I’m buying less – and loving it more

fashion columnist and influencer joanne hegarty

So I’ve done the wardrobe detox. Tick. Packed away my summer clothes. Tick. Now only my true autumnal favourites remain. Big tick. I did it over a week, little by little, in between life’s other tasks. I feel cleansed, less weighed down. If something didn’t spark joy, it was donated or given to my sister and her friends.

The satisfaction of a smaller, more curated autumnal wardrobe is already palpable. Everything is easier to access now the guilt-inducing time wasters are gone. Putting outfits together is simpler because it’s all in front of my nose.

As I’ve grown older, the desire for more, more, more in my wardrobe has disappeared. I don’t enjoy watching videos of people’s latest high-street hauls – they annoy the hell out of me, to be honest, because everyone knows at least half of it is going to end up unused, unloved and in landfill.

Lately I’ve also noticed a welcome change creeping in on social media: my favourite fashion influencers are proudly rewearing pieces over and over.

It’s happening on Planet Celebrity, too. Angelina Jolie, who has a distinct look, says she wants clothes that are made to last. ‘Enjoying vintage pieces’ is one of her priorities and she wears the same favourites on repeat.

For the influencer, this might mean fewer likes or virtual gasps, but who cares? The Instagram algorithm doesn’t reward integrity anyway. Something had to change because the speed of the fashion treadmill had become ridiculous.

Now, as with every self-improving act, I need to kick on. I’ve given myself a strict talking-to and made a solemn pledge to buy less and think about every purchase more. Here are five tricks that will help…

Nothing beats a bargain, and preloved sites are the places to look

★ Like Ange, I’ll invest in pieces that will last season after season (on a fraction of her budget, obviously, but money doesn’t buy style).

★ Adding little touches such as a new-season belt or bag will freshen up old favourites.

★ Nothing beats a bargain and so many coveted pieces can now be found on preloved sites such as vestiairecollective.com for much less. This is often a waiting game, though, and you need to do your research carefully because the same items can have varying prices on different sites.

★ Impulse buying happens when we wander into shops aimlessly. I now only go shopping when I’m looking for something specific.

★ Apply the ‘one in, one out’ rule to your wardrobe. And before purchasing, do a mental check of how you’ll mix and match the newbie with other items you own.

DON’T MISS THIS

I’m looking forward to Luckiest Girl Alive, the new movie starring Mila Kunis (above) and directed by Mike Barker (The Handmaid’s Tale), which is predicted to be one of this year’s most-watched. Based on author Jessica Knoll’s novel about a traumatic gang rape, it’s hitting cinemas this Friday and Netflix on 7 October.

CASHMERE FOR LESS