I am a fashion editor but in 2019 I fell out of love with the way we buy clothes. Fast-moving trends weren’t doing it for me any more. I gave up shopping for a year and started using my Instagram account to encourage people to buy less and enjoy wearing the clothes they already own.
I had one dress that I wore repeatedly to make a point about slowing down consumption habits: that rewearing is cool. It’s crazy that we live in a world where wearing an item more than once isn’t seen as normal, especially when you can make an item look completely different with some simple styling tricks.
The frock in question was a brightly coloured, patterned shirt dress, pictured above. Very distinctive, and a gift when it came to styling it in different ways to keep it looking fresh. Often, I would wear a spotty skirt underneath, leaving a few dress buttons undone to expose the pattern clash. Or I would sling a long, slouchy roll-neck knit over the top to turn the dress into a skirt. It also looked great with a tank top, thanks to the shirt collars that I could leave peeking out. It really was – and is – the dress that keeps on giving.
It was about the same time that I started logging how often I was wearing my clothes. Sustainability campaigners encourage us to be certain we’ll wear an item at least 30 times before we buy it, so I wanted to make sure I was doing that. One easy method is to make your clothes adaptable to the seasons so you can wear them all year-round. Apart from items like my heaviest knitted jumpers and summer shorts, my clothes work hard for me no matter what month it is.
My go-to outfit formula is a pair of loose-fitting linen trousers finished with a slim-fitting top and a waistcoat of some kind. In the depths of winter, I layer thermal leggings under my trousers, add a roll-neck top and a cosy knitted tank. Chunky socks and lace-up boots finish the look.
Spring and autumn just require a layer or two to be shed, and footwear can be switched to something less weather-proof, such as trainers. During a cool summer, I’ll wear a T-shirt and a cotton or linen waistcoat. And when it’s really hot – hello 2026! – I have a selection of linen shorts that are a summer version of the trousers, while the waistcoats can be worn with just a vest underneath.
Essentially, these are all versions of the same outfit, one that isn’t trend-led. Rather, it’s determined by my personal style and the seasons.
Counting the number of times you wear your clothes is a great way to determine your own style, giving you an idea of what to invest in in the future. Perhaps that’s dresses you can layer up or down depending on the weather. Maybe you’re more of a great pair of tailored trousers and quality tees person: just add a cashmere sweater come winter. There is no right or wrong when it comes to personal style.
Caring for my clothes is imperative to keeping my slow style alive. I buy from brands I trust to make well-made clothing that will last. These are usually smaller, independent brands that focus on quality, timeless designs. I also wash my clothes far less frequently; this means less wear and tear for the garment. Instead, I’ll refresh with a hand steamer and spot wash any small marks with Ecover stain remover. As for my knitwear, that gets hand washed once or twice a year.
When the time comes to pop my clothes in the machine, I always choose a gentle but effective detergent: Ecover’s non bio is my go-to and it even removes stains at 20C.
These simple steps of styling cleverly and washing less mean I get more out of my wardrobe for longer, while reducing my everyday energy and water use.
Let’s live clean
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