There was a time when repeating clothes was not even something we thought about. You bought a dress, wore it, washed it, ironed it, and wore it again. Simple. There was no discussion about whether someone had already seen you wearing it, whether you had posted a picture in it on social media, or whether your outfit needed to look different every single time.

Somewhere along the way, however, repeating clothes became a fashion concern. We started believing that wearing the same outfit again meant that we did not have enough clothes. Or that we were not fashionable enough. Or, worse, that someone might actually notice.

Today, however, we are slowly seeing a change. Repeat wear culture is becoming more acceptable, and I think it is about time.

Fashion has always been about change. New trends, new colours, new silhouettes and new collections keep coming in. But fashion is also about what we already have in our wardrobes. And perhaps we have forgotten that part somewhere along the way.

I remember when clothes were bought with the idea that they would last. A good sari could be worn for years. A favourite kurta could be worn to multiple family gatherings. A pair of jeans could become so comfortable that you would practically forget how many times you had worn it.

Today, however, social media has changed the way we look at clothes. We see celebrities and influencers in a new outfit almost every day. There are outfit videos, fashion hauls, unboxing videos and “what I wore this week” posts. We are constantly being shown something new. And when we see something new every day, our own wardrobe can suddenly start looking boring.

Is there something wrong with wearing the same outfit twice? Honestly, no. In fact, there is something quite satisfying about finding different ways to wear the same piece.

This is where restyling clothes becomes interesting. We often think that creating a new outfit means buying something new. But sometimes creating a new outfit simply means looking at an old piece differently. And this is perhaps one of the biggest changes happening in fashion today.

Perhaps we don’t need a new outfit every time. Especially when we already have something perfectly good sitting inside our wardrobe.

In India, this idea isn’t really new either. Our mothers and grandmothers have been doing it for years. A sari would be passed down. An old dupatta would find a new use. A dress would be altered. A blouse would be paired with another sari. Clothes were repaired, reused and sometimes completely transformed.

Perhaps what we are calling “repeat wear culture” today was simply common sense earlier. And maybe that is why I find this change in fashion rather interesting.

We spent years trying to make every outfit look different. Now we are slowly learning that repeating an outfit does not make us less stylish. If anything, knowing how to repeat and restyle your clothes shows that you understand your own personal style.

Fashion is not about proving that you own something new every time you step out. It is about knowing what you like, what suits you and what makes you comfortable.

And that outfit you wore in your last social media post?

Yes, you can wear it again. Nobody is keeping score.

And if they are, maybe they need a hobby. After all, clothes were made to be worn. Not to sit inside our wardrobes waiting for the perfect occasion.

Repeat it. Restyle it. Wear it again.

Reposted from my blog, as published on the times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-blogs/everyday-living/repeat-wear-culture/articleshow/133272992.cms

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