Last Sunday I crossed the French border to see my friend Gianna at Maison des Temps in Kauffenheim.

She’s not only my wonderful yoga instructor and friend but also a multi faceted entrepreneur, working on her latest project, a plant based hair & skin care line called Les Roots . Gianna is a classic inside out beauty with a rare quality: She’s not only talking about sustainability, she’s living it. Most pieces in her wardrobe have been there for many years, she rarely acquires anything new. I even found Dr. Martens which she bought twelve years old. Many pieces are gifts from artist or designer friends, some are heritage items from her mum.

I asked Gianna to put aside “?” clothing (toss or keep) first. When I arrived, everything was arranged neatfully and in easy reach so we could start with the styling process immediately. We created 10+ outfits and realized there were only four items to give away to someone else (mostly related to unflattering color). As follow-up, I created a list with some lacking key pieces like a black belt, a crossbody bag etc.

Personally, I have never seen anyone who wears clothing as long as Gianna does, except for my mum maybe. As I am trying to keep my styling process as sustainable as possible, only filling true gaps at the end of each session with personal shopping recommendations, I am excited about what I have seen. There is hope, we might be on the right path, there may be a shift of priorities. This styling session also sets an example that once you’ve acquired YOUR own individual personal style, you don’t need to add much. Once you add less, you’ll be able to focus on quality without making compromises and wear only pieces you truly love.