3 Ways to Avoid the Halloween Trap

It's that time of year when a million costume shops open, ready to take our money for one night. There are a few reasons why Halloween isn't my favorite holiday (I know, I'm a scrooge), however, the excessive waste has to be number one. October or, let's face it, the last few days before November are a scramble to buy outfits to wear once and then throw away. Save money, time, and resources this Halloween with these three tips:

 

Use/Borrow

Use what you already own or phone a friend. Little did you know there is an amazing costume waiting for you in your closet (or your best friend's). 'Decades costumes' are some of the easiest to pull together and recognizable too. Take the 80's for example; grab the overalls you undoubtedly have access to, white sneakers, a bright colored top, some statement jewelry, and BIG hair. Done, and you didn't spend a penny!

 

Thrift

Get creative. One of the most popular costumes year after year is a 1920's flapper. Skip the fringe (not really historically accurate anyway) and focus on sparkle, shine, silk, and maybe even some faux fur. Go to your local thrift shop and get all you need for the perfect costume. Got a shift dress? Some sequins? Pearls? Low heels? You're ready to flap!

 

Rent

Outsource it. You're desperate for something with all the bells and whistles, but not willing to put in the work? I get it. Find a costume shop, site, or house that will rent it to you! Renting is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easy.Stop stressing and check out Ursula's Costumes, Make Believe Inc., or your local costume shop.

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Got post-Halloween plans? Now you do! Join Beyond the Label on November 2, as they present their 2nd Annual Sustainable Fashion Show + Tell. Free, fun, and informative. See you there!

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SHE Day: LA

I had the pleasure of attending SHE Day: LA last week, hosted by She Changes Everything. SHE stands for Sustainable. Healthy. Ethical. The company is run by sisters Jennifer Klotz and Heather Young, who together are incredibly passionate about a holistic approach to a happy lifestyle. They promote the importance and power of community, specifically female-driven community.

I was able to attend this full day event, complete with an awesome goodie bag and vegan food, through an Elisha C. giveaway! I wanna give them a shout out for letting me have this experience, but also for the awesome work they do. Elisha C. produces ethical goods with Haitian communities, empowering and supporting these individuals. Learn more about them on their website!

Clay coffee mugs from Elisha C.

Bracelet made out of recycled cereal boxes from Elisha C.

Natural lemongrass soap from Elisha C.

We Are All Unique

The biggest takeaway from this all-day event was that we are all unique. Whether it is style, health, education, or background, we each have a different story to tell. As the world becomes smaller and more homogenized, it is important to remember the beauty in diversity. We are not all the same, so why are we trying to dress, eat, workout, or learn the same? Through social media and aggressive marketing, I’ve fallen victim to comparison, jealousy, guilt, and anxiety. I know that our society has started to become more aware of these issues, but it still takes constant reminders that we do not, and should not, be like everyone else.

As someone who is passionate about conscious fashion, I think that personal style is a perfect example. Through fast fashion, and the rise of technology, everyone is starting to dress the same. We’ve lost a general love for personal style and it’s killing our earth. The more we demand the same thing everyone else is wearing, and now, the more clothing is going to be produced under terrible conditions. Clothing has become disposable and personal style has faded away. There are no quick fixes to the myriad of issues in our country, but let’s start by falling back in love with what makes us unique!

Sassa earrings from Freedom Array

"Free to Grow" tote from The Tote Project

Some Highlights

Plastic-Free Tips

Heather Young shared a few alternatives she’s found for single-use plastic. A few years ago she realized she had a plastic allergy and had to completely change her lifestyle. Plastic is toxic for the environment and our health, so all the more reason to ditch it! Some of my favorite switches were stainless steel straws, polyester-free clothing, and coconut bowls.

Conscious Fashion Insights

Speaking of polyester-free, LA Beyond the Label was there! If you’re not familiar with the badass organization check out one of my recent posts for more info. Taryn Hipwell spoke for forty-five glorious minutes about what is in our clothing and how we can make better purchases for the world, and ourselves. #whatsinmytee?

Awesome Companies

From vendors to attendees there were some really exciting companies participating in this event. Some of my favorites are Elisha C., Freedom Array, Swap Society, Lucy & Jo, The Tote Project, Purpose Jewelry, and The Source Cafe. There are so many businesses doing great work and I feel lucky I got to learn more.

Even Cooler People

Arguably the best part of this event were some of the people I met and conversations I was lucky enough to have. There were so many inspiring women there whom I got to connect with. This little ethical and sustainable community is growing and I can’t wait to see what it can do!

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Make it Last: Caring for Your Clothes

One of my very first posts was a brief guide on how to care for your clothing and I wanted to revisit this important topic. According to Treehugger 75-80% of clothing's impact happens after items are purchased. How we wash and dry our clothes can actually make a huge difference! This week's post is filled with updated tips on how you can do just that. It can seem overwhelming but try to take baby steps- one small change at a time.

Washing

• Wash on cold! This not only saves energy but helps to keep colors from bleeding and extends the life of your clothes.

• Wash full loads and limit the amount of loads you do per week. Try one full load a week!

• Get the right detergent. Castile soap is fantastic for many things including hand washing. There's also The Simply Co. and Roux Maison.

• Speaking of hand washing- do it! It's simple and effective. The Simply Co. has a great video to get you newbies started: here.

Roux Maison detergent- buy it here.

Castile soap- buy it here.

Stain Removal

• Don't use bleach or regular stain removal. These are incredibly harmful to the environment and there are alternatives.

• Check out Bead and Reel's amazing break down of how you can get ride of different types of stains using natural products like white vinegar, lemon, and the sun. Yup, you heard me right, see for yourself!

Drying

• Hang dry when possible! If you have the time, hang dry everything. This prolongs the life of your clothes, avoids shrinking, and saves energy at the same time.

• Dry on low heat. If you are machine drying try the lowest heat possible.

Get a drying rack here.

Dry Cleaning

• Find a green dry cleaner. There are incredibly harmful chemicals used at most dry cleaning shops which hurt the environment and our health. Not to mention all the plastic wasted!

• Read the care label! Read labels carefully and discern if you can hand wash something rather than send it to the dry cleaners.

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In the Spotlight:

A relevant read for this week is Whitney Bauck's piece for Fashionista about a recent climate change panel discussion in New York City. A few brands and fashion industry professionals came together to discuss fashion's role in all of this. Read all about it!

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