4 MUST HAVES for a Stylish & Sustainable Wardrobe!

When you support sustainable and ethical brands, as a consumer, you often pay a premium price for their goods and services. As a conscious-living individual, you would overlook this relatively higher financial cost as you place a much greater worth on how these businesses operate responsibly, taking into account their social and environmental impact in the way they operate. As much as we want all of our clothing to come from local shops that make sustainable clothing using eco-friendly materials, the reality is, we are students who have limited shopping budgets. At this point in our lives, financially, we cannot afford to solely shop clothing from sustainable businesses, just as how we cannot afford to only buy100% organic food.

So, one way to make up for this is to buy clothing that can be mixed and matched with various different outfits. You want a piece clothing that is as versatile as possible so that you wouldn't need to buy more pieces, and you actually get tons of use out of that item. This way, you don't only save money, but you also produce less waste. Shopping responsibly doesn't necessarily mean you exclusively shop at higher-end, ethical brands. Like we said, while that's the goal, it's not always feasible for every budget or lifestyle. Just make sure that while you're buying to last.

We pulled out four of our wardrobe basics that are super easy to style!

1) Denim Pants

Nothing is more classic than a pair of jeans. Denim is super easy to style, as it goes with almost anything. You can pair it with any top or outerwear of any colour. Depending on the style and cut of the jean, it can be the perfect thing to make a look more casual.

If you're on the hunt for a pair of jeans, make sure you look for a pair that you really love, that's high quality and fits great. Remember, you want a pair of denim to last you a long time, and you want to be able to get many wears out of them. When it comes to denim, it's super important to make a pair last. It takes 200 gallons of water to make a single pair of jeans -- that's like taking 285 showers!

2) Bodysuit

Bodysuits are a great piece to have in your closet. What we love most about them is how effortlessly you can make your look seamless. No need to keep fussing with your top to make sure it's tucked in, it's taken care of!

A black bodysuit is especially useful, and cotton is a great textile because of its comfort and versatility. It pairs well with almost any colour, texture, or pattern. Plus, you have the bonus of being able to pair it with a skirt or pair of pants of the same colour, which results in looking like a dress or jumpsuit. This can be a great way to elevate your look and take it from day to night.

3) Black Dress

Everyone has heard a thousand times that a closet staple is an LBD... but there's a reason this is repeated so much! It truly is the easiest clothing item for any occasion. Try opting for a classic, simple cut, and again, make sure you love the fit. The simpler, the better, because you can dress it up and down with ease; taking it from a day at the office with a blazer to a night out with a more casual jacket.

4) Boxy Shirt

This top is really awesome for any look, because it's basically an elevated t-shirt. The simplicity in its design lends itself to tons of outfit variations. A neutral or jewel tone is great for this kind of shirt because it adds colour while still being versatile and wearable with any kind of look, whether it's business formal or super chill. Opt for a solid colour for easy pairings with patterns and accessories!

Buying responsibly by looking for versatile pieces that fit together with one another is great for the environment and your wallet, but on top of that, it makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier. You'll find yourself having less "I have nothing to wear!" days.

What are your favourite versatile go-to's?

We'd love to see them! Send them our way or tag us on Instagram with your looks!