5 Fashion-Related New Year's Resolutions for 2022
As January first brings new beginnings, here are some fashion resolutions to kick your new year off right.
The new year is a time for change, growth, and a fresh start. Whether it's doing a closet clean-out to make room for new pieces, changing your style completely, or trying to shop eco-friendly, give yourself the gift of a new fashion mentality and a new wardrobe in 2022. Here, find five fashion resolutions to vamp up your style, get rid of those old clothes, and start the new year off on a high note.
New year, new closet, new you!
Declutter and Donate
Out with the old, in with the new. It's time to say goodbye to those impulse buys that are sitting in your closet, collecting dust, and say hello to free closet space.
To make the dreaded closet clean-out a little more tolerable, see if any of your old pieces can be sold to second hand resellers. Sites, such as The Real Real and ThredUp, want your old clothes! Send in a bag of your clothes that are still in good condition and an online resale site will pay you for them. Less hassle for you, and more money to spend!
You can also stay local and donate to a thrift store, homeless shelter, or other charitable organization to provide clothing to those in need. Start your new year off right with some good deeds, and a good clean.
Shop Sustainable
A hot topic in fashion right now is how to shop sustainably. With climate change causing havoc, and people wanting to do better for the planet, being eco-conscious and supporting businesses that have a good moral and ethic code is something to take into consideration next time you shop.
Sustainable shopping takes many different forms. It can be buying second-hand pieces from thrift stores, consigment shops, or through online sites. Take a trip to your local thrift store and sift through the aisles until you find that piece that speaks to you, or make a day out of it with some friends.
There are more and more brands switching to sustainable production practices, too. From transparent supply chains, to zero-waste manufacturing, to using recycled or upcycled materials, designers and labels are shifting towards more earth-friendly means of creating fashion.
Shopping sustainably doesn't even have to cost you any money. See if any family members or friends are getting rid of pieces and look through their hand me downs. You might find some vintage gold from your mom's closet, or finally get your hands on that shirt you always wanted to steal from her as a kid. Whatever it is, those hand me downs could be the one item of clothing you've been looking for, and they're benefiting not only your bank account, but the planet, too.
Experiment with Colors and Prints
It's time to add some spice to your style. For this upcoming year, step outside of your comfort zone and experiment with colors and prints. Take a look at some collections for 2022 and gain inspiration from the patterns and colors that are going to be trending this new year. Colors and prints can be intimidating, but the key is to find options that complement your safety staples.
Sticking with a black and white theme? Try adding blue hues, such as periwinkle and baby blue to your wardrobe to add a hint of color without stepping too far into the world of color.
Do you love a neutral look? Trying adding pinstripe trousers or an animal print bottom to your look to elevate the outfit without getting too crazy.
Have fun with your pieces and see which colors and prints work best for you!
Ditch the Gendered Label
For this new year, embrace any clothing, regardless of gender. Gender fluid fashion is becoming more accepted and advertised in mainstream media. We've seen it since David Bowie was dressing androgynous, and we're seeing it now with the likes of Harry Styles and Troye Sivan.
Going beyond gender neutral or unisex, fashion has embraced genderful style into its vocabulary, which embraces all identities.
Support Small Businesses and Young Designers
With COVID affecting businesses across the board, for this new year it's important to recognize and support small businesses and young designers.
Though they may seem hard to find, young designers are popping up everywhere. Companies, museums, other designers, and other fashion conglomerates may have programs in place to showcase you designers and businesses. Yoox and the Brooklyn Musuem, for example, have their own respective grants and showcases that feature prominent young designers for your consideraiton. You'll find pieces that no one else will have, and are helping support young talent.
Shopping small businesses is another good habit to include in your new years resolutions. Social media is a great way to find small businesses that fit your personal style. Tool such as Instagram's shop feature and TikTok's small business hashtags can help you navigate through the endless amounts of small businesses that need your support.
