How to build your dream wardrobe
Tips and tricks to getting your hands on the clothes you want without going broke
I want to preface this by mentioning a couple of things: the first is that my husband and I are both artists and though there have been times our financial situation was favorable, recent years have been hard on us financially and we were forced to make some decisions about what was important to us. Clothing was not high on that list, so I cut down on my spending, completely revamped my shopping habits and became very creative about procuring the brands I was after. This included buying my first pair of B-Sides jeans on vinted for 100 euros 3 years ago… a pair of jeans I still wear every week. The second is that I realize what a privilege it is to be talking about clothing online, receiving gifting from these incredible brands, and having an audience like you to share this with.
First things first: stop spending money on cheap knockoffs and fast fashion. You don’t need 5 pairs of badly fitting blue jeans, what you spend on those could buy you your favorite pair of blue jeans you’ve ever owned. Or for a fraction of that price, a vintage pair which fits you perfectly! I recommend searching for men’s 505 Levi’s vintage jeans if you’re looking for a fresh pair that isn’t a 501.
Start slow: you don’t know what brands you love if you haven’t tried them yet. Don’t go on a spending spree with a brand you’ve just discovered online. Maybe instead of jumping in the deep end, look for one of their pieces on a marketplace app or look up their stockist and see if you find any of their garments on sale… start there! I bought my first pair of Amomento trousers on vinted once for 60 euros (they retail for about 200) and now own a second pair because I know for a fact they look good on me.
Identify clothing you would really love to own and save up. Sell clothes from your closet you no longer wear on marketplace apps or host a closet sale with your girlfriends to help you pay for that special piece of clothing you’re pining for. I saved up for this pair of Jesse Kamm cali wides for 4 months, I sold another pair of JK trousers to help finance these. Don’t let this turn into a guilt-purchase… make it one you worked really hard for!
Marketplace apps are your friend: people all over the world are buying from the brands you love. They also sell them on marketplace platforms! Search for those brands and save your searches. 80% of the slow fashion I have purchased has been through vinted.
Be patient! Building a thoughtful, slow fashion wardrobe takes time and money. It also requires some re-wiring in our consumerist tendencies. If you’re dreaming about buying an article of clothing, let it sit in your cart for a few weeks. I keep a list of links to carted items and give myself a 30 day grace period to think it over. Often times, when I come back to it, I’m not that interested in completing the purchase anymore!
Vintage is your friend! My wardrobe is a mix of slow fashion and vintage pieces. By vintage, I mean garments made in the 90s mostly! I search for brands like LL bean, Ann Taylor and J Crew who were manufacturing clothes very differently back then. The quality says it all. Since I don’t live anywhere near a thrift store, I do all of my vintage buying on marketplace apps. I save my searches so that I can check for new results every couple of weeks and that’s how I find the best stuff.
Be prepared to fail: choosing clothes for yourself can be challenging but the only way to build that skill set is through trial and error. Don’t get discouraged! If something doesn’t fit well or isn’t what you expected, return it to the store you purchased it from or pu that garment up on a marketplace app, do not let it go to the back of your closet! that is how you end up losing money to consumerism.
Have a one in, one out rule. Rotate pieces out of your wardrobe when you put a new one in. I will typically try to sell one piece before a buy a new one. This is a reminder you’re not just building a wardrobe, you’re building equity in your closet. This can also serve as a reminder to buy pieces which will hold their value, so rather than going for trends, go for timeless designs that will still be worth something down the line.
I hope you find these tips useful, please comment with any of your own tips below!
x
Clara
Noted!
Love this! Thank you for sharing!