Rewear Your Outfits
By Kaylee Jacobs
Photo by Lindsay Love
Rewear Your Outfits
Throughout my high school years, I kept my distance from clothes with vibrant colors and fun patterns because they seemed too loud or flashy. My everyday color palette consisted primarily of earth tones and grayscale basics that I styled countless ways in an attempt to not seem like a cartoon character. Once I found a handful of bolder outfits that felt like me, I began to wonder how long it would be before they were “appropriate” to rewear, and eventually I came to question why this was even a thought I was concerned about in the first place.
Where does the stigma of outfit repeating come from?
The idea that it is tacky to rewear outfits comes from the plethora of celebrities and influencers who seemingly never wear the same thing twice. On the slight chance that they do, even if it is years later, there will be at least a dozen magazine and tabloid articles critiquing the choice the next day. We look up to these people highly for fashion guidance, especially in teenage years. As a result, it is easy to surrender to the idea that we must only show off the new and hide the old, especially when the old is subject to ridicule.
Fast fashion has also encouraged the sentiment that you shouldn't rewear, because you will have an endless supply of new, affordable, on trend clothing to choose from every day, so why settle for something that has already escaped the confines of your closet?
This stems from a deeper issue we are ingrained with that value is lost as age or wear increases. This idea drives multiple industries, especially those primarily targeted toward women, such as the beauty and skincare industries. When it comes to fashion and personal style, I would argue that value can increase with the number of wears. The memories that my favorite jacket and going out shoes carry are worth infinitely more to me now than when they were never worn just off the shelf.
How can we benefit from outfit repeating?
There are countless benefits to outfit repeating. First, it takes away the pressure to save the outfit for the right occasion. This gives you the freedom to wear what makes you feel good without worrying if you will have an audience or miss your opportunity to get the perfect picture for Instagram. Second, you're saving the planet. Fast fashion is a huge contributor to waste and pollution in our environment. If you have been to a second hand store recently, you have probably noticed an influx of Shein and Romwe on the racks, many still with tags. Rewearing outfits helps minimize waste from once or never worn clothing and eliminates waste from the pounds of plastic used to package those orders.
All this being said, I’m not saying you should feel guilty about purchasing new clothes. Due to need or want, there will always be an item to add to your collection. However, what I am saying is that if we can change our attitudes about repeating outfits and restyling garments, we can help reduce some of the volume of clothing waste and always feel proud to wear what makes us feel good.
