When I launched my personal styling business, I had one clear objective: to educate my clients about their bodies so that they can make better choices when it comes to shopping. I don’t abide ‘trends’, and you will never hear (or read) me giving blanket advice to purchase this season’s ‘must-have’. This isn’t to say that I advocate an austere wardrobe – we all love ‘new’ and the associated endorphin rush that comes with even the smallest purchase – but I do advocate buying pieces that will suit you now and (body changes aside) in the years to come.
The bi-product of making better, more educated choices with what we’re buying is that we are, in turn, shopping sustainably. With Earth Day this coming Thursday, we’re all being called upon to consider our consumption, and the fashion industry – in particular ‘fast fashion’ – is up there with some of the world’s worst polluters. Whilst for most of us it’s too simplistic to simply argue that we should never buy anything again – Greta Thunberg I am not – we can find ways to be more conscious of our consumption.
To that end, the most sustainable thing you can do, is to really get to grips with what shapes and styles work on you. Being swayed by the trend for prairie dresses when you’re a curvy 5’2”or Balenciaga’s razor sharp blazers when you’re already broadest at your shoulders, for example, is a bad investment. Understanding your individual proportions and how they combine with your shape is crucial when it comes to dressing to suit you.
Once you’ve done that, before you buy anything new, ask yourself these three questions:
Does this work with my lifestyle?
There’s no point shopping for sheer maxi dresses, or cut-out gowns, when in reality you’re rarely found not sporting your favourite denim. This seems obvious, but find me someone who hasn’t spent too much money on a dress or outfit for a wedding or another special occasion, only to wear it once, maybe twice. Not only is this bad for the planet, it’s bad for your bank balance.
Do I have anything like this in my wardrobe already?
So many of us are guilty of buying the same thing over and over again. It usually comes from a place of security, or lack thereof. For me, it’s pencil skirts. I find trousers really tricky to buy online, and tops are a minefield with a bust-to-waist ratio like mine, so skirts are my default position. I know others for whom it’s trainers. None of us need lots and lots of pieces in our wardrobes that all do the same thing. Be honest with yourself – if you’ve already got that niche covered, walk away.
Can I dress this up and down?
I don’t believe in saving things for best. Ironically, we tend to do this with the pieces that we’ve spent the most on resulting in a sky-high cost-per-wear. Instead, before taking the tags off something new, look at your wardrobe and consider all the ways that you can wear the piece. Can you team the skirt you’ve just bought with heels and a blouse for a dinner out, as well as bung it on with a pair of trainers and a t-shirt for a picnic in the park? The more ways you can wear something, the better the investment.
And next time you’re having a wardrobe clear out, don’t throw anything in the trash. Instead, use your local charity shop, Thrift + (a fuss-free second hand e-tailer that does all the hard work for you, and then splits your dividends between your favourite charity and John Lewis or FarFetch vouchers for you), eBay or even a fashion rental service like Hurr or ByRotation to get more life out of the pieces you’re finished with.





If you’re really interested in shopping sustainably, check out Lauren Bravo’s How to Break Up With Fast Fashion: a really non-judgy take on consuming fashion consciously. As always, if you’re interested, you can click on the button below for a run down of all my personal styling services and let me guide you on how to shop better.
And if you are on the hunt for some excellent new-ness this Spring, check out my updated Lust List for a rundown of the best out there right now - this week is a bumper special! Just make sure you ask yourself those three questions above before you buy.










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July 2021
- Jul 27, 2021 To bikini or not to bikini? Jul 27, 2021
- Jul 6, 2021 Frost Yourself Jul 6, 2021
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June 2021
- Jun 22, 2021 Buyer's Remorse Jun 22, 2021
- Jun 8, 2021 Save the Date Jun 8, 2021
- Jun 1, 2021 The Summer Solstice is coming Jun 1, 2021
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May 2021
- May 18, 2021 The Blazer: May 18, 2021
- May 11, 2021 Guide to Body Shapes: The Rectangle May 11, 2021
- May 4, 2021 It's May already: how did that happen? May 4, 2021
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April 2021
- Apr 27, 2021 Layer up Apr 27, 2021
- Apr 20, 2021 Shopping sustainably.... an oxymoron? Apr 20, 2021
- Apr 13, 2021 Guide to Body Shapes: The Triangle Apr 13, 2021
- Apr 6, 2021 Leaving hibernation Apr 6, 2021
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March 2021
- Mar 30, 2021 My top ten beauty products under £15 Mar 30, 2021
- Mar 23, 2021 Struggling to make the trench work for you? Read this. Mar 23, 2021
- Mar 16, 2021 Embracing the Wine-Tum Mar 16, 2021
- Mar 9, 2021 Your Ultimate Denim Guide for 2021 Mar 9, 2021
- Mar 2, 2021 Spring has sprung Mar 2, 2021
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February 2021
- Feb 23, 2021 Every wardrobe needs one of these. And it's only £15. Feb 23, 2021
- Feb 16, 2021 Trainers: are you wearing yours wrong? Feb 16, 2021
- Feb 9, 2021 Debunking the Capsule Wardrobe Myth Feb 9, 2021
- Feb 2, 2021 Finding Joy Feb 2, 2021
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January 2021
- Jan 26, 2021 Your Complete Guide to the Best Leggings to Buy Now Jan 26, 2021
- Jan 19, 2021 There's no such thing as bad weather Jan 19, 2021
- Jan 12, 2021 The Puffer Jacket: To Buy or Not to Buy Jan 12, 2021
- Jan 2, 2021 NOTES ON A WARDROBE: Welcome to 2021 Jan 2, 2021