A Classic Wardrobe for Life

Why "being trendy" is no longer a part of my vocabulary.

Every fall, when I know cozy sweater season is approaching, I find myself perusing a few brands online to see their latest fashions and trends. And I use the guise "just to see what's in style" as my excuse for crashing back into the fast fashion world for a brief moment.

While there is a modicum of truth to that excuse (I sell vintage clothing online and it is nice to see what I should stock up on, though most items I sell are traditional pieces), there is also a small part of me that wonders if what I've transitioned to (slow fashion) is where I should be.

Yet, the moment I check in on J. Crew, L.L. Bean, and a few other traditional clothiers (even Target), I instantly remember why I'll never go back to the old days of being "on trend." The money I've spent! The fashion I thought was cool—oh my. 

Being on trend means time and money hurrying after something that is going to change a few months later. Forever. I'll never catch up. I'll never be perfectly fashionable. I'll never stop running the fashion race because that's the concept behind fast fashion.

Which is why I gave up that old way of fashion.

Now that I'm a huge proponent of slow fashion, the fast fashion lifestyle feels like a horribly miserable place to stay. I have a hard time believing I was doing that for decades, too. I thought I had to constantly change my wardrobe. I thought I had to because everyone else did it. 

That's the lie of it all.

Here's a thought to remember: Just because you can wear it, doesn't mean you should. (I mean, jeans with holes only look so good for so long). 

Here's another thought to remember: Just because a retailer says something is on trend doesn't mean it is. At the end of the day, they are a business. Their bottom line is the most important thing. And rightly so. They're a business. But try to understand it within their context: switching to slow fashion is the opposite of their goal for you.

They want you hooked on their next season's "drop." They want you to ditch classics in favor of trendy pieces so you'll always be on a merry-go-round of spending, wearing, giving away, and spending again. 

As someone who's ditched fast fashion (don't get me wrong, sometimes I need something random like a bathing suit and Target is the only place to get one - I'm not legalistic about that ) I'm in such a fantastic state of mind about my wardrobe these days. 

Minimal living has pared down my closet to what I love, but slow fashion (clothing that is made well, with real fibers, and probably vintage or on the way to being vintage) has changed how I view buying and wearing clothes.

I save money: Again, if you're living with a minimal wardrobe, make it a slow-fashion one. This may mean paying a little more upfront for a traditional piece—like an all-wool cardigan or thick denim jeans—but these will also last for years longer. Classic pieces are called classics for a reason: they'll never go out of style. That ruffly, no-shoulder top may be cute, but it probably won't be in style a year from now. Of course, it doesn't mean I can't have a statement piece or two. Those are fun. But, the majority of my closet, as a classic wardrobe, will always be in style and I'll save a fortune keeping key pieces in my go-to, everyday wardrobe.

I don't have to think about what to wear ever again: I never have to question whether or not I'm in style. With a traditional, classic, and quality wardrobe, I'll always be in style. With a minimalistic wardrobe as a bonus to the slow fashion wardrobe, my pared-down closet is the simplest thing to navigate. And packing for a trip is beyond easy. Because I don't have thirty long-sleeved tops, and now have ten, picking from those ten makes my wardrobe choices a piece of cake. I now have more time to spend doing what I want, like being with family or reading, which is a much better option than standing in my closet trying to figure out what to wear. Think about it: 10 minutes a day trying to figure out what to wear is five hours a month, which is sixty hours a year. That's a whole lot of books I could read or a whole lot of cups of coffee I can enjoy in peace. 

I'll never look like everyone else: This may be because of my personality (I'm an Enneagram Type 4, or INFJ if you're into the personality types), but looking like everyone else is the opposite of what I want. What is the fun of that? When I was young, I wanted to fit in - we all wanted our Guess jeans and jelly shoes. But even when I was living a fast-fashion lifestyle, I  hated knowing my sweater had the potential to be on every woman at any given moment. But now? Not so much. Vintage fashion, or quality pieces, while always in style, are much rarer. And when you see someone wearing a unique outfit, people notice. I know I sure do.

It's not a popular thing to not be popular. That's the polar opposite of our media-driven world. But it seems going against the grain and doing things with a bit more thought leads to a more fulfilling (and smarter) life. If you want to spend money forever on a wardrobe that will always need to be updated, great. You do that. That's what the "trendy" wardrobe is for.

But if you want to look amazing in a wardrobe that is top-quality, unique, and classic, then a classic wardrobe full of classic, traditional, perennial pieces is your best option. In the long run, you'll save time and money, and in all honesty, you'll look like a million bucks. 

To me? That's a no-brainer because that's the power of a classic wardrobe for life.