If there is one thing I have learned in the past few years, it’s the lesson of being more resourceful – using what I have and getting the best out of it. Considering that the post for I <3 Mondays was entitled “Getting Your $’s Worth,” a play on the featured dj’s moniker, Oliver $, I thought that I’d say a little more about my role as someone who writes about music and fashion, two highly consumer-driven fields, and how we can all be a little more responsible, without jeopardizing our style or our pocketbooks.

In recent years, pretty much right after the whole PC (politically correct, not personal computer) movement of the 1990s, the United States made way for an extremely green “revolution,” if you want to call it that. If anything, it was the corporate response to the environmentalists’ cries, and an well-crafted one at that. People seemed to think that, somehow, buying a plastic tote bag to use when grocery shopping or specially-shaped glass bottles would somehow save the Earth, when in actuality, they were just buying more crap. I recall once that my mother mentioned wanting to buy a special bag for grocery shopping, one of the typical ones that you see at grocery stores now with the wrinkled yet glossy look, a schnazzy version of the store logo, and canvas handles. The crazy part is that my mother has, hands down, about 500 purses, most of them big enough for grocery shopping and made of materials that are easy to clean. But she, and many other consumers, feel that they need that special bag to do their grocery shopping, when it’s really just a waste of money.

The point of conservation and sustainability does not lie in consumption, plain and simple. We are told, day in and day out, however, that we must continue to buy things in an excessive amount, and sadly, even the so-called “green” items simply add to problem, particularly if we already own items that could be recycled or re-used in other ways.

One of the most inspiring documentary films I have seen in a very long time is the now famous “Story of Stuff,” which uses stick figures and a fairly simple message to discuss reducing Americans’ buying habits. It’s a really good documenary in terms of explanation, but there is unfortunately little advice on what we can do to fix the problem, particularly when addressing what requires a shift in our entire mindset:

I was also alerted to this story by a friend and it made me really sick to my stomach:”H&M & Wal-Mart Destroy and Trash Unsold Goods.”

So scary/sad considering the buckling poverty people experience all around the world and the countless numbers of homeless people or struggling families who would really appreciate the free clothes.

Here’s where I think I have some impact. On a personal level, I really do try not to buy new clothes or electronics anymore, particularly if they come from large chain stores or places where I recognize some of their business practices may be negatively afffecting people beyond clientele (i.e. the factory workers, the factory host countries). I have re-focused my energies on mending things instead of buying new ones, if at all possible. I have taken to dyeing items that get stained or have faded instead of putting them to the side and buying something new. I mix and match – a lot. In many ways, I have a uniform in terms of shape, I just switch out the colors along that palette and the accessories, all of which I already own.

Here on Retail DJ, I try to give attention to indie designers, vintage stores/pieces, and companies that do not exercize unjust practices toward their employeees or go out of their way to harm the environment. Given, no business is perfect and I will feature stores on this site that have less than perfect employee rights and environmental records, but most of the selections I make that come from bigger stores can also be found in an indie or vintage form.

I don’t think being conscious means being self-righteous, boring, or hypocritical. It’s about learning. If you think about all the things you have, get creative, and focus more on longevity as opposed to novelty, you could do the world a lot of good.

Here are some tips that can help you look good while keeping a balanced conscience:

1. Take good care of your stuff:

 People often hang up/store their clothes improperly, wash at the wrong temperature, and fall prey to city sidewalks that snag heels and remove the point from pointed toes. The more care you devote to your clothes and accesories, the better they will look and the longer their will last, defeating the need to buy new items as much.

2. Learn to mend:

Unfortunately, it’s often more expensive to get clothing items and accessories repaired than it is to buy something new, so one of the best things you could possibly do is teach yourself how to fix things on your own. Shoes, of course, unless you happen to have cobbler equipment lying around the house, are a little harder to repair at home, but clothes often just require a stitch here and there. For those of you who lack the time or the skill, a trip to your local tailor doesn’t put a total hole in your budget. Though there are ways to make this process cheaper too! For example, tailors in the outerborroughs in NYC (i.e. Brooklyn, Queens, etc) are usually less expensive than those in Manhattan, even when the skill level may be the same!!!

3. Buy vintage:

There are plenty of great vintage stores out there, from the local Goodwill to bigger specialty stores like Beacon’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, and Plato’s Closet (all of whom will buy things as well). Ebay and Esty are also great sources for vintage pieces, and their prices won’t break the bank! Oftentimes, if you aren’t afraid to dig and closely examine your finds, you can end up with some real sartorial gems.

4. Buy indie:

Many independent designers, considering their smaller operating budget, haven’t yet reached the point where they can exploit thousands of workers. In addition, at this level, there is often more room for creativity and a greater chance to get one of a kind pieces. But beware, independent designers don’t always come cheap! At the end of the day, however, you’ll probably be more likely to come away with somethng original and your conscience  won’t eat you alive in your sleep. If you want to buy from the big names, buy from stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, who are running their very own consignment project in a way.

5. Shop in your own closet:

I know this is the cheesy solution that all those lady-mags have supplied as a result of the recession, but maybe the message they have been trotting out has multiple benefits–one of them being you feel less inclined to excessively consume! I shop in my closet all the time. I also try to deck out old pieces with different accessories, thus reviving my interest in the piece itself.

6. Trade with your friends:

See above re: the lady mag suggestion, but also sincerely a good idea, one I rarely considered. However, in light of the fact that so many of my friends and I have completely different tastes, it could be worth it if you are trying to change your look. Another thing I should add here is include your male friends if you are female! I have male friends who use amazing gym and duffle bags, book bags, etc, and because I am some sort of mutant, I share the same shoe size and clothing size as some of my male friends (and some of them shop in the women’s dept for skinny jeans, so whatever…gender bend for a good bargain if you must!)

7. Edit your wardrobe on your own:

Borrow a sewing machine and change your things. Turn a skirt into a dress (totally have done this and received a zillion compliments), turn a shirt into a skirt, fix the broken purse you were on the verge of throwing away! Dye the faded jacket. It’s worth it, seriously.

8. Donate, donate, donate:

I think a lot of people forget the concept of one person’s trash being another person’s treasure. I was fortunate enough to have been raised in a household where, despite my mother’s excessive consumption, she practiced equally excessive clothing philanthropy. We were heading to homeless shelters every other second to drop off boxes of clothes. It taught me the value of taking good care of my goods, but also knowing when someone else could make good use of them.

9. Yard sales:

Having a yard sale is fun. You make money, get rid of stuff you are no longer wearing, and other people benefit. They are also good to patronize ( for the same reasons listed for vintage, except usually the price tag is far less intimidating).

10. Ignore trends:
Sometimes we get so caught up in what is in style rightnowrightnowrightnow without realizing that what is in style now will be out tomorrow and what was in style last year will be “in” again. I never thought I’d see the day when the 1990s, Nirvana/Seattle-inspired, flannel grunge look was in style, and here I am, staring down the barrel of the grunge gun. The time for styles to return seems to be shrinking. It used to be every 20 – 30 years, but now it seems like the styles return within the same decade (take the gladiator sandle as an example). I think it’s also important to buy key pieces that never go out of style. Buy trend-focused accessories, if you are going to try to stay connected with what you are told to like, but make the basics more classic. That way, you avoid falling victim to the omg I have to throw away my entire closet phenomenon that seems to hit so many of us.

11. Accept your inner packrat:
It is ok to save things, it really is. As i mentioned above, sometimes it really pays because you can end up wearing the old stuff you’d never thought you’d wear again once Fashion Week says it’s ok. It also makes you a more responsible consumer if you learn to keep the things you buy without throwing them away in ten seconds.

If you have any additional tips on how to be a conscious consumer, feel free to add to this list!

- Retail DJ