No New-New 2022 Challenge Reflection
Ok so if you follow me on Instagram you may remember that I set a goal/challenge for myself not to buy any new clothing items in 2022 (with the exception of underwear and shoes) and instead to either purchase secondhand, or work with what I already had in my closet. We’re well into 2023 already so I figured it’s high time I finally give an update on how the challenge went. Below I’ll share what I learned from the challenge and also share a few of my favorite thrifted pieces :)
What motivated me do the challenge?
First off, I know that “no buy” challenges are not for everyone and that we should support small businesses whenever we can. This was mainly a personal challenge for me that I personally took on for 2 main reasons: sustainability and budget. In a perfect world, I would have enough money to get my clothes from small businesses that I know are sustainable and ethical in their practices (seeing as fast fashion is destroying the planet and I want to be part of the solution, not the problem), but we don’t live in a perfect world and my 2022 budget was what it was, so I decided to take a year to focus on remaking thrifted pieces instead of buying new (with the hope that I’d be able to afford some nice investment pieces in 2023 with the money I saved).
How did it go?
It went great actually! During the first few months I still felt a bit of a pull towards clothes shopping and I did find myself browsing the clothing section of stores when I originally went in to “just look at shoes” lol. However, after trying a bunch of things on and realizing I was going to have to alter the pieces I liked, I was quickly cured of that urge. There was just no way I was going to pay full price for something I was going to have to alter anyway. Plus, there’s something about thrift shopping that feels like a treasure hunt and I certainly found some treasures this year!
What did I learn?
I learned a lesson that I keep re-learning over and over lol: PATIENCE. I keep a list of things that I want to add to my wardrobe, and of course I want them all NOW. But thrifting CANnot and WILL not be rushed lol. It doesn’t mean that you have to give up on the look you want, it just means you may need to find an alternative method to reach your end goal. I learned some fun ways to convert thrifted items into what I wanted them to be. For example, I made circle skirts out of tablecloths, turned a placemat into a stylish purse and turned a periwinkle boiler suit into a cute two piece set by adding in some pink fabric from my stash (see below).
So did I save a ton of money and get to buy a bunch of new stuff in 2023? Yes, to the first part lol. I definitely saved a significant amount of money by sticking to thrifting, but life comes at you fast and with inflation being what it is, the money I saved was promptly spent on necessities. I don’t regret the challenge though and I think more than anything I’m grateful for how it helped me hone in on my own personal style! Remaking pieces to feel more “me” is definitely a journey and I am SO here for it!!
Favorite Thrifted Pieces
Brown maxi dress - I’m obsessed with this dress!! It didn’t need any fit alterations, but I did fix a little hole that I found near the hemline.
Denim skirt - You can’t go wrong with classic denim and a white tee! I wore this skirt all summer long :)
Summer Dress - The colors are definitely what drew me to this dress. Love the pink and green!!
Periwinkle Boiler Suit - Definitely one of my favorite refashions of 2022 :)
Knit tank dress and jacket+skirt to duster refashion - I cut apart a skirt and attached it to a jacket made from the same material to create this duster.
Animal print bra top and ruffle shirt - I altered the ruffle shirt by shortening one of the ruffles to a length I thought suited me better. Shoes and purse are also thrifted. Jewelry made by me :)
Placemat to purse - I filmed the process of how I created this and posted it over on my IG. Click here to check it out.
Favorite Thrifters to Follow
I get inspiration for my projects from a variety of places, but these are a few of my favorite thrifters to follow. Check them out!!
BluPrint DIY - Angelina has so many beginner friendly tutorials on her channel! She has sew and no sew options for many different projects and her style is nothing short of fierce! There’s definitely plenty of inspo to be had.
Goodgirlsthrift - If you struggle with styling your thrifted pieces then you need to be following Shay! She serves up the LOOKS and you’re bound to find something you can recreate and put your own spin on.
Thriftntell - Looking to get the most bang for your buck with your thrifted pieces? Then definitely follow Iesha because she’ll show you multiple ways to style different pieces so you can stretch your thrifty dollar.
Coolirpa - With everything from cosplay to formal gowns and even a recycled chip bag, April’s channel is stacked with fun projects to try. Definitely check her out!