Fall fashion — a case for underconsumption; this is not your average fall fashion article.
As soon as the public pool closes, school is back in session and the temperature drops a modicum of a degree, I am ready for fall and I would hazard a guess that you are, too.
The cozy vibes of sweaters and boots and the like get me every year (I did grow up in New England after all). But another thing that’s starting to get to me? Overconsumption. Fast fashion. Waste. Influencer culture.
Now, we don’t have to buy anything new just because the season is changing. We can continue to wear what we love and not buy a thing.
But what if we want a little refresh or need to replace old items that have worn out? What if we want to try out a new trend or two? How do we balance wanting a cute fall wardrobe while also being mindful of our consumption and waste?
First, we have to address the issue of textile waste so we can set a firm foundation for why we would want to consume and shop more mindfully this season. In case you didn’t know, textile waste is a massive global issue. It’s an issue made worse by fast fashion purchases and the subsequent discarding of cheap, poorly made clothing. The clothing we throw away without a second thought is transported to giant landfills in the global south into a literal clothing mountain.
This is a huge problem because of how it impacts our warming planet and all the climate issues that come along with it (hotter summers, more severe natural disasters and storms, to name a few). Cheap clothes also mean the person making our clothes isn’t getting paid and so by continuing to buy fast fashion, we are keeping people on the other side of the world enslaved to the companies that employ them (namely, women and children).
So you can see why buying less, shopping secondhand or purchasing from companies with track records of ethical behavior may be a better choice. And now that we’ve decided we will mindfully shop and consume this season, here are some ideas if you want to add anything or refresh your wardrobe.
The mainstays of fall fashion don’t tend to change all that much
One thing to remember about fall fashion in particular is that the mainstays don’t tend to change all that much year after year: sweaters, boots, scarves, fur, teddy fleece, leather, denim, flannel, layers, blazers, plaid, velvet, corduroy — you get the drift. Yes, silhouettes change but the basics remain the same. This should be good news because that means a solid fall wardrobe can carry you through many years without a lot of updating needed. So when adding to your fall wardrobe, think about what you like to wear over and over when the temperatures start to drop.
A few fall trends for 2024
According to the Internet, here’s a recap of some fall trends as seen on the runways (and the streets!)
- Leopard print everything
- Countryside chic (think a winter version of cottage core in the English countryside)
- Burgundy accessories
- Riding boots and over-the-knee boots
- Studs (Millenials will remember this trend from back in the day)
- Ballet flats (or more specifically, glove flats)
- Fur
- T-bar shoes
- Chunky loafers
- Butter yellow
- Prep school chic (go colorful if you want but be sure to keep it a little undone)
- Denim on denim
- Boho chic
- Oversized trousers and wide-leg denim
- Circle skirts
As you can see, so many of these items fall into a “classic” category of fall fashion that it might not even be necessary to shop except in your own closet.
Which brings me to my next point.
Before you hit the stores, shop your own closet
If you want to consume more mindfully this season, I can’t think of a better way than shopping your own closet first. This means selecting a few trends or looks that you like and then looking at your own closet to see what feels similar. For instance, the prep school trend can easily be achieved by taking an oversized button down (perhaps from your partner), pairing it with a wide-leg pant, a blazer and ballet flats.
In order to see what I’m really drawn to, I use Pinterest to gather my inspiration. When I’m thinking about creating outfits using this inspiration, I like to dissect a look to see what I have that is similar; it may not be exact but most of the time, with a little creativity, I can conjure up a vibe with clothing I already own. I’ve also spent the last year or so honing in on my own personal style, apart from what’s trending, so I know how to pick and choose what will work for me. Gone are the days of buying a head-to-toe influencer outfit; not only is it wasteful but it’s not a proven formula for success by any stretch. It’s better to learn what you like to wear, see which trends line up with that and go from there.
I heard a brilliant line about fashion recently that I think about all the time (especially now that I am in my, ahem, late 30s): chasing trends is a young woman’s game. Amen.
Ready to shop? Try these tips
If you’ve decided there are some things you’d like to purchase, here’s what I recommend: make a list and stick to it. Keep it on your phone so you can easily access it when you’re shopping. I’ve found so much more longevity in my clothing when I stick to the list I’ve thoughtfully curated versus impulse buying clothes I hadn’t considered.
Once you have your list, check out consignment and thrift stores nearby. Look online at secondhand reseller sites like Poshmark, DePop, The Real Real, Mercari, etc. You’d be surprised what you can find secondhand.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for secondhand, I’d consider buying from a company with a record of ethical manufacturing. Consumers are educating themselves on where their clothing comes from and asking companies to step up their transparency.
