Three Ways to Buy Feel Good Accessories

You hear me talking all about fast fashion and making mindful choices when it comes to purchasing and caring for our clothing. What a lot of people don't consider, or at least I didn't at first, was that our jewelry, scarves, hats, sunglasses... all the accessories, well, they need to be thoughtfully shopped as well. It can be hard to think about it all, really, but if you keep a couple of things in mind, you can generally make good choices and feel great about your purchases even if you're making them somewhat on the fly (one of my weaknesses!)

Accessories from Fatface, ethically sourced and created 

Find Brands with Values: If you do your homework, you can find the brands that have values. Those are the type of brands that I enjoy patronizing and will recommend to my people. Take FatFace for instance. New to the US, they take pride in taking care of their employees, customers and taking responsibility for their supply chain. They know where their products are made and where their materials come from. Similarly, I love Synergy Organic Clothing, Faherty, Tapered Collection and Zanni LA. If you poke around a brand's website, you can usually tell pretty much right away if their business is transparent. Also, don't be afraid to message brands on social if you have questions. You might just get a (good) answer!

There are also brands who will make a donation to charity for every purchase. Personally, I think it's great to be able to feel like your money is going to a couple different places; a brand that you love and a worthwhile organization. Take for instance, I found a brand at Wanderlust, I love Gurus. They have a sustainable mission and plant trees for purchases.

Shop Local and Handmade: When looking for a little something special, whether it be a gift for a loved one (or yourself!), I love to shop local and/or handmade. There's something so lovely about knowing that someone made something with their hands, especially for you. Shopping local ALWAYS makes me feel good because #1 you're putting money into your local economy #2 you can see the actually people you're supporting and #3 you might start getting hugs if you come back enough!

Some of my favorite creators right now are Kelly Horrigan Handmade (a Wanderlust discovery), Linkouture, always Salem Style, Wildflower Society, Papavier, Aniram Revah and Kathy Bransfield

Second Hand Shopping: If you don't have tons of moola, never fret my pet. There's always the opportunity to go to a thrift store, vintage clothes shop or consignment shop to pick up a little something new (to you). This is a great way to keep your footprint small, keep accessories out of the landfills and also, it's nice to give a second chance to something that just didn't work for another person. Seriously, I love to get a thrifty good deal! Pro tip: Don't be afraid to pick up a cool skirt or linens with a great print. You can always head on over to Pinterest to make your own scarf, headband or really anything, because Pinterest will leave you thinking you can conquer the world!

Vintage Costume Pieces Gifted to me

I think that if you make it your mission to be mindful, then in the very least, you're thinking about your purchases before you make them. I'm not perfect and being as blessed as I am, there's often the opportunity for me to make an impulsive purchasing decision which I then make a squished disappointed face at myself... but there's something to be said about making that "fast" purchase last for a very long time, which I make it my goal to do!

Do you have any tips on thoughtful shopping? What brands resonate with you?