OUTFIT POST: Basics But Better

 

Not So Basic, Basics

So in my recent goal to create and sustain a "forever style" wardrobe, I've been on the look-out for versatile, timeless pieces made from quality fabrics that are designed to look good years from now, not just while they are "NEW." 

Quality pieces are often a bit more expensive than "fast fashion," so it takes some careful shopping, and that means I keep my eye out for bargains and sales on garments made from silk, wool and linen. SHOPPER'S TIP: choosing a secondhand option often allows you to source a great garment at a good price.

Confession: for the past couple of years, I've been having trouble finding good garments in natural fabrics IN MY SIZE since, ahem, I've gained a bit, and now weigh-in close to 180 lbs. Ugh. The racks in the plus size section at most thrifts are packed with polyester and synthetic fabrics and none of it looks good, while most of it feels cheap. Also they are often times either too frilly for my taste, or are prints I am not fond of. I literally have not found any scores in my size and taste in a thrift store (other than tees, and the occasional jacket) for years now. So, I have taken to shopping online for cough-cough, BRAND NEW stuff. 

Which is "FUN," but-
it really is much more expensive than what I'm used to, as a committed shopper of vintage and secondhand good- I'm used to good stuff for less money. I have been cheered however, by seeing quite a bit of companies who are more dedicated to quality and sustainably produced items than I have in the past. 

Some "common" brands I've enjoyed lately are Madewell and Uniqlo, two brands that I also look for when thrifting! I find the quality pretty good, AND the styles are not particularly "trendy," so when I do buy a garment, I feel I can get years of wear from them. 

The leopard crossbody bag is something I bought last year on clearance from Madewell and I'm very happy with it! I got an additional colorful strap for a little more style zest, but I see they now offer a leopard print one- and that's one I wish I had as well. 

The skirt is from a collection I adore! A 100% linen skirt that can do double duty as a strapless dress and I bought two on sale. This one is in navy blue and its from a Uniqlo collab with one of my favorite designers, JW Anderson. Purchase price was under $15 so a steal, really. 

The blouse is something I bought to look more "professional" when I got a gig playing retail salesperson at a local boutique. It's a nice silk short sleeve blouse by Lilysilk, and while I find it a bit boring, I do think it can be more versatile than I'm giving it credit for. 

What do you think? Are these basics you'd consider?

NOW WEARING: 

• Red wool bowler hat, available HERE
• Animal print crossbody bag with added colorful strap: Madewell
•  Lilysilk mulberry silk camp-shirt in black, purchased on Amazon
• Navy blue linen skirt, on clearance at Uniqlo
• Leopard ponyhair leather slides from Hush Puppies

NOTE: some links are affiliate links and purchasing from this site may result in a commission. 

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Petal to Metal: blooming in vintage metallics

Grey days go away when lit up in lux metals.

Not just for the holidays, vintage embellished with flecks of gold and silver threads are just the thing to add a little dazzle to a dowdy January day.

Can't decide which you like better, a cool silver or warming gold? You don't need to.

SUSTAINABLE SOUL: chrome's mobile factory tour

Forged Rubber: 70 Years in the Making from Chrome Industries on Vimeo.

RUBBER SOUL: Ya gotta love a company that looks to the past for innovations for the future. That's kind of what sustainable style is all about: keeping what works, and fine-tuning it for better products, and better living. We've written about San Francisco-based Chrome Industries before, and we're gonna mention them again.  The company is launching a cross-country tour, showing off it's recently acquired, vintage war apparel machine that they've retrofitted to make sneakers that kick concrete jungle's ass. 

It's coming to the Emerald City  tomorrow and Saturday, so if you're in Seattle, think about swinging by and checking them and the contraption out.

WHAT: Chrome turns modern manufacturing upside down by resurrecting 70-year-old Forged Rubber machines originally used to make army boots.  Discovered in eastern Slovakia, an area of the world known for its demanding city landscapes, the Forged Rubber machines were refurbished and adapted to make sneakers that embody the brand’s spirit of making thoughtful, well-made products.  

Each Forged Rubber sneaker is individually made by hand using heated pressure and fused directly onto the upper to ensure no separation between the upper and the sole. A reflective heel and odor resistant technology are also integrated for daily city survival.

WHERE: Chrome HUB  - 1117 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

WHEN: July 18th Friday & July 19 Saturday - The Unveiling of “Forged Rubber” Manufacturing 11am - 7pm

We've got our eye on these tasty bites of (rubber) red deliciousness:

#SECONDHANDFIRST: Sustainable Kicks. Vintage innovation. American Made.

 

 Which you can purchase HERE.

SECONDHAND FIRST: Tips for Clothing Swaps

Seattle-ite, +40 blogger, roller derby maven, vegan and unofficial #SECONDHANDFIRST advocate, Jean is a pretty cool person all around, and a delight to know. We met a while back at a blogger meet-up, and let me just say, as fun as her blog, Jean of All Trades may seem, she is much more fun (and stylish, and smart and pretty!) in person. I am honored to have her guest post today, covering a FANTASTIC Secondhand First practice: swaps.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. It's the mantra of eco-conscious people everywhere. I like to apply this philosophy to my sartorial life too. I try to shop less, I remix items in new ways, and I recycle.

No, I don't put my old clothes in with my bottles, paper and cans. I attend--and often host--clothing swaps.

Clothing swaps--or exchanges--are a fun way to recycle fashion. They keep clothing out of landfills and keep me out of the mall! Best of all, the clothes don't cost a penny.

Elephant Cocoon: The Ethical Style of Marketplace India

Once again, I'm honored to join the ranks of fashion bloggers asked by Marketplace: Handworks of India to style one of their beautifully made garments. My previous posts discussing this ethical fashion brand, can be seen here, and here. For those who might not have heard of this brand- Marketplace India is a fair trade, not-for-profit organization that "combines the experience of running a business with a variety of support programs designed to effect real, meaningful, and lasting change in the lives of low-income women in India." 

Song of Man: The Art of Dressing

"Ceci n'est pas une robe."

This is not my dress.

This is my life.  Are we destined to run the rails of our lives as passive passengers or can we take the helm, steer the wheel, and see where LIFE takes us? Can we craft our lives as boldly as an artist crafts a painting? If your life is your work of art, how will you dress it? 

You are not your dress. However, how you dress changes who you are. I don't for a moment, confuse my way of dress for my identity. My true self lies in deeper waters than that that can be caught on the casement of a wardrobe. My life is more than what I wear, or where I shop. Who I am is etched far deeper than the topical (yet true) tropes of "the clothes make the man"  variety. But I can, and do celebrate who I am, and where I'm going, in a very deliberate cultivation of what I wear.