"Fashion Stole My Smile"
How I got it back, plus five writers share their "buy less" approach to fall
During my career as a fashion influencer, fall was the season, and as a New England resident, it was my time to shine. It also marks the start of Q4, which in the influencer/fashion/beauty industry means, it’s go time. From September to December, it’s a cycle of trends, new product drops, and sales, on repeat.
It might not come as a surprise that eventually, I became incredibly disillusioned with, and exhausted by it all. And because I needed to figure out how to extricate myself from it, I stopped doing paid partnerships with brands, and I’m over halfway through a year of buying nothing new.
As the fall season approached, I could feel the urge bubbling up. I needed to scratch the itch, and I started looking online to shop for the season. It was probably the best thing I could have done, because it made me realize just how ridiculous the industry has become. Some of the fall “staples” I came across in my short time looking: a $150 cotton t-shirt (above), an $1100 plaid shirt jacket made with polyester, and $300 jeans.
For so long I was part of the problem, but I also truly believed that adding new things to my closet every season would give me something it could never deliver, happiness. The fashion and beauty industries are really good at selling the fantasy too.
The problem is, if we continue consuming at this rate, there won’t even be a fall season anymore. The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions, and climate change. Approximately 60% of all materials used by the fashion industry are made from plastic, and when 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year, that doesn’t bode well, for anyone.
And if all of this sounds like kind of a downer, that’s because it is. And it’s also kind of the point. It can be comforting to ward off feelings of anxiety and despair with a quick hit of dopamine when we shop online, but that feeling never lasts, and neither do the clothes.
We can’t individually solve these complex problems, but the average consumer buys 60 percent more than they did in 2000, and keeps it half as long. The fashion industry churns out billions of tons of waste to meet consumer demand, and the beauty industry isn’t any better.
Fashion should be fun, and I’m all for people expressing themselves through their sartorial choices, but maybe there’s a better way? At the risk of sounding sanctimonious, I can say that it is enjoyable (and easier) to shop your own closet instead of trying to chase down every “trend” the fashion industry churns out. And it’s also fun to find things vintage and secondhand. I recently shopped for a pair of jeans because mine are too small. With a discount code for ThredUP, I ended up getting a secondhand pair of Frame denim for $32 (retail is over $200).
If there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that the more I recognize and accept my inability to control much of what’s happening around me, the less I feel the need to buy/acquire more things. It might sound boring, but it’s actually quite reassuring. There’s something profoundly comforting in enjoying what you have, and knowing that you can’t shop your way into a better life.
On that note, I asked some of my favorite writers to share how they feel about this season, and what they’re not buying (or not buying new) this fall. And if you’re not already, you should subscribe to every one of their newsletters!
Here’s what Rufina, Jessica, Clara, Dacy, and Hitha had to say:
Rufina of Totally Recommend
I’ve been getting a real laugh out of the fall 2024 trend list: brown and suede. Isn’t that the same old story every fall? So groundbreaking. This year, I’m avoiding buying a new jacket online—I prefer to try them on in person to ensure a perfect fit. It’s also less tempting to shop for brand new clothes when you’re on the lookout for secondhand or vintage finds. Plus, many older coats are made with natural materials, not polyester, which is a huge win. I scored a beautiful vintage brown (yes, brown!) London Fog trench coat secondhand, and it’s absolutely perfect.
One of the first stories I pitched as a freelance beauty writer was something like "How to Transition Your Skincare Routine into Fall." Oh, to be young and naive! At the time, I believed everything I'd ever read about toners and sheet masks in magazines, I was unhealthily obsessed with beauty products, and I was covered in acne and flaky patches of dermatitis. It took a few years of working in the beauty media to wipe the wool from my eyes (with a micellar water-soaked cotton ball). I saw how advertisers influenced content, how brands bribed their way into coverage with free foundation and press trips to far-flung locations, and how every gifted vitamin C serum I tried only seemed to make my skin worse and thought, Hmm. Something's not right here. When I shifted focus to study the science of the skin rather than the "science" of skincare products (very different!), I realized most people's skin needs next to nothing in order to function properly.
My routine has stayed largely the same in the years since: I cleanse with water and Manuka honey, moisturize with jojoba oil, occasionally spritz with rose water, and apply mineral SPF when outdoors. Simple, seasonless, effective. That said, it's true that colder temperatures can sometimes lead to drier skin. If I notice tightness or flakes pop up this fall, I'll reach for what I call "non-skincare skincare" first — i.e., all the non-topical things that support the skin's inherent functions. I'll make sure I'm drinking enough water (with electrolytes) and getting enough Omega fatty acids in my diet (crucial for retaining moisture). I'll make time for meditation (scientifically proven to strengthen the epidermis so it maintains hydration levels) and run a humidifier at night. Boring, yes. But so much better for my brain, bank account, and skin barrier.
This is actually a great question, because with the exceptions of books, which remain my emotional support crutch, I've definitely been purchasing a lot fewer things in the last few months. I used to care so much more about trends, and while that can be fun, it is also exhausting, especially as I've been increasingly disillusioned by most brands.
The last couple of years, I've found myself turning towards more of a uniform vibe (I refuse to call it a capsule wardrobe, mostly because it's not as organized as all that and I don't want to insult actual Capsulers™), in large part because my anxiety about life generally has manifested in decision fatigue, so having just a few pieces in rotation that I feel good in has been a lifesaver. Like, I'm sure my friends and family are tired of seeing me in the same five outfits, but it's made my life much simpler. Sorry, this is probably less Vogue, more my therapist's couch!
of Unflattering
Interrogate whatever the fashion industry says is the fall trend. Pop of red? A classic, not a trend. Sweater vests? A staple of professors forever. There is nothing new. Instead of just buying the new version of something, check to see if you already have it or find it secondhand (when possible, depending on body size or ability, secondhand shopping isn't always available). I love
’s content for this.Second: if you're not already doing this, store seasonal clothing. Even if you live in a temperate climate, store some of your clothes just to have the feeling of being reunited with them when the season changes. I actually don't even remember what I have for fall, but it'll be a delightful surprise to pull it out and be like, "oh yeah, I love this sweater!"
That's the last thing I'll say - it is so so important to know what you have before you buy anything for a new season. I see so often in clients' closets that they bought a similar item without knowing they had one already, whether because of an unreliable memory like me, or because there are simply too many things in their closet to easily see what they have.
Personally, I'm nowhere near ready for fall, and haven't done any wardrobe planning yet. It's 98 degrees here today!
of Hitha
Come August, I find myself daydreaming about a Gilmore Girls-esque fall that's remained a stubborn fantasy.
Oversized, steaming cups of coffee. Wearing that perfect chunky sweater without sweating profusely. Reading a profound, life-changing novel on a park bench as orange and red leaves flutter to the ground.
My reality is the polar opposite - chugging my tepid coffee as I run my kids out the door, sweating through my t-shirts until November, and looking wistfully at those park benches as my taxi zips me downtown.
Very online people and brands (both big and small) have made a lot of money in selling this fantasy, myself included. I've both been convinced and convinced others that we're just a blanket scarf/chunky boot/knit hat/berry lipstick away from the autumn of our dreams.
I hopped off this hamster wheel a few months back and spent most of my summer largely offline, eschewing the brat summer and 'very demure, very mindful' trends. Instead, I lived a messily beautiful few months where nothing went to plan and everything worked out.
That's the energy I'm bringing into fall and into this next chapter of my life.
My phone will stay at home when I go out for a walk. I'll dig up the Yeti mug I already own to keep my coffee warm. I plan on living in all the Kamala sweatshirts I bought 4 years ago (and mercifully still hung on to). I will, however, recommend everyone and anyone to buy a copy of my book We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris (every word still rings true, 3 years after publication, and I'm so proud of it).
I refuse to brand this mindset or season. I'm just going to live it.
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Loved this, thanks for having me!
This line articulates sooo well what I've been feeling lately: "If there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that the more I recognize and accept my inability to control much of what’s happening around me, the less I feel the need to buy/acquire more things" Wow!
People are always asking my skincare regime and I feel guilty to tell them it's doing barely nothing. I clean with micellar, wear sunscreen, and sometimes mousturize. I don't use any serums or eye cream or anything else.