New Year Style Resolutions: January’s Match Made in Seven

Welcome to the first Match Made in Seven of 2020! We are an international group of fashion bloggers who meet once a month. One of us chooses a theme which can be anything – a book, music, a color, a movie – and then we style an outfit based on that theme. This month Bettye chose the theme of New Year Style Resolutions!

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions (January is the worst month to start something new, well for me anyway). However, I do have a few goals when it comes to choosing what I buy and wear.

Buy less, buy well

There’s no escaping the damage fast fashion is doing to the environment. The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics. In fact, it emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. What’s really shocking is that 85% of all textiles go to landfill each year – that’s enough to fill Sydney Harbour every year!

If I had to choose just one New Year style resolution it would be to buy less, buy well. My Pom Amsterdam bugs jacket above is a perfect example of that; it’s one of my absolute favourite items of clothing. Actually, everything I’ve bought from the-Bias-Cut.com has become a favourite, but this jacket is a real hero piece. Everyone needs a good quality black jacket, especially one with cute brass bugs and beautiful lining!

The-Bias-Cut.com has recently added a cost per wear calculator tool on every product page to help you buy items you’ll wear regularly. You can also pay for your order in three interest-free installments, making it easier to buy quality garments that will last longer. The yellow Emile Vidal Carr coat was my first purchase from the-Bias-Cut.com and takes pride of place amongst my coat collection.

Buy preloved where possible

You probably know how much I love an eBay bargain. (Monday’s green trenchcoat and yesterday’s tartan jacket are both eBay purchases). You can find almost anything there, and it’s particularly useful for when you want something specific from a past season. I found the Fabienne Chapot leopard print blouse (above) on eBay. Fabienne Chapot is one of my favourite clothing brands and I have an alert set on the eBay app for new listings.

So much of my wardrobe is made up of second hand pieces. If you have the time and patience, you can often unearth some amazing bargains in charity shops. Jackets and coats are the first thing I look for as they’re the best value and you can try them on in the middle of the shop. I found the Rena Lange check jacket (above) in a charity shop for less than £10; I’ve seen one exactly the same listed on eBay for over £100! My purple Escada jacket was also a terrific charity shop find. I love the colour and the fit. Again, it was less than £10.

Wear what I’ve already got more

I’m slightly ashamed to say that I have an obscene amount of clothes and shoes. And like a vast majority of women, a significant proportion of those are still unworn. Sometimes these blogger collaborations prompt me to dig out something from the back of the wardrobe and find a new way to style it. This leopard print waistcoat is a prime example; I bought it second hand in the early 90s when I was still a teenager! Bizarrely, I’d never worn it despite being a huge fan of leopard print. The Style Not Age theme of going “back in fashion” nudged me into finally giving it a try and now I’m kicking myself for not wearing it before!

Adapting clothes for the seasons is another way of getting more wear from them. I wear this Winser wrap dress all year round; layering it over a fitted roll neck sweater and tights makes is a great Winter option.

So those are my New Year’s style resolutions…have you made any? Don’t forget to visit the other ladies’ blogs to see what their style resolutions are!

Debbie of https://www.debbiestyleslife.com/

Darlene of https://aquamarinastyle.com/

Sonja of https://www.yustsome.nl/

Bettye of https://fashionschlub.com/

Anna of https://www.muttonstyle.com/

Nancy of https://www.nancysfashionstyle.com

This is where I link up!

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