My results showed that my Fashion Footprint was low and equivalent to 2.3 flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I roughly only contribute to 366 lbs of carbon emissions annually (77% lower than the average consumer). I am so proud of myself for these numbers because focusing on a more sustainable closet has been my focus for the last three years. I originally started this journey in January 2017 with the intention of learning how to buy better. I was tired of shopping almost weekly and still feeling like I had nothing in my closet.

Shopping sustainable fashion often gets labeled as being expensive or boring. I want to reassure you that it is not as difficult as it is made out to be and can actually cost you less in the long run.

Here are some of my best tips to help you start transitioning to a greener closet.

Shop your own closet

The easiest step towards a greener closet is right in your bedroom and costs virtually nothing. Take a look inside your own closet and really get creative with styling pieces you already own into completely new looks. I did this by taking out literally all of my clothes, piled every item I own on my bed, and tried to look at the clothing in a new way. Doing this refreshed my mental inventory of my closet. I also found clothes that would be perfectly styled with something newer in my closet. Doing this is a great little exercise to help you change up your wardrobe without spending money. It is also 100% sustainable and good for the planet because you already own these items and you're not buying new! Easy peasy right?

Start thrifting

This one step seems like the most obvious because it feels like the word sustainable and thrifting go hand in hand. It also sometimes feels like the more daunting step because not everyone is cut out for thrifting. That is perfectly okay! I get it, it takes a ton of patience and practice while digging through hundreds of racks. It can be discouraging to have an idea of exactly what you want in your closet and coming home empty handed because you didn't have any luck at Goodwill that day.

Luckily it's 2020. There's an app for everything, especially when it comes to shopping second hand.

My newest go to place to shop is ThredUp. The best way to describe it is a thrift store you can use from your couch. They offer such a large variety of popular brands and styles, it is almost impossible not to find something you'll want. I love ThredUp because it all ships from directly from the ThredUp warehouse. It’s like thrifting from your couch.

If you take the #FashionFootprint quiz on the ThredUp website and please send me your results!

For specific items, use poshmark!

I've recently become obsessed with Poshmark again for specific items that I'm looking for! For example, I saw a Brandy Melville sweatshirt that I really wanted but couldn't commit to buying it new from their store. Instead, I searched on Poshmark and found so many listings of the exact same sweatshirt. It is so much better to buy from someone who no longer wants the item instead of buying it new. The added bonus is that you can usually find it at a way cheaper price. If you have something specific you want, try searching for it on Poshmark! They have so much inventory you are likely to find what you're looking for.

You can use my code “LMKSTYLE” to receive $10 off your first purchase.

Use renting services

The renting clothing market is growing so rapidly! Over the summer I decided to finally give this idea a try. I tried the Stylist LA box which you can switch out items as many times as you want in this period as long as you pay the monthly fee. They have tons of styles to choose from for literally any occasion.

I found it most useful in the summer when I was going to Mexico, San Jose, and had a few events to attend. After my trips/events, I returned the items and got to pick three more pieces for the next thing I had that month. Having a rotating closet like this allowed me to always feel like I had new clothes, but when I was tired of them I could send them back in exchange for something new. I know this option can be a little pricey but if you have multiple things to attend in a month, try it!

I'm not going to lie, transitioning to only buying sustainably was not easy, especially because I LOVE fashion and mixing in the latest trends.It has been a journey to get here and even sometimes I am not perfect. Mixing in at least one of these tips into your normal life can make a huge difference in the fashion footprint you're leaving. I am so happy to see so many more people committing to shopping smarter in 2020!