Does an ethical wardrobe that you love feel unrealistic? Maybe it’s the price-tag of fair trade sewn items. Maybe the flowy linen pastoral thing isn’t your aesthetic. Maybe the thought of leafing through 100 thrift store t-shirts makes you feel overwhelmed.
Whatever the case, I’m here to help! I’ve been shopping ethically on a budget for over a decade and love my wardrobe. It hasn’t always been perfect, but my resourceful and hard-working mom instilled a love of thrifting in me. She taught me you don’t have to spend a ton of money on your clothes to love how you dress and feel at home in your style. As my awareness and sustainable values grew, I was really pleased to find out that buying “pre-loved” is good for the planet and people.
Thrifting keeps clothing out of landfills, lowers your carbon footprint, helps preserve water used to make clothes, and reduces the chemical emissions created by the production of new clothes. It also can help support local charities or small consignment businesses.
Below, I’ll share some tips for shopping sustainably and show you what I’m wearing this spring. These are most (but not all) of my spring outfits: a few items were in Dirty Laundry Mountain and a few lounge wear pieces didn’t make the cut. Please have grace for my selfie skills — I am hopelessly unnatural in front of a camera, but decided to push through to hopefully inspire you all on your sustainable fashion journey!
- Thrift often, and with an open mind. It’s the thrill of the hunt. Go explore and dig for the good stuff! I go about once a month to look for things for our whole family/home. I look for clothes for myself less often now because I’m not in the size and lifestyle transitions of my early twenties/pregnancies. But if I need a dress for a special occasion or a new pair of workout pants, this is where I check first.
- Search for specific brands and items using online secondhand shops. eBay, Poshmark, threadUp, Facebook MarketPlace, Craigslist, etc. Sometimes you really want a specific brand or you need something quickly, and online secondhand shopping comes in handy here.
- Utilize local consignment stores. These are good for both selling unwanted items and purchasing a more curated selection than a thrift store. If you’ve tried the thrift store and really don’t like sifting through so many options, try this! A consignment store will do some of the work for you by only showing you options that have been checked for stains, holes, etc.
- Familiarize yourself with sustainable companies. Shop their holiday sales to get the best price for your budget. I’m willing to spend a little more in this category because I save so much thrifting.
Everlane Stripe Top – Local consignment store ($17)
Vintage Rust Linen Skirt – Thrift store ($4)
Clogs – Lotta From Stockholm. I bought these new after debating and saving for two years and I love them! Check out their regularly updated seconds and sale section for discounted prices. ($87)
Straw Hat – Tula Hats. I researched a ton before finding this lovely straw hat last summer. Tula is a fair trade company that supports artisans in Mexico who are socially and economically marginalized. They use sustainably grown palm fiber (good for the earth and non-toxic). And the hats are UPF 50+ for zero UV transmittance. Their hats suit all ages and head sizes! And the quality is amazing. I can’t say enough good about them. ($40)
Floral Dress – Another local consignment find! I consign clothes that I no longer love/need each season and get store credit. This dress was bought completely on store credit. ($50)
Floral Crop Top – Thrift store ($3)
Linen Wide Leg Pants – Thrift store ($4)
Water Proof Summer Sneaks – VivoBarefoot via eBay. The shoes didn’t make it into the picture because the other photos I took were too awkward BUT I love them. Vivo is an all-around great company from the way they make shoes, to caring for people, protecting the environment, and how they give back. However, they are in the $100 price point so I found this pair NWT on eBay for $29.
Grey Floral Dress – Thrift store. I was really excited to find this one: it’s made by a local, woman-owned clothing company and is so well structured. ($4)
Jumpsuit – Pact Organic. I already shared my love for Pact in a previous post, but they are amazing. A fair trade, GOTS certified organic company making pretty affordable, quality basics for people of all ages. I always shop the 40-60% off sales around holidays. This was on sale for ($40).
Navy Off-The-Shoulder Dress – Local consignment shop. I found this dress shortly after the birth of my second child. It’s stretchy and made me feel elegant during a time when I felt soft and a little uncomfortable in my own skin. I’m all about finding a couple lovely postpartum outfits that fit the body you have and not the one you’re waiting for. ($11)
Linen Jumper – Another consignment find I bought with store credit. My husband thinks this is one is too Little House on the Prairie, but I enjoy it. It has a beautiful crisscross back, and roomy pockets are always a win. ($30)
Chambray Tank – Thrifted. ($3)
White Tank – Another Pact basic that gets a ton of milage in my capsule. I bought the three pack that came with white, black, and grey tanks. On sale for $30 ($10 a tank)
Chambray Wide Leg Pants – Thrifted. I wear these a lot in the garden. They are flowy and cool enough for the hottest days. They also have fit me through many sizes with that handy drawstring, from nine months pregnant to now. ($4)
The Sustainable Hearth 