Lana

Sustainable and Soft Closet Essentials from 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.

Alternative’s mission is to provide “that soft, lived‑in look and feel of our favorite vintage tee,” and they’ve lived by that motto since 1995. The brand creates amazing, timeless everyday basics with a real, worn-in feel. Sometimes with everything there is out there, it can be tough to cut through the noise and find some wardrobe staples that are worth the money. You can definitely shop with confidence with this brand as everything is created with the finest fabrics for softness and durability. But the most important to me is that you can also shop guilt free, since over 80% of Alternative’s products are either organic or made from recycled materials, and everything is made with sustainable processes and fair labor. Apparel manufacturing is inherently dirty and wasteful. Using a G2 wash, Alternative uses 60% less water, and they also use non-toxic, low impact dies. Social responsibility has also always been important to the brand. They keep high standards of fair and safe workplace conditions for all their factories around the world, which are in accordance with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workplace Code of Conduct. Many are also certified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP).

I wish more companies were like Alternative! Here are just a few of the awesome products this company has to offer.

“More than a name, Alternative is who we are.”

“By purchasing from a fabric-first company, you aren’t just getting a finished product. You’re investing in every stage of its life cycle, including the materials and processes we use to make it. Our commitment to sustainability is defined by creating products responsibly. We make over 80% of our garments with sustainable materials and processes.”

“Innovating from thread to finish. We make timeless, authentically worn-in styles that people want to wear today and tomorrow.”

“Working on a global scale, we respect and value the rights of workers in all countries and believe in the right to fair and safe workplace conditions. Our factories…are in accordance with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workplace Code of Conduct. Additionally, many of the factories we work with are certified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), an independent, non-profit team of global social compliance experts.”

“Offering the best in everyday basics, Alternative creates wardrobe staples with modern silhouettes, balancing simplicity and style.”

“Our design is rooted in sustainable and eco-friendly practices. We source the finest fabrics for softness and durability, and incorporate organic and recycled materials wherever possible.”

Learn more about, and shop, Alternative here.

Lana

Chic and Casual Jumpsuits for Night or Day

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.

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Lana

Flirty Black and White Gingham Looks from REVOLVE

Flirty Black and White Gingham Looks from REVOLVE

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!

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Lana

BLANKNYC Bumps Up Their Embroidered Jacket Game

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!

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Lana

Olive Green is the Color of Spring

I know, I was just as surprised as you are, I guess. Usually Fall is the time for earthy, neutral colors such as browns, burgundies, and olive greens…but I’ve seen more than one retailer pushing the latter as a new Spring color. I’m fine with it, as I’m not much of a bright pastelley color person at all, and olive happens to be one of my favorite colors. It’s nice to find more toned down alternatives! Most people probably associate olive green as a military shade, and military pieces are indeed included in these new Spring marketing campaigns. They are also usually more lightweight which offers more breezy options for the warmer weather!

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Lana

New Unisex Designs from Skingraft

New Unisex Designs from Skingraft

Image: Skingraft

I’m sure you’ve all noticed that the gender-neutral, unisex thing has been spreading across the apparel world lately, and I say why not? Fashion, design and creativity have way too many possibilities to be confined within boxes! From H&M to denim brands to even Coach, brands are realizing consumer demands to not have their tastes limited to a specific category or be defined by a certain style. Personally, I feel this works best when it comes to modern, minimalistic designs, such as the dark, music-inspired Los Angeles brand Skingraft. I wrote about them about a year and a half ago and I’m still enjoying each of their newsletters that grace my inbox, watching (and coveting) every new collection they release!

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Lana

Five Sustainable or Ethical Designer Brands on Shopbop

The designer fashion world is often seen as self-serving, shallow, snooty and of course, gosh darn expensive…and I don’t often write about it because I know it’s a bit beyond my, and most people’s, reach. However, I do admire the creativity that goes into many of these brands, and I also like getting to the bottom of truth. Not all high end brands recklessly pursue the almighty dollar—there are definitely a lot to give shoutouts to. Some brands started off with sustainability or other ethical initiatives in mind, and some make the switch later as awareness grows and they become more mindful of their footprint on this planet. No matter the price point, I like to give coverage to a brand that realizes resources are finite, or that human rights are important. If you happen to be one that adorns your closet with designer goods but are looking to shop a little more guilt-free, then this post is perfect for you!

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Lana

The Nomads Hemp Wear Spring and Summer 2017 Collection

Hello all! So I’m back from Lucidity Festival, and I gotta say it’s ridiculously tough to get back into the swing of things after that. I feel so refreshed, relaxed, and pretty inspired in a few other creative avenues I’ve been curious about exploring! One of which is apparel, thanks to all of the beautiful, unique, independent clothing vendors I shopped at the festival (right up my alley and a common subject on my blog). So, I think it’s only fitting I slowly rev back up my blog momentum with a post within that subject!

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Lana

Shop Sustainable Brands through ASOS Eco Edit

I’ve had a lot of favorite online shopping destinations throughout the years, but lately I’ve made a conscious effort to shop primarily through independent Etsy artists or sustainable brands I discover through my digging around for quality posts to share with all of you. I don’t really frequent many of the popular powerhouses, like Tobi, ASOS, H&M or Zara (I definitely stay away from fast fashion). However, it’s been nice to hear lately that H&M has actually been working towards more sustainable practices, and Zara released a sustainable collection last year. Just recently, while researching the next cool item to write about, I realized that all this time, ASOS has had their own eco-friendly collection as well, along with a fair-trade line. How on earth did I miss this?

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Lana

GAP Brings Back the ’90s with Limited Edition Pieces

GAP Brings Back the '90s with Limited Edition Pieces

Image: Gap

So I know, I’ve been posting a lot about old and vintage style…but it’s no joke. I figured it was probably something that fit into the realm of cult favorites—even Urban Outfitter’s Urban Renewal vintage shop seemed to be kind of hidden like an enigmatic back room of a brick and mortar shop to be discovered and deliciously ransacked by only its biggest fans in the know. Nasty Gal helped bring vintage style to the forefront too, but to me it never seemed to totally kick off. That seems to be changing now, with Gap being the next to dive in with a new collection of pieces right out of the ’90s.

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