Outfit Repeater: The Hero of Fast Fashion

Graphic by Margeaux Rocco. Images via The Real Jenty, Town and Country

We all remember the humiliation Lizzie McGuire faced at her eighth grade graduation for repeating an outfit. The callout her archrival made was traumatizing for all of us. Back in the days of Lizzie McGuire’s middle school career, being an outfit repeater was embarrassing and shameful.

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Even today, in the midst of a Lizzie Mcguire reboot, celebrities are often under fire for rewearing pieces (Kate Middleton was recently under scrutiny for wearing a coat. Four times.). But maybe Lizzie was on to something. Obviously rewearing an outfit doesn’t seem very high fashion, but today, when the fashion industry has become one of the enemies of climate change, it is important to make sure our fashion choices are sustainable and ethical and we definitely need to drop the notion that rewearing pieces is a fashion faux pas. It shouldn’t be embarrassing to rewear outfits. The idea of being unable to rewear outfits promotes fast fashion and general wastefulness. When we think we are unable to rewear a particular piece of clothing, we are less likely to shop ethically as there is no point in spending a lot of money on something we won’t wear again. 

Celebrities and fashion designers alike are working to make more sustainable clothing and go against the archaic phenomenon that rewearing pieces is wrong. Many prominent celebrities have become known for rewearing pieces and entire outfits, including Tiffany Haddish, Keira Knightley, Harry Styles, and even Anna Wintour herself has been an outfit repeater. 

Image via The Frisky

Image via Brico Shoppe

An “outfit repeater” is one of the most sustainable choices you can make, and truthfully, a good outfit is a good outfit. You should rewear pieces and outfits as many times as you want to. People shouldn’t judge you for it. 

Here are some clothing brands working to make the fashion industry more sustainable, and their pieces should be worn again and again: 

ABLE - A sustainable brand that is also very transparent about the wages they pay their workers, and puts an emphasis on ending poverty 

tentree - A clothing brand that is working toward being the most environmentally progressive brand on the planet. For every item purchased, the company will plant 10 trees 

Amour Vert - Similar to tentree, this company also plants a tree for every tshirt purchased on their site. They additionally focus on making their clothing with sustainable products 

OutdoorVoices - this company strives to abide by three core values: people, planet, and product. They work to make sustainable, quality items. 

Krochet Kids Intl - Looking for a beanie for the coming winter? Krochet Kids is a nonprofit brand that gives jobs to women in Peru and Uganda, providing fair and good wages for stylish and sustainable items.

Alternative Apparel - This budget friendly company uses all recycled materials and ensures their workers are in safe conditions and being paid fair wages 

Levi’s - Believe it or not, Levi’s is working to produce less waste in the production of their denim. Their Water > Less collection uses 96% less water in production. 

Patagonia - Already known for their sustainable styles, Patagonia has additionally begun buying back their clothing, meaning you can buy a new item at a reduced price or get store credit for bringing in your old Patagonia clothing 

Athleta - This athletic brand says 60% of its materials are sustainable and they are working toward 80% in 2020. 

thredUP - A gigantic, online thrift store because like we’ve been saying, rewearing clothing is more sustainable than buying anything new.