This week SMART Living 365 is pleased to introduce you to Haralee Weintraub as a guest blogger while I am traveling. I’ve followed Haralee’s blog Haralee.com for several years now, as well as admired her business that makes sleepwear for women. I consistently enjoy her commentary on current events, her sense of humor, and her perspective on life. It’s also obvious that she has rightsized her life, so naturally, I asked her to share her perspective with all of you. Thank you, Haralee, for filling in for me and offering a different look at rightsizing.
My name is Haralee and I am honored to fill in with a post while Kathy is vacationing. Kathy’s posts tend to be thought-provoking, well researched and inspirational. She also walks the talk of “Rightsizing,” and has several books to prove it. She has this all going on and she chose to go out on a limb and asked me for a post! Trust me I am not self-deprecating here. My posts are sometimes funny, whining or just musings, but have no books to my credit and I don’t use inspirational quotes. I am, however, a firm believer in rightsizing, so here we go!
Fashion and Rightsizing. It may sound like I am going to tell you not to shop or buy new things but I am not. What I would like to talk about are alternative shopping experiences.
First some background: there used to be a whole empire of clothing made in the USA. The garment district in NYC used to hum with activity and employ thousands. While fashion week still exists in NYC, besides some haute couture very little is made in the USA. Except for some ribbon and trim shops, the garment district in NYC is just the name of a former location.
Sometime in the 1980’s clothing retails started to go down in price. By the 1990’s most clothing companies had their products made offshore. By 2010 the clothing industry in the USA had all but disappeared. That is when the phenomena of “Fast Clothing” took hold of the clothing manufacturing business.
Fast clothing is clothing made offshore and sold at a very cheap retail price. Child labor laws in many foreign countries do not exist and children make clothing for pennies. Horrors and exploitations have been uncovered, but many companies just go to another country and or to another manufacturer and keep going.
Since the price of the clothing is so low, consumers, all of us, can buy and buy and buy. We can buy the latest trends. We can keep our wardrobe fresh and new every season for very little. If the product doesn’t hold up for more than a few wears, we aren’t out that much money. Here’s the rub, Fast Fashion ends up in the landfill. Fast Fashion is not sustainable buying, SMART consumerism, or Rightsizing!
While I would love to suggest buying clothes made only in the USA, that is not realistic because there are few companies that manufacture in our country. So being practical, here are 10 suggestions to Rightsize Your Fashion:
- Look at your wardrobe. Do you have some items you don’t wear because they are dull or boring? How about instead of buying new, refashion the boring top or skirt. Yes a bit of sewing and imagination is needed.
- If refashioning is not your skill set, remove items you never wear and give it to a charity shop. There are all kinds of charity shops looking for clean undamaged clothes.
- Shop charity shops for additions to your wardrobe. Know your brands and only buy good brands at the charity/thrift/consignment shops. This is used clothing after all.
- Sell your used clothing on EBay or on consignment. If they are good brands or designer, you may make some money. This is work and if you have the time and inclination, go for it.
- Use them up before the landfill. Cut up T-shirts for cleaning rags. Stretched out yoga clothes can also be cut up for cleaning rags.
- Shop yard sales for clothing. Often downsizing people will put out clothes with the knickknacks.
- Learn to mend. I know many beautiful clothes have been pushed to the back of the closet because a seam is ripped or a hem is down.
- Repurpose your clothes. Make shirts into cloth napkins, placemats or aprons. Cut the sleeves off a blouse, or cut the hem of a dress for a tunic. This may mean sewing but sometimes ironing and seam tape can work if you aren’t into sewing.
- Be brutal with your clothing buying trends. Online shopping makes it so much easier than going to the mall or downtown. The question to ask yourself is do you really need this item new or could the same item be bought used from a charity shop or a resaler online?
- For those special occasions have you ever thought of a custom made outfit? Hire a local designer or dressmaker or fashion student to make you that special outfit. You get the thrill of wearing a one of a kind and employ someone you see face to face! I think that is perfect Fashion Right-Sizing.
Rightsizing fashion means sustainable fashion. Even Nordstrom is trying to help with charitable giving and sustainable consumerism on their site: Donating Is Always In Style
Check out other online second-hand sites like, ThredUp or Swap that provide a similar online shopping experience.
Remember, it’s always SMART to keep in mind that every little thing we do has consequences. Next time you start looking to buy some fashion, consider whether it is rightsized.
Okay, your turn: Have you looked at your clothing habits? Are you already Rightsizing Fashion? Please share in the comments below. And please take the time to say “Hi!” to Haralee and let her know what you think of rightsizing fashion.
Hi Haralee and Everyone! I’ve just returned from my trip and love seeing how many other people are appreciating these ideas on rightsizing. While I’m not a fashionista AT ALL I think we can all learn something about clothing and what we each can do to both save money and scale back on consumerism. Thank you again Haralee and for everyone who has stopped by to join the conversation!
Thanks Kathy for this opportunity. It was fun!
One of my daughters is an avid thrift store shopper. As a teen, she actually developed a small business reconstructing and selling clothing that she had sourced from thrift stores.
Jude
Love that! At my favorite thrift shop I laugh as I overhear the 20 somethings shopping.
Love this! Haralee rocks! I learned so much about the garment industry.
Thanks Barbara! Just thinking of alternatives before we buy clothing.
Thanks Beth. Sustainable consumerism is ‘Right Sizing’ as Kathy says!
Hi Haralee, I love this bold, amazing list of things to do. I used to have a sewing machine and as a young woman made some of my own clothes. Now I keep things forever, adding a scarf or mixing tops and bottoms to change things up. I agree with your info, don’t want to support shops that mistreat children and others. Now with the trade wars starting, who knows. If only the USA could go back to making their own clothing.
I’m printing out this article and giving it to my wife … and, truth be told, I can use a few of these tips myself as well.
Thanks Tom! I am glad to help and give some ideas.
I’ve never been much of a fashionista or shopper. I think I have unwittingly fallen into the mindset of refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle when it comes to fashion. While still working, I preferred classic cut clothing of good quality that was long lasting and interchangeable. Consequently, some of those pieces are 10+yrs old and still serviceable for the most part. I have been retired for 5 yrs and purging the closets has been on the to-do list all that time. What is holding me back? It is said that we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. I know that to be true in my life. I have seen a few documentaries lately about the abundance of discarded clothing that end up in landfill, another reason not to fill my closet more than is necessary.
I have seen that statistic as well and I think it true for me as well. I know when I travel I don’t miss not having lots of clothes with me!
How I needed this today, Ms. Haralee. I’m trying to pull together for a writers conference in April and find I have so little to wear. Shopping, I see it is another one of those crap years for clothing. So, with my “never give up” self and your article we will proceed – (I am 5 feet tall, short top, short bottom, chubby – you see the problem.) Thanks.
Kaye, being pear-shaped and 5′ 1″ I totally understand. Oh to not look for petites! You have the Right attitude and I am sure you will be successful. Best of luck.
When I retired a few years ago, my wardrobe went through an entire transformation. I still have way more then I need since I find myself reaching for the same few items over and over (comfortable and stylish is my goal). I may add a few things for the spring and summer, but more will be leaving my closet than coming in. My favorite charity shop supports cancer research and I happily send them all of my cast-offs. I really like how you made “Rightsizing” apply to what’s in our closets too!
Thanks Janis. Giving to charity shops that support our charitable choices and those cast off becoming a treasure to someone new is a win win situation!
I retired 3 years ago and really need to downsize my wardrobe. We have a consignment and Salvation Army stores where I live and need to take a trip to both. I don’t like the idea of buying cheap, either. Too much goes into our landfills as it is! Your 10 suggestions are great!
Thanks Kathy.Retiring clothes along with career makes way for new experiences and new clothes with a sustainable eye!
We have some wonderful vintage and charity shops near where I live. What great ideas! Plus, it will give you a unique, rather than copied look.
I agree Rebecca, we can have a one of a kind fashion look with some retail therapy to boot!
Wonderful ideas, Haralee. I actually was a retail buyer many years ago and although I did purchase in NY, a lot of my basics I sourced overseas. I love the idea of making the most of each garment, either by repurposing or reselling. I need to go visit my closet with a new eye!
You have the perfect experience Karen to see how things have changed over the years.
Such amazing suggestions, Haralee! I’m not a shopper and dread changing in size so I have to actually BUY something! Needless to say, my wardrobe is probably hopelessly out of date. Now I can use your handy dandy tips to freshen things up without opening my wallet! Yay!
Thanks Diane. A bit of refashioning can really update some outdated, once special or favorite piece of clothing!
There is so mich good stuff to be found in thrift shops, people who haven’t checked them out may be surprised. I find beautiful high end clothing for a few dollars in new and like new condition. It’s good to free yourself from the fast fashion carousel!
Amen Margot! What is fun in thrift stores is new items come in all the time.
HI, Haralee – Nice to see you guest posting here. Thank you for sharing your expertise regarding alternative shopping tips. We don’t have ‘Dress for Success’ (or a similar program) where I live. But we do have two fabulous community thrift stores and four consignment stories specializing in ladies clothing. I just need the extra motivation to go through my closest and get rid of the work clothes that I am never going to where again. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks Donna. It is a nice feeling when you can give away your clothes knowing it will be well appreciated by someone else and do more for them than you!
Hi Haralee. Great post. And even more important as people go through a change like I did… retirement! There are also places that take business clothing (Dress for Success is our local one) and provide it to low-income women who are going to interviews. A great way to donate all those work clothes you really will not wear again. I’m still getting rid of some of those clothes as I’ve come to the conclusion my casual look is never going to be a Talbot’s commercial (causal pants, jacket and heels)…. it’s jeans and a polar-tec or shorts and a T-shirt! I am trying to repurpose some things, but have not quite gotten into sewing modifications. And yes, I am brutal with my buying trends…possibly becasue most look terrible on me! Hah.
Thanks Pat. Great suggestion I forgot! When I left corporate America business I donated all my lovely suits to Dress for Success too. You made me laugh about Talbot’s.
Hi Haralee! When I saw it was you guest posting on Kathy’s lovely blog, I just had to pop over and have a read. Great tips – Australia has much the same thing happening as the US – LOTS of really cheap clothes that are tempting to buy, but ultimately just clog up our wardrobes and become landfill. I’m fairly frugal, but still get tempted by a bargain – I need to op shop more I think 🙂
Oh yes Leanne everyone loves a bargain! I do think that is the strategy for H&M, Forever 21 and other fast fashion retailers.It is just hard to resist!