Dressing to impress over the summer without buying a bunch of new clothes during the busiest time of the year for our social calendars isn’t easy. With so many events, like weddings, festivals, parties, and holidays, you can run out of outfits to wear pretty quickly, and then the temptation to give into fast fashion creeps in even quicker.
Here are the best eco-friendly fashion tips to fight the urge and remain hot to trot all summer long.
Beat the heat with natural fibres
You could be wearing the most stylish outfit but if you’re pairing it with Eau de BO, no one will notice. Natural fibres have better airflow than most fabrics which helps to keep you cool in the heat. And if you do sweat – you know, since you’re human – they quickly absorb moisture and get rid of sweat patches ASAP. Fabrics like linen, bamboo, and hemp can also reduce odour with antibacterial properties, so you don’t have to sweat it about sweating in summer.
Choose loose, flowy clothing that has room to shrink
If you’re going to buy new clothing, invest in looser pieces that’ll last such as flowy dresses. Effortlessly beautiful, feminine, and breathable, they’re a summer staple we’ll reach for again and again (and again). But most of all they last much longer than a lot of our other clothes as they can withstand being washed more when it hits hotter temps without noticeable shrinkage. Plus, we don’t have to go on some crazy diet to be able to fit into them each year. Come summer, you can always trust a maxi dress.
Turn up the summer accessories
Adding accessorises can dramatically change the look of an outfit. You can even give the same outfit different vibes with different accessorises. Take that maxi dress for example. Add a belt at the waist to snatch it in, statement necklace, clutch bag, and some strappy heels and you’ve got yourself a killer evening look. If you’re heading to the beach, choose a floppy hat, more dainty jewellery, a straw bag, and sandals.
Or maybe you’ve got a single item of clothing that’s never quite done it for you like a basic vest top. Take a colourful scarf and tie a bow around one of the straps, or put it in through the top, out the bottom, and then tie a bow for a crop top, and you’ve now got a top that’s anything but basic.
The good thing about accessorises is that you can use them to spice up multiple outfits you already own. Just the scarf can be used to give your floppy hat a bow or the clutch bag a handle. The possibilities are endless.
Upcycle with homemade natural dyes
Did you know you can make your own dyes with plants and flowers minus all the nasties? So if you’re bored of an item of clothing or it just looks like it’s seen better days, give it some pizazz with a new, vibrant colour that screams summer. You’re not limited to block colours either. With the shibori dyeing method, you can create all sorts of patterns.
For most colours you’ll already have what you need around the house or can easily get your hands on. Beetroot or rose petals make pinks, onion skins or turmeric are good for yellows, and we bet you have the option of purples too with purple cabbage or blueberries.
Natural dyes work best with natural fibres that haven’t already been dyed as they’re more absorbant and able to hold onto the dye for longer, so if you’re working with other fabrics, make sure to do your research first.
Try bikini layering instead
No matter how much you think you do, you really don’t need to be buying new bikinis every year. Learn to love the ones you have. You loved them once and you can/will love them again. All fashion trends come back around anyway.
And if you’re really not a fan of a bikini, try layering it with one you’re still rooting for until then. Bikini layering is exactly what it sounds like – layering one bikini on top of another. The trick is to choose two different styles that still show the one beneath. But unlike most trends, it’s completely unique as the chances of someone wearing the exact same combo are practically zero. And just like that, you’re excited about your old bikinis again!
