dress: Charlotte Russe | belt: vintage | shoes: Ruche
Last week, I had to get a gift for a bachelorette party I was going to, so I stopped by the mall and went to Charlotte Russe. I got the gift, and while I was at it, I picked up a few things for myself: tights, pants (!), and this dress from the clearance rack. I love the little tree print and the slightly 1940's-esque shape, and it's just nice to get some more black dresses in my closet. For all the praise that always gets showered on the classic LBD, I sure don't own many!
I can't truly say I regret any of those purchases. But after I left the store, I felt a little bit...icky. That's probably not the most eloquent way to phrase it, but there you have it. It's how I felt. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that literally thousands of other girls own this exact same dress. That's not a bad thing, necessarily - I really enjoy seeing all the different ways pieces can be styled. It fuels my creativity.
But I also realized that this dress probably came into my hands thanks to the labor of sweatshop workers. And that made me really uncomfortable.
So as soon as I left the store, I decided something: no more of my "fast fashion" vices - Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 - for at least 6 months. Sure, it's great that you can pick up something stylish for cheap...but how long do those pieces really last? And what's the true cost?
I realize this may not be the most popular decision, but I'm eager to see where this takes me over the next six months. I'll do my research in the meantime; I mean, I don't actually know anything about the practices of those companies. Either way, I don't think it's bad to swear off something like this for a little bit. I've unsubscribed from their newsletters to avoid temptation. I want to do more thrifting. I want clothing that means something. I want to support small businesses and independent designers. If that means I have to spend a little bit more, then so be it!
I don't want to be overdramatic, and I'm not trying to start some sort of style blogger revolution. But to me, the best part about blogging is the community, and getting to hear all sorts of opinions...so lay it on me! I haven't done the research - I'm going mostly on gut feelings. What are your thoughts on "fast fashion"?
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Mine will be a bit of a whirlwind: I'm driving to Atlanta with my family tomorrow (almost a 14-hour drive), going to my uncle's memorial Saturday morning, then driving to Nashville briefly, then driving partway back to Grand Rapids Saturday night, then driving the rest of the way on Sunday, and then going to Newaygo to see my friend Matt marry his lovely bride! Phew! Do any of you have anything awesome planned?
p.s.: I've decided that my pictures are going to be be a little bit bigger from now on. I know it's kind of a blogging faux pas to have differently sized photos, but going forward, they will all be the same size! This is in preparation for my new layout, which I'm still working on.
