Popping Tags for 2022
Four ways to refresh your look -the Master Recycler way.
I need inspiration! How is it we are back in our isolation bubbles? I haven’t dressed for success in ages. Time to invest in a new look -just because.
1 Shop the closet. What’s in there? Can it be repurposed or mixed with newer clothes?
When I was a kid, my mom would rotate toys. Whenever we got bored of a toy, she would pull something out that she had stowed in the closet and it was exciting all over again. We loved it when it was time to visit the closet! I’m only a little embarrassed to say that that technique is working for my adult self, as well.
2. Throw a virtual clothing swap. (Yes, this one counts as Master Recycler hours.)
Set a date and send a link to friends, neighbors, family, and coworkers. Take turns showing swap items. At the end, folks tally up who has items to exchange and how they will drop off or pick up their items (Porch drops make it contactless).
3 Repair and retrofit your clothes.
Half of my favorite clothes are sitting in a pile waiting for a repair. They’ve been in there so long they would now classify as a retro look!
The other half of my favorite clothes are a size that fit 20 years ago. I know I’m not alone. DEQ surveyed Oregonians and 65 percent said they get rid of clothes because they don’t fit. Mine just sit in the closet waiting for me to be 20 years younger. I’ve had some luck in alternations. It’s amazing what the dry cleaner at the end of my street was able to do to help me get my favorite dress back.
You can go the DIY repair route -maybe even hold a virtual skill-share party. Repair PDX had one on zipper repair.
Or you can ask for help. The Portland Repair Finder has listings for clothing repair shops all over the region.
4 Shop Resale.
I’ve been popping tags since I was a kid, and I love the treasure hunt. But resale has come a long way. If you haven’t tried it in a while, you might find that reasons you hated resale has been addressed.
It used to be hard to shop for plus sizes, but some consignment shops now specialize in it.
Maybe you rely on the quality or fashion in a brand name. It is worth taking a minute to google your brand and ‘resale’. From fashion shoes at Fluevog’s Fluemarket to adventure wear at Patagonia’s Worn Wear, many respected companies now have resale options right on their websites.
In person shopping was wanning long before Covid, but that hasn’t slowed resale. The RealReal sells authenticated secondhand luxury clothing online and Poshmark, is a virtual platform that allows people to buy and sell used clothing, shoes, and accessories. The Renewal Workshop , based out of Cascade locks, takes fashion company discarded apparel, repairs them and then sells them online. Maybe you have a favorite you can share in the comments.
Some hopeful predictions say that Omicron is going to peak and wane quickly. I wish each of you and your loved ones a safe January and look forward to seeing you in the spring -possibly with a new (to us) Look.