Three Months into my No-Buy-Year and my Spring Capsule
I must admit that this year, creating my spring capsule went much faster and more efficiently than usual. Without a doubt, it's because I decided on the no-buy-year challenge at the beginning of January, which means that in 2022, I'm creating my seasonal capsules only from the clothes I already own.
Why a no-buy year?
There are quite a few reasons I decided to take on such a challenge, and I have already mentioned them in this post. But in short, in 2022, I want to focus on saving and budgeting to learn how to plan my expenses better and find more financial peace and freedom. After a major closet cleanout at the end of 2021, I realized that I already had enough clothes and noticed that I basically wear the same pieces over and over again, just styled a bit differently. Yes, from time to time, I still like to buy myself something nice that has been on my wishlist for months, but the days when I followed trends and tried to build a fashionable closet are far, far behind me. Now I'm all about comfort, simplicity, and a wardrobe based on my needs, not my fantasy life. So as the new year was just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to try a now-buy and learn to get the most out of my current wardrobe.
What can I say after almost three months of the no-buy, and how am I trying to persevere in this minimalist challenge so far?
I'm not going to lie. A year without clothing purchases is not always easy - especially when the new season is just around the corner and everyone is talking about spring trends and new collections. But what motivates me the most are the visible effects of this challenge I noticed so far, such as:
Savings.
I probably don't need to explain to anyone how important savings are - especially in such uncertain times when everything is getting more expensive, and we get less and less for the same amount of money. While creating my seasonal capsules, I always try to use what I already have in my wardrobe first, and then, if there is such a need, I buy something new to update my closet a little bit. It was usually about 6 new items per season, sometimes more during colder months. Also, for something about two years, I have been trying to support more sustainable brands. So even though I was adding just a few new items per season to my wardrobe, the overall cost of such purchases was still high because ethically produced clothes are usually more pricey. But after three months of not buying any new clothes, I see a visible change in my savings and approach to sustainability, fashion trends, and consumption habits.
Less time online.
Some time ago, I came across interesting articles about Instagram. The first one talks about how much this app has changed over the last ten years, and the next two (here and here) focus on how careless and unreasonable use of Instagram can lead you to financial ruin. And don't get me wrong, if you are very selective, I agree that you can find valuable content and discover great brands on social media. But I also agree that most of the posts we see daily on Instagram are based on sponsored content, fashion hauls, sale alerts. So, if you struggle with unnecessary shopping or want to successfully complete the no-buy challenge, you will certainly not achieve your financial goals by looking at such posts several times a day:
'Five trendy pieces you NEED this spring!', or 'Brand XXX has a HUGE sale this weekend! Use my code for an additional discount! Hurry up! The pieces are selling fast!'.
Yes, Instagram means mainly shopping these days, and the latest statistics only confirm that most of our purchasing decisions depend on what and who we follow online. My advice? Simply - limit the time you spend online, unsubscribe from all store newsletters, unfollow all the social media profiles that negatively impact your finances, and give you the FOMO (‘fear of missing out’) feeling. You decide whose content will appear on your board, and believe me, you will be shocked how such a small step will positively affect your budget and your approach to fashion, future shopping choices, and most importantly - life. Remember, social media isn't free. They cost you time, focus, and money as well. Because let's be honest - would you buy another pair of jeans, new eye cream, or an unnecessary home/kitchen gadget if you didn't see that it's currently on sale or because everyone on social media recommends it?
Less consumption. More creativity.
For the last two months, instead of scrolling online shops and wondering what to buy for the new season, I have tried to learn more about consumerism, greenwashing, the harmful effects of textile waste, the problem with recycling clothes, etc. Many of the publications I've read helped me understand an important thing. Sustainable fashion is not only about quality over quantity rule, buying clothes from ethical brands and conscious collections, or even thrifting. Sustainable fashion is mainly about using what we already have in our wardrobes. And that's why I started the Year of Outfits project - I want to show you that a year without clothing purchases is really possible and that sustainable fashion doesn't have to be pricey. It's actually quite the opposite - learning how to shop your own closet and choosing creativity over consumption will help you save some money and plan your future purchases more thoughtfully.
- Maximizing savings and purchasing only such products I need instead of what I just like,
- Setting priorities and sticking to a realistic budget,
- Learning about sustainability,
- Spending less time online and finding new hobbies/activities,
- Creating content focused on creativity instead of shopping and the latest trends - these are just some of the positive aspects of the no-buy challenge that I've noticed so far, and I'm sure there will be even more of them.
My Spring Wardrobe
As I already mentioned, after a few months without any clothing purchases, I feel like I appreciate my wardrobe even more. Although my current capsules consists mainly of basics, simple silhouettes, and neutral colors, I have never had so many outfit ideas as this season. Of course, a few latest trends have got my attention lately, but at the same time, I do not feel any need to experiment with my personal style. I just know that I would most often reach for my favorite and trusty basics anyway. The same with the number of clothes in my wardrobe - 35 elements for autumn-winter, and the same amount for spring-summer is enough for me and works perfectly with my lifestyle. And if you are interested in what outfits I can create from my current wardrobe, you can find a daily dose of inspiration on my Instagram profile.
Ribbed tank top - H&M
White tee - Arket
Black tee - Arket
White shirt - Outland Denim
Striped longsleeve - Zara, old,
Oatmeal crew neck - The Curated
Ivory cardigan - Floca
Grey cardigan - Miere
Striped oversize jumper - H&M Premium
V-neck jumper - Francis Stories
Blazer - The Curated
Blazer - Arket
Midi pleated skirt - Hallhuber
Ivory jeans - Massimo Dutti
Light-blue jeans - Levi’s 501
Blue jeans - Arket
Light jacket - H&M - old
Trench - Sanna NY
Little black dress - Lily Silk
Leggings - Mango
Greige trousers - Zara
Black trousers - J. Crew
Taupe Bag - Ameli Zurich
Brown bag - DeMellier London
Bucket bag - Polene Paris
Black backpack - Polene Paris
Sneakers - Veja
Suede pumps - Massimo Dutti
Animal print loafers - Madewell
Two-toned slingback - L'Intervalle
Taupe sandals - Birkenstock Arizona
Black loafers - Sam Edelman