The Under-consumption, Chic List | Part 1
My current objects of joy
If you’re anything like me, your phone screen is a constant stream of things you didn’t know you needed until the algorithm decided for you. A new red windbreaker jacket (I have to admit this one got me), butter yellow is supposedly last season’s colour and my worst nightmare, capri pants (pedal-pushers for my fellow millennials) are back!
“What I love most is that this is a genuine hobby. It brings me joy and I have no intention of monetising it.”
We are sold that being chic is something you acquire and that taste is built in the shopping basket. But having a life that is curated and tasteful takes time, coupled with life experiences, collecting things that are beautiful and special to you, let’s start saying the quiet bit out loud.
You may have come across the term “Frugal Chic”, coined by Mia McGrath. She describes it as “frugality doesn’t mean deprivation, it means being savvy with your money and time.” I love that framing and completely agree. So I started my own list, I promise it’s not a dressed up shopping guide, just things I own, cost little to no money or are chic to me, not performative tokens of coolness. From the perspective of someone who is actively trying to consume less and rediscover her personal style ….
This is my Under-consumption Chic List, Part 1:
1. Mismatched crockery and glassware
Early in my career I worked for British Home Stores (BHS), in the buying and merchandising team. Because my department was kitchen and dining, I would often pick up the most beautiful glassware and crockery at the sample sales. Being samples, they were often single pieces, some of them one of one, never making it to mass production, which only added to their specialness.
Over the years I built a unique collection of what some may consider odd and mismatched. I have since kept the habit going, sourcing from my local charity shop.
2. Vintage vinyl records
In a world of streaming and now AI-generated music, people are finding their way back to CDs, cassette tapes and vinyl. I take comfort in the fact that most of the music I love, I have a physical copy. Something that cannot be deleted or removed at the whim of a platform. There is just something special about the sound of vinyl and the occasional crackle.
My first destination is always my dad’s record collection, built across the 70s, 80s and 90s. But my favourite in my own collection is Solange’s A Seat At The Table, arguably her best album. I also love sifting through the vintage vinyl in record shops, like Pure Vinyl in Brixton, South London.
3. A paper planner
I’ve been building the habit of recording everything in my calendar. Appointments, meetings, social catch ups. I even block time for solo dates. Next on my list is V&A East. It has genuinely improved my productivity, helped me manage my workload and, more importantly, protect my rest.
But in an effort to spend less time on my phone, I have been thinking about going back to a physical diary. If you grew up watching films like Working Girl or Boomerang, you probably imagined yourself entering the workplace with a briefcase and a Filofax. I never got the briefcase (I have my Telfar backpack instead) but I have not fully let go of the Filofax dream.
4. Homemade herbal tea
Every time I open Instagram I’m confronted with matcha or coffee in aesthetic locations, paired with a perfectly curated outfit. I don’t drink coffee, and I can’t bring myself to pay for an overpriced drink in a single use cup. (Disclaimer: I‘m not perfect, you may well spot me with a polystyrene cup on the London Underground, but I try not to make it a habit) Instead I started making homemade herbal teas in batches.
A tip I found on TikTok suggested freezing tea in an ice cube tray so you can have it on demand. I started with ginger and lemon and I’m ready to experiment with different ingredients and spices. What I love most is that this is a genuine hobby. It brings me joy and I have no intention of monetising it. I will probably write about the importance of “un-monetised” hobbies at some point.
Read my previous post…
5. Men’s thrifted outerwear
The jacket is the outfit, as far as I’m concerned, and my preference is always menswear. The tailoring makes the case on its own. Functional pockets, considered construction, proper shoulder structure. There is something effortlessly chic about an oversized boxy blazer worn over a dress or paired with a straight leg jean.
My recommendation is always to skip buying new and go straight to the charity shops and vintage rails. My favourite place is Blue 17 on the Holloway Road in North London, which always has a great selection from tailored blazers to Carhartt workwear jackets. My last find was a charcoal and navy bomber jacket that turned out to be 100% silk.
I will be adding to this list every month. If you have your own objects of joy, drop them in the comments. I’m genuinely curious what yours look like.…. because we are rewearing, reorganising and reimagining the life we want.
until next time … Mofẹ́
