I love experimenting with proportions. A decade ago I was all about the “fitted” items, if you know what I mean. (Show that waist girl!) But these days I am all about the slouch. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had three kids and a few things have been ‘re-arranged’ or if I am getting modest in my old age. Or maybe it’s just because slouchy feels chic to me, and I want to run with it. Most of the time I love a good slouch with a fitted item, but every once in awhile I like to experiment with a little slouch-on-slouch action.
[vest (similar) / top (similar + made in USA) / skirt (similar) / shoes]
I keep hanging on to this shirt that I picked up a long time ago at Nordstrom Rack. It keeps passing muster for capsules because, 1) it’s well-designed and well-made, and 2) it’s made in the USA! But I am not sure I love it anymore. The color really isn’t “me” but the top is ‘so nice’ so I hang on to it. This shirt represents a sort of crossroads I am at: of ethically made items and stylish pieces.
I have cast aside a few major retailers I used to frequent (Old Navy, Forever21, Target, H&M) because I am pretty sure at the price point they are putting out clothing, the people making them are getting paid peanuts. (Side note: I do still occasionally buy items from these places for my kids. It’s so hard to figure out the compromise between buying well sourced items and not paying an arm and a leg for something your kid is just going to destroy. But I think that’s a blog post for a different day!) There are lots of other major retailers I love (you know who they are!) and some of them offer a lot of great USA made items as well as items at a higher price point. BUT, a higher price point does not guarantee sweatshop-free.
Thankfully the advent of the internet allows me to be in touch with small boutiques and independent designers from all over the world. Yes, I could source items for my closet that way (and I do and I will) BUT sometimes, I just like the top or bag from retailer X better. For example, I have been searching for a leather tote to replace the awful one I wrote about here. I liked one by FashionABLE and Cuyana enough, but at the end of the day, I liked this J.Crew one best.
Is anyone else standing on this street corner? Is it better to have an item you really like or have an item that was ethically made? Should my quest to purchase well trump my quest for personal style or can I have my cake and eat it too?
Food for thought on a Friday…
xo,
andrea
That is such a cute shirt, I love nordstrom rack. And even better that it is USA made! I totally agree, I love the cheap clothes from H&M and similar places but the people making them probably really are being mistreated and paid next to nothing :(
xo,Candace|Lovely Little Rants
It’s hard to think about, huh. But I am trying to be more mindful and let that guide my purchases.
Part of the balance, agreed. I have two thoughts and the first is probably the more painful – patience. I think that waiting (and waiting and waiting and…) will often net the perfect piece on all counts. However, sometimes you won’t or can’t wait. Honestly? I’m not waiting to replace my black skinnies. I fought the hole but it won, and as soon as I can get out to find a replacement, done deal. They’re just too essential for my wardrobe. So I may not buy the most perfectly conscious pair out there, but here’s why I think that’s…not the worst, maybe? Because I’m going to buy a pair that I LOVE. That fit like a dream. That will last. That I’ll wear for days, weeks, months and years – until they’re ready to become insulation – and that’s not a bad baby step toward conscious consumerism. I hope!
Oh how I hate waiting, but that is such a great point Maggie! I think waiting it character building though, and it allows for less buyers’ remorse, and it allows me to save longer and have more buying power when trying to buy ethically.
Speaking of your black skinnies, have you tried Paige? I have a pair by them that are absolutely amazing. They are spendy, but they don’t stretch out as much as other denim, and they are made in the USA! They make ultra skinny ones too.
That last question is tricky, because fashion, though it seems superficial, does have a real effect on us in the world and having things we love should make us more content than having things just because they meet certain criteria. If I want something that isn’t ethically sourced, I try to find it secondhand on ebay. But I do think there’s value in retraining myself to stop looking at things that don’t meet ethical standards – no temptation if I don’t know it exists!
Great points Leah. I have definitely cut out certain retailers, but then there are others that I am unsure of their ethical standards. Perhaps this is where you can help me!
I’m standing at this crossroads right with you. Capsuling has made me reconsider the way I buy clothes- both the quantity and the quality. I want quality, well-made clothing that comes from people being treated right, but I also love getting quality well-made things on the cheap. I think I’ll have to do some more soul-searching on this one, because my budget is low and my needs are high.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Kate
kateintheclassroom.com
I like this!
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