat right, and you'll feel full and satisfied. ​

TO READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE "ECO-EXPRESS YOURSELF" SERIES,
OR WANT MORE TIPS ON HOW TO GET YOUR WARDROBE IN ORDER,
CLICK HERE.

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Most of the time we see pictures of clothes, someone is trying to sell us something. There's always some new trend and must have for our shopping list. That's just how fashion works, it always needs to stay one step ahead (As it must, to keep interest up. Usually with the help of something new and different that will provoke a reaction, the way all art should). 

​This project is about separating the fashion from the industry, and a reminder that style doesn't come from a store, but from creativity and personality. Fashion can be about so much more than just shopping and having a certain look. 
Besides the fact that we need clothing to keep us warm, or to cover certain body parts, fashion and style is more about self expression. It can be fun and creative, and a great tool for making a statement about who you are (or want to be). It can make you feel beautiful or cool, and changing up your look can sometimes be that little extra to make you feel new and refreshed. I would go as far as saying, that at least to me, fashion makes me happy. Visual beauty can turn a bad day into a good one, with just an "injection" of something pretty to look at. Bad design, makes me stressed out, and things I find beautiful calms me down and inspire me. It just put's me in my happy place (and that is probably why I got into fashion in the first place). Looking at beautiful and fun things can be good for your mental health, you could say. 
But, to keep this short, let's skip straight to the most important part of the message. Trends follow cycles, and is revived every so often. So, you actually don't have to buy something new to keep up with all the trends. Well, at least not if you plan ahead a little (See the GOLDEN WARDROBE RULES, at the bottom, or click link to read the intro to the series).

To show you what recycling fashion actually looks like, I have decided to perpetuate and share some looks put together from "old " clothes, a.k.a from at least last years fashion and beyond.
These outfits aren't just for show, but a caption of an actual day out (Also why I'm not wearing heals. I try to get around it as often as possible, and only wear them when the outfit demands for it).
​This is fashion in real life, emerging form a real wardrobe or two, belonging to "normal" fashion-lovers. Because, most normal people can't afford to wear something new every day. 
​So, I thought it would be fun to do a "fashion in real life", kind of shoot. The goal is to (hopefully) inspire others to realize that you don't need to buy new clothes all the time to be fashionable or express your creative side. ​

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THE GOLDEN WARDROBE RULE
​Be smart and selective about what you buy, and think long term. Remember that fashion goes in cycles. In five to ten years those last years jeans will be the hottest thing again. The trick is to think of your closet as a collection, and only shop for what's missing. Never just buy something because it's pretty or cool. Take notice of what you really you need, when roaming through your clothes getting ready, and make a list. This is a good way of preventing that impulse shopping, based on your feelings for that random shiny dress you just got a fleeting crush on (that you'll never get to wear). The key is to build a wardrobe where you can find an outfit for any occasion, without having to go shopping. Even if it's for work, a birthday party, camping, or a wedding. Too many of us have the "I have a hundred party tops, and yet I have nothing to wear" kind of closets. Instead, spare the environment the pollution, and save money on buying long lasting quality items.

WANT MORE FASHION ADVICE FROM IDEALIST STYLE, CLICK HERE.

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Everything I wear in these photos, are at least a year old and beyond, and definitely from a previous season. Proving that old trends can be reused for a current look. Stay tuned for more looks from my functional closet-project, "Eco-Express yourself", and the new "The True Cost of Fast Fashion" project. 

The images are mine. Location: My apartment, Oslo. ​​