Shopping Sustainably and Fashionably Go Hand-In-Hand, Here’s How You Can Have It All

Written by Kathryn Andes

With a push towards more sustainable fashion, the narrative of shopping has changed rapidly in America over the last few years. Corporate brands are becoming less relevant with their fast fashion practices, rolling out new collections every few weeks. And with the effects that COVID-19 has left on local communities and small businesses it is now more important and popular to support small businesses. Since 1992, DoubleTake has been driving the push towards a more sustainable atmosphere in the fashion industry. 

It is easy, fun, and attainable to incorporate luxury items and high fashion into your wardrobe. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and online storefronts have brought luxury fashion to the masses. But the fashion industry has not always been environmentally conscious, with some brands only making the fast fashion crisis worse through unethical sourcing of clothing and sending their surplus items to landfills. 

As early as the 1980’s, brands like Patagonia and Esprit first researched the negative effects of the fashion industry and created ways to recycle and upcycle clothing. Unfortunately, many fashion retail companies did not follow in their footsteps and are still rejecting eco-friendly options. As the trend continued, consignment shops became popular in the 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s with celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker wearing vintage dresses on the cult favorite TV show, “Sex and the City”. 

Shopping sustainably isn't the same as it was 20 years ago, but these timeless styles are trending again from the decade of slip dresses and matching scrunchies.  

Here are a few examples from our store that can help you pull off the Carrie Bradshaw, New York City chic look, while being a friend to the environment. 

Singers and actresses such as Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston also normalized shopping second hand. As we see today fashion repeats itself every 20 years and baggy jeans, platform flip flops, Nike sneakers, shoulder pad jackets, and hair scarves are all trending now, just as they were in the 90’s. 

Feeling inspired by Selena’s bold style of bright reds, dark blacks, rose prints, and bedazzled pieces? Check out our Kooples satin floral surplice midi skirt paired with our Christian Dior strapless crop top to help you live out all your pop star fantasies. 

And if you’re looking for the simple girl, Rachel Green look, grab this purple Theory skirt and this pink Rebecca Taylor silk tank top.

With the fashion cycle constantly circling back to popular looks, you can count on your trendy pieces that went out of style last year coming back before you know it. Hold onto your Longchamp bags, Gucci belts, and Dolce Gabbana hair scarves, because they will be like shiny new toys in the 2040’s.