ECO-XPRESS YOURSELF : Recycle Fashion. FUTURISTIC WHITEOUT

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RECYCLE FASHION
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ECO-EXPRESS YOURSELF

OUTFIT 1 : FUTURISTIC WHITEOUT

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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. 

to read THE INTRODUCTION TO eco-express yourself, click here.

Mia is wearing 
​One year old white lace shorts.
The white blazer was inherited from a friends closet clean-out (era unknown).
The lace blouse is about two years old and borrowed from my wardrobe.
The wedge sandals are about five years old and also borrowed from me (which is a good thing, because she was the first to actually wear them......Note to self..).

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Sun (I am) 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... 
My vintage sunglasses were bought 9 years ago, in Milan at Fiera di Senigallia. They're probably originally from the 70's.  
My white Nouveau Grunge T-shirt, is about two and a half years old.
My cream PVC skirt is one and a half years old, and never been used before. Took some time to figure out how to wear it right. 
My Dr.Martens boots are three years old, and I wear them pretty much with everything.

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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.

The photos in this post are of my bestie (and fellow designer) Mia Åkerlund and I. Everything we wear are about a year old and beyond, and definitely from a previous season. Proving that old trends can be reused for a current look. As a matter of fact, I've seen plenty of almost identical styles in shop's right now. So, they are literally just as good as new.

Stay tuned for more looks from my functional closet-project, Eco-Express yourself, and Mia's shopping free year. 

want more tips on how to get your wardrobe in order ? click here

for more fashion advice from idealist style, click here

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(These images are mine. Location: Oslo Opera house. Amateur models for the day: Interior and product designer, Mia Åkerlund, her daughter mini-Mia a.k.a Stella, and Fashion designer, me, myself, and I).