Image: Nasty Gal
First I want to apologize for being M.I.A. for a bit…I came down with a nasty bug last week, and I just found out today that it’s bronchitis. Hooray. Either way, I’m doing my best to keep some posts up, so bear with me here! On the positive side though, at least it’s given me time to peruse Netflix and window shop online for a bit, and come up with more ideas to post! At least, I’m trying to see a positive side in all of this but you know, shit happens.
Image: Alternative
Sustainable and Soft Closet Essentials from Alternative
Part of the appeal of fashion is how crazy creative some designers get. It’s an art form, after all, and oftentimes I like window shopping as much as adding pieces to my closet, just to enjoy the artistry. But no matter where the latest trends and looks might take you, there’s nothing better than timeless pieces that will go with anything and keep you comfortable. If they are sustainable, they’re even better, of course! Alternative has been a longtime favorite of mine and I honestly don’t know what took me so long to write a full post about them. I’ve worn items from them in various reviews! My absolute favorite is a lightweight black cardigan wrap with a long cowl neck in the back that can be put over the head, and long sleeves for a super cozy fit (you can see it featured in a post here). I love shopping closet essentials from Alternative because as stylish as I like to be most of the time, I still just have those days where all I want is to be comfy first. Don’t get me wrong though! This brand definitely has some super cute pieces! Sometimes, less is more.
Image: REVOLVE. Bobi BLACK Zip Front Jumpsuit, Young, Fabulous & Broke Chrissy Jumpsuit and MONROW Sleeveless Jumpsuit
When the weather warms up and the wine starts flowing, I love my maxi dresses. There’s something about that lightweight, breezy, flowy feel against your legs as the sun bears down on your shoulders that gets me dreaming of summer all year long. As someone who usually prefers wearing pants over skirts (because without a thigh gap, there’s always going to be some sort of chafing going on by the end of the day which is exacerbated by the stickiness of sweat), I’m surprised I never really considered the maxi dress alternative: the jumpsuit. Rompers, its shorter-leg cousins, are usually pretty prevalent in the California town where I live, which makes sense because we’re pretty warm thoughout most of the year, but I never could see myself in one. It’s not like I don’t wear shorty shorts or mini skirts when it’s hot enough either…I think it has to something with the fact that I have a fairly short torso as it is, and I fear rompers will only make me feel or look blocky. Jumpsuits, on the other hand, keep that elongated, svelte look (as long as the fit is right), and seem like something I would have work at some point by now. I guess I just hadn’t seen one I liked.
Image: Diesel
I think I’ve finally, officially, fallen for the athleisure trend. I’m a very active person as it is, so I have my decent little collection of gym clothing, but I really wasn’t ever into activewear as every day wear, per se. Over the years, as “athleisure” has taken a front seat in the style world, I’ve discovered several brands (like Zobha), that have made me drool. I like darker, edgier, more creative street-style elements, and there has been plenty of that on the market sold as activewear lately. I prefer outerwear rather than leggings and tops when it comes to everyday wear (as I still prefer saving those for the gym) but there have been a lot of awesome pieces out that are starting to pull me in that direction. Now, I just found the popular and trend-breaking denim brand Diesel has solidified their stake in the athleisure industry with Diesel X, and these pieces are hitting all of my tastes.
Love it or hate it, the ’90s (and even a few more decades past) are back. Thanks in part to music festivals, now we’ve once again got bright colors, high waisted shorts and jeans, overalls, embroidery, culottes and more. I find it interesting watching fashion evolve; it seems to have gotten more minimal over the current modern years, with clean embellishmenet-free designs, toned down neutral shades and timeless pieces that probably won’t ever go out of style. That still exists, but styles that once were “out” always revolve around and come back “in,” and in they’ve come. I’ve heard many people verbally roll their eyes at this new trend, but I welcome it with open arms. The ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were about having a great time, and with the growth of music festivals combined again with a bit of political turmoil, these modern years seem to have taken that turn once again as more and more people just wanna have fun.
Image: Revolve
I gotta say, when I first saw this new collection from Revolve, I wasn’t too keen. I don’t really like gingham all that much due to, you know, that “farmer’s daughter” look. Usually pieces with this popular print are frilly and a bit too girly for me, but once I gave a closer look, I spotted a few things I might actually wear. I do like checkered type patterns, especially with flannel tops, and as you probably know by now, I feel if it’s black it’s always better. So, I figured hey, maybe I’ll make a post that’s about something I don’t normally like, and explore its possibilities. That’s part of the reason why I thought starting a blog would be a fun idea to begin with, way back when!
Top: Maddie Moon. Vest: Maddie Moon. Jeans: Sonas Denim. Booties: American Eagle Outfitters. Necklace: Third Eye Pinecones.
Ok. I’ll warn you ahead of time, this is going to be a long post, but I’m quite excited to share this subject brand with you guys! There’s really never any time when I receive a pair of jeans to review that I don’t like, as it’s always cool to try out and report on a variety of different styles. There’s usually something about brands that I work with that I completely respect and jive with that makes me add them to my ever growing list of favorites and makes me excited to share them with all of you! However, rarely is there a time when I discover a brand that truly hits home to me from every angle. This is a review of the ethical Burning Man inspired jeans from Sonas Denim, and I have to say I am totally in love with this brand! I can’t even remember how I stumbled across them…probably because I was so immediately impressed that I forgot how it all came to be.
Image: Shopbop
As obsessed as I am with denim, I’ve grown a huge soft spot for leggings. Just like jeans, they come in so many different fabrics, fits and designs, so it’s easy to want to start a huge collection! I usually wear leggings to the gym rather than all over the place, but once I find a pair with insane eye popping graphics, I am always, for some reason, too afraid to sweat in them! Typically those are reserved for music festivals, DJ gigs or other fun musical events for me. However, considering the quality and attention to detail that goes into these higher end leggings, they really are great for whatever you want to use them for. The battle between jeans or leggings seems to be ongoing, and I’ve never seen so many gorgeous, eye popping designs on performance leggings before! Just like most premium jeans, you pretty much have to expect to pay a little more for quality, 360 degree movement, comfort, fit and longevity, as long as you don’t mind taking a little extra care (avoid tumble drying)!
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop bag here.
Just about everyone loves a nice, brand name handbag. I have a couple that I love (that I found cheaper and second hand on eBay of course), and I enjoy using them for special occasions or simply when the mood strikes. However, as much as I can appreciate nice things, I can’t help but always think of the little guys, the artisans, the ones with huge, blooming visions but smaller global reach or fewer resources. I love writing about the latter more than the former, and am always digging around for new ones to feature here to at least help make them a little better known. Fair trade goods are extremely important to me, and I regularly shop them as well! I believe i’s all about balance in life; enjoy the fruits of your labor…splurge here and there if you can, but don’t forget to support those who really need it.
As part of the music festival circuit, I’m always enamored by all the cute handmade hippie (I refuse to use the word “boho”) bags being carried around by some of the most creative people I’ve ever seen. I was just perusing around Amazon and discovered a whole slew of these, from a company called Tribe Azure. The company is basically a “global artisan movement,” which was born over 45 years ago by Bombdon Ngodup of India. She started her social entrepreneurship in the early 1960s in Northern India, which is a more rural area of the country. Ngodup came from an aristocratic Tibetan family that worked as day laborers in India, so she had a lot of experience working as a street vendor as a young girl. This all inspired her to work hard to create sustainable economic opportunities for artisans in developing countries of South and South East Asia. Tribe Azure is now a “global network of socially conscious entrepreneurs” which strive to create those opportunities. Tribe Azure connects people from communities and markets in developing countries where representation could be improved, and introduces it into the larger global retail markets. The brand would prefer to be seen as a way of empowerment rather than a charity, to help community transformation and eradicate poverty.
Summer is almost here, and these bags totally scream BEACH or POOL DAY, right? The best part is that these bags are not expensive at all, and affordable for just about everyone. The entire line ranges from $15 to $35 on Amazon, and I’m already eyeing a few! It’s so exciting to me to see such talent amongst all of the big names around the world…grab one of these beauties for yourself and help empower an artisan and their community.
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
“Tribe Azure seeks to change the world through creating person to person commerce from communities and markets where there is little to no representation and bringing it into the larger retail ecosystem.”
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
“Our vision is not to solicit charity, but one of empowering community transformation. Our goal is to eradicate poverty and transform communities through our unique innovative market based solution.”
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
“One artisan at a time. We aspire to create a vibrant ecosystem of unfiltered and authentic products from cultures around the world. Every product has a beautiful story to share.”
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
“Our long term vision is to connect artisans directly to consumers. We want to create a community where artisans from around the world can engage in open dialogue and communication with socially conscious consumers all over the world.”
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
“As of now, Tribe Azure is working on establishing a sustainable market for handmade products in North America through its retail partners and online web, and building long term buying relationships in places where skilled artisan partners lack opportunities for stable income. Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.”
Image: Tribe Azure. Shop | Bag 1 | Bag 2
Shop more Tribe Azure items at Amazon here, or read more about this wonderful brand at their website, here.
BLANKNYC has been kicking butt in their usual edgy creativity lately! When they first came out years and years ago, they aimed at providing a means to acquire an alternative to the usual premium denim at prices under $100, with their Skinny Classique being the instant favorite piece. Since then, they’ve succeeded in so many other ways, including bringing vegan leather to the forefront of the market. Some of these items have been incredibly competitive, such as the super successful Embroidered Jacket in As You Wish seen on bloggers (including me, below) everywhere. Most stores have had trouble keeping it on the racks! There’s even an exclusive Bloomingdales version with black studs. It first came out late last year and is still being restocked over and over again through all the major retailers. Since then, BLANKNYC has come out with several more beautiful embroidered jackets, which fits in well with the current booming embroidery trend!
