It’s no secret that I am a huge Reformation fan. I’ve featured several Reformation dresses on my blog already (such as here and here), and I link to them often on my Shop Page. Reformation is highly representative of my personal style – I gravitate toward their feminine, high-quality and classic pieces, all with a modern twist.
But there is one major thing not to love about Reformation – the price. Most of their dresses start around $100. Their basic tops begin around the $40 mark and go up quite a bit from there. For most, it’s not exactly budget-friendly if you are trying to build a wardrobe around the brand.
Before we get to the dupes, I think it’s important that there’s a conversation about sustainability and fast fashion.
The reason why Reformation’s prices are higher than other companies is because they are a sustainable brand. They use ethical business practices, pay their workers fair wages, purchase deadstock fabrics destined for the landfill to create their clothing collections, have been carbon neutral since 2015, etc. None of that is cheap, and as a result, it’s reflected in the price of their garments.
On the flipside is fast fashion. Fast fashion (think brands such as Fashion Nova, Boohoo, Zara, etc.) can have negative effects on the environment. They are constantly releasing dozens (if not hundreds) of new clothing items each week and are a significant driver of microtrends (trends that follow a muuuuuuch shorter popularity cycle, partly due to social media, which leads to people trashing their clothes to the landfill after only one or two wears) and overconsumption (such as those “I spent $1000 at Zara and this is what I got” hauls on YouTube, which also leads to people trashing their clothes to the landfill after only one or two wears).
Why? Fast-fashion is cheap, making it super accessible for everyone.
So on one hand, you have very expensive sustainable brands like Reformation, and on the other hand you have cheap-as-dirt fast fashion brands like H&M. You may find yourself conflicted – how do I build a wardrobe I love when I cannot afford to purchase from pricier brands that may be better for the environment like Reformation and can only shop at places like Zara or Target?
Well, there are a couple of solutions.
The first thing you can do is shop secondhand. That’s a great way to find specific brands – like Reformation – that you may be looking for. You can hit up your local Goodwill, but you don’t even need to do that. Resale platforms like Poshmark, Mercari and eBay are excellent places to find premium sustainable brands at a significant discount (and most of the time, they clothes are still new with tags).
If that is not something you are comfortable with or if that is still out of your price range, the next best thing you can do is shop fast fashion consciously and with your own personal wardrobe/style in mind. This means a few different things:
- Do not get sucked into popular trends of the moment. Unless it’s a trend that speaks to you deeply, pass on purchasing. 85 percent of clothes are thrown away, a lot of which have never even been worn. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid trend pieces for the rest of eternity, but instead your shopping should be focused on items that help develop your own personal style. If you’re buying clothing from a trend that you’re unsure of, there’s a much higher chance of you not loving and not wearing them. It’s safer to stick to what you already know suits you.
- Only purchase things you *love* and not just things you like. Have you ever tried something on and then thought, “I really like this dress but… **insert something you wish were different here**”? I know I have. Do not purchase anything that you wish was slightly different. Even if the color is perfect, even if the price is right, even if otherwise you totally love it – if something is slightly off and you’re aware of that, you won’t feel 100% comfortable and confident wearing it. And if you don’t feel 100% comfortable or confident wearing it, you won’t reach for it in your closet. It will take up valuable space in your wardrobe, and you won’t get the use out of it that you should.
- Only purchase things you see yourself wearing multiple times that will be a staple in your wardrobe for several years. If you think there’s any chance of it being a one-and-done type item, skip it. You want to purchase clothes/shoes/accessories that can be worn different ways with items you already have in your wardrobe. They should be versatile and have longevity in your style. If you think you’ll be sick of it after one season and won’t be excited to wear it the following year, leave it on the rack.
- Do not buy more than you need because it is inexpensive. It’s easy to get reeled in because of the low price tags, but it’s a huge rookie move to buy something just because it’s cheap/on sale. That also leads to a lot of waste and a lot of wasted space in your closet. When I shop fast fashion, I make myself play a game – Would I still want to buy this if the price were $100? $150? $200? If the answer is yes, then I know it’s for me. If the answer is no, then I know it’s just the price that’s enticing me.
- Look for sustainable collections within fast fashion brands. Forever 21 uses recycled polyester to make some of their dresses now. H&M has a conscious collection filled with eco-friendly fabrics. J. Crew has been releasing cashmere sweater collections that are Aid by Trade Foundation certified, a nonprofit that ensures sustainable agricultural development. If you are limited in the brands you can afford to buy, these programs and collections can still help make a difference.
- When you are ready to part with a fast fashion clothing item, look for sustainable ways to dispose of it. Pass it along to a friend or sibling, sell it on Poshmark (I do it all the time and love it), use it as pajamas, donate it to women’s’ shelters, turn it into cleaning rags, recycle the textiles, etc. Just don’t throw it away!
On to the dupes!
If you too adore the Reformation style but need a less-expensive alternative, I have picked out some fab inspired pieces below. When shopping for Reformation-like clothes, you’ll want to look for hallmarks like babydoll silhouettes, shirred bodices, puff sleeves, fruit prints, midi dresses with high slits, square necklines, ruffle straps, delicate floral patterns. slip dresses and more. They are all very romantic but in a modern way.
This dress I am wearing is SO cute and such amazing quality for being under $70. It’s double-lined, has a pretty fit-and-flare skirt and comes in 3 colors/patterns. This would be really great for work with a blazer and would be just as adorable for a date night. I’ve paired it with my new Tory Burch bag I picked up at the outlets a few weeks ago and some cap-toe heels from Express I bought last year. Links to everything I am wearing are at the top of the page!
What are your thoughts about fast fashion vs sustainability? I’d love to hear them!
