Outfit | Not Neutral

Rudy Jude Indigo-dyed organic cotton sweatshirt (size 1) | 35% off now
Nili Lotan Luna pants (size 6)
Vince blair sneakers

This outfit feels soooo faraway today! I wore this on Friday and today it’s hovering around 40 degrees and raining and just looking at this picture makes my ankles cold.  But also happy, because I love the indigo and mustard together 🙂

I’m hoping to be finished with my post on responsible fashion that “doesn’t all look the same” tomorrow.  I found it interesting that one of the reasons in the article for so much ethical fashion looking the same, or being very “neutral” in color is so that you can have a small wardrobe and everything can “go” together.  That’s valid. I think having everything work well together was one of the main reasons I kept my wardrobe black, grey and white for as long as I did.  I also really enjoy wearing those colors.

Otherwise, I’m beginning to see that if you buy things in colors you love, you can build a cohesive wardrobe with those things, regardless of color.  Not everything will go with everything, and that is okay.  AND, I’m not trying to have a very small wardrobe anymore; I don’t keep more than I “need” or want (177 items in my wardrobe total, including everything I wear at home, to pure barre, bags and shoes).

So other than traveling, when you would be well-served bringing only pieces that work well together so you don’t have to bring too much, I don’t think a “regular” wardrobe needs be small, or include only pieces that you can mix and match to infinity.  *gasp* Blaspheme! 😉

I see the value now in having special pieces that I don’t wear everyday, but that I enjoy having when I WANT to wear them.  And yes, I know that I can’t (or won’t) wear  my red pants with a blue sweater, but that doesn’t mean that I should have neither in my closet.

It took a lot of examination, research, and trial and error, but I honestly no longer subscribe to the notion that one MUST have a small wardrobe to be a responsible consumer.  Maybe you are going to, because you have a specific style and are very happy wearing certain colors and styles all the time. And maybe you’re not.  Maybe you don’t fit into that box.  You’ll know it if you do.

If you don’t, like me, then I say embrace a larger wardrobe.  Enjoy your clothes, the colors, and the many styles available to you.  Play around.  Be thoughtful about what you buy, and what you need to get rid of – do it all with consciousness and boom, you’re a responsible consumer! 🙂

Of course you don’t need to “consume” at all to be responsible.  You can create or swap. You can also prioritize secondhand shopping.  There’s no one way to be more responsible with your clothing choices; do what feels right and manageable to you.

I for one and very pleased with the new colorful additions to my wardrobe.  I am all in with my non-neutral, anti-minimalist wardrobe…

Happy Monday!!