The resources on this page will get you started on injecting your current wardrobe with style and sustainability.
In my world, Sustainability = People + Planet. That is, if we're going to survive and thrive on Earth, we need to develop habits that promote healthy living, fair trade, fair wages, safe work, education, human rights, and peace, as well as clean and healthy ecosystems, soil, air, water, and living creatures.
I've taken the trinity of "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" a little further and applied it to how we shop and how we get dressed.
1. Create - Extend your wardrobe through creative styling, getting crafty, and doing your own alterations or custom designs. See below for links to stylish DIY projects and styling inspiration.
2. Care – Taking care of your clothes and accessories will extend their life, and help you get your money's worth.
Sign up for my Free Style Calendar which will help you organize, take stock, and care for the clothes you already own.
3. Swap- When you can't make it work, swap it, rent it, trade it, or sell it. Don't trash it!
4. Buy Well - When you do go shopping, research the brands, check out the materials, buy classic, buy quality.
5. Recycle – As a last resort, turn in your old or unwanted clothes to be re-manufactured. Some brands have take-back programs; cities are starting to collect clothes & textiles in their municipal recycling programs; and charity shops turn what they can't sell over to fabric recycling companies.
(I was inspired by this article at Ecouterre.)
If you'd like more information on the environmental concerns about clothing here's a great list of articles to get started.
Styling Inspiration
Accessorize, layer, reconsider, wear it off-season…
Joe Zee – Elle Magazine's creative director and a nice guy
Justina Blakeney – zany and zaftig, as she says; rather West-Coast; more of her ideas here
Lucky Magazine – young-ish, modern, practical, all sizes and shapes
Refinery 29 – young-ish, trendy, modern
Treehugger - Discover Channel's sustainable lifestyle site; eco fashion and design
Uniform Project – flat out great styling, for a good cause
DIY Style
Embellish, alter, mend, repurpose…
Books: Compai, Generation T, many, many more – check the library!
Analogue Chic – Have you tried my capelet-from-a-sweatshirt project?
Craftster - lots and lots of inspiring clothing projects, and a handy list of how-tos from other crafters
Ecouterre – very eco-minded
JayNSarah's Good Life – very resourceful alterations and upcycled DIYs, inspired by J. Crew and Anthropologie
Refinery 29 – "younger", on-trend ideas
Threadbanger - fun video tutorials for just about anything you can wear
WobiSobi – many crazy-awesome upcycling and DIY projects, modern, fun, and classy
Google it: Do a search with the garment you want to remake + the words "upcycle", "repurpose", "recycle", "diy", "how to", "tutorial", for example "tank top repurpose diy". If you don't know how to sew, or don't want to, add the words "no sew".
