Hello! Happy almost June!
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying the process of getting dressed, and I’ve spent fewer mornings standing in front of my closet, staring blankly. I recently named my style and I’ve noticed that putting some loose definitions on what I like to wear has helped me build more successful outfits each day. AND when I’m weighing a purchase or collaboration, it’s helped me make better decisions about what I should or should not add to my closet,
If you haven’t done the exercise of putting words to your style, I highly recommend it. Mine are: casual-cool with a bit of 70’s. I found it’s easier to choose a few words for the current season (spring/summer) instead of trying to think of your style as a whole, which can be overwhelming. I’d love to hear what you come up with!
Meanwhile, here’s what I’ve been wearing, including one classic top that is on special sale for the next few days.
I got an itch to embrace my ‘hippie’ side the other day and put on this outfit. I love the way hats pull a look together, but find myself forgetting to include them. If you wear a hat, do you commit for the whole day? Or take it off when inside?
Fighting off the springtime chill with a cotton sweater. Super happy it’s ankles-out weather though!
This top is a spring and summer favorite of mine! But I am super bummed to see some discoloration in a few parts, I think due to the natural-dying process. It’s not too noticeable yet, so I’m going to try and keep rocking it.
This sweater was a spring and summer favorite of mine last year, but I’ve noticed I reach for my wool version a little more. While the cotton is lovely, it’s a little heavy, and I think I prefer the drape of the wool. We’ll see how this season plays out.
I love the way this top makes me feel. It’s one of those confidence-building pieces because it’s feminine, unique and easy.
I love the look of this outfit (as styled in the video) but I ended up moving to a partial tuck later in the day due to wrinkles. I sized down to a small for this shirt, and the drape is beautifully relaxed without being too oversized.
Same shirt, different day! I decided to wear the black and white versions of this top over the long weekend, just for fun, and to give me little time to continue styling them. The biggest obstacle for me in wearing these shirts is ironing. I always put the chore off. But once I do it, the results are so good. I love how this top looks with the long shirt tails tied, just like I styled it last year.
I took this photo in front of my parents’ house, how pretty is their yard?! This outfit was such a win for me. Lately, I’ve been really into less-structured pants. I love the look of my Kamm pants, but it’s really hard to argue with the ease that comes with wearing relaxed-fit bottoms. I’m even thinking about selling a pair of my Kamms and replacing them with these.
After drooling over Beatrice Valenzuela sandals for the last year, I finally bought a pair this spring, only to find them too narrow for my feet. I love the look of them, but was a bit relieved because I found the price point a little steep. These woven slides by Mohinders were second on my list to try, and I’m thrilled with them! In fact, I think I like them better because the woven detail is a little more my style, the shoes are a bit heartier and won’t scuff as easily, and they are half the price.
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You may have noticed that I’ve recently started including a few brands outside the hard and fast ‘ethical fashion realm.’ For example, the shirt two outfits above is from Madewell. My reasons are this: I feel the ethical fashion community has become stringent, expensive and redundant, and I don’t love that. Even worse, it has started to feel exclusive.
I have started to loosen up my grip and am no longer white-knuckling the rules. Not a lot, but a little. It doesn’t come easy for my black and white personality, but I think being legalistic in my views of what’s ‘ethical’ can be the antithesis of progress. My smart friends reminded me that it’s better to buy something you love and wear it over and over than buy something that checks the ethical box and is ho-hum. AND, there shouldn’t be a wrong way to do better.
I’m not going to run out and swoop up a bunch of ‘fast fashion,’ and I’m not looking at this as giving me permission to buy to excess, but I am leaving room for being more open minded.
I’ve always felt the same way about ethical fashion (that it’s stringent, expensive, redundant, and exclusive) so I decided my way of being ethical is to buy secondhand. My closet is full of conventional brands in the styles and colors I like, but it’s all pre-loved and I’m ok with that. You’re right, there is no wrong way to do better.
Yes, I love this Kim. I like what Martine said below, it’s all about being aware, and doing the best with the opportunities you have. It’s amazing what you can find secondhand these days! And the internet has made it so easy. Thanks for sharing how you do ethical fashion.
I’ve only recently begun to explore the ethical fashion world but I have to agree that it feels quite exclusive. I love your relaxed style.
http://www.poutineandprada.com
Thanks Sarah! There is some good input in the comment here about how others do ethical fashion, there is definitely more than one way!
Thanks for sharing that Kamm pants aren’t the most comfortable. Every time I see them, I think “they look nice, but soooo uncomfortable” and I already have issues with looser high waist styles.
To your point about the ethical fashion community, I think that sense of insularity comes mostly from Instagram and, in reality, is not representative of the expanse of “rules,” interests, or individual style that people actually enjoy. Pulling away from that a bit has reminded me that this is a space intended for everyone, and the popularity game is so trivial and trivializing.
I no longer feel guilt about an “unethical” purchase if I know that it’s THE THING I wanted/needed, but I still prefer thrifting or buying secondhand versions of the exact thing I like.
On Kamms, my oldest pair is comfortable, I think they’re broken in enough to really feel good. But the other pair I have is not very forgiving if your weight fluctuates at all, which can feel a little discouraging.
Yes, I totally see what you are saying about Instagram. How do you connect with the ethical fashion community outside that? I really like that idea.
Thank you for sharing your perspective Leah, I always hold it in high regard!
My weight has been constantly fluctuating around my hips and butt, which always makes pants fit differently, so it’s something I’ve had to just come to terms with. My metabolism is not what it used to be.
What’s been helpful for me is following people who follow me on Instagram or on my blog – who tend to have smaller blogs or followings – because they’re often “just regular people” instead of influencers, and thus their style is more diverse and informed by a different set of financial circumstances. Because I’m rebuilding from scratch on the platform, I am intentionally not following the bigger accounts and prioritizing the smaller ones. I also think the conference I attended in DC last fall helped me understand “ethical fashion people” to be all sorts of people, some of them not conventionally “fashionable” at all, who are interested in ethics, textile recycling, feminism, diversity, and large scale change. Getting out of the traditional influencer bubble has helped, for sure. And remembering that I get to own my personal style whether or not other people like it.
Like all the outfits but the first one is my favorite!
I love the tunic and everytime I see it on you it makes me want to get one myself too ;-)
Regarding the Babaa sweater: you say that you prefer the wool one over the cotton no18.
But isn’t the wool one very, very warm?
I’m afraid that it feels like you are wearing a sheep around your shoulders hahahahaha.
I own the The Florence pants in canvas and I love them but I had a lot tailored before it was right.
I found it difficult to get the sizing right and I now know that I could easily have taken a size down (M instead of L).
About the exclusivity of ethical fashion: I have always thought that buying slow fashion is a matter of being able to effort it.
I agree on the whole idea but I also see very clearly that eventhough I know that buying ethical fashion is so much better in so many ways, it not so easy practice it.
For me the most important is that I buy things that I love for the years to come which is also, in a certain way, slow fashion.
I still have 2 pants that I bought severals years ago at H&M and Zara.
I still love them and wear them each spring/summer.
And only this year I have been able to add some really ethical produced pieced to my wardrobe and I know that I will
love them as much as I love the pants.
I think the most important thing is that you are aware of what’s happening within the fast fashion industry and that you try to do your best within your own possibilities.
Hi Martine! The wool is SO warm, I think that’s why I like it so much. I am sure in a few more weeks it will probably be too hot to even think about wool. But MOST of the year is wool weather around these parts. I love the mental picture of wearing a sheep around your shoulders HAHAHAHA.
Yes, I think you nailed it, re: ethical fashion. Being aware and doing the best we can within our own circumstances seems like the smartest way to tackle it. Great input!!
Your blog is a HUGE problem for me. It makes me want to purchase every outfit you post.
P
Hahahaha!! I’m still SO tickled that you are reading it and taking the time to comment.
’Slow and steady’ builds the ideal wardrobe, right? Thank you for stopping by Priscilla!
Hi!
I am loving how relaxed your looks are! Also, your thoughts on ethical fashion are very interesting. After all, what could be more sustainable than making a thoughtful purchase of a piece you love and want to wear over and over again? You opened my mind about a dress I recently viewed in a Mango window and rejected for not being conscious… Maybe I’ll go over there this weekend and try it on!