UNDRESSED is a new editorial outlet, a part of the story about interconnectedness, focusing on conscious consumerism, sustainable apparel & lifestyle. Come, get (un)dressed with me.
while it’s still 0-3 degrees out in Berlin (as it should be - it’s January - *timefliesbyinprocrastination* or March by now) there’s a sweet taste of spring energy in the air. the skies are clear, the birds are chirping and I feel a sense of excitement in my chest, a buzz of the outer layers, holding my heart. a compass for movement, change and outfit upgrades.
a change in perspective.
i was recently decluttering my digital storage and it made me forget or actually remember, and showed me how I have forgotten, how green and lush the city used to be, only 10 months ago. the same way the awakening of spring awakens our perception to the ever-changing growth of life, a crocus popping, a soft, light-green bud, gently opening its eyes to the rising sun, the same way it asks us to change, evolve, shed layers, dress anew.
now, how does one upgrade an outfit let alone a wardrobe? easy right, you just go shopping. while it might be compelling to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of fashion week trends and new collections launching, i encourage you to check in with yourself first. the crocus doesn’t just pop on an extra pair of yellow petals on top of its purple ones. neither should you. (styling purple with yellow ain’t the easiest of undertakings on that note)
choosing taste over trends is a change in perspective, from the outside world to what’s going on within. from “what looks “good” this season” to “what do I feel “good” (as in confident, myself, sexy, comfortable, younameit) in”. it’s a process of sharpening the lense to the subject matter, of your own story, which is you. not them. not everybody else. bringing the focus of your attention back to yourself, doesn’t block out everybody else, it just makes the edges a little softer, a gentle blur, making it less compelling to grab what we hold on too tightly to. the constant need for external validation.
choosing taste over trends, means wearing what you love not what’s “lit”. it means trading instant gratification for long-term satisfaction. something our day and age ain’t very good at, myself included, but we can always try: here are some first steps on bringing love back to your wardrobe:
mend, repair, clean, steam. (dream.)
the apartment spring clean equivalent. what needs to be de-fuzzed, repaired or smoothed out? while this may seem like annoying work, it’s actually quite meditative, usually takes less time than we think and is a good way to learn what pieces you truly value or which one’s you’d rather not keep. same with yourself. it’s like getting to know yourself a lil better. what do you still enjoy and what have you had enough of?! sometimes pieces go out of style for a season or two, yet the way they fit still keeps you attached and it’s worth holding on to the piece to either keep wearing it or rewear it when the mood and the mainstream follows. which brings us to the next step: decluttering. before we proceed, whatever you do, put on your favorite playlist first.
break the loop
Many moons ago, I created this simple step by step guide to enhance your decluttering experience.
so what happens after we’ve decluttered? well, unfortunately, not everything can be repurposed or recycled. the way we make and take fashion today is still very disposable, short-lifed and pollution-propelling. I read a very cute piece on thinking of clothing in a more librarian way, to promote a more circular approach to wardrobing. thinking of it this way makes it easy to tap into the timelessness of books. we might start reading a book cause it’s currently popular but whether we read it again or can’t even get to page 3 without yawning, really depends on our inherent taste. apply that to your wardrobe. part of keeping things circular is keeping them in the loop for a long time, which means, wearing them longer, which equals to taking good care of them - repeat first paragraph - the cycle continues, even in this thread, you see: everything’s interconnected ;).
a common mishap of decluttering is another, more vicious cycle, that keeps us in the loop of overconsumption. a ride of dopamine rushes that kicks us from the high of cleared-out space to the peaks and perks of something new. what helps me, to withstand the urge to fill in the blanks, is becoming very clear on what I want. I’ve introduced this before on my last post: I like getting visually inspired and keeping a list of things I like, continuously, in my head. I like waiting before I buy, to see if it sticks and I like finding THE perfect edition of what I envisioned after having turned down what’s not. (rule no 1: no shitty back-ups, remember?!)
now this is where we get down to the essence: getting out of the constant loop of tossing something only worn for a short while and replacing it with something new requires the following consideration of choosing long-term satisfaction (“this is it”) over instant gratification (“this’ll do”). to break this loop, taking a breath, a pause in compulsion, is essential, then, choose anew.
the win-win for upgrading your wardrobe
is choosing key pieces that will elevate the wardrobe you already have. elevated materials & shapes will elongate the duration of how long you will be able to wear your new piece. invest in high-quality fabrics and cuts. wash gently.
let’s be real: the shoes make the outfit. a new pair of boots that you truly love will elevate everything else. this equals to getting the boots you already have re-soled, cleaned and in shape. nothing speaks elevated fit more than a good vintage boot kept in great condition.
trends fade and reemerge in an ever-cyclical notion. taste is omnipresent. keeping, mending and wearing pieces that taste true, good and beautiful to you, will stand the test of time and float above the waves of trend.
circling back to the change in perspective i’ve introduced in the beginning. choosing long-term satisfaction over immediate gratification, is a mindset that holds the power to not only shift your way of consumption individually, it also has the potential for collective and global change. with the file for bankruptcy of textile recycling innovator Renewcell last week, we are faced with a clear discrepancy between industry innovation, consumer awareness and brand integrity. I believe whenever we see a failed attempt of a more integrated approach for people, planet and production, we are asked to step up and make the most immediate change there is: within ourselves.
I repeat: it’s a process of sharpening the lense to the subject matter, of your own story, which is you. not them. not everybody else. bringing the focus of your attention back to yourself, doesn’t block out everybody else, it just makes the edges a little softer, a gentle blur, making it less compelling to grab what we hold on too tightly to. the constant need for external validation. choosing taste over trends, means wearing what you love.
Thank you for reading.
yours truly,
Ray
this is me, floating in Spring of 2022, wearing Camper Tencel boots on my friends birthday. I love these boots and I am letting them go, they deserve to be loved for a very very long consistent time, like we all do. quick material-ed: Tencel is a trademark for sustainably made viscose, which is a wood-fibre-based material.
I’m selling these boots, so if you want to get your hands on a hand full of spring energy, dm me.
coming up next: what makes a brand sustainable? / is the second hand fur industry a hoax? / how to make things last / on a ritualized life / going from disposable travel to reusable coffee cups / & more.
curious about a specific topic and how it reflects on a more conscious approach ? feel free to contact me with topic suggestions.
ready to start your own conscious journey? I offer 1:1 sittings.
you’re a brand that wants to transform? I’m happy to help.