Recently Read Self-Help

[Heather]

Did you read a self-help book this month? If so, what are your takeaways after reading?

[Heather]

I read Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. It's not in the self-help section, but it ended up being a self-help book for me because it helped me change the way I purchase clothing. It's about the environmental and social harm done by the current trend of buying lots of new clothes that are poorly made. The author did a lot of research, speaking to clothing industry experts and visiting the factories where many popular fast fashion brands come from. She proposes that instead of constantly shopping for inexpensive clothes, we save our money and purchase fewer, more well-made clothing items that we can wear for a long time, or donate in good condition when we are tired of them. She offers other ideas for dressing oneself ethically, such as shopping secondhand (and learning enough about clothes to spot well-made secondhand options), having clothing repaired, and learning to sew.

I've never been one to buy a ton of clothes, but I do love a good deal and have been guilty of purchasing more than I need, especially cheap clothing that seems like a good price but later falls apart quickly. The information in this book was eye-opening for me and has changed the way I shop for clothing. I'm looking forward to building a wardrobe that will last and that I can feel good about.