Investing in high-quality international designers – one of my sustainable fashion tips. I practice what I preach – already owning some pieces by Ukrainian brands and following a ton of designers on socials, I knew coming to Kyiv… some serious investing was about to happen.

First stop was one of my favorite Ukrainian brands: the Katimo boutique.

Sustainable shopping tip #1 – do your research: Preaching what I practice – I recommend saving Instagram / Pinterest photos of products by favorite brands, visualizing how those items complement your existing wardrobe, taking time to think about / weigh out your purchasing options and only then (with full confidence) purchasing an item you 100% know you will wear for a long time. Katimo is a very chic brand – pastel neutral palette dominating the most recent collection, with oversized silhouettes and classic pieces. By default their collections are timeless. Prior to swiping the CC, I also read multiple raving reviews about top notch quality, which is crucial to me – I marched into the Katimo boutique with full confidence and knowledge of what I wanted, just had to confirm the fit. What I’m left with is a gorgeous 2-piece suit, an incredible oversized beige dress (blog post coming soon) and zero buyer’s remorse.

Sustainable shopping tip #2 – fight FOMO: I did this on my next-day shopping adventure to the Vsi Svoi store (a major Kyiv retailer carrying Ukrainian labels). I went in having ideas of styles I wanted, hunted through 2 floors of racks and purchased items I 100% knew were lacking in my wardrobe. There was also a selection of items I chose to think about for 24 hours… Waking up the next morning gave clarity on what items I would return for. Zero buyer’s remorse x2. Outside of traveling, I would take 3-5 days instead, but time is not a luxury on a 4-day trip. Fighting FOMO on an item you kind of, maybe, sort of like – ensures you’re left with purchasing pieces that won’t hang in your closet with a tag.