Fashion – FinnSpirit

My Year Tracking my Clothing Purchases

“We each buy almost 70 new clothing garments every year.” – Juliet B. Schor, Plentitude: The New Economics of True Wealth. After watching the CBC Marketplace clip about how many items of clothing we buy, I decided to track all my clothing purchases this year. As we wind down 2018, my list included 26 new items purchased including delicates and accessories (i.e. scarf, hat). I tracked shoes separately – three pairs purchased – a pair of open-toed shoes, a pair of Tretorns that cost $1.69 thanks to gift cards and a pair of winter boots for both work and casual. I also donated old clothes to my SIL’s family, the Salvation Army and Markham Recycles to give old textiles that could no longer be worn a new life. After no longer fitting a number of items in my closest or suited me, I definitely knew I had been much more mindful about what I purchased and was happy to see that was in fact the case. I will likely to continue to track in the new year.

Mindful Spending

Great read on mindful spending by Cait Flanders – author of The Year is Less. After I saw a CBC Marketplace segment at the beginning of the year saying that the average Canadian bought 70 new items of clothes every year, I decided to track all my clothing purchases this year to see what I was actually buying. As of August 24th, I have purchased 16 items plus two pairs of shoes – one only cost $1.69 thanks to gift cards. Many of my clothing purchases happened after I realized not all of my summer clothes fit and I needed a few new dresses to wear to work. I am sure as we change seasons again, I may need a few new work pieces and maybe another pair of work flats since I no longer fit all my old shoes as I am now a size bigger. Based on the number of old clothes I have donated over the last few years, tracking my purchases has made me much more aware of what I am buying and is helping to simplify what I actually genuinely need.

UNIQLO x Marimekko

The Joy of Being Bold.

The new UNIQLO x Marimekko Collection launches worldwide today. Cute and colourful prints and styles for the warmer months ahead.

88 days into 2018, I made my first clothing purchase from the collection – a navy and white pokka dot dress which is perfect for hot and humid summer weekend days.

Looking for something fun and fresh for your spring and summer wardrobe, drop by your local UNIQLO store to bring home your own piece of Japanese meets Finnish design.

Clothing: How much do you buy every year?

“We each buy almost 70 new clothing garments every year.” – Juliet B. Schor, Plentitude: The New Economics of True Wealth.

I found this an interesting fact in a CBC News: Marketplace clip I watched about donating your old clothes. I know from the clothing donations I have made over the last few years, I definitely bought a lot and some items were never even worn. I definitely think I buy nowhere near 70 items but I am planning to track my clothing purchases this year after watching it. As of today, I have made zero clothing purchases in 2018. I will be interested to see how much I truly buy throughout the year.

To learn more about how much Canadians give away and where it goes, check out the Marketplace piece on Clothes from Canada account for huge waste

Scarves: My Everyday Accessory

“Put on a sweater and really great sneakers with a big scarf, and you’ll look so stylish. For me, they are an everyday essential.” ~ Meghan Markle

Ms. Markle and I share the same style philosophy. Scarves to me are not just a piece to keep me warm but an essential year-round accessory. I absolutely love them and always seem to have one (or more) on me at all times for warmth or something stylish. I wear them with my casual outfits, with coats as well as with dresses and skirts to work. They add the perfect pop of colour to my neutral wardrobe of black, navy, grey and white. A scarf can be a great way to change an outfit, test out a new colour palate in a safe way, keep you warm and there are plenty of options at various price points for all seasons. Depending on the size, it may also be used as a shawl too. If you are looking to add something new to your autumn wardrobe, a scarf may be the perfect investment to make your old outfits new and exciting again.