breaking up with fast fashion: an update // no new clothes challenge update 

I say that hand me down pieces don’t count because they are not contributing to fast fashion or even the second hand market.

Girl this lipstick looks so good on you

I bought some clothes last weekend...unfortunately, the body confidence issues that had me wanting new clothes were also what kicked in when I got them home and tried them on. I always get got at the thrift store with no dressing rooms

I think I would count them if you had started the year with the 30 item goal but not with the 6 for the rest of the year goal. That said, I personally go to a lot of swaps so I have to be careful not to just take in tons of stuff from swaps.

I have a 12 item rule - precisely because I want to avoid 'buying something just because it's cheap'... even if it comes from the thrift store. I have quite a big mostly thrifted wardrobe and I don't want to bring pieces in unless they are going to be items I treasure. Last year I broke my 12 item rule as I discovered Depop and was suddenly able to find some pieces I'd wanted for ages. My local tip shops also sells clothing by the garbage bag for $5 now - I like to rescue some of it to give away at a local market (some things are too good to end up as rags, which will be their fate if no one buys them at the tip shop). Sometimes I love a couple of pieces from the bag. My current rule is NO new clothing. 12 second hand clothing items excluding underclothes... if I can find quality ones of those second had they're a freebie for my rule) - items from $5 bags from the tip shop or obtained for free don't count.

love to hear your thought process!

Keep updating! It’s the mindset shifts and musings that I’m here for

Love the hair accent, is it a headband? I can't quite tell but it's cute!

i bought a couple workout shorts online (secondhand) a few weeks ago and they were my first purchases of the year in terms of clothing. but then, the seller canceled my order because they weren't able to mail them to me and tbh it felt like a sign to hold off on clothes buying for now. i didn't actually need new shorts to workout, it would just make laundry logistics easier, but now i'll wait a few more months

I too set a goal of 30 new or new to me pieces this year, and so far, I’ve acquired 13. I feel really good about that number, but even more than that, I feel really good about the fact that I don’t feel strongly compelled to add more pieces or even to shop. As recently as last year, I would go through phases of compulsively feeling like I NEEDED XYZ and fall down the rabbit hole of searching for it (and usually multiple iterations of it). Thankfully, that hasn’t happened so far this year. The other side of this, though, and I want to make sure I acknowledge it: I do think that the excitement of wanting and wishlisting and buying has merely shifted to other areas than my wardrobe, namely fragrance, makeup, and hobby supplies. Thankfully, for the fragrance and makeup, I’ve been able to slow my own roll and wishlist and wait, so I feel that it’s well in control, and for the hobby supplies (which is really just sewing), my purchases have been pragmatic, like paying for classes and for supplies that will make sewing easier or would complete a project for a class. I appreciate the impetus to unpack why my wardrobe purchasing has slowed down this year compared to last!!

I don’t think gifted decluttered should count as long as you have thought about if you really like it, and it goes with what you have so you can wear it.

I love your videos :)

I don’t think you need to count those pieces (or count them and simply don’t hold your feet to the fire if they cause you to go over your arbitrary number) since you didn’t consider swaps as a source for clothing when you set your goal. And then the rest of the year gives you an opportunity for “non-judgmental noticing” of how you interact with swaps, if you can still be discerning with swaps, or if it’s causing you to acquire more than you need or things you don’t really want, etc.!

The question at the beginning is such an interesting conundrum! If it were me I think I wouldn’t count them? Because like you mentioned accepting second hand gifts or swaps does incentivize your brain in a positive way and I wouldn’t want to discourage that. But it is also a slippery slope. As is a common critique of thrifting the last few years, “more ethical” consumption is still consumption, and if we keep bringing in too much stuff that also does not fix the consumption problem. Maybe I would say they don’t count but I’m limited to 10 of those free items. Idk that’s a hard one! I will be interested to hear what you decide in your next update

They do not count as 6 pieces in imo

I didn't buy any clothes in May (yay!), but I did buy more perfumes than needed bc I have a craving to shop. I am not too mad about it because I do run through my fragrances somewhat quickly, whereas clothes can last forever and take up much more space.

I’m upset!! I always go to second hand first! But why oh why…does thred up not have the option to look things up by screen shots I’ve taken? Everyone else lets you?

but what IS the sustainable canadian swim suit brand??? I'm trying to get my catalogue of more local stuff for when I DO need to replace stuff!

For your question at min 6:30 to me is, do you have this type of incoming source often? If so, then I would count. If not, then no. Another thing you could consider is: if a piece is being decluttered to me, a piece may also need to go (if not in all instances - cuz you dont want to declutter - but some of those incoming should be replacing a piece)

This is just my opinion 😮 if you set a goal of x pieces to buy each year to me “goal” is not what I’d focus on but being flexible enough with myself to allow modifications in your yearly goal. We never know when an opportunity pops up for someone to donate or gift us clothing, I would not count these as part of my intention. I try 2-3 times a year to evaluate my wardrobe and make adjustments. I no longer try to be so ridged with myself but learn and grow each year to be better. I hope that makes sense.❤