a few thoughts on 2020 and beyond
Alright guys. Here we are nearly two weeks into the new year and I am finally sharing some plans and goals with you! I wish I could say that my tardiness was the result of me actually putting all these plans into action, but the reality is that I woke up on the first day of the new decade with a terrible cold, and have been completely useless since.
I have been sick the whole decade guys! And I am still not 100%, but I am going pretend that I am, because as you will shortly read I have a lot of shit to do this year!
I am planning on really fighting to make sure that this year I make all the things I want to happen, happen.
I want this blog to grow. And not just in terms of views and readership. One of my goals for this year is to earn something from Luxury Underpass. It doesn’t have to be monetary, but I want to have something to show for the work I put in.
I’m also starting the wheels turning on launching my own business later this year. It will be connected to this blog, but will also hopefully develop into a stand alone aspect of what I do. There are, of course, miles to go before its ready and I’m gonna be diving into learning a whole bunch of new skills to make it the best it can be. It is going to take a lot of time, but it is something I have always wanted to do. The more I talk about the plan, the more it feels like something I should be doing, so stay tuned!
In terms of fashion and you know, the actual blogging part of what I do, you can expect an even bigger push towards sustainable and responsible dressing. There has been a lot talk as we head into a new decade about just how damaging and wasteful the world of fashion has become. But there are a lot of people trying to go forward with a better outlook.
Dawn, who runs the Instagram account @dressing_dawn has started the hashtag #20in2020, where the goal is to add no more than 20 items to your wardrobe through the whole year.
To be totally honest, I’m not sure that goal is achievable for me, but I am being more conscious than ever about what I do buy. However having made it this far through the January sales with out making a purchase makes me think that #20in2020 is more doable than I originally thought. Like I said, I’m making a push towards this kind of shopping and thinking. I’m not ready to go cold turkey, but thinking about each and every thing I buy is a hell of a good start.
In a similar vein, Signe over at Use Less Wardrobe has an incredible and real life friendly take on creating a sustainable wardrobe. She’s started the #2020wehaveplenty hashtag, which focuses more on using what you already have and provides a list of ideas for how to responsibly shop for new items when you do. Most of her suggestions are things I already take into consideration, and I am definitely going into 2020 knowing that I do indeed have plenty.
Of course none of this means I am going to give up shopping entirely! (And there are already a pair of red boots that I am very seriously tempted by.) But guided by the rules I have already set for myself, and the genuine knowledge that I really do have enough, I think I can maintain the style standard I set for myself and not fall into the traps of fast fashion.
I’ll be sharing every purchase I make, both fashion and beauty, over on Insta stories so be sure to follow along. I’m also going to be chronicling my outfits each and every day over there as well. I want to stay accountable and show everyone what the possibilities are with a considered wardrobe. You’ll see what I’m putting together everyday and how the old stuff is working with the new.
I’m also kicking off the new year by taking part in the #itsfrommycloset20x20 challenge, which is basically creating a capsule wardrobe of 20 items to see you through the last 20 days of January. It’s a good reminder that the actual important part isn’t what you buy, but how you put it to use. And looking at the 20 items all lined up certainly drives home just how much 20 items over 12 months actually is.
(I’ll have a full post about that challenge up in a few days, so be sure and check back!)
I also have an ongoing list of items I am looking for. Things that would fill gaps I have identified in my wardrobe, so when I shop I already have a few items in mind that I know would work with my existing wardrobe. The flip side of this is that item you see and fall so instantly in love with you know it has to be yours. All I can say about those times is that when you know, you know. It is amazing and rare, and can’t be relied on for building a practical wardrobe.
And look, obviously we are not going to save the world through fashion hashtags on Instagram. But if they make you think, and challenge you to do some hard work and reassessment, they are no bad thing. It is not a perfect or easy path, but I’m hoping to prove that you can walk it in your own style, while still having fun. Because mostly I want people to know that fashion should be fun.
I’ll be launching a newsletter next week as a way to share some cool and inspiring things that don’t necessarily have a home on this blog. It’s also where I will be announcing my new business venture, so if you wanna know more about that be sure to get on that list!
I’m not a huge fan of resolutions or the whole new year, new me ethos. But I know that I have a lot of things I want to achieve and a new year seems a clean place to start.
