Shopping With Intention: 5 Ways to Say No to Fast Fashion

Being Mindful with Purchases That Last
Filed Under > Let's Talk

How can I shop mindfully to establish a wardrobe I’m proud of, and resist the undeniable pull of Fast Fashion in the digital space?

As an editor of a lifestyle website and an almost-27-year-old, I’m eager to define my own style. But I want to do so in a meaningful way (and on a realistic budget). But since I see a lot of fashion, a lot of sales, and a lot of “must-haves” every day, I’m finding just how much “Fast Fashion” can get in the way. 

“Fast Fashion” refers to the transient pieces from retailers like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara that are completely upturning the fashion industry and pumping out trendy, designer knock-off collections faster than consumers can buy them. This quickening pace of the industry isn’t necessarily a good thing; instead it threatens to hurt job markets and encourages a “more, more, more” attitude among consumers.

I mentioned shopping mindfully because I’m at the point in my life where I’m not buying for Friday night anymore… and I couldn’t be happier about it. These days, I’m fighting the “more, more, more” attitude with purchases that will last for years to come. These items aren’t under $20 poly-blend tops, they are well-made and versatile staples that can shape my wardrobe. 

Obviously working for Waiting on Martha under MKR has really sparked a lot of my interest in shopping mindfully. I’ve begun to appreciate investment pieces, like a pair of killer black pumps or a timeless trench, and understand how they play a lasting role in my wardrobe. I’m also learning the ropes on great discount sites like The Outnet, and I’m discovering retailers (my current favorite: Cuyana) who offer more affordable items that are still great quality (a nice middle ground for a realistic budget).

While I’m inundated daily with site-wide sales and witty subject lines in my inbox, I still find it difficult to say no to trendy, on-the-cheap items at times. I do think you can find a gem or two as an impulse buy, don’t get me wrong. But for the most part, those purchases inadvertently cause you to overspend and ultimately clutter an over-stuffed closet.  Sure, Fast Fashion allows consumers to buy five shirts for the price of one, but it also fails to provide style and quality that will truly transcend seasons.

This is a dangerous (and fascinating) industry to work in; the digital space pushes products faster than many consumers even realize. With seamless integration of buyable links and expertly curated editorial features by fashion magazines and blogs and of course Pinterest, it’s hard to remember if you even wanted that military green jacket that’s now in your shopping cart before you read that post.

Though not entirely to blame for its success, your favorite fashion websites and bloggers (ourselves included) are definitely responsible for fueling the beast that is Fast Fashion. I’m not saying I’m immune to this either; on the contrary, since I’m an avid blog reader, I have to remind myself on the daily that I’m buying for a smarter wardrobe…all after I finish reading “Under $10 outfits that Make Everyone Look Skinnier.”

There’s no wonder that the focus on mindful, intentional shopping is easily clouded when Fast Fashion is running rampant – especially online. True to its meaning, mindful shopping requires just that – mindfulness. The buys don’t have to be boring, but they should be strategic. As I steer through the latter end of my twenties, I’m learning that it’s truly a process that will only get easier with practice. To keep it top of mind, I have five tips for remaining mindful with purchases in the slideshow above, which in turn makes it easier to say no to Fast Fashion.

This post just barely scrapes the surface about both mindful shopping and Fast Fashion. I’ve just started to educate myself on both, and with that, I’ve realized that this definitely becomes a bigger discussion to be had. I’d love to hear your thoughts, how you can relate, your thoughts on Fast Fashion, how you shop with intention, etc. in the comments below. Cheers, Kat

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

EDUCATE YOURSELF

MAKE MIRANDA PRIESTLY PROUD BY EDUCATING YOURSELF ON THE CHANGING FASHION INDUSTRY: FAST FASHION, THE EFFECT THAT MARKETING HAS ON OUR PURCHASES, AND HOW YOUR PURCHASES MATTER.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA DOWN THIS ROAD
FIND THE DEALS, BUT DON'T SETTLE

FIND THE DEALS, BUT DON'T SETTLE

LUCKILY, THERE ARE COUNTLESS SITES DEVOTED TO OFFERING YOU DISCOUNTED PRICES ON DESIGNER DIGS. BUT BE WARY; AS YOU FIND GOOD DETAILS, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU'VE TRULY BEEN SEARCHING FOR THAT ITEM. IT'S EASY TO STRAY FROM YOUR LIST OF ESSENTIALS WHEN YOU COME ACROSS A KILLER DEAL.

MY FAVORITE SITES TO SCORE DESIGNER DEALS INCLUDE THE OUTNET, BLUEFLY AND RUE LA LA.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA TUULA VINTAGE
FIND A SEAMSTRESS

FIND A SEAMSTRESS

MKR HAS TOLD ME FROM THE START: A SEAMSTRESS IS THE ULTIMATE SECRET WEAPON IN A KILLER WARDROBE. BY TAKING THE EXTRA STEP TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES FIT WELL, YOU'LL BE LESS LIKELY TO OVERSPEND IN THE ATTEMPT TO FIND "THE PERFECT FIT."

THIS PIECE BY VOGUE DISCUSSES THE NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT PAIR OF JEANS, AND EXPLAINS THAT THE PERFECT PAIR IS ACTUALLY ALREADY IN YOUR CLOSET, WITH THE HELP OF GREAT TAILORING. GENIUS.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA HONESTLY WTF
AVOID IMPULSE BUYS

AVOID IMPULSE BUYS

JUST REMEMBER, SAYING NO TO THAT UNDER $100 HANDBAG CAN MAKE ROOM FOR ONE YOU WILL HAVE FOR YEARS TO COME. IF THAT MEANS TURNING DOWN IMPROMPTU MALL RUNS WITH YOUR FRIENDS, SO BE IT. RECOGNIZE WHERE YOU ARE TEMPTED MOST, AND STRATEGICALLY REIGN IN THE SPENDING.

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT READ ABOUT SHOPPING LIKE THE PARISIANS (THE PIECE THAT SPARKED A LOT OF THIS POST ACTUALLY) TO SERVE AS SOME MOTIVATION.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA WAITING ON MARTHA, BY RUSTIC WHITE IN "AND AWAY WE GO"
DEFINE YOUR STYLE

DEFINE YOUR STYLE

IDENTIFY YOUR STYLE ICONS AND RECURRING THEMES OF THE LOOKS YOU LOVE. MAKE A LIST OF YOUR MUST-HAVE ITEMS AND STICK TO IT. YOU'LL SLOWLY DEFINE YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE, AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PIECES YOU WANT TO BUY IN ORDER TO CREATE A WARDROBE YOU'RE PROUD OF. THIS MINDFULNESS WILL ALSO HELP YOU FEEL CONTENT WITH THE STAPLES YOU ALREADY HAVE, RATHER THAN THE DESPERATION OF LOOKING INTO AN OVERSTUFFED CLOSET WITH "NOTHING TO WEAR."

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA STOCKHOLM-STREET STYLE
ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Featured image, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha – “And Away We Go

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  • Excellent points, Kat! I agree that the allure of low-dollar pieces can be hard to resist. I tend to snap them up only if I want to add a trendy piece for the season…maybe one or two – and even then I try to make sure they are pieces that have lasting style. I add quality pieces for staples like linen shirts, a pair of dress pants that will last years, my favorite jeans (which happen to be mid-priced), or a great blazer, etc. They stay in my closet for years and can be worn again and again if made well. Worth the splurge…:)

  • Sarah Gouin / 08.09.2015

    A great post! Very inspirational. It is far too easy to wind up with impulse buys instead of saving for key pieces that you will never regret.

  • Good message today.

    xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com

  • That purse is fabulous! Love your style girl.

    XO, Jessi
    mywhiteT.com

  • I enjoyed your thoughts on mindful shopping. I am a big proponent of investment dressing. I will even buy 2 of something I know I will wear day in and day out…like the perfect black sandal. Some items are bought knowing they won’t last more than a season…white tees for example. But that elegant pair of quality slacks…there is my investment. Keep up your thoughtful reads Kat

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Thanks so much Chris. I love that rule of thumb about trendy pieces per season too. I really appreciate hearing how you can relate! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Thank you Sarah! It’s definitely a process that I’ll be working on over here! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Thanks Bella! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Isn’t it amazing? Definitely an investment to be enjoyed for years to come! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Thanks so much Kathy. Such a good idea about getting even two of something if it’s one of those staple items. I appreciate your comment! xo

  • I agree completely..shopping should be strategic and you should want to get the most out of your money and your clothes! It can be so tempting because I am blogger/follow multiple fashion blogs and all of the clothes are just SO cute, it’s hard to resist. Sometimes I deal with my clothes addiction by putting items in my cart and not actually buying them, haha. Great post! xx

    http://www.missharwell.com

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.10.2015

    Hahaha oh Hannah I definitely do that too! Too funny. xo

  • Leanne / 08.29.2015

    this is so timely coming across your post. I just finished watching the documentary The True Cost (available on Netflix). The blog House of Fifty recommended it. Very thought-provoking about fast fashion and the true cost of where our clothing is made (who suffers the true cost, etc.) . All of the points you make are so spot on to my own struggles (thanks for sharing!) and this film pushes me to think about this even deeper. I totally recommend it.

  • Sharon / 08.29.2015

    Some of us can only afford to shop at H&M and Forever 21. Sure, it would be great to be able to buy more expensive clothes and shoes, but we just don’t have the money! Plus, I get tired of wearing the same clothes after a few seasons and don’t want to spend a fortune on updating my wardrobe. So for me, it’s not necessarily about buying, “more, more, more” (which is completely hippocritical of this post which has a “shop the post” link on the bottom of it!), it’s about liking my clothes and dressing fashionably on a low, low budget.

  • Mandy Kellogg Rye / 08.30.2015

    Sharon,

    I completely understand what you’re saying about buying pieces that are affordable and how most people, myself included, can’t always or ever splurge on designer pieces. What we’re trying to educate individuals on is is how the H&M’s and Forever 21 are in most cases ripping off, essentially stealing designers designs and then making them at such a low price point pushing out the middle man or any chance of having a reasonably cost conscious product from a mid tier vendor. The designs take sometimes years for designers to create, it’s their art, and then the big box stores watch fashion week and go back to their factory and pump out the cheapest version possible. This is also taking jobs away from America because small business can not longer compete and companies can’t afford to have their products made by hand or in the USA any more. It’s also creating complete consumerism with a buy more instead of buying quality at times. And we included a Shop The Post because we shared the items that we buy that are timeless and because they are so high quality they will last for years and years to come. We’re just trying to open a dialogue we by no means have all the answers. I totally see where you’re coming from and appreciate your opinion and thoughts. xo MKR

  • Tina / 03.31.2016

    This all sounds great, but how many women can realistically afford a $795 trench coat? And a couple of $395 purses? I say this as a woman who inidividually makes more than the average household income of today. While those styles mentioned may be timeless, most of them do not look flattering on size 6 body or greater.

  • Tina / 03.31.2016

    Excuse me, the Givenchy bag is $2,435. Seriously, what do the women
    who buy these items do for a living? I’m not trying to be sarcastic or snippy! I’m just really curious to know what they do to afford these luxury items? Thank you.

    As an aside, I’m a former Air Force pilot, flying for a major airline out of Boston now.

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