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The most wonderful time of the year might be here, but working out what on earth to wear to the social events that are filling up our calendars is anything but…

After a year of staying home and doing nothing, most of us are excited at the idea of celebrating this holiday season. But if dressing for the office was a big enough challenge, how are we meant to dress for parties? Not to mention, how do we do it in a more sustainable way? It’s easy for your first step to be checking online for the latest partywear collections, letting the website curators do all the heavy lifting, and that’s a great starting point. But how often do we end up with outfits we actually love during party season? I’m talking about the things that' don’t require several pairs of Spanx, confusing bras, body tape and a partridge in a pear tree to strap you into.

5 Simple Ways To Shop More Sustainably

1. Shop Your Wardrobe

   After far too long of not needing “going-out-out” clothes taking some time to go through your wardrobe, try some things on and work out if there’s anything you can pair together, especially for more casual occasions.

2. Borrow Your Outfit

   Between your friends, family or rental services like Hurr and By Rotation there are probably plenty of options for you that don’t require buying anything new at all. If you’re sing a rental service then you can hire items at a fraction of what you’d buy them for, with plenty of designer items becoming automatically more affordable. If you only have a few occasions a year or you love to wear something different every time then this is a low-impact way to make a statement.

3. Shop secondhand

   eBay, Depop, Vinted and even charity shops can be a party wear goldmine because so often people only wear something once. They’re more likely to be in great condition, it’s a more environmentally friendly for those party-season favourites like sparkles and sequins and you can find a real bargain.

4. Buy Something Versatile

   Ok so say you can’t borrow something, nothing is taking your fancy on the hire sites and secondhand shopping just isn’t working out then maybe buying something new is the only option. Partywear is notoriously tricky if you’re trying to be more conscious and consume less because by its nature it’s hard to get the cost per wear down but try thinking about separates before you reach for dresses or jump suits. They’re far easier to mix and match, and often will be easier to get the wear out of for years to come.

5. Commit To One Look

   If you can’t find something really versatile to style in different ways then why not just commit to one look. Outfit repeating is totally fine and also great for the planet, plus it’s a quick way to get your cost per wear down. Find something you love, save money on buying lots of different things and instead really get your wear out of one item this holiday season.