Why You Should Get Involved In Slow Fashion Season
So if you're starting to take similar steps or just need a push in the right direction, then let me point you in the direction of Slow Fashion Season. Running from June 21st to September 21st, it's the perfect 3 month period to vow not to buy any new clothes.
Of course, you can still buy if you want/need certain pieces but there are 4 key rules:
- You can trade clothes! Swap pieces with your friends or participate in a wardrobe swap with like-minded people on the internet (I've seen a few people on Instagram doing this just lately since vintage/charity shops have been closed)
- Upcycle or DIY your own clothing. So get creative! The other week I bleached some old jeans (yes, I was influenced by TikTok) and it's given them a new lease of life. I also love a good DIY tie-dye and who doesn't love some unique embroidery on their tee?
- Buy second-hand or vintage. One thing I'm really missing right now is being able to rummage around charity shops and vintage stores. there are some real gems to be found and it's so much more rewarding than going into Topshop and buying the very same top you've seen all over Instagram.
- Support sustainable, local, small fashion labels. A new rule added for this year because independents are suffering hard right now!
What are the benefits, you ask?
Well, I've written previously about how my wardrobe and my style as a whole is much more adventurous and truly ~me since I stopped buying fast fashion. I've become more creative in styling what I've got in a variety of ways; and picking up vintage pieces in unique prints and styles has got me piecing things together that I would never have thought to previously. So you might find a revitalised love for your wardrobe and give a fresh lease of life to your personal style.
You'll save money! You don't always realise how much money you're spending on clothes when it's a couple of t-shirts here and a pair of jeans there, but it all adds up. Second-hand pieces are much more purse-friendly and even better still if you do a like-for-like swap with friends! So going 3 months without buying new will give you some nice little savings; unless, like me, you switch to spending all your money on books!
But most importantly, you will be helping the planet. The fashion industry is one of the worst polluters. As Slow Fashion Season sum it up "The fashion industry is responsible for enormous amounts of water consumption (32 million Olympic sized swimming pools per year) and CO2 emissions (8% of global greenhouse emissions - and growing fast." Not only that, there is the sheer amount of clothing thats end up in landfill every single day. Whether it be old stock from fast fashion companies that gets dumped, or the clothes that get donated to charity shops with good intentions and they're unable to sell (because sadly they can only sell a small portion of what they receive!).
So who's joining me?
Loves. Emma.
The Positives I've Found In Lockdown
So taking note of that venn diagram that keeps doing the rounds of 'things you can control' and 'things you can't control' thinking about what to give your energy to, I thought I'd share just a few of the little pockets of happiness I've found in this time at home:
- Having the time to dedicate to my bullet journal
I've seen so many people online joking about how they regret buying a journal/diary for this year now, but mine has been keeping me going. Whether it's spending time getting creative and doodling in it, making daily to-do-lists to give me a focus, or reflecting every evening as I fill in my gratitude lists, I don't know what I'd be doing without it. It's also a place to document this scary time and have something tangible to look back on.
- Baking!
I've always enjoyed baking but it wasn't really until last year that I started to push myself past a basic box mix. So with this extra time at home and the abundance of new recipes being shared online (thank the LORD for Pret releasing that cookie recipe, am I right?!) I've been getting a little more creative and just this morning made some Jammie Dodger Blondies to a roaring success. Also v grateful that my local shop finally had flour in again this week, hurrah!
- That feeling when you don't want to go to bed because the book you're reading is SO good and it's the first thing you think about when you wake up
I read very regularly but I've always thought of myself as a slow reader (I only got through 28 books in 2019 despite making a determined effort to read a lot) but I finally (I know I'm very late to the party) picked up Sally Rooneys 'Normal People' and oh my god, I devoured it in a day. I've not felt this way about a book in a long time; I laughed, I cried, I feel in love with both Connell and Marianne, with Rooneys writing and simply with everything about their story. Exquisite. I can't wait to binge the BBC series now and cry some more!
- I've really gotten into running and that isn't something I ever thought I'd say
Yes I was a regular gym go-er until the middle of March, but I only went on the running machines as a chore. To get some cardio out of the way and boost my fitness. I never enjoyed it and it was my least favourite part of being at the gym. But I finally read Bella Mackies 'Jog On' which has been sat on my shelf for the past year and it just instantly made me want to get out down the lanes. I resonated with so much of what she shared, I instantly re-downloaded the CouchTo5K app which I've only ever used in the gym before, along with RunKeeper, and now my favourite way to start the day is getting a nice 30 minute run in.
- The house has never been so clean! Everything sparkles!
Because like a lot of us I've had a lot of free time on my hands, I've seemingly spent it wandering from room to room going 'what can I tackle next?'. I've cleaned the oven, aka the worst job in the house ever, I've scrubbed all of the doors (even the big garage door!), rearranged book shelves and my wardrobe, and I've taken every picture frame down to clean and re-hang. I feel like Mrs Hinch, but far less glam with a more colourful home!
- The joy of rediscovering old hobbies
When I tidied the bookshelves (because everything has been tidied and rearranged), I found my old cross-stitch patterns from years ago. There were many complete designs, one part done and one yet to be started so of course I had to finish the incomplete one and enjoyed it so much I moved straight onto the next. I've also dug out some of my 1000 piece jigsaws to fill the time and consequently ordered more and have even had the water-colour paints out getting creative. It's all ben wonderful in getting my brain to switch off and have some offline time.
- I've been able to reassess my spending habits
I'd been getting a lot better with my spending over the past 2 years anyway, since I cut down on (and then out completely) fast fashion, but that doesn't mean to say I'm the most money savvy. I'd still get carried out with bargains in the charity shops, popping to Costa on my lunch hour or splurging on yet more books to add to my (slightly out of control) TBR pile. So whilst we're not going anywhere except the supermarket I've noticed a big difference in my spending. Yes I've placed a few online orders, don't get me wrong (books from my favourite independent book store to help support them; a new print for the bedroom from an Etsy store I fell in love with and some skincare necessities) it's still made me realise how much gets frittered away day-to-day.
- And finally, of course, the closeness it's brought in my family
Outside of my immediate family, we're not very close with anyone else. But everyone calling and video-calling to check in on each other is just wonderful. Dropping shopping off on my Grandmas doorstep is like the highlight of her week and it makes me so happy to do. I might be at capacity and failing to keep in touch with friends, but I'm still keeping some social aspects so small steps.
What have you found to be good in this strange, strange time?
Loves. Emma.
A Midi Dress Love Affair
I've always been a mini dress/skirt girl, always thinking that midi and maxi dresses simply weren't my style and at 5ft3 just wouldn't suit me. But after months and months of seeing them incessantly on Instagram, I finally decided in January to take the plunge and push myself out of my style comfort zone. I scoured eBay and Depop but just couldn't find one in the style/pattern/colour that I wanted. So I relented and treat myself to 3 brand new dresses from Nobodys Child. They're a brand that (for me) are doing enough in an effort to be sustainable that I don't feel bad for buying new. In addition to supporting ethical practices and not releasing hundreds of micro-collections each year, they only produce small amounts of each collection to minimise waste and donate any spare fabric to fashion colleges. So they're no Boohoo or Pretty Little Thing!! I didn't intend to splurge on 3 dresses, I ordered 3 different styles to see how they suited me and ended up falling in love and keeping them all. Typical! I have, however, only got photos of 2 of them to share with you because when I went to take photos of the third it started raining and I simply never got around to doing so again!
And yes these photos are from January because that's when I intended to write this post and share it with you, but better late than never, right?
Dress, Nobodys Child - Jacket, Zara (old) - Hat, gift from mum - Shoes, Converse via Kilo Sale - Bag, Topshop (old)
Dress, Nobodys Child - Jumper, Nobodys Child - Bag, Kurt Geiger - Boots, ASOS via Depop
Loves. Emma.
Things I've Learnt During Lockdown So Far
The world is in a scary place right now. A place that no person alive has ever been in before; a place that will leave lasting effects on every single one of us. And there is simply no right or wrong way to be dealing with this apart from staying at home, unless absolutely essential. So whether you want to use your time at home to invest in a side hustle, learn a new skill or simply make it through each day in one piece, that's ok. You're not on a sabbatical, we're in the middle of a worldwide pandemic!
So whilst I've been doing jigsaw after jigsaw, making my way through my TBR pile and cleaning the house from top to bottom, there are a few things I've come to realise. And no, they're not all brand new information that I've only just learnt, but more so things that have been reinforced in this time of reflection. (Like how selfish people can be, going to sunbathe in parks and have BBQs with their friends!!)
1. Appreciate the small things in life
Being able to go for a walk in the fresh air, having a new book and the time to read it, or being able to call your grandparents and tell them how much you love them. This time of isolation is really enforcing the everyday things that we've all been taking for granted. And I just hope we all remember that moving forwards!
2. Routine is key
Everyone's different in this one, but we all have certain things that makes us feel ourselves, and for me that's having A) a daily routine and B) a nice outfit. I've always liked routine to some extent and this lockdown is no different, I'm still getting up, showered and dressed first thing, before reading whilst eating breakfast and then getting on with whatever tasks are to be done and going for an afternoon walk. And unlike most, I've not been living in loungewear (only the odd day here and there) because I need to get properly dressed in order to feel put together.
3. Setting tasks and goals for each day will get you through
I guess this is a bit similar to liking a routine, but if every night when you go to bed, instead of reading more news and getting upset or in a state of panic, turn your phone off and instead make a list for what you want to achieve the next day. Focus on the things you can control! Whether it's simply to water the plants or make your bed, or something more complex, it's something to tick off! Set the goal and you'll feel better when you can tick it complete!
4. Exercise is essential
I've always known that going to the gym, for a swim or a big long walk was good for my mental health. But now not being able to just pop to the gym for an hour, it's hitting home just how good it was. So instead I've been trying to get back into yoga (Yoga with Adrienne of course) and have been trying Joe Wicks daily workouts too. Everyone always says 'you never regret a workout' and it couldn't be more true right now. It doesn't have to be everyday and it doesn't have to push you to the limits, but making the effort will change your mindset.
5. It's ok to do nothing!
As I mentioned before, you don't have to be using this extra time at home to be productive. Great if you are, but not everybody can and that's ok. If you're able to volunteer for the NHS right now, fantastic! If you're studying an online course, great! If your new business is ready to flourish, go you! Not all of us are able to do these things, whether due to health conditions/tearing your hair out home-schooling/grieving/whatever else it might be, and that is perfectly fine. As long as you're not out and about socialising, you're doing good.
6. A sense of community is important
Whether it be checking in on relatives/neighbours who can't get out or simply keeping in touch with friends, now is the time for people coming together and it is something that none of us will forget. Personally I've not been on Facetime/Zoom/HouseParty to anyone except family because I couldn't think of anything worse, but if it's helping you right now then that's great. I'll stick to WhatsApp messages!! But also social media; I participated in the #isolatedwardrobechallenge on Instagram last week and as well as giving me a little task each day, it provided a sense of community with others who have similar interests and it was just lovely and much-needed.
7. It's never been more important to use the unfollow/mute buttons
There's many points I could make about this, and I've said before how important it is not to follow people on social media who make you feel bad about anything and that really is essential right now. Whether it's people pushing everyone to use their time wisely and be their most productive or someone sharing negative opinions that affect you, just get rid of them. Unfollow them, mute them, block them, whatever! And limit your intake of news everyday whilst you're at it. It's not healthy to be taking it all in 24/7.
8. Everything is political right now
I had to come off Facebook 2 weeks ago and I've since had to limit my time on Twitter too because everyone has an opinion, and yes that's valid and fair, but some of them are just uneducated, ill-judged and plain wrong. When hundreds of people are losing their lives everyday? It's political! When NHS workers are losing their lives through a lack of protective equipment? It's political!
And to every single key worker out there doing their best right now, thank you.
Loves. Emma.
Life Lately
Hi, Hello, Hey... it's been a hot minute hasn't it! 2020 is proving to be A LOT already and I've really not been in the headspace to sit and write anything. I've had big ~life things going on and my mental health has been crumbling under the strain (as it has been for the past year or 2 tbh) so taking a step back and making time to just sit and read or draw or do a jigsaw has been far more essential than putting pressure on myself to create content that I'm not in the headspace for. But after (half) of the heavy weight sitting on my chest has been lifted, I'm feeling a little lighter and a lot more motivated. I've had next to no inspiration to be creative since January, but suddenly have had a flurry of ideas that I need to work on immediately and I'm feeling somewhat happy!
Great timing that my flurry of inspiration hits at the same time as a global pandemic, as I now don't feel like I should be out and about shooting photos but we can always get creative at home! And I think we could all do with some light-hearted relief in the form of jovial blog content.
I don't really feel like I want to (or am able to) write anything heavy/personal nor do I feel like that's anything that anyone is remotely interesting in reading right now, so instead I thought I'd share what I've been up to since the start of the year; some book, film and TV recommendations, etc. along with images of my favourite outfits of 2020 so far, ofc...
What I've Read
Little Women! After seeing (and loving) the film at the cinema in December, I immediately invested in a copy of Louisa May Alcotts bestseller and sprung it to the top of my TBR list. If, like me, you've seen the film first, it gives a lot more detail and story filler and it makes Amy much more likeable (I hated not liking Florence Pugh tbh). But yeah, this is a must-read and I don't know why I've never picked it up before, but it is now the start of my quest to read more classics.
I kicked off March by reading The Insecure Girls Handbook by Liv Purvis. I love everything that she does, her content is next level and I knew this was a must-read for me. It didn't disappoint - such an uplifting book when I needed it most and one I will refer back to regularly.
I've also read Me by Elton John recently which was a wonderful read because, my GOD, what a life! And Swing Time by Zadie Smith which was actually my first venture into her work. (I know, I'm sorry.) It was a great read, a book to really get lost in and I actually really like when stories flick between past and present so not everything ties up immediately. I've already picked up a couple of her other books to add to my ever-growing TBR list!
What I've Watched
I feel like I've watched so much in the past 3 months that I could talk about so I'll try to keep it brief! Sex Education season 2 was just as amazing if not better than the first season, it's great uplifting escapism which everyone could do with right now. Of course like the rest of the internet, I've watched Love Is Blind too which is wonderfully mad and another great piece of escapism from the real world. I finally watched Miss Americana last week after it had been on my list for a while and I just fell more in love with Taylor Swift, she's brilliant isn't she? I've also just finished The Stranger which was bizarre and completely bonkers, we guessed all of the ending but still a great watch. And how can I forget Next In Fashion! Alexa Chung and Tan France are both wonderful so I knew it was gonna be good, but I got so hooked and really got attached to so many of the contestants I never wanted anyone to go.
A couple I loved at the cinemas! Emma (which is now top of my 'classic books to read' list) was a great watch and I believe it's actually due for early release on Sky now the cinemas have had to close? Definitely worth a watch; lovely, wholesome and uplifting! I never knew Cher Horowitz was basically 90's Emma? Also, Parasite! I didn't really know all that much about the plot before going to see it, just that it had a lot of nominations and talk around it. I was HOOKED. It was amazing and one I'd recommend to everyone.
What I've Listened To
I've not kept up with any of my podcasts really this year. Whenever I've had the time where I'd usually pop one on (in the car or at the gym, mainly) I've just wanted the light relief of some good music. And I've actually been very boring in not finding much new music but I have been enjoying some Sam Fender, Gerry Cinnamon, Jerry Williams and Red Rum Club!
Also, musicals are my ultimate guilty pleasure (in fact it's not even that guilty, I just bloody love a good musical) so discovering the Magic at the Musicals radio station has been amazing for a good car sing-a-long!
I'm starting to invest more in vinyls too so I've had The 1975, Harry Styles and Swim Deep on loop at home as they're the only ones I currently own...
Some Highlights
I went to see The 1975! I'm a big big fan and went to see them back in 2014(!) at Manchester Academy when I was a student (and the tickets were much more affordable). But with my social anxiety and not enjoying crowds I haven't seen them since.
I kind of surprised myself when I booked tickets last year after getting a presale code from Spotify, it was very much a spur of the moment decision when I opened the email, but it was the best night of 2020 so far and I'm SO glad I went.
It was my brothers birthday in February and we all went Axe Throwing which, I'm saying was a highlight, but I was actually terrible at it and gave up. It was good fun and a great day out though!
I've seen a couple of different shows at the theatre so far this year including We Will Rock You, which was a Christmas present for my dad and although it was completely bonkers was wonderful; and Sound Of Music which was for my mums birthday. It's just a classic isn't it and the cast were incredible. I've also been to a few new vintage kilo sales run by different companies and picked up some GEMS. I'm looking forward to hopefully going to some more towards the end of the year when things calm down.
At the start of last month I set up a new Instagram page to share my journey to a vegan diet! You can follow along at emmsvegandiary and although visits to vegan restaurants are now on hold, I'll try to keep up with at-home meals.
Not really a highlight but also definitely a highlight, is that my local Caffe Nero joined the TooGoodToGo app (which, if you don't know, is a great place to get food that's near its use-by date and save it from being wasted) and the bags from them are Next Level Good! So many pastries, cakes and treats to share with your loved ones (or savour yourself if it's been one of those days!) and I even scored a winner with a vegan meatball panini in one...
(Obviously you can't dictate vegan or even vegetarian options, but as I'm not strictly vegan [though I am trying] it's ok. Especially when I have family to share everything with!)
Anyway share your favourite books/TV shows/movies etc. down below!
Loves. Emma.
Thoughts On Blogging
When I first started blogging I was fresh out of University, struggling to find a job and navigate adult-life, simply wanting somewhere to express myself; write some rambles and share my favourite things. Fast forward four and a half years (!) and I'm finding it harder and harder to do so. It's not like I've grown an enormous following and struggle to share things without being judged, because I've never actively tried to grow my following and in fact have probably curbed this by being inconsistent and not following the trends. But the atmosphere and the attitude to sharing your life (even small parts of it) online has changed exponentially in recent years. Heck, my attitude to sharing your life online has changed.
We all love a thinkpiece; something to read that's got some substance to it, that's a bit gritty and more than just 'how to style a white tee'. But in the age of relatable content how sincere are your thinkpieces when you're churning them out week on week?
And this isn't simply limited to thinkpieces either is it, because how sincere are your ~hashtag relatable~ instagram posts captioned with a tale of how this is actually a candid today? How sincere are all these 'posed vs relaxed' images where slim girls are forcing stomach rolls to preach body positivity? How sincere are all the 'it's ok to talk' messages shared for mental health awareness when you're rude and nasty to people in person?
I'm regularly unfollowing and 'curating my feeds' but this week I culled over 150 accounts on Instagram alone, and last month I spruced up my BlogLovin feed with a few unfollows and some new discoveries too - I still find this the best place to have my favourite blogs all in one place. And while it's nice to get a refresh like this, it's becoming tiresome seeing people force clickbait relatability in an attempt to succeed in an oversaturated market.
It often becomes embarrassing to call yourself a blogger when you see and hear how others are behaving.
There are plenty of people who do this whole blogging thing well and I'm simply trying to surround myself with those; to be one of those. My favourite people online are those who share their insights and thinkpieces sporadically, when inspiration strikes, interspersed with ~normal content; who don't hop on fast-passing relatability trends; who simply put out good content consistently.
Maybe now I've got this off my chest and am feeling inspired with my fresh new feeds, I'll get back to some kind of regular posting!
Loves. Emma.
2019 in outfits
The end of another year means another round-up of my favourite outfits that I've worn in the past 12 months! There actually weren't as many to choose from this year because I've been far less consistent in sharing my outfits over on the gram. I've just not found myself wanting to be on there as much as previous years, not wanting to really get into the whole ~influencer~ thing; I stopped actively trying to grow my account and stopped accepting ADs because I'm just not sure where I want to be in this whole blogging thing right now? So maybe 2020 will bring some clarity and a big ole ramble of a post about this. But for new, enjoy a photo filled post of my best worn clothes!
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Which is your favourite?
Loves. Emma.
Loves. Emma.