Cora Maria

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been dressing alternatively, because everyone has moments when they question their style. This can be really confusing and difficult to figure out, which could lead to remorseful purchases and/or boxing yourself into a particular set of rules. I get it, I’ve been there. Quite recently too. Learning about minimalism and sustainability made me question my own style and consumer habits. Was most of my wardrobe just made from what was convenient and affordable? How many of the pieces do I actually love? How many do I wear? What even is my style anymore? Due to a lengthy and time-consuming commitment, I had to put dealing with this style crisis on hold, but having months to think about the problem rather than rushing to solve it taught me a few tips that I think would be beneficial to anyone experiencing similar confusion. Don’t jump straight into mood boards. Most ‘How to Find Your Style’ advice begins with creating a mood board or Pinterest

Decluttering revealed many things for me, like how I only wore six out of 13 pairs of shoes. A good wardrobe is not a large wardrobe, but a well-edited one. Unfortunately, this stance I’ve taken seems to be in the minority. I, like many people in the alternative fashion community, obsessed over collecting clothing for the sake of having a larger wardrobe and more “options” for my outfits. Ironically enough, my collection obsession resulted in a poorly curated, mentally draining, unexpectedly restrictive wardrobe. While there are plenty of wardrobe declutter resources out there, I wanted to write this post offering unique advice that worked for me as a lover and wearer of alternative fashion, as well as an aspiring minimalist. Before you read this article, I highly recommend you read ‘8 Signs You Need to Clean Out Your Closet’ if you haven't already. Only those who fit at least one of those points will benefit from the advice in this article. Go on a shopping h

Used to be over 70 items. Now it's 30 and shrinking. It's the new year and everyone is looking for a fresh start. For myself and many others, decluttering and discarding items from our wardrobes can make you feel mentally lighter. Cluttered and overcrowded closets can cause stress and a decline in coord quality. If you are a beginner in the alternative fashion community, it's especially easy to get wrapped up in the idea of quantity over quality, as you try to build a large wardrobe as rapidly as possible. For others, it’s more an obsession with having the next big thing, or pursuing an unattainable version of oneself. However, before anyone even considers cleaning out their wardrobe, they must understand why it needs to be done. Whether you have or like having a small, medium, or large wardrobe, if you notice any of these red flags, then it’s probably time to declutter. You always feel like you have nothing to wear. Ah… the age old dilemma; a closet stuffed

A vintage jacket I DIYed with patches from small businesses. Welcome to Part 3 of my sustainability and alternative fashion trilogy. In the first blogpost, we explored the sustainable traits of alternative fashion , and in the second blogpost, we analysed where we fall short. This week, we learn from our successes and failures to figure out how we can improve as individuals and as a community. If we want our subcultures to be a part of the sustainable fashion conversation and revolution, we need to take action together and right now via the following actions. Support alternative brands trying to be more sustainable and/or ethical. Especially those that fit a less common aesthetic. Unfortunately I only know of two brands that focus on creating sustainable and kawaii clothing. CLEAN and Strawberry Skies Designs both upcycle fabric into amazing garments. They might be expensive, but they’re charging a fair price for their time and resources. I’m not saying that