If you are a fashion blogger, you know that wearing the latest trends is somehow critical to get further in your blogging career. Or at least many people think so. After all, why would brands regram a photo of you wearing pieces from last year’s Spring/Summer collection that aren’t available on their website anymore? People would not be able to buy that outfit so brands have no interest in promoting it.
Turns out, brands do have a look at which bloggers may have bought from them in the past, notice them, evaluate their content and decide to work with them as a result. How to attract a brand’s attention? Buy from the brand, take photos of the outfit and then tag the brand on Instagram.
Easy, but costly.
As a fashion blogger, there is always that pressure to wear the latest pieces from the latest collection. If you don’t, you are irrelevant and outdated. Sort of. If you work full time and have a good salary, you can buy clothes more often. If you don’t, well… It is a bit more difficult.
Fast fashion has been in the spotlight lately. With factories collapsing and killing thousands of workers and our carbon imprint increasing for each piece of clothing we buy, fast fashion is under scrutiny. And for good reasons.
However, before you start saying anything about bloggers buying into ‘Mass Consumerism’ and contributing to the rise of ‘fast fashion’, think again. Bloggers are part of the ‘fast fashion’ system, true, but they are also being taken advantage of by the big players in said system. Bloggers are being exploited by brands who pressure them to always promote the latest pieces, in order to exist and stay relevant in the eyes of brands and agencies. After all, it has always been so easy to use influencers and bloggers as scapegoats for all the problem this planet has.
You know, they are the demise of marketing as we know it, they are the reason why people are obsessed with social media, why people have such high expectations about life, why social media is so depressing. Being a millennial and blamed for everything wrong is somehow tiring.
Tomorrow bloggers will be blamed for the big bang, those insufferable freeloaders. And before you say anything, yes, I am being sarcastic…
As a fashion blogger myself, I fully acknowledge and understand that I am part of the system. I very rarely use old pieces of clothing in my photoshoots. I always make sure they are from the latest trends and collections. Because again, why would I show you something you would not be able to buy since it is no longer available online anyway? I am lucky enough to be sent items by brands but I also have to admit that I spend a lot of money on buying outfits still from retailers such as Asos.
When a brand works with me, I choose pieces that will not only help me create some great outfits but is also something that is sassy and quirky that will attract high engagement on social media and on my blog. It will look great on me and in the photo, but will not be wearable in real life. Thus, the gifted pieces will stay in my wardrobe unused, being donated to charity or even end up in the bin.
Not so sustainable indeed. And a bit of a waste!
I know I have not taken any resolutions for 2019. But I am now taking the decision to try adopting more sustainable fashion blogging and shopping habits.
Instead of picking spectacular pieces that will only be worn once when working with brands, I will make sure I pick items that I know I will wear multiple times on multiple occasions and use in as many photoshoots as I can. This same logic will also apply to accessories which I will choose to be paired with items I already own to make different and interesting outfits. I am very grateful to work with brands, I just need to be a bit smarter when it comes to picking pieces to be gifted.
Instead of buying new pieces and spending a lot of money on fashion pieces that are very often not the best quality, I have also decided to buy pieces that will last a long time, even if I need to pay a slightly higher price, because this is more sustainable. I will also try to use pieces I already own for outfit photos as much as I can and look out for similar looking pieces to recommend to you, my audience.
Little by little, one step at a time.
First, it is money saved.
Second, it is waste reduced.
Third, it is leveraging past purchases and making a good return on investment.
Fourth, it is space saved in my closet.
Fifth, it is my small contribution to a more sustainable way of life.
In fact, have already started becoming more sustainable with my shopping purchases. All the pieces featured in this post’s outfit have been bought more than two years ago and I wear them super often. Pieces in my ‘What I Look For When I Work With Bloggers post’ have been bought and/or gifted a year or so ago and have been worn multiple times.
You know the jacket, you’ve seen it a lot on my Instagram.
So maybe the key to be more sustainable is to have a selected number of key pieces that I can always wear and accessorize in different ways to create many different outfits. So from now on, as much as I can, I will be re-using pieces I already own on the blog and Instagram. That pink faux fur here and that blue jacket there, was bought such a long time ago too!
Again, one step at a time.
Maybe sustainable fashion mostly comes down to creating a capsule wardrobe with a few key pieces and accessories that can create different outfits? Maybe I need to work on that too! Because, as it turns out, I very often wear the same pieces all over again!
Shop the outfit
What do you think? Are you taking steps to change your shopping habits? And have more sustainable fashion habits? How often do you shop? Do you feel the pressure to always have the latest pieces?
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you liked this post.
See you soon,
Love,
Corinne
I had no idea that designers check out the fashion blogs! Amazing! Best of lucks to you! I always find your articles helpful, as I have no idea about fashion 🙂
I don’t shop very often for clothing. It’s not as enjoyable for me but I can appreciate the fashion of others. I think a capsule wardrobe makes a lot of sense in a practical way. I think it also culls a closet down to more of a specific “look” for a particular person. However, I am still of the school of thought to buy/wear whatever you want, however you want.
This is a really great post! It must be hard because you do want to be sustainable but I get your point about showing new clothes more because they are easier to get! I try to pick out key pieces when I go shopping so they can be styled it all different ways! Xx
I rarely shop for new clothes these days, I’m a confirmed eBayer and charity shop hauler because Flora’s clothes are so expensive! But I take your point about fast fashion and choosing pieces that you will get more than one wear out of. That’s what I admire about the Duchess of Cambridge, she frequently re-wears outfits, and I think sets a great example. Love this post, it’s food for brands to think about too 🙂
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
This is a really interesting read and I love your attitude of buying clothes and accessories which are good quality and work well for multiple outfits. I’m so unadventurous with fashion, give me a pair of black jeans and a couple of jumpers and I’m happy, ha ha. I see your point though, being a fashion blogger and keeping up to date with the latest trends must get very expensive! Love your outfit here, and I can imagine the skirt can be teamed up with so many different tops and look lovely! Fab post Corinne <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
What a lovely and thought-provoking post, Corinne! I think sustainable fashion is something pretty much everyone needs to try and work towards, myself included! xx
http://www.imjustagirl16.co.uk
I make fashion sustainable by shopping at thrift stores. I always find like new clothes there.
What a blog post different from usual, but in a positive way. I admire you.
I tend to wear the same clothes for years, so I rarely buy new stuff. I also love to find stuff in thrift stores!
It is great to read how fashion bloggers are looking to make a move towards sustainable fashion. I know a lot seem to sell on clothing after they have reviewed it.
I like to buy a mix of fast fashion and more sustainable pieces. Items I know I’ll wear a lot & basics, I like to invest in. Trend pieces that I’ll only really like for a season or two, I’ll buy fast. Not perfect but a reasonable balance for my current lifestyle. It’s tough as a fashion blogger wearing older items but you can always link similar items from current collections to keep it relevant x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
I don’t do a ton of fashion on my blog, but when I do it is because I admire their mission and sustainable practice
I’m not a fashion blogger but I know the pressures to constantly be photographed in different clothing. I posted a photo wearing the same swimsuit and someone commented about it. After watching a few docos about Fast Fashion, I’ve really tried to remove myself from that cycle. If I do buy something new, I must recycle another piece of clothing. I’ve also tried switching up how I pair my outfits so they look different.
This is a complete guideline on how to do it right. I know many fashion bloggers are going to benefit in this. Really sensible and on point post.
One of the reasons I don’t do much fashion blogging is because of the cost involved. I’ve heard of people going broke!
This is so true, and really important to be writing about. I’m not a fashion blogger (terribly unphotogenic) but I do have a bad habit of buying clothes from Primark for a holiday or occasion, wearing them once then chucking them out. I really need to start investing in more expensive, but good quality pieces that will last me longer and not have such huge consequences for others.
Alice | Wonderlush | Sunflower Thoughts
My bestfriend is also into fashion blogs and she actually push me to start on blogging. She was the one who guide me and give me tips about blogging.
The skirt you’re wearing here is absolutely beautiful. I love this post and find sustainable fashion (and anything else really) a really interesting topic. I’ve definitely seen a change in a lot of blogging with regards to creating capsule wardrobes etc which is fantastic but I definitely also relate to the pressure of buying into new season.
Soph – http://sophhearts.com x
This was a really interesting read! I’m not a fashion blogger, so I guess I never thought about how you had to work your closet and the things that you buy! Love your pictures and the layout of your blog, by the way!
I definitely don’t have what it takes to be a fashion blogger! I don’t think most people realize all of the work that goes into the few pictures that they see on blogs.
You make so many great points and I have really enjoyed learning more about capsule wardrobes! These are some great ideas I will definitely use.
What a great post ! I enjoyed reading the steps you take in maintaining your fashion blog !
Wow! What a great article to read! Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and life changing too, it brings confidence and I enjoy your post.
I love that you’re moving towards sustainable fashion. Even though it’s great to have new wardrobe pieces, people need to be mindful about how it’s made and what will happen once it is disposed of. It’s great you’re going to make a big effort this year! Sending you positivity!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
I think that’s great as a fashion blogger you are working to stay sustainable. I know it’s such a crazy and difficult thing working with brands. And I know fashion and beauty have to be harder than most things as you have to stay current. You do always look amazing though.
Ugh that is why I don’t want to be a fashion blogger. I am kinda low maintenance and also very thrifty. So I don’t want to keep spending on new clothes. Besides, I don’t have the space for them.
I don’t often buy new clothing and when I do it’s usually from charity shops or EBay, which are great places to look for out of season clothes. I’ve never fallen into buying ‘fast fashion’ clothing as often the clothes aren’t my style. It’s interesting to hear your views on it as a fashion blogger, I know I prefer being able to buy the item I see in the photos but, if not, I love it when a blogger has tried to find a similar alternative.
This is really an interesting post for maintaining a good fashion and that makes us more confident. Thanks for sharing this post.
very promising content. loved to read it and the part of fashion habits was amazing
This is such an important issue you are talking about. I remember watching a documentary on BBC iplayer that spoke about fast fashion, and showed how much water is used to create the clothing items. It really did open my eyes – I had no idea it used as much as it did. There is a definitely a lot of pressure to keep up with the trends, especially if you are a fashion blogger, like yourself. I think it’s a great idea what you are doing though, and you will be able to reach so many people with this important message.
Amy,
https://creativenails.uk
You have to know how about how many types of jackets are selling online in versatile colors and quality then you can easy to purchase that product online on different stores.