Setting Goals & Style Challenges

new year, no *new* clothes

Happy New Year! I’m almost a week behind in sending this newsletter but hoping that doesn’t matter because being kind to ourselves was definitely on the “in” list for 2024.

Last year, I set a “no new clothes” goal aiming to only purchase pre-loved pieces. In transparency, I did buy some new-to-me clothes, mostly basic shirts that are harder to find secondhand yet also clean and a few sweaters I am hoping will last as long as the 20-year-old Donna Karan sweaters I steal from Michael’s closet.

What I found with buying *almost* entirely secondhand items was that I became more creative in my personal style and I found pieces I loved even more because there is only one of them. I got better at sourcing and selecting secondhand, not to humble brag, but I feel that over the last year, I’ve excelled at the vintage store scores and ebay rabbit hole finds, you have to become resourceful when you won’t just purchase the first result on google shopping from (enter name of online retailer).

I am so grateful that some of you have asked me to help you source pre-loved items too! On Instagram, I’ll be sharing tips & tricks to help you find secondhand gems too- like how to find a vintage black wool coat.

This year, I will continue the no new-to-me clothes goal but also layer in some other challenges happening around what we wear. I would love to hear about any goals around style or sustainability you set for yourself this year. If you decide to partake in one of these challenges too, let’s start a support group so we can share and borrow clothes and keep them in circulation (instead of landfills.)

75 Hard Style Challenge

Mandy Lee aka Old Loser in Brooklyn kicked off the 75 Hard Style Challenge this year. While she is known for her content around fashion trend predictions, I applaud her for using the platform to ignite a community to get dressed but buy less. I am excited to partake in this challenge to really explore my closet and get creative what what I already own- that is the most sustainable option!

The Challenge Rules

• Get dressed every day for 75 days

• Document your daily outfits

• Do not buy anything new

• Set your challenge goals/intentions

• Get creative and rely on your own brain for inspiration (use social sparingly)

• Organize/clean out your closet

The Challenge Intentions

• Get to know your own closet

• Test your creativity with what you already have

• Collect data on what you actually wear (take photos, document)

• Find out what is important to you about getting dressed

• Enjoy your clothes in a new way

• Save money

• Slow down your consumption

• Discover wardrobe gaps

• Get in touch with your personal style and what you naturally gravitate towards

75 Hard Style Challenge Day 1:

This might not be my most exciting outfit yet but I was working with what was in my suitcase, it was warm and 3 of the 5 items were vintage from a local consignment shop so I’m dropping it here to hold myself accountable.

Vintage Land’s End Cashmere Navy Sweater (use that phrase to find plenty on eBay), Down Fill Country Made in Denver Puffer (here it is as a vest!), Vintage Metallic Bottega Bag (this was such a secondhand score!), Khaite Jeans, Stuart Weitzman Boots

The Rule of Five

A report by the Hot or Cool Institute published in 2022, stated that everyone in the world needs to reduce their annual fashion consumption to that figure for the industry to stay within its carbon budget – ie reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by the amount needed in order to keep global warming to 1.5C – if nothing else changes. In response to this, Tiffanie Drake developed the Rule of Five.

Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability and Features Editor at British Vogue, recently wrote about her experience last year with The Rule of Five, read here: I Only Bought 5 Items Of Clothing This Year. Here’s What I Learned.

Rule of 5: How It Works

What is Allowed

• Lingerie (but don’t go mad)

• Tights and socks (but don’t go mad)

• Renting

• Mending and altering

• Swapping

• Borrowing

• Dressmaking (extra points if you upcycle your own or deadstock material)

• A small amount of second-hand ( it’s about reducing consumption- Tiffanie Drake allowed her 4 items)

What’s Not Allowed

• Buying more than 5 new things

• Gifts (they count)

• Shoes and accessories (they are part of your ‘five’)

The Seasons

It is suggested to break the year into five seasons, allowing yourself one purchase per season:

• Winter: Jan 1st to March 7th

• Spring: March 8th to May 25th

• Summer: May 26th to August 16th

• Autumn: August 17th to October 31st

• Christmas: November 1st to December 31st

I admit, yes this sounds hard! Sticking to only 4 pieces of secondhand/vintage will take a lot of self-control! I’m going into it with the mindset that it is about practice vs. perfect, you don’t need to be perfect to make an impact. Also if a Vogue editor like Emily Chan can do it, I should be able to too!

Some things I think might help:

• I plan on using Allison Bornstein's book, Wear It Well, as a tool to define your personal style so that when we do make purchases, secondhand or new, they are pieces we know we will actually wear.

• I’m going to use MyIndyx to catalog my wardrobe. Digitizing a closet will give real data on what you actually wear and help put together outfits from what you already own- the Clueless dream!

• This community! The Something Borrowed, Never New substack chat will be a place to keep each other accountable, ask to borrow clothing, get advice on styling, help to source something secondhand, you name it, just ask!