Sustainable September
Hello Lovely,
Every fall, my shopping list looks more like a novel than a wish list. Cozy knits, dramatic coats, boots that somehow all feel “different”… you know the drill. But this year, I’m challenging myself to pause before hitting add to cart and try something new: Sustainable September.
Instead of buying everything that catches my eye, I’m leaning into fashion rentals, refillable beauty, and small swaps that make a big difference. And mixing those amazing pieces with what is already in my personal store, aka, my closet. Think of it as a chic experiment in wearing more with less.
Why this may matter to you (and the world)
Fashion is fun — it’s creative, expressive, and a little addictive when fall rolls around. But the truth is, the fashion industry has a massive footprint. Globally, we produce over 100 billion garments every year, and many of them are worn only a handful of times before ending up in landfills. In fact, the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing annually.
The cycle is simple: fast production → fast consumption → fast waste. Overproduction means:
Waste: Truckloads of unsold clothing are destroyed or dumped each week.
Water Use: It takes nearly 2,000 gallons of water to make a single pair of jeans.
Carbon Emissions: The fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions — more than international flights and shipping combined.
That’s the reality. But here’s the good news: how we shop matters. By renting, re-wearing, and refilling, we can reduce waste, slow down overproduction, and still have fun with fashion. Sustainability doesn’t mean giving up style — it means finding smarter, more intentional ways to express it. We need to tap into our creativness instead of just saying “I don’t have anything to wear”.
Renting, Thrifting, Recycling - oh MY!
When it comes to sustainable fashion, there isn’t just one path — and that’s the beauty of it. Renting is my lane because I love the thrill of new pieces rotating in and out of my closet. But I’ve also learned there are other ways to slow down the cycle of overproduction:
Renting keeps my closet fresh without adding to the pile of fast-fashion purchases. It gives me variety, without the guilt. There are some amazing rental companies out there. My favorites at the moment are Rent the Runway and Fashion Pass.
Thrifting is like treasure hunting. Pre-loved pieces have a story, and finding that one-of-a-kind jacket or vintage bag feels just as good (if not better) than hitting “checkout” on something new. Some amazing local shops are, New to You in McLean, VA, The Potomac French Market,
Recycling is where fashion still has work to do. Brands are experimenting with textile recycling, but right now less than 1% of clothing is actually recycled into new garments. Which means the best thing we can do is extend the life of the pieces already out there.
Together, these three options remind me that sustainability isn’t about being perfect — it’s about making better choices where we can. Sometimes that’s a thrifted find, sometimes it’s a rented statement coat, and sometimes it’s just committing to rewearing what we already own.
My Reality with Rentals
I’m not new to this. I’ve been renting clothing since 2021, and when I added it up, the value of the pieces I’ve rented is well over $100,000.
That number still blows my mind. Not because I would have actually bought all those pieces (let’s be real — I wouldn’t), but because it shows how much fashion we cycle through when we’re chasing “new.” Renting gave me the thrill of trying everything from statement dresses to chic blazers without the guilt of overspending or adding another pile to my closet.
And it made me think: if I can rotate through $100K worth of fashion in just a few years without actually buying it all… how many clothes are we collectively producing and discarding?
That’s when sustainability stopped feeling like a buzzword and started feeling personal. Renting isn’t just a style hack — it’s a small way of stepping back from overproduction and rethinking how we consume.
How Rental Companies Actually Work
If you’ve never rented before, here’s the quick breakdown (and why it’s easier than you think):
Pick Your Plan → Most rental services, like Rent the Runway or FashionPass, offer different membership levels depending on how many pieces you want at a time (for example, 4, 8, or even 16 items a month).
Choose Your Pieces → Scroll, filter, and heart away (my favorite part). Think of it like online shopping — except you’re building your next “closet on rotation” instead of committing to forever.
Delivery to Your Door → The pieces arrive cleaned, pressed, and ready to wear.
Enjoy & Style → Wear them once, twice, or all month. I love styling rentals multiple ways to get the most out of them (and to really see if something feels like a future purchase).
Return or Swap → Pop them back in the pre-paid bag, drop them at your local UPS or Fedex, and they’re whisked away to be professionally cleaned before heading off to their next closet. Rent the Runway even has a pick up option now.
Repeat → The best part is the variety. One month you can be all about blazers and tailored trousers, the next it’s cozy knits and cocktail dresses. No guilt, no clutter.
It’s that simple — and honestly, once you try it, it’s hard to imagine shopping any other way.
Scan this QR code for 40% off your first membership at Rent the Runway.
What’s Coming This Month
Throughout September, I’ll be sharing:
ClCloset on Rotation: RTR + FashionPass pieces styled multiple ways
Borrowed Beauty: refillable makeup that actually looks luxe
Bag Dreams: my first month testing a rentable designer bag service
Secondhand Treasures: visiting local secondhand shops and sharing the gems I find
Vintage Hunt: a trip to Vintagpalooza in Baltimore on September 14 (and I can’t wait to show you what I discover)
Capsule Picks: what I’d actually buy at the end of it all
I’m not giving up style. I’m just choosing to be more intentional. And if I happen to sneak in a winter white or a pair of boots along the way… well, that’s between me and my closet. 😉
Here’s to a September that’s chic and sustainable.
xo, Missy
