The general awareness of sustainable fashion brands and conscious consumption of clothing has increased tremendously in recent years. As someone who has been quietly advocating for a more thoughtful approach to participating in this ever-changing fashion industry, I'm really happy to see this shift in mindset. Personally, I think it’s extremely important to consider our consumption of clothing first and foremost while urging for a more sustainable fashion industry. At the end of the day, most fashion brands are businesses and the principle of any thriving business is products and demands.
Plus, let's say you're one of those people who don't believe in the fact that your small action will make a dent in the world, then I suggest looking inward and seeing if being more considerate about your consumption improves your day to day life. One of the reasons why I've always been passionate about fashion is that, I think it extremely poetic that, no matter who you are, you are always dressed in something specific about your life.
I can safely assume that for anyone who has started their journey on creating a staple wardrobe or have established a capsule wardrobe, that getting dressed has gotten much easier and that you now find joy and full comfort in the clothing that you naturally gravitate to. And I'm sure you have started to understand how important it is to have a wardrobe that is easy to access and reliable on a day to day basis.
Plus, let's say you're one of those people who don't believe in the fact that your small action will make a dent in the world, then I suggest looking inward and seeing if being more considerate about your consumption improves your day to day life. One of the reasons why I've always been passionate about fashion is that, I think it extremely poetic that, no matter who you are, you are always dressed in something specific about your life.
I can safely assume that for anyone who has started their journey on creating a staple wardrobe or have established a capsule wardrobe, that getting dressed has gotten much easier and that you now find joy and full comfort in the clothing that you naturally gravitate to. And I'm sure you have started to understand how important it is to have a wardrobe that is easy to access and reliable on a day to day basis.
Dress by Rixo - in Bali (left) and Mexico City (right).
That said, one thing that I don’t think is talked about enough is a sustainable vacation wardrobe. It’s very common and quite honestly understandable in this day and age to think about going on a trip and being excited to wear all your cutest clothes (that are most likely going to be new). I can't say that I'm 100% not guilty of this either, but seeing how some of my favorite dresses (like the bubble-gum pink dress I'm wearing above) have been repeating themselves on all of my trips in these past couple of years, I noticed a few patterns that I want to share to help you start collecting those vacation pieces to be more conscious of your travel/vacation clothing purchases.
Opposites Attract
While my day to day style consists of very basic and neutral pieces, I noticed that the pieces that I do end up packing (usually as back-up outfits) are louder and are definitely more statement pieces. I think this speaks volume to personal psychology as generally, I want to feel more "dressed up" than my usual when I'm away. I believe this could work opposite for those who have a more colorful and bolder style in the reverse way. I would definitely say if your everyday style is prints and color, a really good solid neutral maxi/midi dress could be that piece that you can safely count on for all of your future travels. And of course, vice-versa if you are like me.
Weather-proof
Ok, I don't mean that your dress is also a windbreaker- so hear me out. I think when purchasing a dress, it's really important to think about how versatile it can be worn. Whenever a dress arrives to me, I always try it on with several different types of shoes, layering pieces (such as jackets, sweaters, and blazers), and either tucked in as a top or worn as a skirt. Having a dress being able to simply go with two different type of shoes already guarantees that it can be worn with knee boots under for fall weather, or with sneakers/sandals in a more tropical location.
Get It On Sale
This one isn't mandatory but happens to be something that I noticed between all of my favorite dresses, and yes, they were all bought on sale. When talking about sustainability, no one really mentions about how inaccessible some brands might be and how that's directly unsustainable for our means of living (depending on your income and tax bracket of course). But, I find that waiting a period of time makes a dress that much more special knowing I have had it in my cart, and have been thinking about it all season long. And that extra attention to the piece helps me make sure that it's not an impulse buy as well. Plus, since I'll be repeating it for trips to come, I don't feel too bad about not being able to wear it right away.
Dress by Preen By Thornton Bregazzi - in Tokyo (left) and Lisbon (right).
Dress: Solid&Striped (in lime)
Shoes: Common Projects (in white)
Bag: Bottega Veneta Mini Pouch (in raffia)
Photo by Shun S.
Shoes: Common Projects (in white)
Bag: Bottega Veneta Mini Pouch (in raffia)
Photo by Shun S.
