Pleasant Wayne Takes On #ShopDrop2016

You might recognize her from “Entourage” and “Desperate Housewives,” but actress Pleasant Wayne’s social media profile as @The_Sexy_Environmentalist tells the full story. A committed treehugger since the get-go, Pleasant Wayne works tirelessly in support of organizations like The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Environmental Working Group, Natural Resources Defense Council and Global Green, among others. A longtime believer in eco fashion, Pleasant Wayne signed up early for the Shop Drop Challenge and shares her tips here on swapping, consignment store shopping and thrifting—a few of her favorite eco fashion activities. By swapping and thrifting, you can recycle your wardrobe many times a year and never have to wear the same things twice. More importantly, you can help end the global destruction that fast fashion and over-production cause.

ON SHOPPING

As an actress and modern-day everywoman, I constantly find myself drawn to fashion, trends, beauty culture, vintage glam, deals, bargains and sales. But the environmentalist in me offers persistent and gentle reminders of what my closet already houses—which eliminates any sort of craving I might have to impulse BUY-BUY-BUY!

With that said, the last piece of clothing I bought was just that sort of experience. I am ashamed to admit that I fell victim to the H&M after-holiday sale and got a killer dress for $7. I guess I haven’t fully dealt with my shopping demons, but I am a work in progress!

ON SWAPPING

I love swapping, especially when it’s with Rachel Avalon, who hosts regular swap parties at her Los Angeles home. I discovered a beautiful, delicate vintage lamp at one of her parties. I was crossing my fingers so hard that nobody else was going to grab it and felt like I was in some sort of alternative universe when I ended up being the lucky recipient!

THRIFT HOLLA

When it comes to thrift and consignment shopping, it’s hard to choose between brick-and-mortar and online. Recently, I found a pair of really cool black leather Coach boots with gold buckles at Goodwill—and this particular Goodwill charges by the pound so they were like $2. HOLLA! But I’ve been an eBay deal-hunting frugal warrior kind of gal for a long time, and am really diggin thredUP as of late.

LAST WORD

I really like shopping—actually, I love it. However, I’ve noticed that accumulating “things” doesn’t necessarily feed by soul and help me save my hard-earned dollars, nor does it offer any sort of relief for our environment.

So I actively choose to swap clothes, shoes, bags, belts and jewelry with friends at clothing swaps and spend my shopping time in thrift stores. Swaps offer connections with like-minded friends and fun items to enjoy without spending anything.

By swapping and thrifting, you can recycle your wardrobe many times a year and never have to wear the same things twice. More importantly, you can help end the global destruction that fast fashion and over-production cause.

It’s a win-win, no-brainer choice—where cravings are satisfied without having to hurt our precious planet!

Photo provided by Pleasant Wayne, photographed at a Global Green event.