From iconic trench coats to low-rise jeans, fashion trends have shaped our style narratives. But can we balance trend-chasing with ethical slow fashion choices? Join me as we explore the intersection of sustainability and style, challenging conventional norms and embracing personal authenticity. This and other musings;

Cheering For The Classic Trench Coat

While many fashion girlies are currently breathing new life into the long, mid-season statement coat, these seasonably ambiguous jackets aren’t new. In my former life as a grad student in the aughts, I wore one specific Zara trench (a Burberry dupe, if you will), every spring and fall for close to a decade. It was of terrible, fast-fashion quality. Still, it accompanied me on numerous job interviews AND nights out at the bar, covering up my quintessential millennial uniform: a pencil skirt and ultra-tight blazer. #lagunabeach

As my style evolved, so has my appreciation for quality fabrics and ethical labour practises.

Thrift Stores and consignment shops enter the chat

I have always loved a good trench coat; they serve such an important role during the in- between seasons in Ontario and can be basically worn over anything from a tracksuit to a formal-wear. Purchasing second-hand has enabled me to source high-quality, vintage jackets made under ethical working conditions at a price point that I otherwise may not be able to afford.

Can You Really be a Champion for Slow Fashion and Sustainable Consumption While Taking Part in Trends?

Practicality aside, there is no denying the fact that trench coats are trendy. Can you be a champion for slow fashion and sustainable consumption while taking part in trends? This is not a rhetorical question, but something that I have given a significant amount of brain power to. I’ve been criticized for thrifting “trendy” pieces while simultaneously advocating for sustainability. Is the sustainability factor of shopping second-hand negated if one is purchasing pieces influenced by trend cycles and Instagram influencers? When does trend-focused dressing stop and innately derived personal tastes kick in? Could it be that there is a grey area where these two realities collide?

Here is my imperfect, slightly ambiguous stance on the topic: blinding adherence to trends without considering your own personal tastes, lifestyle and comfort levels is problematic. Doubly so if you’re supporting fast fashion brands in the process.

But there is a caveat; as with anything in life, we are continuously, often unconsciously, influenced. I am of the belief that our preferences and tastes are derived through a combination of innate style AND external influences.

Did I wear 2-inch long zippers on my ultra-low-rise jeans in 2005 because that was my own, personal preference? Or did I wear them because Britney Spears and Lauren Conrad were wearing them? Could it be that my reasoning was a combination of the two?

Think About the Motivation Behind the Purchase

Don’t spend time and money trying to adhere to a trend if you don’t like it. But on the same token, consider why you are drawn to something. Challenge yourself. View fashion and style as an art form. Take risks. Incorporate some trends and refute others. Don’t judge. Appreciate individuality.

And finally, if you decide to take part in a trend, consider shopping second-hand for it. For my fellow millennials, give yourself grace; we are recovering from a youth of dressing exclusively for the male gaze, where UNHINGED body expectations were placed on us at such an impressionable age. Don’t dress for the male gaze. If I have learned anything from Gen Z (aside from how to unlock a PDF and log into a VPN), it’s that dressing for men is not “it.” Whether or not something is “Flattering,” whether or not something “suits” you, your perceived sex appeal in clothing; these are manufactured concepts. We’re dressing for ourselves these days.

Want to learn more about how to shop the trends while maintaining a sustainable mission?

I go into depth about this in my blog Getting Started with Second-Hand High-Quality Fashion Brands

ready to invest in your slow fashion staples?

Shop Our Most Innovative & Sustainable Collection

Introducing a modular jewelry collection by Knots and Pipes. Inspired by a slow-living ethos, this capsule collection was designed to replace those seasonal, gratuitous fast-fashion jewelry purchases.