Today is the first day of an exciting new collaboration with Australian blogger, Sarah London, the mindful stylist. I met Sarah through Instagram and I have followed her posts for a while.
A few weeks ago I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed for my 7 Secrets of my Style series on Instagram and even more delighted when she asked if I would like to share a monthly blog posts - writing a post on the same topic. And here we are.
Our first topic is the sroty behind our love of shopping second-hand.
For me shopping second-hand is very much like my yoga journey. I went into it expecting one thing and ended up with something very different. Bear with me.
I started practising yoga in 1991 when I was six months pregnant with my eldest son and the gym owner had a quiet word to say I needed to adjust my current weight training regime. He was right but I didn't like the idea of doing no exercise. He suggested yoga.
I couldn't find any yoga classes for my area in those days but instead taught myself a pregnancy routine from a book. I was resistant at first but soon found the physical shapes fed by desire to move by body. At first it was a means to an end when I couldn't get to the gym. Four babies later I was still practising yoga and pleased with myself when I achieved a challenging new poses like Hanumanasana (the splits) or a headstand. It fed my need to push myself physically.
But then something happened. I realised the physical side was no longer that important. What I enjoyed about my yoga practice was the sense of peace and calm that I was able to carry into my everyday life. I had finally got the essence of yoga.
A similar thing happened with second-hand shopping. At first it was a means to an end when I was a student and had little money but a big passion for clothes. I could buy a whole outfit for not much money. Over the years as more money became available to feed my fashion habit I strayed into fast fashion but somethign didn't feel right. I became more aware of the dire conditions of fast fashion workers, the impact on the environment and the cost to the planet. In 2008/2009 I did a year of buying no new clothes documented in my blog WorkthatWardrobe and I rediscovered the joys of secondhand shopping.
And then something happened. I realised something new to me was just as exciting as boxfresh clothes. What I loved about second-hand shopping was I could get the same buzz without harming the planet. I still have a lot to learn as the book, Loved Clothes Last is telling me but I feel I am now finally getting the true essence of sustainable shopping.
It must have rubbed off as two of my sons run a successful second-hand designer clothing brand, Luxe Collective.
I still have a long way to go but I hope you join me on my journey to becoming a more sustainable shopper.
Have a great day.
Today I wore:
Shoes - Karen Millen via ebay
Skirt - Top Shop via Vinted
Jacket M&S via Oxfam
Top - Superdry via Oxfam
Bag - Mulberry via Luxe Collective
I feel the same about shopping for clothes, I have the book, Loved Clothes Last and another called Second Skin which another blogger, Vix, pointed me to. I really enjoy the search for something preloved and the pleasure of having something new to my eyes but most of all knowing I am doing my bit for the planet. I buy new clothes too but am much more aware of how and where they are produced. Your sons' business sounds interesting and I hope they give you first dibs!
ReplyDeleteThat interview was a great reada dn your outfit proves that shopping secondhand isn't a compromise, you can look fabulous! xxx
ReplyDeleteHello Jane, what a great idea for a collaboration. I will be sure to check out Sarah's blog too. Loved hearing how you got into Yoga. (I was swimming everyday up 'til both daughter's births. If nothing else it was amusing seeing the look of panic on the other swimming pool users' faces, as ginganteum moi emptied the pool!) My mam used to drag me around jumble sales and charity shops as a kid. I remember at one point in my teens being quite embarrassed by it all. I just wanted something 'new'. Now I break out into sweat when I go into a high street store and see the terrible quality of fabric and imagine the slave labour involved :0 You look fab in your outfit :) Lulu xXx
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