The 20 Day Sustainable Fashion Challenge: Planning Your Wardrobe

Well I haven’t been great at keeping on top of the 20 day sustainable fashion challenge. I have been reading the emails and reflecting but not interacting as much as I would have liked to have done.

In order to rectify this I thought I would do a few blog posts on the challenges in the final days starting with an incredibly apt one about planning.

I am a firm believer in planning and planning my wardrobe is something I have always wanted to do, in fact in the past I think I might have been bold enough to suggest I did plan. Then I had to do an emergency dress run a fortnight ago and it reminded me that – well, no I do not plan. A little more planning would have saved me money and ensured I didn’t end up with a non-sustainable, non-ethical dress. (Sorry folks, my first purchase in years from a non ethical brand (that isn’t 2nd hand) and it was all down to a lack of planning).

Rather than detail how I managed it here (another jumpsuit fiasco – lesson learnt) I will just say that I adore the dress and already plan to wear it multiple times this year alone.

Feeling particularly sheepish I opened my email for day 17 of the challenge and thought – well this one I really have to do.

Let’s face it, planning is key for a wardrobe that functions in your life, is sustainable and ethical plus can save you money. Not convinced? Well how many items have you bought spur of the moment and then got home and realised how little you have that goes with it, how it isn’t quite what you wanted or when the heck you will wear it! I speak from experience folks, I have always wanted to be someone who just owns the clothes she needs but with the whole system designed to get us to constantly buy and shop then sometimes taking a step back, looking at what you have, what you wear of what you have and what you actually do day to day means that finally you won’t have to think about what to wear…or is it just me that has a goal that I will stop writing about clothes and buying and just take pictures of outfits 🙂

So I have put a little time in thinking about my wardrobe, what I am missing and what might need replacing over the coming year, Summer’s emails are incredibly useful here as they contain lots of questions to get you thinking about your clothing.

I have a lot of sports clothing that seems to be holding up pretty well, testament I think to buying the best quality I could (or asking for gifts). These items are worn for a variety of sports and activities and almost all are worn to ride in. There is a decent mix of vest tops, short-sleeved and long-sleeved items – essential in Scotland’s ever changing weather. A pair of long running leggings are on their last legs and I thought about replacing them but I have to be honest – how much running am I actually doing at the moment? My other running leggings are Skins and I have to say, they are brilliant and are showing little signs of wear – perhaps next Autumn I might need more running leggings until then I can always brave the cold in my capris or *shudders* my shorts.

Trawling through my whole wardrobe a couple of things are evident, I need to buy some tights and there is a distinct lack of neutral tops and jumpers. I am clearly a pattern junkie but I think a plain jumper would be a real boost to my wardrobe. Other than that the majority of my clothes are in good condition and are worn regularly. I could perhaps benefit from a smart, going-out top but I can keep an eye out in charity shops and eBay for one of those.

I believe over the next year some basics such as a new sports bra (essential), underwear and pyjama tops might be required but all of these can be a wait and see kind of issue.

Technical wear wise I could do with some decent waterproof trousers – life is too short for soapy knees and trench crotch – I can’t keep using my snowboarding trousers as then I will have to buy new ones of those plus they are too baggy to wear on the bike without causing a comedy falling moment. I also want to try reproofing my jacket and shorts before making any decisions about those although a Finisterre (non-down) jacket or gilet is calling me and the cosiness for riding is just too tantalising.

Shoes-wise I am moving to fully non-leather although not binning the shoes I own currently as I don’t feel that is particularly sustainable. I need to try and get my smart flat shoes resoled but if they can’t be saved then perhaps a new pair of those might be needed in the Spring.

So there you have it, my planning of my wardrobe. When I actually sat down and thought about it this didn’t take me too long and I kind of enjoyed it – in my ‘I love making a list’ kind of way. After undertaking the 20 days sustainable fashion challenge I felt much more prepared to do this as I had a bit of structure and impetus.

How about anyone else? Do you plan your wardrobe like this? How often do you review it?

I am keen to revisit this next year to see how accurately I managed to plan. I reckon I might have a ‘fun’ purchase or two (for that read patterned) but hopefully I pretty much stick to this plan.

Fancy joining the 20 day sustainable fashion challenge? Sign up here.