Why I hate to love fashion as a 20-year-old:

Happy Sunday! Another week done, and if like me you get paid weekly, another wage blown in two days. There’s always next week…

As a journalism student who wants to specialise in fashion, and wear Jimmy Choo’s to the office every day, there are many reasons why loving fashion becomes hating your bank account.

The main culprit? TRENDS.  Bane of my bank. I LOVE seeing people have their own take on Spring’s new colour and best believe I have a pair of leopard print jeans in my basket. But affording to keep up with trends? Almost impossible.

 You see the issue is, I pay £50.00 for a pair of jeans, for them to be over and out by July only to have been replaced with a £60.00 jacket. That’s £110 on two items of clothing that have seen me 6 months collectively.

As much as I hate to admit it, I am also an impulsive buyer, meaning something that’s perfect for my upcoming Saturday night out, becomes “why would I even buy that?” two weeks later. The secret to solving this? A capsule Wardrobe. I do not need a new outfit for every occasion.

The term “capsule wardrobe” refers to a selection of simple staples that can be mixed and matched to create different looks. Despite the term only just becoming popular, it was originally coined by London-based boutique owner Susie Faux in the 1970s. Faux owned a boutique called “Wardrobe”.

Now I’m not saying have one handful of essentials for the rest of your life, but to help save money, invest in simple, versatile pieces. This also helps towards sustainability.

If you do want a new outfit but want to stick to a budget, eBay, Vinted and Depop are all platforms used to re-sell preloved items for a smaller price.

It’s easy with social media to get hooked on trends, I myself posted a video of Zara’s trendiest items. Though it’s ok to treat ourselves and splash out every so often, the pressure of keeping up can make something you love, no longer enjoyable.

There’s no denying that we are conditioned as fashion enthusiast to buy new items of clothing and accessories, but it’s also no secret that it can get expensive. To help save your bank account and the planet, let’s try out a capsule wardrobe or buy second-hand a little more often.

Next week I’m going to post 10 essentials to have in your capsule wardrobe… any suggestions my Instagram DM’s are open!