Let’s Get Ethical: Quitting Fast Fashion

I've been thinking about this topic for a long time. Wondering when I would write it. How I would write it. If I could write it. 

Because once you put something on paper and put it out into the universe, you have a responsibility to own up to your words. And to be honest, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to own up to these words. Able to avoid temptation. Actually willing to commit.

But it’s time. I’m ready to commit. I have to commit.

I have a Confession: I am addicted to fast fashion. And today, I am quitting it.

So what is fast fashion? According to our friends at Investopedia, “Fast fashion refers to a phenomenon in the fashion industry whereby production processes are expedited in order to get new trends to the market as quickly and cheaply as possible.”

We live in a world of instant gratification - you can get a date by the swipe of a finger and a full meal in the amount of time it takes to pull around the drive thru. It’s no surprise the fashion industry is doing what it can to keep up. No more waiting for fashion to slowly trickle down from the runways to the manufacturers to the stores to your closet.

But what is the cost of this phenomenon?

In a future post, I’ll be sharing the extreme and horrifying cost this industry has on the environment and the workers creating the garments. But what effect does the fast fashion industry have on me - the average consumer? What does it mean to buy into the fast fashion lifestyle?

It means I can go to Target or H&M multiple times a week and constantly get new products; It means spending more money on lower quality items; It means filling my closet with quantity, not quality; It means extra pressure to keep up with the ever changing trends; It means frustration in my closet because it is literally overflowing with clothes, but having few pieces that I truly love, that fit, and are made well; It means I am constantly dissatisfied with my clothing options; It means I am being marketed at by stores all. the. time. for the next quick fix.

It means it's a vicious exhausting cycle.

It means I’m done. 

Personally, if I’m being honest, really honest, it also means I have an issue - ahem, an addiction - with over consumption and spending countless amounts of money on crap. Crap I don’t need (or really even want).

Like most, I have depended on the ease, the affordability, the excitement (even if temporary) of newness of fast fashion. So I’ve done one hell of a job avoiding coming to terms with my own guilt about the fast fashion industry. If ignorance is bliss, I have remained deliberately ignorant for a long time.

But those 20 dollar items add up. Fast. I tell myself I can’t afford quality garments, but when I look at the amount of money I spend on cheap clothes, I could have saved up to have an incredibly beautiful wardrobe of well-made, ethically sourced pieces that will last.

As a fashion blogger, I am regularly indulging this culture of consumerism and over consumption and overwhelmed by the pressure to keep up with the newest trends and “it” item. But as a stylist, I am always encouraging my clients to rid themselves of clutter and pieces that no longer suit their lives, and to buy less. To be mindful of their purchases. To support quality over quantity.

It’s time I start taking my own advice.

So what does this mean?

For starters,  I am going to stop turning to stores like H&M, TJ Maxx, and my favorite, Zara, for a quick fix. I’m done with “quick fixes.” The fastest way to support the ethical fashion movement is to slow down and shop less. To stop treating clothing like it's disposable. And when you do shop, to be aware of what you are buying.

So, I’m not just quitting fast fashion, I’m also going to start supporting ethically made garments. I want to know where my clothes come from and become a more conscientious and mindful shopper. I want to do better with my own personal consumption.

To me, ethical fashion is about reshaping our attitudes towards clothing and shopping. About valuing what we currently have and ridding this internal voice that is telling us (sometimes screaming at us) that we need more, more, more. It's learning to stop the impulse buying and start thoughtfully making purchases based on what I actually need (and yes, sometimes really want). It’s about acknowledging where a garment comes from and how it's made and how long I plan to wear it before I buy it. It's time to stop treating our clothing as disposable.

It means walking away from fast fashion and supporting slow fashion.

I’m not going to lie, committing to slow fashion is scary to me. Can I continue both without it? Can I keep up with the other bloggers? Will I be judged? Will people fear I am judging them? Will my readers become disengaged?

I don’t know.

But this is a personal choice I am pursuing. I don’t want others to feel judged. I recognize the importance of convenience and low-costs items for many shoppers. So, while many of you will continue your shopping habits, I’m hoping to bring awareness and share other options.

But I’m looking forward to the challenge and hope you all will gain some insight and knowledge as I explore this process. I’m looking forward to supporting artists and makers and creators. To supporting companies who support their workers. To supporting those who are buying and creating eco-friendly, sustainable garments.

Finally, I look forward to showing that slow fashion can compete in the fast pace world of the fast fashion industry in terms of style. Because this is, after all, a style blog.

I'm ready to slow down and embrace the slow fashion movement.

I’m ready to commit.

***I’ll be sharing more information on this topic (from personal experiences to resources), but if you are interested in learning more now, check out the documentary, The True Cost (also currently on Netflix). It's a game changer.***

Changes

I love writing this blog. It allows me to be creative and express my personal style and rant about all the crazy fashion-y things going on in the world. It's my space to disconnect from reality and enter into the fantasy world of fashion.

But honestly, this blog has become a little too much about "me."

So in the near future, you'll notice a little revamp of The Closet Confessional as well as a shift in some of my posts. In the upcoming months I'm going to slowly adapt this blog to better benefit all of you. 

What exactly does that mean?

It means less about me and more about you.

I'll still be writing about my runway/red carpet favorites, what I am currently coveting, and posting my outfits, but I will also be adding posts on fashion tips to help you better curate your wardrobe, style what you already own, and purchase pieces worth investing in.

I love blogs that are focused on high fashion and filled with designer pieces and fabulous celebrity parties.

But this blog isn't that.

This blog has always been for the everyday woman. The woman who wants to look good but does not want to spend all her time worrying about how she looks. The woman that is interested in style, but is not defined by fashion. The woman who, like me, may save up for and splurge on a more expensive item but also still buys clothes at Target (although admittedly I am trying to break my habit of shopping for clothes in the same place I shop for toilet paper).

This blog should not only provide inspiration, but also provide real life tips for defining your personal style, making it easier to get dressed everyday.

So with that, I'd like to announce the addition of a Q&A series.

Wondering what to wear to an event? How to best dress your body type? How to wear a specific item of clothing? Let me know. Send me your questions, outfit dilemmas, dressing room pics. Got a style problem? Let me solve it.

The biggest way to make this blog less about me and more about you is conversation.

So talk to me. Tweet at me. Message me. Instagram me. Leave a comment.

Let's start talking.

April Fool: What a Fashion Blogger Really Looks Like

Sometimes, as a fashion blogger, I appear to have it all together.

I get done up in my outfits, but I only show you the best photos. I stage my Instagram pictures to show you a detailed glimpse into my life, but I avoid showing you the mess in the background. As a viewer, you get to see a tiny, unrealistic version of my life. You think I have it all. You think I have it together.

I don't.

But we all do it. We all pick and choose the parts of our lives we want to share with the world.

But that "perfect" image isn't reality.

The reality is I take about 50 pictures to get a few "good" shots. The reality is, in most of those shots, I look nothing like a pulled together fashion blogger. In most of those shots, either the wind is blowing up my skirt or I'm tripping over the sidewalk or I'm trespassing on private property. Sometimes I'm kicking a tree to get the leaves to fall just right for a better photo (Yes, I'm serious. No, it wasn't successful).

But that's me. Sometimes I'm ridiculous. Sometimes I make a fool of myself.

So in honor of April Fool's Day, I'm showing a peek into what it really looks like to be a fashion blogger. Where life isn't all glitz and glam. Where life is about being human and silly and ridiculous.

Because sometimes life is about acknowledging - and embracing - your foolishness.

Because that's reality.

Resolute.

When I first started blogging (and spent way too much time worrying about the unrealistic pressure to perfect every post) my husband said these words to me:

 

 I have a tendency to be overly thoughtful to the point of paralysis and B was encouraging me to stop overthinking and just write. To him, he was just trying to push his stubborn wife to put. pen. to. paper.

But to me, those words were a blaring reminder to stop worrying and just be authentic. Simple as that.  

Be authentic.

 (Warning: Jerry Maguire moment ahead.)

The world of blogging is changing. It’s becoming staged and scripted. Airbrushed and sculpted. Bought and paid for. Style blogging has always been a little bit of a fantasy. I mean, I’m not blogging about my fears and worries. I’m not even blogging about my everyday reality (if I did, there would be a lot more posts involving sweatpants). I am blogging about fashion. Sometimes unattainable fashion. It’s creative and fun and beautiful. And yes, sometimes a little bit staged. And like all social media, in blogging, we get to pick and choose what we share with the world, leading to this false image that we constantly have our shit together.

While I always try and remain authentic - in both my writing and my style - I like to believe that my readers are aware that this blog is only a tiny portion of my reality. My everyday stress and struggles, for the most part, remain off the screen and reserved for my real, non-digitized, life.

And although beautifully curated, I can't help but wonder if this constantly idealized imagery is leading to the loss of authenticity in the world of blogging? And where is the line between inspiration and insincerity?

Today, blogs are looking less like individual expressions of style and more like advertisements. Especially with affiliate marketing and paid sponsorships, all these blogs (even ones that I love) are starting to look remarkably similar. And I get it. It’s how you make money and how many are able to quit their jobs and live the dream as a full time blogger.

But where is the line?

If you are constantly getting paid to promote, how do you maintain your authenticity?

And without authenticity, what’s the point?

Seriously?

To me, without authenticity there is no point. And I am not saying you cannot make money on your blog and remain authentic. You definitely can. But it can be a slippery slope and one that for me personally, is not currently worth the time and moral energy it takes.

So what does that mean?

It means turning down affiliate marketing, ads, and paid posts. If I recommend a product it means I genuinely love it. If I team up with a shop for a giveaway or to style an item, it means I believe in that shop. If I link to an article of clothing I am wearing and you decide to buy it, it means I'm not making a commission off of that item.

It means weekly posts full of inspiration and free of insincerity. It means fashion fantasy merged with daily reality. It means full disclosure. 

For now, building my audience, finding my voice, and developing this little blog trumps the risk of selling myself out. And if that ever changes, you'll be the first to know.

But what does this all really mean?

It means I get to be authentic.

And, of course, that I get to use my voice. Not apologize. Be honest. And have fucking fun. 

I Have a Confession: Paint it Red

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

I’ve never been much of a make up girl. I’ve tried, but the idea of contouring and blending and falsies and all the other makeup lingo is just way over my head. Like most aversions in life, I think it must stem from my childhood. It was the 80s and big hair and and even heavier makeup were in. And my mom, bless her heart, just wanted to make over her little mud playing, knee scraping, tomboy child.

The outcome was a disaster and it took me years to recover and another two decades before I would attempt to wear makeup on my own.

And to this day my routine (on days I actually decide to wear makeup) is uncomplicated. A little bronzer, a little eyeliner, a swipe of mascara and I’m out the door. No heavy foundation (hate the feeling), no concealer (no idea how to use it), and certainly no lipstick. Ever.

Even on my wedding day I did my own makeup and, to the horror of my mom, I refused to wear lipstick.

But confession time: I love the look of a simple red lip.

And the older I get, the more I understand makeup's power to transform. And I'm not just talking about hiding so called "flaws" that come with aging. I'm talking about the ability to add layers to your look. To treat makeup like an accessory to your style. A bold lip can brighten up and add a level of chic to the darkest and grungiest of outfits.

A red lip creates a statement.

Yet, I can't do it. It's intimidating. It requires time and money and patience (finding that perfect shade of red ain't easy). Not to mention the application process and avoiding smeared lipstick all over your face. How do some women pull it all off so effortlessly?

While I haven't taken the plunge yet, I'm willing to take the risk and experiment. So to all my beauty experts out there, what lipstick tips can you offer this mud playing, knee scraping, tomboy?

I Have a Confesstion: White {Lie} Wedding

Four years ago, the Hubby and I stood up in front of 90 of our closest friends and family, read each other the vows we co-wrote, toasted with champagne, and danced the night away at our destination Detroit Wedding.

Only we didn't actually get married.

Our ceremony was led by a great friend of ours, but he was never actually ordained. Rather than have him “ruin his future political career” by getting ordained at The Internet Church of Google, he led an incredibly heartfelt and personal ceremony as our friend.

It wasn't until two days later, on the first day of fall, standing on a marina dock in a very private and intimate ceremony, that we re-read our vows and, this time legally (we’re pretty sure!), said "I do."

Although the first ceremony may not have been legal, it was certainly a celebration.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

All image by Brian McElhone

Happy (fake) anniversary, love! And cheers to Turning over a New Leaf!

Coming out of the {Very Stylish} Closet

I have a confession: I. Love. Fashion.

Seriously, I'm obsessed. So much so that I'm starting a blog about it.

I know, I know. Just what the world needs - another Fashion and Lifestyle blog. Honestly, I've put off creating this blog for years because what else could I add that wasn't already being captured? Could I really separate myself from the millions of other blogs out there? What new perspective could I possibly offer?

Despite such concerns, I did get close to starting this blog once before. I picked out a blog name, worked on the design, and then...Pinterest happened. Why did I need a blog now that I could be inspired, shop, and catalog my love of all things stylish in one online platform? For a while, this phenomenon fed my craving, but eventually, even the ever-addicting Pinterest wasn't enough to satisfy my obsession.

So I attempted to start the blog once again. I was determined to have a more creative outlet.

But then I got the big C: Cancer. So I started that blog instead. And as anyone who has ever gotten cancer can attest, it makes you reevaluate your life. You stop wasting your time on things you "should do" and start focusing on the things you want to do.

For me, that is fashion. 

To many, fashion is superficial and frivolous. Those are the people who think a blog about style is a waste of time, especially after going through something as life-changing as the big C. To me, fashion is an art; a creative form of expression; and most importantly, an outlet that makes me happy. 

And after cancer, you learn that happiness is never a waste of time.

So here I am, a closeted fashion addict, coming out of the closet.
 
My name is Dana. These are my Confessions