Giving up fast fashion is really hard to do during a worldwide pandemic. I use shopping as a coping mechanism and it’s such a mood booster for me so it’s been hard to live without that comfort during this tough time. I’ve tried to find some sustainable/secondhand sites to order from to keep my wardrobe updated and give me a boost of serotonin, but it’s been harden than expected. It’s been a lot of trial and error and the struggle has been real.

Brexit

I didn’t care about Brexit until it started effecting my shopping habits! I keep seeing so many beautiful sustainable sites popping up on my insta feed but they are all based in the UK! I have to think to myself, are the extra charges worth it? And there’s also the extra hassle of if you need to send something back, which I’ve learned the hard way. I bought a very expensive loungewear set (which actually turned out to be just pyjamas) and decided I couldn’t justify the money spent, so I sent it back. But not without lots of hassle. It was 11 euro to send back from the Post Office which was a pain but how and ever, but I got roasted with questions at the Post Office too! I forgot that I had to fill out a customs form! I was completely embarrassed when the lady asked the contents and the worth because I had to tell her I had paid 160 euro for a pair of pyjamas (awks) . Anyways it was not worth the hassle and I’m afraid to put myself through that again.

Out Of Stock

It’s as if the whole world has decided to buy loungewear (which they probably have) because all my favourite pieces have been out of stock. It’s so frustrating never being able to find the item you want. It’s even more frustrating, when you’ve finally purchased something you love, get all excited about it and then get an email to say you’ve been refunded and it is in fact OUT OF STOCK! I’ve been feeling very hard done by and feel utterly deprived of fashion. I suppose that’s the difficulty that comes with slow fashion, the quantities produced are just a fraction of what fast fashion produces which of course is incredibly. helpful for our environment but can be a pain. I’ll just have to wait and strike lucky some day soon.

Zero Patience

I have zero patience. I will spend an extra tenner for express delivery because I want the instant feeling of happiness that new clothes brings me. I hate having to wait for my clothes to arrive even if it is only 3-5 working days. At the moment however, everything is super delayed and you can expect to wait much longer. Especially from smaller businesses who don’t have the same man power. I have such respect for the small business owners who are working non stop to fulfil every purchase so I do need to learn to be patient and appreciate my orders when they eventually do arrive.

Snooze you lose

So many of my favourite online brands have “drops” which I always miss! Everything is so one of a kind that there is a such a limited selection so you have to be fast if you want to get something. I was lucky recently and got myself a KTB Studio lounge set. I felt like I had won the lotto because I’m never quick enough! The trick is to turn on post and story notifications for the insta page and keep an eye on your phone. That’s easier said than done though, I never remember! I’m going to try harder to keep an eye on the brands I love and make sure I get some cute one of a kind pieces.

Trial and Error

As I said in the opening it’s all about trial and error. I’ve ordered things that looked fab online and were shocking in real life! I don’t understand how influencers do these hauls and everything is perfect? Do they ever send anything back? I suppose it’s about ordering from the same sites and knowing they are reliable. So I am on a search to find my favourite, online, sustainable sites. It might take some time but I’m willing to stick it out. All suggestions welcome please!