What Is Slow Fashion — and How to Actually Practice It
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You’ve heard about fast fashion – and you know it’s not the best for your closet or our planet. But today, let’s talk about the other side of the coin: slow fashion.
What is slow fashion? And how do you actually live it out without feeling like you’re dressing in frumpy secondhand clothes?
I’m going to break it all down in this post. I’m not here to judge or shame you about your clothing habits (heck, I just bough from a fast fashion brand last week!).
But I do want to offer up some practical, stylish advice to help you start shopping a little smarter, dressing a lot better, and feeling good about what you’re wearing. Progress, not perfection!
What Is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is a movement that pushes back against the constant churn of fast fashion. Instead of buying piles of cheap, trendy clothes you’ll wear once (maybe twice?), slow fashion is about:
Quality over quantity
Timeless style over trend chasing
Intentional buying over impulse hauls
At its core, slow fashion is part of a bigger shift toward conscious consumerism — a fancy way of saying, “I want to feel good about what I spend my money on.”
When you practice slow fashion, you’re starting to ask questions like: Who made my clothes? What’s it made from? How long will it last? Does it actually reflect my personal style (and values)?
Slow fashion is the antithesis to fast fashion — it’s about being more intentional about what you let into your closet.
Why Slow Fashion Matters
As much as I love fashion, if we’re being totally honest…the industry is a bit of a hot mess. We’re talking environmental damage, unfair labor practices (even in the US), and more textile waste than your local Goodwill knows what to do with. (If you’ve tried thrifting for clothes lately, you’ve probably noticed that instead of amazing vintage pieces, you’re just sorting through fast-fashion junk!).
Fast fashion thrives on compulsive shopping – making you feel like you need something new every week to keep up. But all those “just-because” purchases come at a cost. And often? The clothes don’t even look that good after one wash.
Practicing slow fashion helps:
Reduce waste (fewer throwaway pieces)
Support ethical brands (who pay fair wages)
Lower your carbon footprint (yes, your closet can go green)
Get off the buy-regret-donate treadmill
Even if the ethical or environmental side of slow fashion doesn’t totally light you up (yet), there are plenty of other reasons to slow your roll on impulse buys:
You actually save money. When you buy fewer, better things, you're not stuck in the constant cycle of buying lots of cheap clothes (that adds up fast).
You look better. Higher-quality clothes are made to flatter — they drape better, fit right, and hold their shape instead of stretching out or pilling after two wears.
You curate a better closet. Instead of staring at a rack of so-so pieces that don’t feel like you, you’ve got a lineup of outfits that make you feel confident.
You develop real style. When you're not chasing trends, you start to discover what actually suits you — instead of looking like everybody else. That’s when a signature style starts to take shape.
Without big improvements in how we make, use, and dispose of clothes, it’s estimated that by 2030 we’ll create 134 million tons of textile waste globally. (Source)
How to Avoid Fast Fashion (Without Losing Your Style)
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to shop less but still look good,” slow fashion is your new best friend. Here’s how to actually practice it in real life:
#1: Audit Your Closet First
Before you click “add to cart,” take a look at what you already own. (I promise — it’s more than you think.)
Pull everything out by category (tops, jeans, etc.) and try it on. What fits? What flatters? What’s just taking up space?
This process shouldn’t make you feel guilty, but it should force you to be honest with yourself. Ideally you want to edit your closet to:
(1) what you actually wear; and
(2) what makes you feel like your best self.
By starting with what you own, you can make what you already have work better for you. Or, you can get a handle on what you actually need to help fill in your wardrobe’s gaps with intention.
Need help? Grab my $7 Closet Cleanout Toolkit that walks you through the process step-by-step.
#2: Shop With a Plan
Impulse shopping is what feeds the big monster of fast fashion. It preys on your self-esteem and emotions by enticing you with new, trendy items for super cheap.
While these buys might give you an immediate dopamine hit – and a false sense that you’re fueling your style – they’re actually sabotaging that chic, timeless signature style you’re working towards.
If this sounds like you – and you’re wondering how to avoid fast fashion or you want to wean yourself off of compulsive shopping – then you’re going to need a strategy.
First and foremost, you need to always keep a ‘Wardrobe Gaps’ list. This is the only list you should buy clothes off of. Your Wardrobe Gaps List will include things like
Items you need to replace (e.g. new white tee to replace a discolored old one)
Items you need to add (e.g. neutral flats to wear with work outfits)
Items you want to upgrade (i.e. anything that you don’t need, but would like to upgrade if you find the right piece. For example, I already have a pair of tan pants for work, but they don’t fit right and aren’t my ideal shade, so I’m keeping an eye out for a pair I’ll replace them with when I can).
When you do shop from your gaps list, you also should always ask yourself these questions before you buy:
Does this fit and flatter me? (this includes size, silhouette, style & color)
Is this an investment or a cheap fix?
Does this have a purpose in my wardrobe? (it should work with the other items in your closet and make sense for your lifestyle)
And my favorite gut check: Would I still want this if no one else saw it?
I have a “Should I Buy This?” Flowchart to help you make these tricky dressing room & checkout page decisions.
#3: Get Familiar with Fabrics
One of the easiest ways to practice fashion sustainability is to know what your clothes are made of and to choose quality, natural fabrics that will hold up well over time.
Natural fabrics are fibers sourced from nature: cotton, linen, denim, wool, silk
Low-impact fabrics are materials made with a lower carbon-footprint than conventional textile processes: Cotton, linen, hemp, recycled polyesters, lyocell/modal
Fabrics with longevity are usually better quality and will last longer and hold up better to washes and wears: 100% cotton, wool (cashmere, merino, etc.), linen, silk, real leather
These fabrics will tend to last longer, feel better, and are kinder to the planet. Be cautious of synthetics like cheap polyester, acrylic, rayon, and viscose. While recycled polyester can be done well, and some of these fabrics work in athletic wear, for everyday clothing, natural fibers are almost always a better choice.
#4: Support Brands That Do It Right
You don’t have to be perfect (this isn’t about being a martyr), but where you spend your money does matter.
Look for brands that are transparent about their sourcing, pay fair wages, and make pieces to last. Just know that you will often have to pay a little more to support these brands – and that extra cost will be worth it a hundred times over in terms of quality and durability!
And, of course, shopping secondhand is a fantastic way to do your part in limiting textile waste.
#5: Unfollow Fast Fashion Triggers
How often have you logged onto Instagram to check out friend and family updates…only to find yourself scrolling through a shopping carousel minutes later?
Your social media feed is powerful. If you're constantly seeing Zara hauls or 15-dress try-ons from Amazon, it's going to mess with your brain. Suddenly, you’ll start believing all this overconsumption is the norm.
Slow fashion isn’t just about how you shop. It’s also about when and where you shop. It’s about rewiring your mindset around how you accumulate clothes and build your wardrobe out in general.
Tips for avoiding compulsive shopping:
Unfollow accounts that fuel fast fashion FOMO and aim to only follow ones that inspire thoughtful style.
Remove easy methods of payment from your phone (like Apple Pay or PayPal). If you have to get up to get your credit card and type in that 16-digit number…you might think twice.
Pack your off-season clothes away so that when you get them out next season, they feel exciting + new (and you’re not tempted to buy more).
Slow your compulsion by adding things to your cart and then closing the window. Most of the time, you’ll forget all about those items in you cart — but if you do feel compelled to go back? You’ll probably second guess a lot of what you originally added!
And consider this your permission slip to not follow the trends, and just wear what you like (and repeat the hell out of your favorite outfits!).
#6: Repair and Restyle What You Own
Missing button? Tiny hole? Shoes looking scuffed?
You don’t have to toss these items and start over.
Learning how to care for your clothes — whether it’s by tailoring, patching, or polishing — is a critical skill to honing a chic, timeless wardrobe.
If you’re just buying items with the idea that you’ll get rid of them in a year and buy new…how are you going to curate a lasting, signature style?
In addition to taking better care of your clothes, learning to re-style what you already own is basically a superpower.
Start shopping your own closet and trying new combinations of your current favorites. Or, add a new accessory or styling element, like a belt or scarf.
Usually, you’ll find you already have plenty of amazing clothes – you just needed a little creativity to kickstart your style.
P.S. If you want to build your style around what you already own, my Signature Style Discovery Package helps you do exactly that.
Slow fashion is the new “quiet luxury” — save these tips for later by clicking the “Pin” button on the image above.
Slow Fashion Isn’t About Perfection
It’s important to remember that slow fashion is a practice, not a destination or a competition.
You don’t have to boycott every big-box store forever or wear the same 10 pieces on repeat to participate in slow fashion. You just have to be a little intentional about what you buy, what you wear, and why it matters.
And the best part? It’s easy to start practicing slow fashion because your most sustainable wardrobe is the one you already own.
Start with what you own and implement one or two of the tips in this post first. Practice that until it feels part of your status quo. Then, dig a little deeper.
Together, we’ll find a better balance of style, confidence, and way fewer regret purchases.
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Explore my Closet Cleanout Toolkit or Signature Style Discovery package and take the first step toward a more confident, conscious closet.
