Beautiful looks - I love them all (and loving your hair, too!)

Deb, Great to see you posting. You are always an inspiration with how you stay true to your aesthetic. I like your honesty of realizing that a minimal wardrobe is not for you. It is the same process I have gone through myself, while I love the concept and thought of a minimal wardrobe that is not me.
I like the idea of 30 wears, as a base to think about. I don't do to much fast fashion but I do have some fast fashion pieces that have well over 30 wears, and at the same time I have some pieces ethically made that have well under 30 wears.
It is all about finding the balance within our closets and making smart purchases.

What an interesting post! I really admire your commitment to ethically sourced clothing. It's been on my mind for a while but I haven't done as much as I want to about checking where my clothes are made. I've been trying to buy less overall and to buy from Everlane and Patagonia rather than from mass marketers. You've inspired to do more research before I buy.

I love your sense of style as well as your ethics. All the outfits posted are wonderful, but the poncho in #1 and the dress in #4 are super fabulous.

Hi Deborah, I must watch those videos you mentioned ASAP.
We need constant reminders whilst being bombarded by consumerism at every turn!
You are looking as Fab as always, and now very individual with your sourced pieces x

I always love your style Deborah both here and on Instagram. I am pleased that you have found a way to combine your love of beautiful elegant clothing and a more minimal approach. It is certainly working - you look terrific!!

I have also adopted the 30 wears as a bench mark when adding clothing. It does put things into perspective and has stopped me adding in a new top just for variety. A few of us did a 30x30 challenge which also made me realise that while not a total minimalist, I am happy with a smallish sized wardrobe. For me this means adding in about 25 items a year across all footwear, bags, glasses and clothing.

Great to see you! I hadn't known you were gone, because I've also been MIA ... enforced minimalism due to renovation / change of life / busy work stuff / etc.. over here. Back because... it's NAS!

LOVE LOVE LOVE all your outfits, so true to you. I can see the evolution but still true to you. If I had just a pinky's worth of your style I'd be happy.

Deborah, you look amazing, as always, and it is so interesting to hear about your fashion journey. I admire your thoughtfulness and ability to reflect and find a way to express your values at the same time as you remain your ever-stylish self. It's an inspiration. My favourites here are 3, 4, and 5. Wow, wow, and WOW again! I also love #6.

I have been thinking about ethical purchasing also, but I fear that am much slower at enacting it than you. Yet, I think the turn may be coming. I think it is because I am now past the wardrobe building stage. It is much harder to be selective and careful if you don't know what your core needs are. Like you, over time, I have discovered that I do crave some variety and change so a truly minimalist wardrobe is not for me. At the same time, I don't care for a very large wardrobe as I like to wear everything in my closet. I am also much clearer on my style. Now, the question is, can I sustain that in an ethical way? And what will count as ethical for me?

This year, I've purchased less overall, and more of what I've bought comes from companies that try to be transparent and from local Canadian designers. But...here it is NAS time, and as usual, I'm ordering up a storm, much of it "fast fashion" or at least mass produced.

Having said that, several of us have been discussion the 30 wears idea. I believe forum member Jenn initiated this conversation and we had a very interesting thread about it. As I looked over my clothing I noted that apart from rare mistakes or items that fall apart, almost all my purchases, including fast fashion purchases, do see 30+ wears. Not in one season, necessarily -- but certainly over the 3 to 5 years (on average) that I keep them.

So do my jeans (all of them, even though I have an awful lot of jeans!) and so do most of my shoes, bags, belts, coats, etc. It's not that hard for me to wear my items that often since my closet for each season is not huge.

The items that see fewer than 30 wears are typically special occasion items (of any kind) and dressier footwear. And yet...I do need those also! So, it's a dilemma.

I think my next step is doing some more wardrobe tracking, with joy per wear factored along with wears themselves. And to consider available sources of more ethically made clothing that fits my aesthetic. Thank you for the impetus!

Deb, what a wonderful journey you have been on. As always each outfit is very artistic and perfection in my eyes. You truly have so many what I would call statement pieces and such a wonderful sense of style.

Jenni I use the Baptist World Aid guide a lot but they don't seem to include some of the smaller more independent design groups. But it has great information. And I agree finance has to be a consideration, however I am discovering that some ethical producers are no more expensive than some of the less transparent labels.

Juniper Green, thank you so much

Shevia, it's so good to see you! Like all things, its a journey, but a fun one with lots of self discovery

Karie that all sounds so good. I have also addressed the other areas in my life and it has made a big difference.

Gryffin, I miss you too. And yes we are in the same stage of life. We just farewelled my amazing mother in law. And you are very right in that how we feel about what we are wearing has a big impact. I must admit it's my fast fashion purchases that never last or satisfy me for long, so really I just need to walk right past them.

Fashiontern such good thoughts. And you highlight that here are so many issues associated with ethical production. Sounds like you are mastering responsible shopping. The trouble with a lot of fast fashion is that's its only being worn a couple of times and thrown out. I like how you have found such a good option in the animal shelter for unwearable clothing.

Amiable good to see you too. Buying preloved is becoming more and more popular and with the amount of things people throw away after only a few wears mean the quality available is definitely better than it used to be.

Texstyle, I think if we all just do what we can then that is a step in the right direction. I try not to put too much pressure on myself. It's a work in progress.

Lisa, I love that we get to interact on Insta too. Thanks for the encouragement. I do feel like I have kind of settled into my style. And on the work / family balance I don't know how you do it, thankfully travel is not part of my work xx

AviaMariah good point re the variety that's available on line. I do tend to limit where I look now and I just don't look at fast fashion outlets. It does help.

You have beautiful items, I can see they were chosen carefully.
You also have an avant garde style that bypasses trends, so you don't need fast fashion trendy fixes.
I love #1 and #4 esp.

Deborah...so nice to read this thread.

Impossible for me to pick a favorite photo as I LOVE them all !!

We are on similar journeys for fewer purchases, more ethical choices etc. I have probably halved the number of items purchased this year over last with the majority coming from Elizabeth Suzann. Yes they are expensive, but I bought less items and support a wonderful company who uses great fabrics and pays her team in Nashville a living wage.

I think I have saved close to $100 a month by not needing to use the dry cleaners all spring/summer.

Off to follow you on Instagram LOL...

I have enjoyed reading your post and also the thoughtful responses. Your style is beautiful. I never buy for just one season except for underwear, sleepwear and gear that gets worn out. If I buy a jacket from Zara, I want it to last as long as a more expensive alternative.

Just wanted to mention that I have recently started watching Australia's Next Top Model on Hulu. I started at Season 1, which is really old, but it's fun to learn more about Australian designers and fashions.

Deborah, it is SO good to see you again! I've been following you on instagram, but it's different to get the text behind the thoughts behind the outfits, kwim?

I love the direction your style is going, even more now that I know sustainability is part of the equation. I hope you'll have time to continue to share your journey.

Deborah, thanks for this post. I'm intrigued and interested in watching the movies you noted.

Also, had to chime in to say that I have the skirted legging that I'm pretty sure you are wearing in #3. In fact when I was getting ready to order it I think you advised me on the size. It has been such a good purchase as I wear it almost year 'round. Soooo comfortable, travels great, and I love the angled hem. I could go on about it but as Angie would say "waving at my skirted legging twin"!

Your outfits look great!!!

Skylurker, thank you xx

DakotaCheryl, I have always loved your style and your wardrobe. I am besotted with Elizabeth Suzann but have not yet purchased anything but I know there will come a time. It feels so good to be wearing clothing that you know the story of and also where your money goes. I no longer baulk at hefty price tags on clothing that is made locally.

Bijou, I agree, if we buy fast fashion, let's buy with the intent of wearing it into the ground.

Liz.A we have some truly amazing designers here, creating some very unique and wearable designs

Elizabeth P so good to see you Sustainability has become more important to me and not just fashion. I have been reviewing how I live in general. Next step is we are planning on growing our own vegetables!!

Destri, thank you! How good are the skirted leggings! I am actually wearing mine today as I type. I'm going to have to beg the designer to revisit them when these wear out. Im sorry I didn't buy two pairs. But they are well made and I think this is my third year wearing them so they are doing well.

Waving at skirted legging triplets!
Actually quadruplets, LisaP has them as well.

OhohoOO! I cannot wrap my head around all these fab items and most cohesive artsy avant garde style all over! 6xWow!!! & I want a sleeveles top like your DIY in nr 5!!! What kind of fabric did you choose for, can you advise on a pattern for it, pls! K2K!!!!

ETA: the dress in nr 4 is also a K2K-fab cut, just wonder how it feels and looks when moving and what ca you layer it over with.

Lyn you are too kind. The top in 5 is just a square. I didn't use a pattern, but I am sure there would something available as it is so simple.

Check out sustainablefashionchat.com as Karen often has patterns and shares about making your own clothing.

The dress in 4 is made from japanese suiting material. It is solid but has movement and is a dream to wear. I can put a coat or jacket over it. But it's such a great item on it's own I only layer if its so cold I have to.

You look great in these images. Things are chosen fantastically harmoniously. And most importantly, everything goes very well and sets you apart from the crowd.