Tara Keogh breaks down the importance of being sustainably seasonal. How do seasons influence our needs to reinvent ourselves through new trends?
Autumn and winter are the seasons that bring more changes when it comes to our wardrobes. Trench coats, jeans and boots re-emerge from their summer hibernation and allow us to channel the signature style of our favourite 90s shows. This seasonal change normally inspires an inexplicable urge to completely revamp and update our entire wardrobe. Autumn and winter: the poetic seasons of decay and death - often coincides with the decay of my summer wardrobe and death of my savings. The need to change my wardrobe and buy all the newest seasonal essentials is one which must be resisted - and I’m sure many can relate to. There are solutions, however, and we will delve into how you can update your wardrobe in both a sustainable and cost-effective manner.
Autumn and winter - the poetic seasons of decay and death. Decay of my summer wardrobe and death of my savings.
Winter fashion can be both stylish and tactical. As such, you don’t have to freeze to death in the damp Irish winters to look good. Layering is always a smart move when it comes to cold weather. This technique allows you to continue wearing those nice light jumpers we use in summer. A long-sleeved t-shirt or base-layer under a jumper or top can keep you warm, especially if you prefer to wear jackets that offer less protection from the cold, such as leather or denim jackets and windbreakers. If leather jackets are your thing, it could be worth finding a vintage sherpa-lined one, for when a regular thin leather jacket won’t cut it. Layering lets you reuse spring and summer clothes while keeping you snug - even in JJ with all the windows open.
Layering lets you reuse spring and summer clothes while keeping you snug - even in JJ with all the windows open.
A trench coat is a timeless and tactical staple of winter fashion; they are the perfect sustainable item to invest in as they never go out of style. They can be worn over any outfit to create a sleek and classy look, without sacrificing the warmth provided by chunky puffer jackets. These can be expensive but in the interest of sustainability, an investment in a piece of clothing you will wear for years seems worth it by most standards.
Other winter wardrobe staples that are worth investing in are boots. Dr. Martens are a classic autumn/winter shoe and are notorious for their longevity. Docs can be worn with any winter outfit and are perfect in quite literally any setting; from concert nosebleeds to Christmas family gatherings, these shoes will be well worth the money. Other boots, specifically leather ones, are a necessary fashion item for the colder seasons and once again, do not go out of fashion. If you can get your hands on a good pair that will last, it’s always better to invest than to feed into the chain cycle of fast fashion, but of course this is much easier said than done. Other items you can invest in that won’t go out of fashion are accessories, such as hats and scarves. These items can transform outfits and make something you’ve worn hundreds of times look revamped and new.
Docs can be worn with any winter outfit and are perfect in quite literally any setting; from concert nosebleeds to Christmas family gatherings, these shoes will be well worth the money.
If investing is not something that seems viable financially, or because you just don’t see yourself having the same fashion taste next year, sustainable alternatives are where to look next. There are so many amazing vintage clothing stores in Dublin, brimming with fashion staples that will make you stand out, allowing you to express yourself whilst keeping you warm through winter. Although this may not be feasible for everyone, having a look in your parents’ wardrobes could be worth a shot. Our parents grew up in times when clothes were made to last and many of my parents’ jumpers from when they were in their 20s are still perfect. It's important to try and exhaust more alternatives other than hopping on our laptops and ordering the latest fashionable item we saw our favourite influencer flaunting for the seasonal change.
We’re exposed to the easy reality of ordering new wardrobes with every changing season, yet we all know fast fashion is contributing to killing our earth - and we can’t keep feeding into this. Buying from vintage shops or limiting our purchases to sustainable brands or buying small quantities from fast fashion that will last, is what we need to be doing. Just like seasons and fashion trends, we can change our shopping habits while still looking cool in winter and hot in summer!