Sustainable Style for the Holidays

A Swimsuit Reimagined for a Holiday Look with Ethical Fashion Brand Alyned Together

Over here in my sustainable fashion fantasy land, everything has a purpose- many actually. Although you might not be interested in shopping secondhand or the latest greatest sustainable fashion brands, you still can be sustainable with your wardrobe. How about restyling a summertime swimsuit to give your holiday party looks a sustainable upgrade? I am super excited to share a swimsuit reimagined as my favorite holiday look!

As far as I’m concerned, adding a spunky edge to your usual holiday looks does wonders as a stress reliever. Two things that give me so much joy are 1) taking the tradition out of the expected holiday attire, and 2) repurposing garments that would otherwise sit idle in your closet most of the year, such as your swimsuit. 

Fact: wearing red is an instant mood lifter.

When it comes to having a sustainable wardrobe, the best thing we can do for the planet is to wear our clothing for as long as we can.

My advice for anyone concerned about sustainability or their budget even is to extend the lifecycle of your prized possessions for as long as possible. How do you do that? The more we can repurpose, restyle, and reimagine the clothing we own, the more we will value it. The more we value our clothing, the longer we will keep it, love it and take care of it.  

Wearing clothing 50 times instead of 5 (the fast fashion average) reduces carbon emissions by 400% per item per year. (1)

You might think I’m nuts, but every purchase I make comes under strict consideration before I commit. I’ve learned to become extremely discerning with what I actually take home to my closet. 

It might sound like a lot of time and thought- and at times it can be- but it is extremely rewarding to know that whatever I decide to add to my collection is something that aligns with my values and the change I want to see in the world. I know I am going to make good use of it. I know I will love it, take good care of it, and wear it- a number of different ways, to a number of different occasions and I can pair it with numerous items I already own. 

Sustainable Shopping Tip: Purchase swimsuits that could be repurposed as an everyday piece of your wardrobe.

There are many ways to shop more sustainably aside from the obvious, such as secondhand and sustainably sourced and manufactured brands. By focusing on items that multitask in your wardrobe and that you can restyle and repurpose in different ways, such as this bathing suit top reworked as a crop, you are curating a very sustainable wardrobe as far as I’m concerned. 

Shown here is one of my favorite holiday looks that reinvents what is essentially a bikini top as a crop top. My favorite way to wear a crop is with a high-waisted skirt, which I feel makes it more age-appropriate. The featured top is made by Alyned Together, a brand that prioritizes body inclusivity as well as positive environmental impact through their transparency of sourcing and manufacturing. Their collection uses recycled polyester which eliminates the need to extract virgin fossil fuels, and they are currently working with textile scientists to develop an even more sustainable material for future collections. Stay tuned!

Alyned Together is offering my readers a generous discount off their entire site, expiring 12/31/18.

Get 15% off using code: WINTERSTYLE15

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Shown here: 

Gabriella Top in Cherry Red - Alyned Together 

Skirt - Goodwill

Shoes - Nordstrom 

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Happy shopping!

Get involved. Become part of the movement for a healthier, more sustainable fashion world. I believe that together we can change the face of fashion.

Wear what you love and wear what empowers you. Also consider where your clothes were made and who made them. Your purchase may empower the person who made them (or not).

Shop wisely. Every purchase is a vote. Make yours count.

*The items featured on this blog are what I consider sustainable fashion and/or are items I have owned for a very long time- which I would then consider a sustainable fashion choice simply for the longevity of it.

Thank you to Alyned Together for collaborating with me on this project. All opinions and styling are my own.

Photography by Emily Saunders