Clothes often become boring because they are worn always the same way. When you want to slow fashion down, want to be more resourceful or are on a fashion budget, you found the right post. For this post I challenged myself to recycle a favorite skirt in multiple looks. Get inspired to shop your closet for more looks from what you already own. Join the slow fashion movement without scarifying style and the fun of dressing.
- The Slow Fashion Movement: Recycle Clothes in New Outfits
- How Does the Production of Wool May Affect the Environment?
- How to Recycle a Fav Skirt in Various Looks
- Work Outfit Ideas with a Red Skirt and Tips to Create the Looks
- Outfit Inspirations with a Red Skirt for the Weekend and Running Errands
- How to Wear a Red Skirt in Spring?
- Summer Outfit Ideas with a Suede Skirt
- Fall Styling Inspirations
- Red Skirt Winter Outfit Ideas
- Christmas Outfits to Try with a Red Skirt
- More on Eco-Friendly Fashion and Sustainability in Fashion
- References
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.
The Slow Fashion Movement: Recycle Clothes in New Outfits
More and more women think about the environmental, economic and/or societal impacts of Fast Fashion. They look at fast fashion, sustainability and quality of life. Some of them made the New Year’s resolution not to buy anything for a month. Other made pledges to wear every clothing item at least 30 times or to buy second hand to slow fashion down.
Recycling a Wardrobe Favorite in Multiple Outfits Is the New Do
Slowing down fashion benefits your (fashion) budget, and the environment. Repeating a clothing item like a sheath in multiple ways, for instance, means wearing it not just as a dress. Obviously, it is more challenging to style a blazer in different ways.
Some of the Environmental Impacts of Fashion
In general, fashion causes a lot of environmental harm and pollution. Here just a blink to get an idea and understand the consumer demand for greener fashion. Fortunately, the fashion industry reacted. Recently, the textile industry started waste recycling. Furthermore, the demand for recycled fashion has increased over the last decade.
How Does the Production of Wool May Affect the Environment?
Wool, for instance, stems from sheep. On first view, a sustainable resource. Sheep feed on grass. When you want to produce more wool sweaters or coats, you need more sheep to increase the wool production. Consequently, you need more grassland or you overgraze the land. Overgrazing, however, leads to long recovery of the grass, as well as soil and dust uptake by wind. The wind carries the fertile upper soil layer away and/or the rain can wash it away easily. Once in the air, soil dust gets transported over long distances affecting the Earth’s radiation budget, and hence climate. Locally, the change from healthy grass to bare land alters the energy and water cycles.
The same applies for cashmere, but not for musk ox underwool.
Dye and Transport Pollute Water and Air
Dyeing of fabrics or leather pollutes water. The transport of clothes from the manufacturer to the stores and from the store to your home releases pollutants. Whenever a middleman is involved the items do not only become more expensive (without gaining value), but also take a detour to your closet.
Other Fashion Related Chemicals to Be Aware Of
Huge and cheap cotton production relies on fertilizers and pesticides. Production of faux leather, nylon, and synthetics need fossil resources. Manufacturing regenerated fibers like, for instance, Tencel, Modal, Lyocell can involve health-adverse chemicals.
How to Recycle a Fav Skirt in Multiple Looks
The trick, how you can wear a skirt again and again without falling into a style rut, is to style the piece differently each time. Of course, there is nothing wrong with repeating an entire outfit, especially a great one.
The suede skirt outfit idea below all feature my G-III skirt – a $20 find in a second hand boutique.
Work Outfit Ideas with a Red Skirt and Tips to Create the Looks
The next 3 looks used a scarf for color pairing.
GNW turtleneck, Anne Klein gray-red-purple scarf, Vince Camuto boots, gemstone buckle purple belt, tights c/o Hipstik® Legwear.
Try color blocking.
Use a piece beyond its purpose like a scarf as belt …
… or a cardigan as a top.
Repeat some of the colors of a plaid blazer or top for pairing a layered look.
Outfit Inspirations with a Red Skirt for the Weekend and Running Errands
How to Wear a Red Skirt in Spring?
You can wear leather in spring and summer.
Summer Outfit Ideas with a Red Straight Skirt
Fall Styling Inspirations
Acknowledge fall by adding pieces in colors associated with autumn like brown, burgundy, yellow, olive, or orange.
Red Skirt Winter Outfit Ideas
When the skirt shows under your outerwear integrate its color when accessorizing. Outerwear is an outfit too.
Tip: Use the colors of a matching scarf for outfit inspirations.
Apply layering for thermal comfort and style.
Christmas Outfits to Try with a Red Skirt
More on Eco-Friendly Fashion and Sustainability in Fashion
Read more about environment-“friendly” fashion. Buying second hand is a great way to slow down fashion and save money. When you are new to thrifting, take a look at this list of brands to look for when browsing a thrift shop for a good start, Dos and Don’ts.
References
Mölders, N., 2011. Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes – Impact on Climate and Air Quality, Springer.
Mölders, N., 2023. Discover the Relation between Fashion, Fabrics, and Comfort. Amazon Publishing Pros. 182.
Photos: G. Kramm
© 2013-2024 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
