It takes a person 3 seconds to form an impression of you. So what we wear matters. Having a carefully curated wardrobe offers so many benefits, feeling empowered from the moment you wake up and get dressed is one of the most obvious, and one of the less relatable positive impacts of knowing your style is that it can help save the planet!
Fashion’s Dirty Secrets
Many of us don’t think about the resources required to make our clothes. It takes 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt. To put that into perspective one load of washing uses 40 gallons of water.
There are a LOT of hidden truths about the fashion industry – but the good news is that we can all do something to make a difference.
By simply extending the use of our clothes by just nine months we could save £5 billion in resources used to supply, launder and dispose of clothing. If we all focus on creating a style that reflects who we are instead of following trends, we can extend the life of our wardrobes and invest in styles that last.
Nobody Teaches Us How to Dress or Shop
Despite the majority of women only wearing 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time, we continue to ‘shop’ for more things than we need. We spend on average £1042 per year on clothes according to the Great British Wardrobe Report (but I would argue it’s more). The majority of women I meet always say the same thing when I ask them “who taught you how to dress and shop for your body-shape? ” they simply say “Nobody did.”
So why are we so surprised that our wardrobes are stuffed full of clothes that don’t fit or flatter us?
Right now it’s estimated that us Brits have over £5.4bn of unworn clothing hiding in our homes, most of which is likely to be the wrong shape, size or colour.
Given the facts about fashion, and that knowing our style can bring about so many positives to our life and the planet, it certainly raises the stakes in making it a priority. Knowing your signature style will keep your wardrobe streamlined and help you stay focused on saving up for investment pieces that you can wear again and again.
Tips for Getting started in 2019 with a new wardrobe full of purpose.
- Define your style
- Get clarity on what shapes are best for your body type
- Understand what colours are best for your complexion
If you have an questions or would like to enquire about working with me to create a new wardrobe and define your signature style, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here
Roberta is the founder of Ethical Brand Directory and Roberta Style Lee. She is a speaker and sustainable stylist. You can connect with her on Instagram: @robertastylelee and Facebook: @robertastylelee
