Before I became a personal stylist for women, I loved clothes. I had an ever evolving wardrobe and would vacillate between joyful exuberance and overwhelm as I’d feel guilty for spending money, using resources, consuming, you get the idea. Then, I’d buy some new pieces and the cycle would start again.

This eternal inner conflict was a driving force in creating Poplin Style. Over a decade ago, I developed a clear system to help clients simplify shopping. As a client, she now knows how to find pieces that flatter her body type, focus her choices on colors in her color palette, stick with decisions that communicate her authentic personal style and when possible, opt for clothing that aligns with her style.

Over the years, I’ve seen the power of this approach. There are so many reasons to shop this way: reducing frustration, saving money, gaining confidence and more. Of course, it’s also a more sustainable approach to consumption.

Often clients struggle with the balance between consuming and wearing fun new pieces that embrace trends. I’d argue that you don’t have to choose. It’s all possible and here’s how.

You are Powerful. 5 Sustainable Ways to Embrace Your Evolving Style

Understand what flatters your frame

Buying new: Knowing what cuts will make you look and feel your best has a profound impact on your style. This approach is empowering as it opens up the world to you. Now, you walk right by those choices that won’t celebrate your shape and make a direct path to those that will. Poplin client Isa, for example, has an hourglass body type so choices that show off her curves rather than boxy items suit her best.

Of course, buying something new impacts the environment more than something that already exists. Ask yourself these questions: 1. Do I love it more than x (think of one of your favorite existing pieces)? 2. Will I wear it more than 20 times? 3. Is this aligned with my authentic personal style? 4. Is there something similar from another brand that aligns more closely with my values? (Everyone has different values and my goal is not for your values to mirror mine. The important aspect is ensuring that you know YOUR values and think about them when purchasing.) Ex: Sustainability, local maker, best value for my money, will work with my existing collection therefore making wearing this often more likely, a style that will work for multiple seasons, etc.)

Renting: Fortunately, we have the opportunity to rent clothing instead of buying everything new. I especially adore this approach for knits, special occasion outfits and vacation clothes that you are likely to otherwise wear.) Knowing what flatters your frame dramatically increases the chances that you’ll wear your rented item at least once, if not multiple times. Many rental companies allow you to sort your search by body type.

Buying Second Hand: What could be better for the environment and your wallet than buying second hand? The most commonly cited challenges to this effort are the struggle for fit, a lack of understanding how to style and the make or break feeling when there is only one item in one size available. Not to worry. Welcome to the magic of tailoring! When you know what flatters your frame, you can ask a tailor to tweak the piece to fit and flatter. A Google search also helps you find the same item in another size somewhere else on the web, if available. As for creating outfits, we can help you there. Take a look at the Poplin Pinterest Boards organized by body type and personal style for ideas on pairings.

Borrowing: This is so often overlooked. When we moved into our house eight years ago, we had no idea what we were doing and we certainly didn’t have the resources to buy every item that would be useful to a homeowner. Fortunately, our very generous neighbors loaned us their ladder and the husband said, “don’t buy a ladder. I have one. Borrow it whenever you’d like.” In the midst of COVID, those neighbors moved away and a few others moved in. Younger couples, these new families also lacked an array of homeowner tools. Since then, everyone borrows OUR ladder. In fact, one neighbor recently brought it back and said, “We really should get our own.” To which I replied, “that would be devastating to us. It brings us so much joy everytime you borrow it.”

Many of us love the opportunity to share with others, especially with someone we adore that appreciates it. Lots of women are happy to share a piece of clothing or two with a good friend. (Of course, you’ll want to limit this to folks in your inner circle to keep things from getting a little weird.) When you know what flatters your frame, it’s easier to identify what items a friend or family member owns that would also look great on you. Or, visa versa. If you have a friend who has a similar size, style and body type, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Identify your personal style key words and commit to shopping using them as filters

A note about style here. It’s common for women to feel pulled toward pieces that feel more practical, translation: boring, in an effort to extend the longevity of their wardrobe. When it comes to personal style key words, so many clients feel like they must opt for less exciting choices. Implementing the Poplin strategy makes that unnecessary. As an example, Poplin client Ashley’s photo shoot is from seven years ago. That’s right. The clothes she is wearing in these photos were part of her purchases seven years ago- and they still look great. Of course, some items are trendier than others and will not have the same staying power. But, if you commit to your words, rather than letting seasonal trends dictate your authentic personal style, you’ll find that you can tweak your collection with updated pieces when necessary and see the bulk of your purchases last for years.

Buying new: This is SO important, especially for those of us who love a fresh piece every season. Trends come and go and if your Instagram feed is committed to persuading you to buy that sweater, willpower alone isn’t going to stop you. But, if you have identified your authentic personal style key words, knowing those and using them for decision making will change the game. The goal is to have three or so words or phrases that describe your desired personal style. You can see samples from real Poplin clients here. Let’s say your words are Preppy Punk, like Poplin Client Ashley. When it’s time to shop, items only make the cut if they communicate either preppy, punk or both. And yes, you have the same words at work as at play. You are the same person no matter where you are. The key is choosing pairings that are appropriate for the situation. Ashley also happens to have an Inverted Body Type with her shoulders wider than her hips. So any potential additions to her wardrobe must also flatter that body type.

Renting: Some rental companies allow you to filter for specific styles. If nothing else, when you are choosing an item, ask yourself if it can be described using one or more of your style key words. If you aren’t sure about your words, renting is a great place to experiment with different styles.

Buying Second Hand: This is a super fun way to experiment with different styles on the hunt for your authentic personal style. Buying second hand is generally substantially less than buying new and you may discover you are drawn to items that might otherwise feel out of your comfort zone. A tailor can also transform an article of clothing into something different or put another spin on it. Consider adding an exposed zipper for an edgier look or a collar for something more classic or polished. Change a neckline to a deep v shape for a sexier approach. You get the idea.

Borrowing: So often clients talk about women at work or in their social circle that have great style as though they can’t achieve the same thing. Untrue! Borrowing an item from a friend is an easy way to experiment with bolder choices. When something is out of your comfort zone, try pairing it with something more familiar (like jeans or your favorite shoes) and work your way into this new style. Your friend might also be able to help with styling as she owns this item and has worked to pair it more than once.

Commit to your color palette

Keep in mind that if there are colors you adore and are in your overall color palette, but don’t look great with your skin tone, they can still be part of your life. Try items in less than flattering colors on the bottom (pants, skirts or shorts) or as accessories (think handbags and shoes). Lean on the colors that flatter you most by owning a coat or scarf in an especially flattering color that is also part of your color palette.

Buying new: Embracing this approach means that everything you buy will work with everything that you already own thereby eliminating the “I have nothing to wear with this, I guess I need to buy something new” dilemma. Various experts have equally as many opinions on choosing your color palette. Of course, you ideally go with the palette of colors that flatter your skin tone. From my perspective, this is not a deal breaker. It’s more important to choose a color palette that you adore. It should bring you joy and make you feel confident in your pieces. When you stick with this palette, you should feel free to buy solids, prints and textures. Packing for trips becomes a million times easier as everything works with everything else. If you ignore this filter, you’ll find creating new outfits more difficult. Fortunately, it’s easy to select colors when online shopping and filter from there. Each Poplin client has a clearly defined color palette available to her on her password protected webpage. This makes shopping effortless.

Poplin client Caitlyn has a very clearly defined color palette. We use a subsection of autumn colors for her wardrobe. Having worked together for several years, her style has evolved and new outfits often include pieces from our original shopping trip several years ago mixed with more recent purchases.

Hot tip: Do not allow yourself to buy items in colors that you do not care for, especially those that are not in your color palette. It’s common to stock up on a flattering or functional piece in multiple colors. This is totally fine if that speaks to you. However, if you purchase something in a color that you won’t reach for, it just takes up space in your closet. Also, it’s just fine to purchase the same item in multiple colors because you LOVE it. Be sure you aren’t opting for this method because you feel you have few choices and this is one of the few things that works. It’s just not true.

Renting: Just like shopping for new items, renting allows you to filter for colors when looking for new items to enjoy. And, this means that renting something within your comfort zone or options that are more of a stretch are easily integrated into your existing wardrobe. Often, when renting, you may want to try an outfit on the site only to discover that one piece is available while the other is not. This situation won’t prevent you from wearing your rented item because it works with your existing pieces, too.

Buying Second Hand: Commit to the color palette. Sure, you can dye things. But will you? Tailoring is nearly always possible in some capacity. But the color can’t be changed. Furthermore, if you don’t love a color, just walk away from the piece, even if you think the clothing is a must have. Trust me. You won’t wear it and feel awesome, if you wear it at all.

Identify your values and use those as a filter, when possible. Progress not perfection, my dear.

Everyone has different values and my role here is not to judge or to impart my values on you. Instead, my goal is to empower you to know that YES, you can shop your values. It won’t always be possible, but it’s likely more possible than you realize. And once you try it, you get hooked. Believe it. Like quite a few Poplin clients, Ashley was committed to limiting her purchases to second hand clothing. This tactic translated into a haul of expressive, useful items that were just right for her authentic personal style. The majority of pieces either did not flatter her body shape and/or weren’t even in her size. Enter the magic of tailoring. Her vintage brocade romper was several sizes too big when we discovered it. Such a major find!

Buying new: Once you’ve identified your top value or values, head over to the Poplin Pinterest Boards to get some ideas for retailers and brands that align with those values. Do a Google search for clothing made with your values in mind and see if you discover new brands or retailers. If you love local hero Nordstrom like I do, you’ll be happy to know that you can also use the search bar to find pieces aligned with your values. My list of My Top 100 Retailers Organized by Personal Style has a number of retailers that may also align with your values. Remember, your values can include companies owned by women or fair trade options, etc. But, they can also be focused on getting the best value for your money, leaving you with more of your paycheck to be devoted to other areas of your life.

Keeping your values top of mind when shopping for new clothing encourages you to wear items more often than you might otherwise. Few things feel as good as responding to a compliment with the story of where and how you found this magical piece. Of course, you may feel so committed to your values that they are the most important factor when shopping, limiting yourself to sustainable brands, for example. If this works for you, go for it. If not, be kind to yourself. After all, forcing yourself to only shop for sustainable brands, for example, is similar to sticking with a no sugar diet. It’s nearly impossible to stick with and just makes you feel like you’ve failed when really, you’ve achieved quite a bit.

Renting: Rent the Runway, for example, allows you to filter by sustainable designers. So, it’s a great place to start if you’d like to prioritize sustainability as a value. If getting a great value for your purchase and/or minimizing cost per wear, renting in general is a stellar avenue as the savings are significant. You also have the opportunity to purchase an item at a discounted rate after renting if you are a super fan of that item of clothing.

Buying Second Hand: For many values, this is arguably the best way to prioritize your values when shopping. Regardless of what you value most, you will often find that buying second hand empowers you to embrace what your personal commitments. For example, items that already exist translate into no new carbon emissions, etc. vs. buying something new. If you find that piece at a local second hand store, you also avoid the carbon footprint and plastic packaging of shipping items to you. If you are looking to save, buying second hand is significantly less expensive than buying new or even on sale. This is an especially great opportunity for designer pieces. It’s possible to filter “new with tags” on second hand websites giving you the best of all worlds. For those who want to prioritize BIPOC makers, Fair Trade brands, etc. it’s still possible. However, there are additional steps. Specifically, you’ll need to identify the brands that appeal to you and then search for those sold second hand.

Borrowing: It’s free, it’s fun and it offers the chance to try brands first to determine if you think they are worth the money, fit into your collection, flatter your frame, etc. This is a useful way to wear clothing that aligns with your values without breaking the bank.

Curate your closet to only include items that you love and those that adhere to your filters

I often say that your closet should feel like a boutique curated just for you. Everything should fit right now, flatter your body shape, communicate your authentic personal style and align with your values when possible. Every piece should meet this criteria. You’ll find that making outfits and actually wearing your items will be significantly easier with a streamlined and intentional collection. Need help? That’s what we’re here for. In Poplin client Delight’s case, editing and tailoring were all that was needed to completely transform her style. Bogged down by too many pieces that were pushed together in her small closet, she instead wore a subset of only a few pieces on repeat. After editing her closet and creating a gallery of outfits from her existing pieces, buying something new was not necessary. In fact, she went for several months without a new piece after years of continuous shopping.

Buying new: Once your wardrobe is edited, it’s very clear what pieces will supplement your existing collection with a strategic approach. For Poplin clients, we create wishlists of various sizes to supplement her existing pieces. You can see samples here.

Renting: With an edited closet, it’s easy to see what pieces are missing and which will elevate your collection. If you are loving your clothes but find them uninspiring, consider renting accessories including jewelry or handbags to up your game. Or opt for big ticket items like a coat that will transform your look and would be a real investment to purchase.

Buying Second Hand: A curated closet means that you’ll quickly identify any gaps that prevent you from maximizing all of your pieces. It also means that your price per wear for existing items goes down because you are more likely to wear them with all of the noise out of the way. You’ll likely have more of a budget to spend on new additions and your dollar goes further with second hand clothing. Of course, the carbon footprint is smaller, too.

Borrowing: How will you know what to borrow or how to pair it if you find your closet overwhelming and uninspiring? Try editing first. Then, when you head out to borrow something, you’ll find it easier to pair with existing items. Even better? Consider loaning out your pieces to a friend. If you have lost enthusiasm for your wardrobe, offer it up to a good friend with a similar size and shape. Let her know that she can borrow a few things and invite her over for friend time. As she gets excited about specific items in your closet, you’ll quickly rediscover why you loved them in the first place. It happens when you realize you don’t actually want to let them go;) Or, if you feel indifferent when she picks out a few favorites, just send them on their way for a better life and likely more opportunities to be worn.

This is only the beginning! There are so many ways to stay up on trends and feel like you are wearing pieces that you adore because they are comfortable, communicate your authentic personal style and flatter your body type. LMK if this interests you and I’ll write more. Just know that looking great and honoring your commitment to fight climate change are not mutually exclusive.

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