How to do a wardrobe freeze

RecycleSmart recently had the pleasure of catching up with Jenna from @ironicminimalist. She is a slow fashion stylist in Melbourne, to delve into her sustainable wardrobe journey. Jenna took on the challenge of a "no-buy" year in 2023 and we got a sneak peek into what's inside her RecycleSmart bag. Watch the reel on Instagram here.

What was your "no buy" year?
From the 1st of January to the 31st December of 2023. I purchased 0 items of clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. I basically “froze” my wardrobe so I could create a better relationship with it and save some money!

I had spent over $10,000 on clothing the previous year (I record everything I buy on a spreadsheet), and it was a crazy amount to spend on clothing. So I wanted to reduce that spend and what better way to do that than buy nothing. I wanted to create rules as I knew I needed a strict guideline so I didn’t throw it all in after a month.

My rules were:
1) No clothing (undergarments, pjs, socks were allowed)
2) No gifted clothing (my work as an influencer means that I am sometimes gifted clothing. I also said no thanks to birthday/Christmas gifts)

3) No trading clothing at Mutual Muse (I work in a consignment style store, so I created this rule so I didn't have any loopholes!)

What surprised you about not buying anything new for a year?

So many surprises! At the start I felt strong and so happy saying “no thank you” to items. I Rewore  my items and discovered new ways to wear older pieces. The savings account was looking healthy. But as I neared the end of the year, temptations were stronger. I struggled to keep those high spirits. I really needed new shoes and pants that actually fit me. I also felt really flat with my style. I realized that I needed to introduce that creativity back into my dressing.

But I made it! 

What's one piece of advice you have for people who are looking to cut down on buying new clothes? 

Do a wardrobe freeze! Even just for a month. Creating those restrictions on yourself really helps you get creative and use what you have. You don't have to be as extreme as me, you can create your own rules, just dont give yourself any loopholes!

Jenna's "no-buy" year serves as an inspiring tale of conscious consumerism and sustainable fashion choices. We're grateful to Jenna for sharing her insights and tips, providing a roadmap for others to embark on their sustainable style journeys. Check her out on Instagram at @ironicminimalist.