When we think of plastic waste, we picture plastic bottles, bags, food packaging, and straws. We notice those single use plastic items, which are a huge part of the problem, but are not the only issue by far. Our approach to clothing (especially fast fashion) is a major part of the plastic crisis.

If you want to stop the plastic waste taking over our planet, you have to start looking at your closet.

You may be thinking "Ok, but I don't have any sweet plastic rain coats or polyester leisure suits. This is not my problem." I guarantee you, this is your problem. Let's go over some of the ways your closet makes plastic waste:

-The Shipping

It costs companies less to put their product in plastic envelopes than to cover the cost of damaged items. Hence, everything now ships wrapped in plastic, unless the company explicitly takes another route.

- The Fabrics

Plastic-based synthetic fabrics are one of the biggest environmental crisis that no one is talking about. Any of your clothes with spandex, lycra, polyester, elastene (and so many others) is made of plastic, and thousands of tiny pieces of that plastic shed off every time you wash them. This plastic washes out into our water sources, so most animals (including humans) now ingest a significant amount of plastic. This plastic can't be cleaned- unless something changes, your grandchildren will be drinking your leggings. Is it worth it?

- The Upkeep

Dryer sheets, dry-cleaning bags, and detergent all add more plastic to the mix. You can side step all of these, but only if you are ready to pay attention.



Ok here are my best ideas for having a plastic-free wardrobe where you still look like the beautiful, fantastic person that you are:

1. Just Buy Less Clothes

We all have too much clothes. Fabrics and textiles are one of the largest sources of waste and chemical pollution in the world, and it makes sense, because each American, on average, throws away 65 pounds of clothes a year. We are buying way too much, and all those deals come at a huge environmental cost.

Our huge collections of clothes mean we are creating more plastic waste too. When you are buying a lot of clothes, you are more likely to be investing in cheap pieces, which are now mostly made of plastic fabrics like spandex and polyester.

Investing in fewer pieces (and making the wonderful clothes you already own shine, you beautiful person) will do the most good. It avoids the plastic new clothes are packaged in, shopping bags, synthetic fabrics, and all the invisible plastic we don't even notice anymore. If you like having a concrete plan, look into capsule wardrobes. If you have way too much already, do a swap with friends or offer items on Buy Nothing. Do not toss your clothes in the garbage!

The best you can do is wear the hell out of the clothes you already have. It's the one mindset shift that can do the most.

2. Know your Synthetic (see: Plastic) Fibers

Our clothing is creating one of the biggest plastic crisis our planet is facing- microfibers. Plastic-based synthetic clothing sheds microfibers of plastic (about the size of one piece of glitter) every time you wash them. They come tout in your washing machine, and then they are washed out into water sources. These microfibers, though tiny are major problems.

First, because they have reached every corner of our water sources and oceans.

Second, because these microscopic pieces end up in our water and food (maybe up to a credit card's worth of plastic a week), potentially messing with our hormones or causing cancer.

But most importantly, these microfibers cannot be cleaned. Have you every tried to clean up a glitter spill? How about in a full bathtub? That's the challenge our planet is facing now. The first step is to stop pouring glitter into the bathtub, and that means no more synthetic fibers.

The first step is to just increase your awareness and vocabulary around plastic-based fabrics. Check out this post for all the information you need. 

3. Stop Buying Plastic Clothing

Once you know what to look out for, you just have to stop buying things that use synthetic fabrics in them. This can be tough to do, but you just get the hang of checking tags or the details tab when you shop online. If something is made with plastic fabrics, just don't buy it. Even if it is just what you wanted, it isn't worth it.

This is true of secondhand shopping as well. Try to focus on shopping for items that don't list plastic materials. If there isn't a tag anymore, sometimes you can identify by feel. If the fabric is particularly shiny or stretchy, it likely has plastic in it.

You also learn with time that certain companies are less likely to use plastic-based synthetics. Companies that tend to be earth-conscious also tend to avoid these fabrics. Pact, Reformation, Gustin, and so many others mostly avoid it. It feels particularly good to invest companies that are already looking out for the environment.

But really, it's as simple as just not buying something if it is made with plastic fabrics. As you slowly replace things in your closet, you will slowly remove all plastic fibers as well.

4. Embrace a New Kind of Legging

Certain items, like fleece, activewear, and leggings, are particularly loaded with plastic. It can be tough to find plastic-free or plastic-light alternative to active clothing that still gets the job done (and makes your butt look good), but companies are working to make activewear with minimal plastic.

This is ONE area where I will not recommend secondhand or recycled. If you buy leggings made of spandex secondhand, they will only shed more plastic the longer they get use. Another trend is to make activewear out of recycled bottles; while I know their heart is in the wrong place, what this actually does is turns recyclable plastic into tiny pieces that can never be cleaned. Skip it.

If you love your leggings, but you don't want to fill our oceans with plastic, check out this post with my favorite companies that are using as little plastic as possible. If you are only using a tenth of the plastic, that's a tenth of the waste too. If you wear a lot of leggings, this is a change worth making.

5. Fall in Love with Secondhand Clothing

One of the best ways you can protect the environment is to buy as much of your clothes as you can secondhand. Have you ever bought clothes online? You know how they come in that little plastic envelope? All new clothes ship in one of those! So if you buy your next 10 items of clothing secondhand, that is 10 fewer plastic envelopes in the world. Simply by shopping secondhand as a rule, you can keep thousands of those envelopes out of the landfills.

If you don't live somewhere with good thrift shops, you can still switch to secondhand amazingness. Try Thred Up, which sells everything you can dream of AND they ship wrapped in paper, not plastic. I love them so much, and you can get great deals on top of everything else.

6. Return the Plastic to your Dry Cleaner

If you use a dry cleaner, you will get your clothes back in those big plastic bags. The easiest way to sidestep this is to just give them back immediately. They can make it back to your home just fine without the bags, so when you show up to the dry cleaners, take the minute to take the bags off and leave them there for them to use again on the

7. Invest in a Plastic Filter (And Pick up an Extra for a Friend)

Companies have now developed products that filter the microplastics out of your washing machine before they are washed out into water sources. Current studies suggest that they aren't perfect (so not as good as eliminating plastic completely) but they do make a difference.  You can try a filter, a bag, or a Cora Ball. The most important thing is that you do SOMETHING.

Also, my new goal is to just buy one of these for everyone. Everyone should be used to having one of these in their washer until plastic fabrics are banned completely. The less plastic we send to our oceans, the better.

8. Switch up your Detergent

The detergent we use also tends to create a lot of plastic waste. There are a few ways to avoid the big plastic bottles of Tide:

First, think about refillable options. Is there anywhere near you that you can refill your detergent bottles that you already have? We have refills at our co-op grocery store. If not, you can still buy refills from online stores like The Refill Revolution. They sell giant pouches that you use to refill, and then you send it back when you are done.

You second option is to make your own. There are tons of great powder and liquid options on Pinterest, so you can kind of pick what fits what you already like. It saves money, and you can avoid a lot of plastic this way.

9. Think Vintage, not Vegan

This is a controversial one. If you are trying to minimize your negative impact on animals, you will do more good buying secondhand leather boots than brand new pleather ones. Many of the fake alternatives to leather, wool, and other animal fabrics are 100% plastic. Plastic that will become extremely harmful to animals.

Leather, if cared for, can last a lifetime. So even if you are vegan, buying secondhand leather items (where you did not pay a company to kill an animal) has a better impact on animals longterm.

10. Write Companies that Still Use Plastic-Based Fabrics

Want to do a little more? Write the companies that are still manufacturing clothes with synthetic fabrics. If we don't tell them that we aren't ok with it, they assume that everything is fine. If you are at a loss on how to word it, check out this post with my letter to the Gap. You can use the same note and just switch the details to match your favorite companies that need to stop with the synthetic fabrics.

You could also write the washing machine manufacturers to pressure them to include microplastic filters in all of their machines. They knew about this problem and should have done something to solve it long ago. But doing something now is still a better option than doing nothing.


How have you gotten plastics out of your wardrobe?



Check out the Little Green Dress page for more resources on how to transform your wardrobe into something greener!

Oh, yoga pants. We all wear them. Some of us even do yoga in them (not me personally, but that is the rumor). Some of us take selfies in them (thanks to Heather for the pictures). Most of us own them.  Leggings and athletic wear are a pretty common part of our everyday fashion. If you are a tired parent like me, you might be wearing them all the time! That said, they are freaking terrible for the environment. One of the worst things we are all wearing. And we all have a bunch (myself included, no judgement).

So can we switch to greener, more ethical leggings? Do they even exist?


OF COURSE THEY DO! Or I would politely ignore them, right? But they are tricky, and the normal rules I live by (buying secondhand and recycled) don't actually apply. So, it takes a real shift and some new information to transform our yoga pants for the better (while they transform our butts for the better).

So, what is the rule we are living by?

No Synthetic Fibers, Even Recycled Water Bottles

There are a few amazing companies out there who tried to recycle plastic bottles into activewear (the one recommended to me most is Teeki. Inner Fire is another one). In theory, this means less new synthetic materials can be made and fewer bottles go into landfills.

I love this idea so much and really want it to work, but it just doesn't.  Those bottles are turned into fibers that shed off in your washing machine and out into water sources. Creating billions of microscopic trash pieces that have totally taken over the water. Teeki uses 100% synthetic fibers, some recycled and some not. That means 100% of those pants are shedding microfibers into your water.

THIS IS WHAT EVERY PAIR OF YOGA PANTS ALREADY DO. Anything made with synthetic (plastic-based) fibers sheds plastic into our water.

This needs to stop. We all need to get all plastic fibers the heck out of our wardrobes and our lives.

This is one of the only areas where I won't say the easy fix is to buy recycled or used. Neither solve  plastic pollution. If anything, they make the problem more impossible to solve. 

So how do we do it? And what should we look for. And most importantly, do we have to give up yoga pants?

Before we go further, let's learn about our fibers:

Polyester- Oil-based, PLASTIC
Nylon- Oil-based, PLASTIC
Spandex (also known as Lycra or Elastene)- Oil-Based, PLASTIC

To be clear, STOP buying anything made of Polyester, Nylon, or Spandex. If it is another name you don't recognize, just look it up. Anything that is oil-based is literally garbage.

So are all synthetics out? No! I have good news- some synthetic fibers (and yoga pants) still have a relatively positive (and low waste) impact.

Rayon- Wood fibers, considered a "semi-synthetic"
Tencel- Made of Eucalyptus Trees, sustainable practices
Viscose- Made of Trees, larger impact then Tencel, but still pretty great
Modal- Made of beechwood trees from sustainably farmed forests. The yield is twice as high as cotton; I think modal is a fabric of the future.

So, your new mission is to look for organic fibers like cotton (also linen and hemp) and "semi-synthetic" fibers in the rayon family like tencel, viscose, and modal. Get plastic out of your pants.  At the very least you should keep those fibers to a bare minimum.

Ok, this is a lot to take in and might seem hard to apply. It's not. You need to just start reading tags. On Thred Up, you can read the list of fabrics on the website to avoid all the plastic-fabrics (plabrics?).

Well, the answer is mostly. Average stretchy pants are 80% or more plastic-based synthetics. I found plenty that are around 10%. So much better, but I am going to update this post someday with perfectly green yoga pants. Until then, pretty dang green pants is the best we can do.

I am going to show you some yoga pants/leggings. The holy grail of stretchy synthetic goodness. This is a case of looking for a better option until the best (completely plastic-free) option comes around. But we can all still do a heck of a lot better.  To compare, an average pair of sports leggings you would get from the gap is 75% polyester and 25% spandex. 100% synthetic fibers!

Let's do this!

Blue Canoe

Blue Canoe is an amazing resource for American-made organic clothing. Their yoga pants also look soft and natural, instead of that shiny synthetic stuff. I dare you to poke around this website- you will be kicking yourself for buying your active basics anywhere else!

Percentages- Most of their yoga pants and leggings are 87% organic cotton and 13% spandex.

Hyde

This awesome brand makes their leggings and yoga pants in the US, and they use organic fabrics. They have a lot of the basics you will be looking for too, so you can keep it simple and functional.

Percentages- 87% organic cotton/ 13% Spandex

Lily Lotus

This fashion/spa brand sells yoga pants and activewear that focuses on natural, not synthetic, materials, with the tagline that what we put on our bodies is as important as the things we put in our bodies. They do lots of dying, so these are really unique as well.

Percentages- 90% organic cotton/ 10% spandex or 92%bamboo/ 8% spandex

from Inner Waves

Inner Waves

This family-owned and woman-led company makes all of their clothes in the United States with eco-conscious practices. They also donate some of their profits to a Yoga Give Back foundation, which brings yoga to underserved communities. One of those companies that I want to switch to the more I research about them!

Percentages- 90% organic cotton/ 10% Lycra

Pact

Both ethical and affordable (no, really!), this holy grail for eco-shoppers sells paneled leggings and a strechy pants.

Percentages- 92% organic cotton/ 8% Elastene

Prana

This company is probably the most well-known eco-friendly activewear company. They have tons of yoga pants choices. They have earned their acclaim, and their sustainability practices are really excellent across the whole supply chain. They also have a wider variety of sizes than both of my choices.

Percentages- The Leda Pant is 53% hemp/ 42% organic cotton/ 5% spandex. Not all of them are nearly as plastic-free, so be sure to check.

from Satva

Satva Sustainable

There is so much to love about Satva and their commitment to sustainaility, from their organic materials to their ethical practices. I love their partnership with Suminter India Organic; this co-op in India uses all sustainable practices and fair labor.  And some of their fabrics have the highest natural to synthetic ratio I have seen! So much good being done here, but keep an eye out, because some of their clothes use the recycled bottle fabric we now know is not much good for the environment.

Percentages- These leggings are 95% Cotton and Modal and only 5% Lycra! Most of the leggings I saw are the same, but always check.

from Soul Flower

Soul Flower

This online shop sells two brands of yoga pants- wishful thinking and their in house brand- that are made in America, use 87% natural fabrics, and low-impact dyes. These are really green options.

Percentages- 87% organic cotton/ 13% spandex

Woo hoo! Doesn't it feel good to have a place where you can easily do better? These brands are awesome, most aren't particularly expensive, and you can do so much good by simply working those synthetic fabrics out of your life!

from VintageUSSRera

The thing about clothes hangers- you always either have way too many or not enough.

When you are going through your closet, purging that clothes you don't use and someone else could be wearing, you will probably notice you have too many hangers. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT take this as an opportunity to go shopping. You have enough clothes, Friend. That hanger may need some clothes on it, but not yours.

Hangers seem about one step up from plastic bags or anything in your junk drawer, but they actually can all be reused. Never throw a clothing hanger away, unless it is broken beyond repair. Goodwill mostly does not accept hangers, so this one takes a little more thought, but it is still do-able.

But how do you get rid of them?

Offer them on Buy Nothing (or just out to your friends on Facebook). Someone in your neighborhood definitely needs those hangers. If you have a Buy Nothing Group, offer it there. If you don't have a Buy Nothing Group, get on the project's page and find one in your neighborhood or start one! If Buy Nothing isn't the answer for you, I have a simple solution. Write this as your facebook status-

"I have a bunch of wire/plastic/wood hangers, does anyone want them?"

I can guarantee, from personal experience, that someone will. I just posted this for my Dad and his wife, and those things were claimed in less than an hour. I am telling you, your neighbor needs hangers.

For Wire Hangers, Take them to the Dry Cleaners. Most dry cleaners will accept wire hangers as long as another cleaners' logo isn't on them. It's so fast and easy, and you know they will get more use. If we all did this, we could keep so many hangers from being made.

If the wire hangers are totally past the point of usefulness, they can go in metal scrap recycling.

For Plastic Hangers, check with local shelters, nursing homes, and hospitals. They usually need hangers and can take the donation from you. Just call around, but I bet it won't take long before someone happily claims them.

If you donate clothes to a thrift shop, check with them as well to see if you can donate hangers there.

Lastly, check and see if any re-use companies like JDM Sorting are nearby (eco-cycle has a nice guide for the Denver area- check if something like that is at work where you are) . They sell used hangers to clothing retailers to cut down on waste.

For Wooden Hangers, pat yourself on the back for being so dang fancy. Then I would check with your school or daycare facility, because they often need hangers that are hearty enough to face a lot of daily wear.

This one is so easy, and I hate to think of how many hangers have landed in a landfill because people just didn't know their options. You never have to send another hanger to the trash, because they all have use somewhere. Just not your closet. Seriously, embrace your progress- do not buy more clothes!



The Great Donate is on! Can you donate, gift, or recycle 2,018 items out of your house this year? The average American household has 300,000 items in it- who needs that much? No one, but there are lots of people who could use what you have sitting collecting dust.

Check out the Great Donate main page for more suggestions on what to donate and where. You will save money (by knowing what you actually have), free up space, and save so much from going into a landfill.

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

When I think about donating, the first thing that comes to mind is a big bag of clothes. Since we are trying to get rid of 2,018 items per household, I bet our closets are going to take the biggest cut (it's amazing just how much stuff is in there)! Cleaning out the closet can be at a great place to start-

Some of this clothes is still in good shape and could be sold to a consignment store or somewhere online like Thred Up.

Some will head right to Goodwill or Salvation Army or your donation spot of choice Think about putting socks, coats, and hats to good use by donating to a charity for the homeless. They always need warm clothes.

Some might be special to you, so it might be better to put it on Buy Nothing so you can meet the person it goes to.

But then there is that other stuff. The stuff that looks ROUGH. Old undershirts. Jeans that are ripped to shreds. Sweaters that are unraveling or have holes. Anything with stains. And then there's the unmentionables. What the heck do you do with that stuff?

DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. Please, I love you, friend. It may look like trash, but it isn't. The average American throws away 65 lbs of textiles a year. This is where that comes from. Don't add to the pile. Those things may look dead, but they have life left. Here's how:

Re-Use it Yourself

 Alright, I know this won't help that 2,018 number, but why buy rags when you have old t-shirts? I kid you not, we use old underwear and partnerless socks for cleaning, staining furniture, as paint rags. A piece of clothing still has life if you can clean the crap out of something with it.

Puppies! 

Animal shelters can use your worn out textiles, especially warmer things like sweaters and blankets, to use as pet bedding. Not every shelter accepts them, so call and ask first, but your nasty old clothes might be just what they need to keep their animals warm.

Donate it to Goodwill Anyway

Most will take it (not all, be sure to check). They also will take unusable clothing. First, it might get sold in bulk at one of their auctions. Otherwise, they will be donated to textile recyclers who can still make money off of them.   Goodwill keeps things out of landfills if they can. Just put the embarrassing stuff at the bottom of the bag; no one will know it was you.

Look for Textile Recycling Near You

American Textile Recycling Services has drop off locations. You can even use the Council for Textile Recycling to find drop off locations nearby. Textiles, like most other materials, can only be recycled a finite number of times, and it will be more brittle each time, but the reused textiles can still be used for carpets, car insulation, etc. The more life each piece of fabric gets, the better.

So even your junkiest, jankiest old clothes could still be of use to someone. And getting rid of that stuff can be one of the best ways to clear out clutter in your home. Do not throw it away!



The Great Donate 2018is on! Can you donate, gift, or recycle 2,018 items out of your house this year? The average American household has 300,000 items in it- who needs that much? No one, but there are lots of people who could use what you have sitting collecting dust.

Check out the Great Donate main page for more suggestions on what to donate and where. You will save money (by knowing what you actually have), free up space, and save so much from going into a landfill.

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

This week, the Bubs and I walked to the mall for a quick errand, and we ended up there long enough for a soft pretzel (I love you Wetzel, pretzel genius) and some poking around the stores.

Wow, that was depressing!I mean the pretzel was delicious, but wow the stores were crappy!

It feels impossible to find anything that isn't sewn or made in another country with really sketchy labor standards. The Gap doesn't have one good option. Not one. If you are buying from the gap, you are endorsing unethical labor. Neither does Loft or JC Penney. Don't even get me started on Forever 21. It has all traveled a long way so we can get cheap clothes, made poorly, and that costs our ethics and environment a hell of a lot. 11 million tons of textile waste goes into landfills and the water each year. In our recent history, many people have died due to the unsafe working conditions of factories that make clothes for Walmart and others. This is everywhere, and it is a huge problem. And when you walk into these stores, it feels like there is no way around it.

No wonder so many people give up! If every option is terrible, why even try?

Here's why: good options do exist. And we live in a magical time of the internet, where in the time you read about my Wetzel's pretzel (seriously, way better than Auntie Anne's- those ones are too greasy), you could already have bought yourself ethical underpants. Found them, browsed them, BAM! Ethical underpants.

Hundreds of stores, online spaces, and companies are out there improving fashion- it's a huge movement. People don't want to buy clothes that wreck the environment or enable the gross mistreatment of other human beings (and for good reason! Can we as Christians support this? How about just as citizens?). There's a market for slow, ethical clothing, and so many people are returning this call that two weeks in, I am still discovering new options every time I research.

In short, don't let places like Kohl's or The Gap fool you- you don't have to buy their crap anymore. You can get ethical clothes, organic clothes, fair trade clothes, and made in America clothes at every price point in every style. Don't believe me? Well, get ready for a fashion list of biblical proportions (this thing is LONG). Not enough for you? This blog is also compiling the list to end all list of American-made brands for anyone who likes feminine stuff.

Before we get too far into this, let me point out the (sort of) obvious-

The most eco-friendly thing you can do is buy significantly less. 

Make what you already have work. Find a tailor and finally use the stuff sitting dormant.

The most eco-friendly things you can buy are USED.

 It is also the cheapest possible option, so yelp consignment stores near you and check them out. It's way more affordable, has usually traveled very short distances, and creates no new waste. We may have grown up where shopping at places like Goodwill meant you weren't making ends meet, but now shopping secondhand just means you aren't a fool. I have a list of great online sources for secondhand clothes, so if you don't have good shops near you, you can still shop secondhand.

You don't even have to buy it! Share clothes with your friends or join an amazing group on the Buy Nothing Project. Learn to sew or find a tailor and you can turn someone else's trash into something amazing (check out Refashionista if you need inspiration).

Now, sometimes certain things are more difficult to buy used or you have a particular piece you need and don't have the time to comb consignment stores. It happens. If you are going to buy something new, consider supporting companies that are making their clothes in ethical, responsible, and environmentally-friendly ways. Here are the priorities I am thinking about:

Made in America (or Local to You)- The United States aren't perfect, but if your clothing is made here, you can feel certain that the person who made it was paid reasonable wages. That they weren't children, and their life wasn't in danger because of the conditions of the factory. Also very important, clothes made in the US have traveled much shorter distances than those made much further away, which means they used significantly less fossil fuels. Lastly, you worried about America? Want to make it great? Stop sending all your money to other countries and invest in quality pieces made here. Every dollar that stays in America is a vote to improve our culture and economy.

Fair Trade- Fair Trade is a growing area of clothing manufacturing, where the workers are paid much more than they would at other companies (sometimes working in co-ops) and work in much better conditions. These companies often take the form of some kind of social action and often employ and empower women. I think this is awesome, and often if they are socially-conscious, they are keeping the environment in mind as well. Another way to make every purchase count.

Eco-Friendly Clothing- Some companies focus on using all organic materials or using clean energy in the manufacture of their duds. Awesome. I'm in.

 Minimal Synthetic Fabrics- You know what those synthetic fabrics are made out of? Plastic! It is freaking everywhere, and it creates a ton of waste that won't go away. In fact, synthetic fibers travel out our washing machines into our water sources, poisoning everything we drink and eat. Yes, it is that terrible. Don't buy synthetic fibers.

This blog does use affiliate links for Amazon and Etsy, so we make a tiny bit of money if you shop from either of those sites. That being said we have no loyalty to Amazon, when you can buy local, buy local first. 

Alright, so this one is LONG (please forgive the mostly short descriptions, but otherwise we will never make it through), but the next time you are thinking about clothes-shopping, promise me you will poke around here first. Because you have so many options.

 Because Old Navy might be cheaper, but it's because they are doing wrong, do you really want to invest in that?

Here's the list of over 50 options. I aimed it at women, but many of the brands make things for both genders; if you want more hot tips for USA-made men's clothing, you cannot do better than A Continuous Lean. Men always have a good option! I starred some of my favorites in case you need to start somewhere. For Women, we have our own take on The American List here!

All American Clothing Company (USA)- Pants, Lounge Pants, and Tank tops all made in the USA.

All USA Clothing (USA)- This site, as you may have guessed, sells all made in America clothing! Lots of choices, mostly very affordable.

*American Giant (USA)- American Giant got on the national radar a year ago for their amazing hoodies, which had a waiting list for quite some time (they seem better prepared for all the orders now). I bought the boy American Giant sweatpants for Christmas, and he loved them. American cotton and American Workers.

Baldwin Denim (USA)- Based in Kansas City (how cool is that?) this denim company is cool, clean, and modern. Yet I will still wear them, and I am none of those things. Well done, Kansas City!

*Blue Canoe (USA, EF)- Eco-conscious clothing made in the US. I think they have gorgeous pieces (bottoms, tops, dresses, and lingerie) that are really figure-flattering and stylish. Everything looks comfortable and soft as well. Check them out and consider trying a piece on sale, which is around 20 bucks.

Clothes Made from Scrap (USA, R)- T-shirts made from recycled cotton and recycled pop bottles. Before you feel weird about it, think about all the synthetic (plastic-based) fabrics in your wardrobe. In fact, I bet you could find some bad news just by checking the tags you have on (unless you do your blog reading in the nude, in which case, more power to you! Way to reduce!).

Do U Speak Green (R, O, FT)- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, this company makes t shirts and other clothing out of organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled fabric. It's testing materials are biodegradable.

Eileen Fisher (USA, FT)- This company makes their clothes in the US from fair trade fabrics made in Peru. Sharp, clean, and modern. Looks like what Audrey Hepburn might wear now if she were around and about 10 times more badass.

Elegantees (FT)- Elegantees hires women who survived being sex trafficked and are now free in Nepal. The goal is to reduce these women's -9*/89+vulnerability by battling poverty in Nepal. Their tops aren't just plain t-shirts (though they do have thse), but they have a wide variety of tops to buy. Who would have thought buying a t-shirt could be social action?

Emerson Fry (USA)- Minimalist clothes with some play ith volume.. Simple colors. Perfect for a capsule wardrobe? Most made here, and when it's not, it's well-marked and fair trade,

Esperanza Threads (USA, O)- This company started (in Cleveland, Ohio) as a response to sweatshops and the horrible state of fashion manufacturing. They sell t-shirts and sweats (as well as towels). Simple and clean look.

The Ethical Silk Company (EF, O, FT)- The Ethical Silk Company was started when its founder realized that they boil the silkworms to get the resource. Ugh! That is horrible! Instead, they use Ahimsa 'peace' silk, which is made with an eco-friendly process where no animals are harmed. They use a fair trade source in the Himalayas and manufacturer in Jaipur. 5% of their proceeds go to preventing homelessness and supporting centers where their clothing is manufactured.

* Eva Franco (USA)- Franco, a Romanian American, sells gorgeous and original dresses out of a Los Angeles factory. I have one Eva Franco dress, and I really love it. Well-made and interesting. Not basic, but very body-flattering. You can find her on Modcloth or at Anthropologie, among many other places.

Everlane (T)- This company has a minimal, modern aesthetic so they are about as on trend as anything on this list. They are also all about supply chain transparency, so you can actually look at their map and see where the clothing comes from. They make it onto a lot of ethical lists (and are also beloved because they sell really high quality clothes online only, so the prices are much better), but honestly, I am a little skeptical. They brag about being made at the "best factories" but is that the same as most ethical? Bright side is you can see exactly where each piece is made- t-shirts and belts are made in LA. I don't see them addressing ethics or the environment as a priority, so I might take this one with a big grain of salt. Better than nothing, but as you can see, other options abound.

Fair Indigo (FT, O, USA)- This site sells clothing items from multiple companies, but they have one clear mission, which I LOVE "create a culture of caring with every piece you wear." I couldn't have said it better myself. Lots of great stuff for Men, Women, and Babies and Kids. I love this company and their values (you can even shop by the values that matter most to you!), and I will FOR SURE be shopping at this site from here on. Great place to browse for yourself or for gifts.

Fair Trade Fashion (FT, EF)- This site sells a variety of companies and is a pretty big player in the slow fashion movement. Has everything from t-shirts to underwear, and I especially appreciate how concerned they are with waste and educating about fair trade labeling as well. Might be a good resource if you are just curious- you don't even have to buy anything! I have even been to their Seattle store, and it was filled with cool and practical things.

Go Travelwear (USA)- Simple, chic travel basics. Bring the US with you on your journeys (or just wear these anytime? Stylish and not wrinkly sounds like a win any day).

Good Society (EF, O)- These jeans, made in Italy, are made with 100% organic cotton and minimal environmental impact. Plus, I imagine that their European manufacture means every thread is super chic. I love the colors.

from Green Label Organics

Green Label Organics (USA, EF)- Sustainably-made t-shirts. They even have some eco-friendly messages! I couldn't resist this one.

Gypsy05 (USA, EF)- Gypsy05 is bohemian and colorful and the least lame tie dye I have ever seen. The heart of the company may be their swimsuits and cover ups but I think their dresses and tops are also gorgeous and summery, so I thought I would include them here as well. Every garment is dyed and manufactured in Los Angeles.

Hae Now (FT, EF, O)- These simple t-shirts and totes, for adults, teens, kids, and babies, are very simple. But they can be bought in bulk in needed and they are doing way more good than their Hanes counterparts.

Hempy's (USA, EF)- Hemp s a sustainable and gentle to the environment material- most of the products this company sells seem pretty butch, but I do like their t-shirts.

Here Today Here Tomorrow (EF, O, FT)- This London-based studio and store that takes a "holistic approach" to sustainability. They have a line of 100% organic, hand-knitted wool wear, which can be one of the trickier things to find, so even though they are in London, it might be a great resource. They work with a fair trade manufacturer in Nepal who also has a hardcore approach to keeping the water clean.

from Impression Purple

Impression Purple (FT)- This company uses traditional embroidery techniques to make gorgeous moden garments. Artisans in Pakistan create the clothes as part of the Ethical Stitch Program.

Indie Apparel (USA)- This site sells indie fashion designer items as long as they are made in the USA. Pretty wide variety, but some look really modern and unique.

Karen Kane (USA)- Since 1979, this company has been making "most" (??) of its clothing in their Los Angeles factory. Adorable designs that look like maybe one of those Southern girls who is always perfectly put together would wear it. Stylish but not overly edgy. Pretty. They also have a plus size line, which isn't as common (as it should be).

*M Rena (USA)- My favorite tank tops in the world, made in LA, built to fit all, and you can get long ones that I could never go without again. A staple basic in my wardrobe. You can buy them on Amazon as well- so easy!

Maggie's Organics (FT, O)- This company has complete transparency about every step from cotton plant to leggings or t-shirt. Mostly casual wear and socks, but everything looks very soft and comfy.

Margaret Winters (USA)- Factory right in New York. Loosey goosey colorblock sweaters.

Mata Traders (FT)- This clothing company has SUCH cute clothes- I really love the patterns and the dresses. They employ women in India and Nepal and are fair trade certified. They work with co-ops and try to end the cycle of poverty for the women who work for them, offer fair wages, and a reasonable work day. You can read all about it on their website. Pretty amazing!

Matter (EF)- This company talks a lot about empowering the communities where their travel pants are made, but I can't see anything that actually refers to them as Fair Trade. I also see an investment in eco-friendly materials and zero-waste manufacturing, but I can't find any official content or certifications. So do your research before you go this route. On the other hand, the pants are really cool.

Nanette Lepore (USA- mostly)- Nanette Lepore was one of the American labels (Zac Posen is another) that has committed to manufacturing at least some of their garments in the United States. Their swimsuits mostly aren't, but many of the bohemian and beautiful dresses are. A good switch in from many other brands that still only manufacture abroad (so if the clothes are that expensive, you have to ask what you are paying for if NOT safer and more ethical labor).

No Sweat (USA, FT)- One hundred percent United States Union-Made. One hundred percent fair trade materials. T-shirts and hoodies.

Nomad by Elroy (FT)- This company intends to maintain textile traditions that have been taken over by modern and industrialized manufacturing by buying their fabrics from small family businesses who continue textile traditions in various cultures. Elroy began as a economic development project in Indonesia, where the owner tried to employ locals to make clothing out of sustainable and upcycled fabrics.

Onno (O, EF)- This company makes their t-shirts out of organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo. They are also certified as carbon-free, which is pretty awesome. Their shirts are made in China, but their factory isn't shared and they strictly control the work day to be a healthy length with a real lunch break. That part is pretty cool.

*Pact (FT, O, EF)- We have lots of Pact stuff in our house- especially baby socks and underwear, and I have loved every single thing we have bought from them. They also sell simple clothing pieces like tshirts and a few dress designs. They are fair trade certified, use all organic cotton, and much is made sustainably (I especially remember reading on my The Bub's socks that they were made in a factory that used all wind energy. Super cool.

Patagonia (FT, USA)- This has to be one of the most mainstream stores on the list, and they have both Made in the USA t-shirts and a large selection of fair trade items. Perfect for hiking and sportiness and whatever it is that outdoorsy people do.

People Tree (FT, O, S)- People Tree has been a pioneer in fair trade fashion, and it has been in the business for 20 years. Most of these companies are pretty new to the game, so I was impressed. They invest in fair trade practices and are fair trade certified at every level of their production and were the first to have their cotton achieve the Global Organic Textile Standard at every level of their supply chain. They also minimize waste, don't use toxic dyes, and even travel their products in the ways which use the least fossil fuels. Plus, they have a lot of selection and I want to buy half their site.

Rachel Pally (USA)- Gorgeous dresses (including maternity and plus size, which they call white label) made in Los Angeles. Feels easy, not overwrought, yet it is still elegant. Also, super figure flattering in that way you find with clothing made by a woman for women. A good switch from something like Asos. Definitely steeper, but might be good for the right clothing. Could keep every wedding guest dressed for the rest of time.

Raven and Lily (FT, EF)- This woman- owned and led company employs 1500 workers at fair trade wages. They also won a B-Benefit Corporation (helping impoverished women improve and establish their livelihood, honoring traditional labor, and using eco-friendly practices). The owner also lives in a tiny house in Texas, which I think is a pretty fun fact. They also have some of the cutest pieces I have seen on this (LONG) quest for ethical clothing.

Royal Apparel (US, O, R)- Royal Apparel is owned in New York but manufactures their product (and therefore makes new jobs) in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. They use organic cottons, bamboo, and hemps as well as recycled plastic bottles.They have basic tees and tank tops for all ages. Their aesthetic reminds me of American Apparel, but less rapey.

from Shabby Apple

Shabby Apple (USA)- Shabby Apple sells beautiful dresses and swimwear. The company is owned by a woman and made in America, so it is a great option. In retrospect, I wish I had chosen something from them as a bridesmaid dress, but I think a lot of their dresses would work for much more casual events as well.

from Shelby Steiner

Shelby Steiner (USA)- Portland-based. Super modern, minimalist, and just a little bit Pacific Northwest rough chic (it's a thing, I swear to you). Also, the sheer badassery of this model makes me want to shave my head, and then I remember I am not a model or a badass.

SOS Tees (USA, O)- Simple organic cotton grown in Texas and made in Texas! Keeping the whole supply chain right under their own noses.

Skreened (1/2 USA, EF)- This company screens t-shirts to order and it looks the majority of the shirts are made in the US (the rest are "ethically-sourced" but not fair trade certified). They also contribute to a number of green initiatives.

Stop Staring (USA)- These vintage-inspired dresses are super figure-flattering and adorable. Another fashion company based out of LA (go Los Angeles manufacturing!) I tried one once, and I couldn't pull it off, but I bet you can!

Style with a Heart (FT, O, EF)- This website is cool because you can buy clothing items based on which environmental issues are most important to you (including recycled and vintage! YES! Not including made locally/ something by geography, but all in all, I'm impressed). They have 100's of ethical and environmentally conscious brands to choose from, so there is a lot here. So much in fact that it makes me feel sad that this War and Peace of a fashion list is only the tip of the iceberg. On the brightside, look at a website like this, and by the end, you will be sure you can go the rest of your life without buying one unethical clothing item.

Symbology (FT)- Lots of really interesting and fashionable clothing made by women in India and the West Bank. They also stress preserving cultural traditions, using traditional techniques from the region the clothing are made, empowering those techniques to continue to move forward. They also use a lot of beautiful prints. I don't see anything about environmental impact though, so I can't speak to that in this case.

Synergy Organic Clothing (EF, O, FT)- This company works with a factory of about 150 women in Nepal, who are paid a living wage and receive bonuses. They use organic cotton and low-impact dyes as well. Very committed to clean water, solar power, and recycled paper as well! Plus, their clothes are really cute, yoga and otherwise.

Sympatico (USA, EF)- This company mostly sells loose blouses made of hemp, so natural fabric and some of the shirts could look plenty stylish with the right outfit. And if your look is granola, they have nailed it.

Tarn (USA)- Super outdoorsy gear. Made in Colorado.They only do a few things, but by all accounts, they do them well.

Three Dots (USA)- Based in LA, Three Dots has a female CEO and creative director. Their central business are simple essential t-shirts, but they have clearly expanded into sharp classic dresses, skirts, and other pieces. Borderline preppy, but the kind of simple, smart, wearable pieces made with high quality materials that might be perfect for a capsule wardrobe. Classics.

* Velvet by Graham and Spencer (USA- not all)- Perfect replacement for where you buy your basics, this company sells tank tops, maxi dresses, jeans, the works (just make sure what you pick is, because they aren't 100% US manufactured).. Any kind of piece that you could buy at Gap, they sell here, but way more chic. Also sold on Amazon and Anthropologie.

That's it! I am never blogging again! This post will retire me forever. Ok, you know I kid- I am on a mission! But it does move slow.

So, if you want to green your wardrobe, follow these three steps:

1. Buy Less- We all have too much clothes! Set yourself a limit per season and see what you actually think is worth buying, rather than being an impulse or a hope it will work out. Also, I know I often have so much clothes that I forget what I already have; donate clothes down to a manageable size, and you can keep a better eye on it.

2. Buy Used- Your smaller wardrobe should be more than 50% consignment if you can help it. Look up your consignment options, and if something isn't important enough to be your one garment per season, or important enough to be worth the larger ethical price tag, it must be time to get it used.

3. Buy Ethically- Use the list here to find options that are better for your skin, your ethics, and your world. I love these brands and I know there are tons more.



Have a fair trade or made in America brand you love? Any good advice on greening your clothes? Leave me a comment and share this list! If you want more shopping lists (including shoes, make up, paper towels, post-it notes, and WAY more) check out the Giant List of Shopping Lists.

Secondhand shopping can save the world. Don't believe me?

The average American throws out 65 pounds of clothes a year. Overconsumption of clothing and fast fashion creates waste on newly epic scales- wasting fossil fuels traveling long distances, using unethical labor, adding to plastic waste because of it's packaging and microfibers, and adding to all of our hoards of stuff soon to be "throw away" (there is no away). Clothing is one of our greatest challenges if you want to be an ethical consumer.

That is why secondhand shopping is so important.
- It limits someone else's clothing waste, instead giving the item another useful life.
- It limits your waste, because it travels shorter distances, uses way less plastic (the tag vs. plastic baggies).
- It frees your conscience, because you know you aren't giving your money to a company that is destroying the environment or that mistreats its workers.
- It slows down fast fashion, helping you focus on what will last, not what is cool, cheap, and easy.
- It saves you money!

That's right! One of the greatest things about thrifting is that you will save oodles of money. People like to tell me they can't afford to be environmentally-friendly or buy ethical goods.

That is hot nonsense.

If we all started secondhand, we could save money toward buying ethical things when we can't find it used. But really, even if all you did was switch 50% of your yearly clothing purchases to be secondhand, you are already making a massive positive difference.

There is basically no downside to secondhand shopping for clothes. When they came up with "Have your cake and eat it too" they were talking about a glorious day of finds at Goodwill. A generation ago, it came with social connotations, but that generation was dead wrong and we can do better. The only big set back is that it can be intimidating and hard to get started.

So, friend. Let me make it a little easier.

A Few Quick Tips for Thrifting

Keep a List- It's a lot of stuff, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. But if you know what you are actually looking for is black t-shirts and a pair of overalls, that will eliminate most of the chaos.

Check your Brands- Usually caring about this seems lame, but when you are buying something pre-owned, you want to buy the stuff built to last. If you don't recognize a tag, look up the brand. Skip things like Old Navy, which are basically designed to fall apart.

Shop in the Fancy Parts of Town- No, seriously. Rich people donate their stuff too. You don't have to care if it is uppity, but if it is made well and will last, that's what you want. Don't have any fancy neighborhoods nearby? Let me introduce you to my friend Internet.

Get a Tailor- You can find secondhand clothing in a wide variety of sizes, but if you want to turn someone else's dud into your winner, the key is getting it tailored. People think "aw this doesn't fit" and throw it away, but an investment at a tailor can transform your whole wardrobe.

Dress for It- Secondhand shopping at a garage sale or even some stores may not have dressing rooms. Wear some leggings and a tank top, so you can try things on top of your clothes. Or just flash people. Do you.

So if you want to go in with a plan, you need to start figuring out what the heck you are shopping for. This is a huge change in habits, and it can be hard to know where to start. But friend, my bossiness knows no end, so I have some ideas of the kind of stuff you will LOVE buying used.

So, what are the best clothing items to get secondhand? Let's do this...

1. "Special" Clothes

For holidays, weddings, or other fancy or special times, we have that instinct to head out and buy a brand new, super special outfit for that event. I know I am that way. But, you go to a lot of weddings, and those dresses never get enough use, because each new "special" moment needs their own "special" clothing.

But what if I told you those special moments are the BEST moments to buy secondhand?

First, if you have kids, it is absolutely ludicrous to ever buy dress up or holiday clothes new. You can find great Halloween costumes, suits and ties, Easter dresses and so on secondhand. Because the last kid used it once and grew out of it. You save tons of money, and you can stress less (and let kids be kids).

If you are grown, you can find tons of gorgeous dresses and fancywear in thrift stores or on secondhand sites, because other people bought dresses and then only wore them once or twice. If that doesn't turn up anything amazing, check out Rent the Runway for gorgeous clothes that you can rent (or buy on extreme clearance). I have bought three of the nicest dresses I have ever owned on that site, all for 100 dollars or less.

I am all about really feeling beautiful in life's special moments, but you don't need to spend tons of money to do it. Save your money, go on more adventures, and have more special moments.

2. Plain T-shirts

You want a simple t-shirt? Plain or with stripes? You can always find some in your local thrift store or on sites like Thred Up. Filling your wardrobe with simple basics makes sense, but you can almost always get the exact same ones you would buy at J Crew, Old Navy, or the Gap secondhand for less.

3. Jeans

Right now, I am stuck in post-baby purgatory between my maternity jeans and my old jeans. So I finally gave up and went and got a few pairs of secondhand jeans. They aren't all perfect, but I already knew the brands I liked and basically stuck with that.

If you live in an area with large secondhand stores with lots of options, you could just buy secondhand jeans all the time. Simple and cheap. And it takes thousands of gallons of water to make a pair of jeans (no really, look it up), so you are doing a lot of good.

4. Jewelry

Fun game- go into any secondhand shop of any kind (Goodwill, fancy antique store, online, ebay, ANYWHERE) and pick out a piece of jewelry you love. I guarantee you can do it. Sure, sometimes you want something very specific or unique, but in general, if you love jewelry, you shouldn't be shopping new.

Every store has a jewelry section. Thred Up has 1,200 jewelry pieces right now. Etsy has (I kid you not) 2 million. In a city with no stylish clothes in consignment? Go check out the jewelry section and find something amazing.

Jewelry, in most cases, doesn't go bad, it doesn't become threadbare, it doesn't lose a ton of value. If you can find something beautiful secondhand, you are better off (and so is the world). There are enough jewelry pieces and wooden chairs in the world that no one would ever need to make a new one if people would buy secondhand. This may be an exaggeration, but not as much as you think. If you love jewelry, fall in love with secondhand.

5. Leather

Industrial cow farming is one of the key causes of climate change, so we don't need to add more trouble to the mix by buying a lot of leather goods. On the other hand, leather (when taken care of properly) LASTS. Years and years. So in the time you would buy 5 pairs of pleather boots, you are still on the first pair of leather ones. So much waste prevented when you can buy something once, not 10 times. The other big positive is that when you get secondhand leather shoes, belts, or other goods, you aren't continuing to support the overfarming of cows. Down with fresh leather- get the old stuff.

6. Sweaters

You want to stay away from certain materials (DEFINITELY stay away from synthetics- not great for your skin AND they shed microfibers into the water), but wools and leathers are meant to last a long time. Not every sweater will have a lot of life left in it, but take a close look and you might find a something that will last you years.

And don't get too stuck on gender nonsense either. Go check the opposite gender's sweaters, because the perfect thing might be a few steps and sizes up away. My favorite sweater for 10 years was my mom's, and then before that it was her husband's. Clothes for men are often built to last longer (yes, all tied back into sexism), so it can only help you to check what they have. Go find your sweaters in the men's section.

7. Current Trends

Ok, usually I tell you not to follow trends, because you want to buy things that are timeless enough to last you many years. Gosh, I am so bossy. Give it a rest, B.

But here's the thing. If you are going to get the most "now" stuff, you can put an original spin on it my finding a secondhand piece. Black florals? Also in during the 90's. Chokers? 90's. Basically anything that looks like Cher from Clueless? Totally current. Except also the 90's. Come in with a plan, and you can find the things that are in now with a little more retro flair and a lot more originality. Plus, if buffalo plaid shirts are already on their way out, how much do you really want to invest in them?

from mocassins direct

8. Purses

So you are one of those ladies who will stand in line for a Coach bag? No judgement (ok, I am judging you a little- they are not cute! The letter C is not that cute!), but why bother with the line or the prices? I count over 100 Coach bags on Thred Up right now. I also see Kate Spade, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. This is just one site.

If you aren't that invested in fancy brands (I'm right there with you), be sure to check out the bags near you too. There is just no reason to buy a purse new when so many great secondhand choices are out there (for so much less). My mom hates to waste money on purses, so I think I will buy her some secondhand from now on. Perfect for things like beach bags too, where you know they will get dirty. Just a perfect solution for life in general. 

9. Maternity Clothes

Always and forever. People use their maternity clothes for such a short time, so a lot of it is in near perfect condition (those first time pregos aren't even getting covered in that many bodily fluids). It makes no sense to spend hundreds of dollars on a wardrobe you will only use for a few months (maybe a year or two if you are turning out a lot of spawn).

Thred Up has a maternity section, but you can find things in local consignment stores for adults and kids(and Buy Nothing groups) as well. Our favorite kids consignment store has a maternity clothes section, and I think that is pretty common. You can save that money for college.

Want to go shop but don't need clothes? Try kids' clothes, holiday decorations, vases, kitchenware, wooden chairs (seriously, how does another tree need to come down when all the chairs are made?!?), toys (especially stuffed animals- just throw them in the wash), or picture frames. So many great options, you just have to muster some courage and get started!

So, are you excited to change up your shopping and change the world? I hope so! Embracing secondhand shopping can feel like a huge step, but you can do it! What are your favorite things to buy secondhand?

One wise woman said that the fun of thrifting is that you don't find your clothes, your clothes find you. When you go buy clothes at Target, you leave with the same clothes as everyone else who shops at Target, but when you leave a consignment store, you can find all sorts of things (including those target clothes for a third of the price) that you aren't expecting.

Thrifting came with a stigma in our parents' generation (like you had to be a charity case to wear secondhand clothes).

But our generation is doing things differently, and thank goodness for that. Here's why-

- Most importantly, secondhand clothes is better for the Earth. It keeps things out of landfills (the average American tosses 65lbs of clothes into the landfill EACH YEAR). It travels short distances, using less fossil fuels. And it comes in less packaging (did you know every piece you buy new has traveled in one of those plastic pouches? So much plastic waste).

-Secondhand clothes saves you money. That you can spend on plane tickets, or cool meals, or any number of experiences more memorable than a shirt.

- Secondhand clothes have less ethical baggage. The companies who import their clothes so they can have terrible labor standards won't get a penny of your money. If you believe in ethical labor, buy most of your clothes used to save money for quality, fair trade or domestically-made items.

- Secondhand clothes gets you out of the consumerist grind of fast fashion. If you are shopping secondhand, you are taking a peripheral approach to trends that change too quickly or clothing that wears out instantaneously. It helps you shift your paradigm about the value of a garment and what makes it great.

- Secondhand clothes allows you to cultivate a REAL personal style. Every mall carries the same basic stuff, keeps up with the same basic trends. Thrift stores have way more variety. Stepping away from the relentless changing of trends, you can think about what you WANT to look like, not what you feel you are supposed to.

Can you tell I think thrifting is the best thing ever? Because I do think that. A lot. 

Also perfect solution to staying stylish and eco-friendly? Renting and borrowing clothes. The sooner you shift your mind away from the assumption that you have to buy it new from the store, the more money you can save. Renting means you can get something high end for cheaper than buying something not nearly as nice.

The problem is, if you live somewhere with little or crappy thrifting available, you may be feeling a real shortage of thriftastic goodness. There may just not be much to see, and you will start to think secondhand clothes are mostly a waste of time. Thank goodness for the internet, because you still have nearly endless possibilities out there. You just have to know where to look.

Or, I can tell you. Here is a list of the best places to buy and swap clothes. Need it for a one time thing? A wedding or special event? I have lots of amazing renting options too. Let's get to it.

dress from Rent the Runway

Online Secondhand Shopping

Wants to be known for easy buying and selling, because you can just photograph the item and post it. Mostly I see sweatpants and lower end brands (please friend, skip the Old Navy unless you really love it. That stuff isn't built to last).

For Swapping

And Borrowing

Where do you like doing your thrifting? What kinds of things do you buy secondhand? Or, if you don't shop secondhand, why?