Last night, I had a very sweet and down-to-earth conversation with a fellow fashion friend of mine visiting from London about the responsibility of consumerism and fashion. We need to check back in with our own expectations and ideals when it comes to fashion. Who says you can only wear a dress once? Why can’t you celebrate a beautiful purchase and be seen in it over and over again?

Somewhere along the line, we started listening to the media and subscribing to a celebrity lifestyle- mimicking their fashion habits. But the truth is, they didn’t buy those clothes. They were leant or gifted to them. And they do have the disposable income to support their frivolous fashion tastes. The rest of us, most likely, don’t receive loads of lovely clothes, nor do we have a large portion of our income available to spend solely on clothing. It’s not economical or ecological! So why do we allow ourselves to be influenced by this crazy notion of “throw away fashion?”

My friend does not. She told me about the pact that she and her girlfriends have: “We have vowed not to fall into this destructive and wasteful cycle of always having to wear something new. Instead we celebrate a piece of clothing when worn again!” I loved hearing this. That is what it comes down to, isn’t it? We wear a dress to a party and then think, I can’t wear that again because those people have already seen me in it. What if you knew walking through the door, wearing your beloved dress, you would be greeted with, “I love it when you wear that dress!” or “I have such great memories from when you wore that dress last time.”

This is something I want in on. No longer will I feel that pressure to conform and leave a beautiful specimen hanging in the closet because I’ve worn it already. No- from now on I am in that club! I will celebrate my most prized purchases and congratulate you on yours time and time again. So, are you in the club…?