January 8, 2025
Categories: Consumption habits - Sustainability
Imagine LOVING your wardrobe while also feeling great about reducing your environmental impact. Sound like a dream? With the Rule of 5, it can be your reality! The amazing thing is that sustainability is only one of a whole host of potential benefits, if you are up for challenging yourself to the Rule of 5. But what on earth is it? I hear you cry. The concept originates from the Hot or Cool Institute findings in 2022 which suggested that wealthy countries should only be buying 5 new items of clothing per person, per year.
The science behind the Rule of 5
The Hot or Cool Institute is a Berlin-based public interest think tank that explores the intersection between society and sustainability. In 2022 they published their findings on what a sustainable wardrobe would look like for wealthy countries. They concluded that people in these countries should be buying no more than 5 new items of clothing per year.
This is pretty far removed from the findings of a 2018 survey that found that in the UK, 38.89% of respondents purchased between 1 and 10 new items of clothing in a year. 44.39% admitted to buying between 11 and 40 items. And 2.73% admitted to buying 41 items or more, while 13.99% said they didn’t know. ‘Not knowing’ in itself suggests a high number of items purchased, as you’d be more like to remember if you’d only purchased one or two things. And these figures are of course likely to have increased in the 7 years since the research was conducted.
In 2015, 195 nations pledged in the Paris Agreement, to ensure that the world’s average surface temperature will have risen to no more than 1.5C warmer than pre-industrial levels, by the year 2100. The Hot or Cool Institute stated the need for wealthy countries to ‘radically reduce their fashion consumption’ to meet this target. They stated that ‘if no other actions are implemented, such as repairing/mending, washing at lower temperatures, or buying second-hand, purchases of new garments should be limited to an average of 5 items a year for achieving consumption levels in line with the 1.5-degree target.’
What counts as a ‘new item’?
Before starting the Rule of 5 challenge, it’s important to define your own rules and avoid potential loopholes. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide what counts:
- Included in your 5:
- Brand-new clothing items
- Footwear and accessories (e.g., shoes, bags, belts, hats)
- Excluded from your 5:
- Underwear and sportswear (if bought on a replacement-only basis)
- Pre-loved purchases (second-hand or vintage) – but don’t go crazy!
- Repairs, alterations, borrowed, swapped or rented items
To keep things simple, the challenge focuses on limiting the brand-new items you purchase. However, if you want to level up, you could include all clothing items, even second-hand ones, in your count – it’s your call!
Avoiding loopholes
Be mindful of gifts – they count too! Share your plans with friends and family so they don’t unintentionally add to your total by gifting you clothing. And don’t use this as an opportunity to sneak in a few extra items!
Flexible but intentional
The beauty of the Rule of 5 is that you can customise it to suit your goals. Start with limiting brand-new purchases, and embrace creative alternatives like thrifting, swapping, or renting to refresh your wardrobe without breaking the rules.
Why less is more: benefits of the Rule of 5
The most obvious benefit to embarking on this challenge is the reduced environmental impact (less waste, fewer emissions). But there are plenty of others that make it even more worthwhile:
Wallet-friendly:
Fewer impulse buys = more intentional spending. Less purchases means more money in your purse for other opportunities, especially experience-based fun.
Maximising your wardrobe:
Did you know that we wear only 20% of our closet, 80% of the time!? With that in mind, it’s time to make your existing wardrobe work harder for you. Dig deep and breath some life into those wardrobe archives that haven’t seen the light of day in years – I get so many compliments when I do this!
Get those styling juices flowing:
You’ll be forced to get creative with what you already own, when you can’t simply resort to another new purchase every time you want a new look.
More space:
When you reduce what you bring in, you end up with more space which is especially important if you live in a small home! And more space equals less stress and overwhelm from a wardrobe that’s bursting at the seams. Win win!
Time saving:
Less time spent shopping = more time for hobbies, exercise, relaxation and socialising with loved ones. Whatever you love spending your time doing, you’ll have way more time on your hands when you cut out shopping for 30+ items of clothing you don’t need!
Elevated choices:
Fewer purchases allow for better quality items that will look better and last longer. You are about to start a journey towards curating the best wardrobe you’ve ever had!
The ripple effect:
More intentional spending seeps into other areas of your life. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking twice about other things like your home décor, tech gadgets and even the food that you eat. Elevated spending decisions start to compound and create improvements across your life!
How to make the Rule of 5 work for you
Step 1: Audit your current wardrobe before embarking on the Rule of 5
It’s going to help you enormously if you know what you’re working with, and what your starting point is. This is a good opportunity to declutter any items that aren’t serving you. Decluttering makes it easier to see the items you love and truly need, setting the foundation for a curated wardrobe. As you let go, take a mental note of the items you’re getting rid of. Why haven’t they worked for you? This will help you with what to avoid when you are making those precious decisions on what makes the cut for your ‘5 or less’ items.
Step 2: Identify gaps and plan your Rule of 5 purchases strategically
Do you have items in your wardrobe that you’d love to wear, if only you had the right base layer or pair of shoes to work with them? Be tactical. Which new items will work hardest for you, working with multiple items in your closet? Or perhaps you’re in need of a versatile coat for the winter? What will work in most situations, with the most items you already own. Plan purchases carefully to ensure they work across multiple outfits and suit your lifestyle.
Step 3: Embrace re-styling and outfit planning
Take photos of yourself in outfits you love for future inspo’, or use Instagram and Pinterest for ideas. Then, shop your closet to create your own version of the outfit with what you already own. If you struggle with what to wear, plan outfits for the week ahead, or for upcoming events, in advance, so that you don’t end up in a panic at the last minute. You can even use a wardrobe app like Whering or Indyx for advanced tracking and planning think Cher from Clueless! Future you will thank you for it!
Step 4: Explore pre-loved, renting, borrowing or swapping for variety
There are lots of options for adding newness to your wardrobe, without it having to be ‘brand newness’. These can also be a great way of testing out different items before committing to making new investments into your wardrobe. Or just as a way to save money for more important things that will add value to your life.
Challenges you might face during the Rule of 5!
Challenge 1: Resisting temptation
No-one said this was going to be easy! Think about why you are embarking on the idea in the first place and use this to dig deep when things get tough. Set yourself some boundaries and if you are really struggling, perhaps you could allow yourself one ‘cheat’ item? This isn’t about perfection, so don’t beat yourself up too much if you do slip up. Instead, think about why you gave in and learn from those reasons. Was it worth it?
Challenge 2: Dressing for special occasions
This is where advanced planning can really help. Give yourself the time to work through your options. Are you sure you don’t have something you’ve forgotten about at the back of your wardrobe that would work perfectly? And if it’s a one-off occasion, this could be the perfect time to borrow from a friend or try renting an item, rather than wasting one of your 5 choices on a one hit wonder.
Challenge 3: Feeling limited
Limitations can actually be a good thing – they fuel creativity! Not only that, I bet there are things in your wardrobe that you barely wear. This is the time to dig them out and make the most of those wardrobe archives. And if you still can’t bring yourself to wear something that’s been hanging around for ever, that’s definitely your sign to let it go. But the truth is, you can make hundreds of different outfit combinations from even a modest selection of items – you just need to be willing to experiment and try things out. It can be a lot of fun if you’re prepared to put some effort in.
The power of community
One of the best things you can do to increase your chances of success, is to share your intentions with friends and family. This alone adds to your accountability, with support through any tricky moments. Even better, you might encourage others to join you! Cheering each other on is a great way to seal your commitment. And why not go a step further and document your journey (and which items made your shortlist) on social media using the hashtag #RuleOf5. And be sure to tag @chellechicliving so that I can cheer you on too! Doing something different can be tough, but when you have a community behind you, sharing new ideas and wins, even the hardest things seem more possible.
So, are you ready to take on the Rule of 5 challenge?
Seal the deal and commit to the Rule of 5 today! Share your pledge on Instagram using #RuleOf5, and let’s create a sustainable, stylish 2025 together. Need a little help enhancing your wardrobe before you get started? Why not check out my FREE Closet Chic guide and take the first step toward the wardrobe of your dreams, right away!
