Hello new subscribers,
After a bounty of recommendations from
, , I thought it was time for a re-introduction of sorts. Welcome!The definition of luxury has been percolating in my mind of late. With the collapse of two giant multi-luxe retailers, a global fashion industry in turmoil and a cost of living crisis, the way we think about clothing and objects is shifting, rapidly. While sustainable fashion and pre-loved has thrown off its hippie connotations, the rise of ‘faster-fast-fashion’ (can I coin that?) is depressingly rampant. SHEIN’s IPO is imminent, celebrating the ability to market products in under two weeks and sell them for less than £3.50. Overproduction and a lack of genuine care for the product or planet is the depressing default. Consumers are confused, brands are struggling and yet there has never been a more crucial moment to think clearly through your purchases and working pieces.
I help clients to think through their own value system when it comes to clothing and styling, something that is thankfully far more prevalent now than a decade ago.
My definition of luxury is to have a working wardrobe with fundamental basics that will last you well into the next decade. I value time as the greatest currency and anything that allows me to move through the day freely without stress or unease is of high value to me.
The truth of the matter is, we all need to consume less and if we do buy, to think about a garment’s life journey and longevity. Anyone who has worked with me knows, the most sustainable garment is the one already hanging in your wardrobe. To be stylish is not to be trendy; it’s to know yourself and your values and to apply them to your wardrobe as you do other aspects of life. A high-street garment, if produced well and bought with the understanding that it is to exist as a timeless piece, is just as valid as a luxury item. But the truth remains that you tend to get what you pay for and as consumers we have far more choice than we want to believe.
With my Ask A Stylist series, you’ll see lots of repeated brands, mostly luxury and very little fast-fashion. I try to choose brands and retailers with a commitment to ecological fabrics and sustainable processes. I too am educating myself as I go along. Will I always get it right? Absolutely not. I aim for a 70/30 balance. This is how I shop and style and I hope it goes some way to inspiring you to rethink your habits too. Choose better, invest better and you’ll build the foundations towards a sustainable and capsule practice. I truly believe that when the fundamentals are in place, you’re freed to focus on the other important matters in life. As Anna Klein said ‘Clothes won’t change the word. The women wearing them will.’
Saturday Style Note will be taking a break while I work on the longer form Thursday dispatch over the next few weeks. As a paid subscriber you’ll be able to DM me any styling queries (something I find more popular than the chat function currently!)
xC
So true, love this post. The reduction of demand has to come from the consumer. More and more fashion companies have become part of publicly traded conglomerates and are ruled by share price which demands aggressive growth. We're inundated with too much product. That's why I'm promoting small, independent designers and brands that do one thing very well. Sebline is a perfect example of this.
excited to learn more about the brands that you love for building an enduring wardrobe!