HOW TO KEEP YOUR STYLE ORIGINAL & FRESH!

With brands churning out new products in ever-changing styles faster than you can put together the perfect fit for a snap for the ‘gram, it can be overwhelming and confusing when you’re trying to find your own sense of style and still keep up with trends. And while fast fashion might give us fleeting trends, not every trend or look is for everyone in terms of style and practicality. We’re here to give you a few tips on how to refresh your own style while staying authentic to your own self-expression through fashion.

Pin It Down

Often, when you’re trying to update your style, it’s hard to know where to start or even figure out what you actually like and want to try out. Mood boards are a great way to pull together all the things you do like into one place and to organise your inspiration into a way that’s digestible and understandable. You can go old school and find physical images from magazines etc to cut and stick onto your board, or use Pinterest or Photoshop to create digital boards that you can save and share online. Remember, the images you save don’t necessarily have to be of clothes - you can use whatever sparks your inspiration and imagination - colours, textures, words, objects etc - the possibilities are endless!

Shop Vintage and Second Hand

Fast fashion may be on the rise, but so is 2nd hand and vintage shopping. It requires a bit more patience and an open mind, but with time, you’ll soon find it’s one of the best places to find rare and one-off pieces. This means there’s little-to-no chance of turning up to the party in the same dress as someone else from [insert fast fashion brand here]|! 

The easiest option would be to check out your local high street charity shops - they’re great for finding jeans and oversized knitwear. If you’re trying to be a bit more adventurous, a vintage kilo sale gives you a lot of bang for your buck: simply fill your bag with whatever takes your fancy and you’ll be charged by weight, so better to go for lighter items such as tops here. If you’re hardcore (and can wake up early enough on a Sunday morning) a car boot fair is one of the most rewarding and fun places to find vintage and 2nd hand clothes - at bargain prices!

Try Online Marketplaces

If traipsing the charity shops and car boot fairs isn’t for you, online marketplaces can be the perfect alternative to finding one-offs and pieces from yesteryear. Since fashion is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, extending the life of garments through re-wearing and re-selling is a great way to indulge in your love of fashion without increasing your carbon footprint. If you’ve got the time and the nerve, eBay is the GOAT for online marketplaces - just remember to keep track of your bids, be prepared to trawl through endless pages and don’t take it personally when another buyer swoops in at the last minute and cops something you’ve had your eye on for days. Depop is probably your best bet to finding unique retro pieces from independent sellers, while Vestiaire Collective is a great option if you’re looking to buy a used luxury item without the luxury price tag.

Do It Yourself

The easiest way to turn something mass produced into something unique and original is to give it the DIY treatment. Whether you’re a novice who can barely thread a needle, or already have some skills, there’s a DIY hack for everyone looking to inject some originality into their clothing. Something that’s trending right now for its ease and effectiveness is tie dye socks. No artistic skills are needed - simply scrunch and secure your socks with elastic bands, apply the die, and you’ll be left with a design that literally cannot be replicated by anyone else. They’re so cute to rock with the trainer + cycling shorts/mini skirt summer look. 

Got a pair of trousers that are too long or a top that’s just a bit….plain? Give your pieces some edge by giving them a ‘raw edge hem’. This is as simple as cutting (or ripping) the hem to the new length of your choosing then you can either hand fray the fabric by pulling out individual threads, or using a cheese grater to rough it up a bit and then putting the item through the wash to complete the look, giving your jeans that authentic distressed look and feel.

Shop Independent

Some of the most unique and original designs come from those brands and designers that haven’t caught onto the ‘mainstream’ yet. Big brands have bottom lines, so they’re sometimes designing for the masses, but smaller, less established brands are where you’ll often find more experimental designs and concepts - great if you’re looking for something unique and want to support a brand on the rise. Our faves are Myaemade, WMNSWEAR, and Kai Collective to name a few.