And no, I am not talking about pumpkin spice lattes (PSL) and ugg boots.

OK, here me out. Through my journey towards a more sustainable and conscious closet, I have found the value in having a wardrobe of interchangeable basics. In this post, I am going to talk about why I have found this to be true.

Basic Does Not Mean Boring!

Choosing pieces that you absolutely LOVE and can mix and match are key to this “basic is best” mentality. When selecting the items, think about the small details that make you fall in love with it. Is it exceedingly comfortable? Does it have an interesting shape? Can you wear it multiple ways? (think reversing!) I love eyelet (so feminine and classic) and so many of my tops have this element in them. Think of your pieces as multifunctional- a slip dress can be worn as a skirt or with a t shirt under it to change it up completely. You do not need to only choose neutrals- if you have a color palette you love, or a favorite item with a print, THAT WORKS TOO! As long as it can be worn different ways, across seasons! As a reminder- you do not need to go out and buy a bunch of basics…I suggest editing your wardrobe first and looking at what you already own! Hot Tip: Never underestimate the power of accessorizing; jewelry can change a the whole vibe of an outfit.

Combat Decision Fatigue

Everyday we are bombarded with hundreds if not thousands of decisions. These range from the minor to the major, depending on the day, your job etc. Over the past few years, we have had to make SO more decisions over everyday activities because of Covid. This constant bombardment of decision making causes decision fatigue. Decision fatigue is “a state of mental overload that can impede our ability to make additional decisions.” When you have decision fatigue, you may find it harder to exercise self-control when it comes to eating, drinking, exercising or shopping. You may also postpone making important decisions because you feel burnt out, overwhelmed and generally just frazzled. Ok Allie, and how does this have to do with clothing? Well, when you have a tightly edited wardrobe filled with interchangeable basics, getting dressed in the morning becomes a breeze. No longer are you ALREADY being worn down by having TOO many options in your closet! This is a REAL thing that has been studied extensively; and actually many highly successful individuals like Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg utilize this in their wardrobe as well. If you’d like to read more on it, check out this Washington Post article.

Save the Planet….(and your hard earned cash!)

Say it with me, outfit repeating is a superpower. We need to stop viewing clothing as “old” when they have only been worn a few times- a study conducted by the environmental organization Wrap found that one in three women consider a garment “old” after one or two wears. CLOTHING IS NOT DISPOSABLE. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has calculated that the fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions every year. And let’s remember the atrocious humans rights violations that run rampant in the fashion industry.

  • Eight to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from the fashion industry, which is more than the aviation and maritime shipping industries combined.
  • The fashion industry produces and sells somewhere between 80 billion and 150 billion garments a year globally.
  • Nearly three-fifths of all clothing produced ends up in incinerators or landfills within years of being made.

By getting back to basics you’re going to wear the heck out of your clothing, helping to minimize your impact. You’re also combating the capitalist machine that wants you to keep buying more and more, which feels SO good. You’ll have more cash for things that actually matter.

Rent the wow factor

Lastly, for those times that you really want to wear something unique and unforgettable… Rented fashion is there for you. Though services like Rent the Runway and Nuuly you can snag some incredible statement pieces for events you want stand out (without buying some thing that won’t get a lot of wear.)

I hope you find this post helpful and empowering! Thank you so much for being here!

xx Allie