Minimal Means, Maximum Style. Frugality is the New Chic.
I think overconsumption kills personal style. I don’t think participating in every single trend is chic. Nor does spending beyond your means automatically deem you as cool either. Being an over-consumer and trend follower creates a cycle of an unsustainable and an unintentional lifestyle.
The feeling of wanting to fit in and be a part of the mass popularity is imbedded within all of us. Our wanting to belong, to follow the group, to fit in is a natural survival instinct.
However, being intentional and grounded is also embedded in us but can be overridden with the popularity and needing/wanting to fit in.
Trust me, in the past I was the one to spend way too much beyond my means in order to follow the current trends. I had too many useless items which just led to decision paralysis; and ultimately not knowing my own personal style.
I don’t know why, but I used to think that spending more equated to me having style and a sense of belonging. How silly. How silly and crazy that this concept still exists with the never ending cycles of social media and trends.
To me - personal style is intentional. It doesn’t have to be expensive nor trendy by any means. Honestly, I believe that most times intentionality goes hand in hand with frugality. And perhaps, not in the literal sense of what that sentence means.
See, although many people may deem frugal as being “cheap” - I see it as being thrifty and being careful of the choices you make when you partake in consumerism and deciding to buy a product.
The deemed definition on the internet literal states that: “sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources” according to merriam-webster.com!
As a society we put such a false sense of security in within our consumeristic behaviors. It’s at this point with our consumeristic natures that our items and products own us - instead of the other way around.
Breaking away from the buyer persona is hard - trust me. It is embedded into our generation and future generations to come. However, I do not think it is necessarily impossible to break free from.
These habits start little by little. I think it would be counter productive if you were to donate and or throw your items away and then “start clean.” Work with what you have currently and start from there. The process of being intentional and frugal all begins with the art of noticing your habits and processes.
My Personal Process:
The best advice I could give is to look through all your products, things, items, etc. Then to breakdown what category you have noticed that you’re an over-consumer in. For me, that was clothes and beauty products.
This is when intentionality rolled in… I decided to get my journal out and write. I took down notes of the types of clothes I wore all the time, the clothes I wanted to invest in, clothes I could get rid of or donate, and wrote down similarities of all the items that I loved. I then went on Pinterest and created mood boards of the closet and beauty products that I loved and dreamt of.
I then began researching and cross referencing items. Especially with the clothes I wanted to invest in. Once I began putting intentionality into researching things I wanted to buy; I realized what brands really meant and aligned with me. I began sourcing from more local and smaller brands too! And if I truly felt like I could find something at the thrifts instead - I wouldn’t buy the product immediately and try my luck at second hand shops!
I also began shopping more in person instead of online. I found that whenever I shopped online, it was very easy to be really impulsive since I was only seeing the item on a screen. Shopping in person brings back the intentionality of looking through articles of clothing or products, feeling and seeing the item in real life, and even trying on the item or taking a sample home! It was also fun to chat with sales associates so that they could help out and give me their second opinion! It carved more intentionality into my day by physically driving to the mall and or local shop - and overall made me feel accomplished with taking my time.
Lastly, I started becoming frugal with what I was buying excessively. Instead of always eating out - I began learning how to meal prep and save money. Instead of buying useless cheap clothes, I saved a good amount and put it aside to put towards one good quality item on my wishlist, instead of getting my nails done every 2 weeks, I get them done for a special occasion and save the money I would’ve spent on nails on luxury items and goods.
At the end of the day… intentionality means different to everybody. But I believe that once you take action to become more intentional - you just naturally become more frugal. Frugality and intentionality are interchangeable in their energy.
Your sense of self should never be placed upon an item, aesthetic, or trend. I believe your true sense of self is defined by the knowing and understanding of what you like and don’t like.
By understanding and implementing a frugal and intentional lifestyle - it equates to a higher quality of a meaningful life.
All my love,
Brejette Nepa