sustainable fashion swaps for summer 2019 trends

Hey friends! Summer has been rolling by, and so too have some gorgeous new looks.

I definitely don't think I'm alone in this feeling: I'm walking down the street, and all of a sudden I see someone wearing a breathtaking dress/pant/jumpsuit/etc. and I just think, "I NEED to have that!"

But, alas, I remind myself, it likely came from a fast fashion retailer. So it will not be mine anytime soon. :(

However, I then realize: slow fashion is not that difficult! That's the Ethigirl mantra. And so, I do some research on an alternative.

And that, friends, is the post I'm bringing to you today! I wanted to take a look at some of my favourite fashion trends I've seen lately, and provide sustainable fashion alternatives that you can shop in case you find yourselves in the market for any of them. Enjoy!

trend #1: woven circle bags

First up are all of those amaaaazing woven bags I've been seeing all over the place. I first stumbled upon them in a boutique near my apartment, and I was super excited to have my first encounter with them be ethical! I forgot to grab the brand name when I left that day. However, it didn't take me long to find an option when researching for this article!So, here's two:

Thirty One Bits' Woven Drum Bag - Metal Handle ($88)

The (Ethical) Details: Thirty One Bits is a new brand discovery for me! The brand's story began in 2008 when three college students came together to connect passionate, skilled women artisans in Uganda with a global market in a fair, empowering way. Some of the brand's core values include access to the global market, fair pay & dignified jobs, clean & safe workshops, and more.

The (Product) Details: This circular bag was hand- and artisan-made in Teganan Village, Bali. According to Thirty One Bits:

Teganan is one of the oldest villages in Bali and continues to hold much meaning and ritual of the Balinese culture. The grass is only found in the jungle and one must forage this unique wild grass to make the bags.

Boho Bags' Ata Bag (Medium) ($45)

The (Ethical) Details: These bags are handcrafted by Indonesian artisans with the mission of showcasing their incredible quality and beauty beyond where they make them, but in a more ethical way. Fair pay & conditions, as well as high quality, are never sacrificed.

The (Product) Details: According to Boho Bags' website, these bags are made with indigenous Ata grass from Bali. They're also lined with beautiful fabric and finished with a leather strap and clasp. They're also dried on a coconut fire!

trend #2: fun pants

I am ALLL about this trend. I think a good pair of pants is such a flattering look on absolutely everybody. I have a couple pairs that I alternate so often that my colleagues at my internship have labeled my pants looks as my staple. And so, I can't help but adore them on other people, too!

There are many variations to this trend: high-waisted with a tie-front, brightly-patterned, button fly, and more. My personal favourite is a sky-high-waisted pair with pretty noticeably flared legs. Ideally, they hit just a little above your ankle.

Fortunately, there are also a lot of ethical options with which to engage in this trend! My favourite pairs are both thrifted, one even from thredUP, a huge online consignment store. However, there are also tons of firsthand ethical options. Let's discuss two.

Everlane's Straight Leg Crop ($68)

The (Ethical) Details: Everlane is getting so popular and iconic that I wonder how much longer I'll even have to write these blurbs for it. Everlane is all about radical transparency. Each product features the exact city and country in which it was made, as well as a link to a sub-page for the exact factory in which it was made. This page is an entire bio on that factory's details, including how and why they chose it, how many people work there, and their ethical standards. It's polished off with intimate photos of employees creating the products. They do an ethical audit of all these factories on the regular, and shoot for a score of 90 or above on them all.

The (Product) Details: I don't own these pants; however, I do own the shorts version in olive. The quality is outstanding. I truly can't recommend them enough. I especially love the large pockets on the front and back of the piece: such a beautiful and timeless detail. Everlane offers these pants in a variety of colours, as well as in short or regular length.

Dazey LA x K.S. Garner's Finley Cord Pants ($82 - but 10% off with code ASPENIRIS)

ALRIGHT, I think I died and went to heaven with these?! Amazing.

The (Ethical) Details: Dazey LA has been by badass Dani Nagel, who worked in the clothing industry for awhile and decided to do something different. She created Dazey LA, a cut-and-sew, made-to-order apparel shop dedicated to empowering women through amazing graphic tees. The Dazey Lady shop grew out of that mission when Dani decided to start offering the products of other badass women entrepreneurs with awesome missions. Kelsey of K.S. Garner is one of those entrepreneurs. Her small-batch, handmade collection originates from Phoenix, AZ.

The (Product) Details: These cord pants by K.S. Garner are an example of the success of Dani's Dazey Lady shop. All of their products are handmade in Phoenix, AZ. Their killer colour combo and gorgeous sewn-on pocket front make them absolutely shopstopping.

If you find this product a bit pricey, I have a discount code! Use code ASPENIRIS at checkout for 10% off (and support Ethigirl in the process)! Moreover, Dazey LA offers Afterpay to make it more accessible. Simply select the Afterpay option and split your payment into four interest-free ones.

trend #3: chunky earrings and jewelry

Finally, this trend COULD be my favourite. I absolutely adore jewelry. I always have. Going to Claire's and picking out new pairs of earrings was one of my favourite past times as a kid. As I've grown up, my adoration has grown up with me, and now into this trend!I've been seeing so many artsy pieces of jewelry all over Instagram lately. I want to buy them all. I love the daring-ness of these pieces! They stand out so much. I especially like quirky-shaped earrings. Here's my favourite recommendation for them...

Dazey LA x Sigfus Jewelry's Mini Blossom Earrings ($35 - but 10% off with code ASPENIRIS)

The (Ethical) Details: Another one of Dazey LA's absolutely incredible Dazey Lady shop gems! Sigfus' pieces are all handcrafted in Tucson, AZ (I seriously sense a trend here). Lauren Valenzuela, the woman at the helm, designs and makes all of the bold pieces herself! According to Dazey, the brand is passionate about "women, diversity, and inclusion" - all things Ethigirl can get behind.

The (Product) Details: Now let's talk about these amazing creations!! I love everything about these earrings. I just think they're so different from anything else I've seen. I love the terrazzo-like top, and how well it matches with the more matte, half-circle bottom. The extra etching on them just really brings the whole piece together.

conclusion

Well friends, there you have it! Three trends to love and to partake in sustainably. Are there any I forgot? Let me know in the comments! Liked this post style? Let me know in the comments! Got a haircut? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to chat.

With love and sustainability,

Ethigirl

sustainable outfit upgrades: three quick tips

Hi pals! IT'S OFFICIALLY SUMMER for me! Last exam written, followed by a couple of trips to visit some family, and first week of my internship completed. Now, it's time to finish off the Sustainable Wardrobe Makeover series (at least for now) with this last post about upgrading your outfits with some quick, easy tips!

You're going to quickly find that these tips are quite simple. That is, I know they're not revolutionary, but they're honestly not designed to be. In fact, that's the whole point: simple tricks that can take your outfits to brand new levels.

I'll be modelling a basic t-shirt and jeans combo here, and then upgrading it bit by bit to demonstrate the difference these tips make. Here's the no-frills look:

For reference, my tee is the United By Blue Women's Standard Pocket Tee and my jeans are thrifted vintage Levi's! With all of that set out, let's get into the tips!

tip #1: a good old-fashioned tuck

Tucking in a shirt to a pair of jeans, pants, or even a skirt makes ALL the difference in any outfit. It provides excellent shape, and instantly makes things more put-together. This tip is especially important in any outfit which incorporates more than one looser-fitting piece: so, for instance, a sweater and boyfriend jeans. However, it's also important in an outfit where you might have a tighter shirt and jeans, yet an oversized cardigan.

You may know, though, that there are a lot of different types of shirt tucks. A basic, all-around tuck and a french tuck aren't the only ones that exist! This is honestly not something worth getting overwhelmed about; however, if you are interested in taking things up a notch, I think this Guardian article does a great job of summing them up and providing different occasions for each.

Below, you can see how I've already leveled up my look by tucking my tee into my jeans. Why would I ever want to waste the high-waistedness of these lovely bottoms?

And here you can see me having some fun in my newly-advanced look...

tip #2: cuffs are key!

Something that I've learned about getting dressed is that it truly is all in the details. Any outfit, regardless of how simple it may be, can be made to look like you spent a lot of time putting it together. For instance, even a t-shirt and jeans combo, which is possibly as basic as you can get, is amped up by combining the previous shirt-tuck tip with this one, about cuffing the sleeves/ends of your various outfit elements.

If you take the t-shirt/jeans example, you have two spots to pursue that I'd usually cuff: the sleeves of the t-shirt, and the pant legs of the jeans. I find that taking the time to do both of these in your outfit - especially if paired with a shirt tuck, a nice pair of shoes, and some simple jewelry - really brings everything up to a whole new level. And, seriously, it hardly takes any extra time at all. So you may as well do yourself a favour and take that time.

However, cuffs are not always in order. You may have a pair of jeans that you bought with a raw hem, and that's an element of them that you want to show off. So go for it! No need to hide it. This is a tip that, like all others, works in some situations but not necessarily in every.

In my outfit below, these jeans can totally go without a cuff; I can definitely embrace the naturally-flared hem if I ever want to. However, they also look great with a cuff!

tip #3: adding cool accessories

Going off of the importance of details: accessories are yet another thing which make allll the difference. I've always been a huge fan of cool socks (I've got quite the collection of patterns, as well as a couple pairs with famous paintings on them), but I also love and recommend jewelry, hats, scarves, and bandanas. Just check out below to see what a difference bringing in these elements can make to tie together a look.

Any of these things (except socks, I suppose, and rightly so) can be easily and cheaply found at secondhand/thrift stores. All of my favourites have been purchased in these ways.

It's important not to go crazily overboard, and to instead ensure you only choose a couple. Less is definitely more.

In my outfit below, I've simply added a thrifted floppy bohemian hat, a necklace, and a belt.

conclusion

And there you have it! Three quick and easy tips that'll help you bring your outfits to completely new levels.

How do you tie together your looks? Let me know in the comments down below! Otherwise, wishing you a lovely start to the summer, and thanks so much for reading!

With love and sustainability,

ethigirl

finding your style identity: several key tips

Helloooo friends! Hope you've had a lovely day, and that you're enjoying seeing the spring sunshine show herself again. Spring presents such new energy and I am soaking in every. last. bit. of it!!! So much love!

Along with the emergence of spring, also expect to see me around a little bit less (with exams), and then a LOT MORE (with summer! and no school! and waay more free time)! I have so, so many plans in the works for future content creation and projects and collaborations that I'm going to be oh so elated to share with you all.

As well, spring means moving, and so get excited to see what is hopefully lots of sustainable decor content (my absolute favourite creative thing in the world after clothing)!

Anyway, aside from that little ~~ life update ~~ I wanted to introduce to you today's post, in which I'm going to talk about STYLE IDENTITY. Finding your style identity is important for so many reasons, but when it comes to sustainability/ethicality, it's super integral because it ensures you not only buy less items, but also buy better ones. It also allows you to move toward a more minimalist lifestyle. Even if you don't have a "capsule wardrobe", you'll end up with a lot fewer items that you love a lot more. So in the post, I'll talk about how to identify yours, and then how to transfer this into outfits that you love!

Let's make some new outfits!

This post is also part of ethigirl's Sustainable Wardrobe Makeover Series, which I've designed to be a several-part introduction into finding your style identity and finallyyyyy feeling like what you put on your body reflects who you are, but WITHOUT going out and buying a brand new closet of clothing.

So without further ado, let's get into the post!

section I: forming your style identity

Key to creating your style identity is not only envisioning your dream closet, but figuring out what your favourite pieces that you already have are. There are a number of ways I suggest you do this.

First, go through your Instagram. See what pieces come up the most in your pictures. If you use Facebook or something else more, check there instead. Take these pieces out of your closet. Then, simply go through your closet and pick out all your other top, most-worn pieces are. In total, this can be anywhere from five to ten pieces. Whatever feels right to you.

Once you have all of this in front of you, go on your Pinterest. I'm hoping you have a style board - you must! If you don't you can also look at what you have bookmarked on Instagram, or you can do it the old-fashioned way and just make a list of all your favourite types of clothing and styles.

Then, figure out the common colours, silhouettes, fabrics, and more. Try to synthesize this all into a page-long list/collage of key words and ideas about what your dream closet looks and feels like. Feel free to make it pretty!

What you should be left with is something of an inspiration dream/mood board, which is super exciting! Make sure this page really feels like you. This task could take longer than you think. For me, the ultimate tip to doing so is using my Pinterest style board and curating it as much as possible until I'm really left with the things that I look at and think of my style.

One note about this so-called "style identity" thing: it implies that your style is completely static, which is so not the case! It can change all the time, and that is totally okay. You'll want to try out new trends, or you'll stop feeling the old ones. However, I do believe we all have a core group of items with things in common that we will consistently gravitate toward because of how good they make us feel. This little activity helps you consciously understand what those are, and to be able to feel good even more of the time.

Alright, so with your closet dream board in front of you, we're now going to talk about putting new outfits together that encompass it!

transferring this into new outfits and looks

When it comes to creating new looks, the main sustainable tip is trying not to buy too many things. In an upcoming post, I'm going to talk about what pieces you should splurge on and what ones you shouldn't, but for now, the main point is to only buy things you really, REALLY love.

The way that I ensure I do this is by keeping a "thrifting wish list" of the items I'm on the hunt for. Doing this ensures that when I'm at a secondhand shop, I don't buy things I don't necessarily want or needs on a whim. Of course, there are always going to be those dream pieces you never knew you needed until you saw them, and you should totally go for those, but in general, try to stick to what you know you want and are looking for.

Despite whether you do or don't shop, you're still going to be able to put together some amazing new looks. Start by taking one or more of those key pieces you determined in the first step - it could be a shirt, a favourite pair of jeans, or a sweater - and then simply explore your closet like you're looking at it with fresh eyes. Look for secondary pieces you have that you never would have thought to pair with these items. Think about layering turtlenecks or sweaters under tank tops, think about adding cute socks under heels, think about new colour or pattern combos that you never thought about before! In this stage, nothing is off the table. I swear, you're going to be able to find something new in this way.

One example - a thrifted silk tank over a secondhand turtleneck!

As a final resource, Ashley of BestDressed on YouTube (one of the only youtubers I actually watch on a consistent basis) has an amazing video here with 50 unique new ways to put together an outfit. There are so many tips in here that you'd NEVER think of. I really can't recommend watching her enough!

conclusion

So there you have it! A go-to guide about claiming your personal style and creating new outfits and looks without spending a whole lot of money, and without harming the environment or its people.

I want to hear from you! Did this post inspire any new amazing looks? I'll be posting some on my Instagram in the coming days to get you inspired, but I want you to DM me with yours so I can share them with the community! Hit me up and let's chat soon ;)

As always, with love and sustainability,

ethigirl!

slow fall fashion: ethigirl's lookbook

Y A Y  F O R  F A L L ! ! !

Wow wow wow I used the HEADER option for those words because it is absolutely, positively my FAVOURITE time of year. I am so excited that it's finally here! If I'm being completely honest, though (and I'm not going to try not to be because my roommates would totally call me out if I wasn't!) I've been in fall mode for several weeks now. Oh yes...the acoustic indie Spotify playlists have been made, the fresh cookies and cinnamon buns have been baked, a cute scarf has been thrifted, and I am just too far off the deep end to ever return. (Please do not remind me of the iced-over wasteland that we will be experiencing far too soon. I am not prepared and I'm definitely ignoring the reality.)

It's not that I don't like summer - I love it! But there's just something so magical and romantic and EXTREMELY cozy about fall. Candles, tea, blankets, CARDIGANS, baking, big coats, and so many other things...I absolutely adore it. And the leaves!!

And as well - probably my favourite part of this incredible season - THE FASHION. I think fall is the loveliest for getting dressed in the morning (except for when you wear a warm coat in the morning and then once the sun comes out you reduce into a pile of sweat. But just let me be idealistic okay).

Picture this: you awake to the smell of cinnamon buns fresh outta the oven. You throw off your eighteen blankets and immediately put on fuzzy socks and a hoodie. After you eat a cinnamon bun you adorn yourself in a beanie, cardigan, tights, and ankle boots, (reusable) mug of tea in hand. You are ready. You are autumnally-prepared. You are thriving.

Did it feel like you were there? My elementary school English teachers did tell me I was good at descriptive writing. ;) Anyway, now that I have set the scene, you are ready for this post. It's all about the pursuit of adorable fall fashion and how to craft ethical, sustainable outfits for every autumnal occasion! Grab a latte and a blanket. I hope this helps you and inspires you to live your best (pumpkin-filled) life this fall!

Also, an extra special thank you to my two friends Mollie and Psalm for contributing so much to this post. Mollie took beautiful photos (and let Psalm and I try clumsily to do the same), and the two of them both love thrifting and shopping slow so they volunteered their Sunday afternoon to shoot photos of their favourite fall outfits!

I've also linked my fall Spotify playlist below!!! It's got all my all-time faves and some new discoveries. If you have any suggestions for autumnal music please also send it my way! (WOW! GETTIN HIGH TECH (I literally just hit a button on Spotify to achieve this but STILL PROUD OF MYSELF)!)

Fall Look #1: A STYLISH DAY AT SCHOOL

Aspen: I love a cozy flannel, and this one is a secondhand Fjallraven BABE that I found for such a great deal on Depop. You can find the same one new here. I tucked it into a pair of boyfriend Levi's which I purchased prior to my slow fashion switch. To finish the look I've got on my number one companion (my Kanken backpack), some cozy socks from United By Blue, and I'm borrowing Mollie's Blundstones!

Psalm: My dear friend and this! amazing! look! Psalm has paired a gorgeously-vintage Levi's denim jacket with a basic white tee, then added some thrifted plaid pants that give off very chic prep school vibes. Seriously, she is School of ROCKING this outfit! To polish it all off, she's wearing a pair of Matt & Nat loafers! You can find a similar pair here.

I don't know about you, but at my university, as soon as I walk onto campus I immediately feel inferior...people do the MOST when it comes to outfits. But I actually love it! These beautiful individuals are constantly providing me with inspiration for new ~looks~ from these beautiful individuals.

The entire ensemble is totally something you could wear to school and be comfortable, casual, but still ON FIRE. As well, a tip from Psalm: clothing swaps!!! At our university there are tons of buy and sell groups on Facebook where tons of very fashionable people sell their items for really cheap prices.

We also often have actual clothing swap events, where attendees are required to bring a couple of their own items to contribute and then they are welcome to take as many others home with them as they'd like! It's completely free and reduced so much textile waste!

She also found a lot of her items from friends or even her mom who didn't use them any longer and felt as though she'd get more love out of them. What's so special about this tip is the idea of fashion as a social and communal thing! Sharing clothing and bonding over fashion can be a great way to "shop" (sometimes without even spending anything) sustainably and have an amazing time while doing it.

Fall Look #2: ROMANTIC DINNERS (or other assorted "dress-up" occasions)

Mollie: Even if your love life is in shambles (RIP) there is still always an excuse to dress up and feel GOOD! Heck, one of my best pals had a housewarming party last week and she made the dress code black tie just so everyone had an excuse to look nice. It reminded me that I do not get to wear heels and red lipstick as much as I would like to!

Okay, so the key to a FALL dressy outfit is to pair it with an amazing coat/blazer. (Unless, of course, you're going for the classic post-date "I'm cold" move to get your romantic conquest to offer theirs ;).) But if instead you decide, no, I'm gonna be independent and save my OWN self from this autumn evening's chill, make sure you bring your jacket!

And Mollie did the MOST for this tip with this beautiful fur coat! One thing you should know about Mollie - her mom works in a thrift store and is constantly picking up new things for her!!! I, personally, am quite jealous, as this coat is one of those items.

Underneath the coat is a thrifted dress with black detailing around the boatneck and sleeves. It has a gorgeous grey, pink, and blue print. I love this dress because of its versatility - you could also definitely wear this to work with a blazer and tights and look so put-together!

Mollie has finished off the look with a pair of strappy black heels, making it truly elegant and unforgettable. She is truly date (or other formal event) ready!

One thing that Mollie and I have spoken about is the stories behind thrifted items. When we're thrifting, we don't always know where things come from, or the stories they hold, but it's so special to think about what their origins might be! And sometimes we do know. For instance, Mollie's heels in this outfit were made in Italy, and she has a half-sari scarf from India. The dress she thrifted and wore to prom was also vintage from the 60s!

These are items from everywhere that we'd likely never find if it weren't for thrifting, and it's crazy to think of the journey they travel to end up with us and to hopefully be well-loved for a lifetime!

Fall Look #3: LAZY SUNDAYS...

Who doesn't love these?! I adore those amazing autumn Sunday afternoons where you just sort of get cozy with your biggest sweater, softest leggings, warmest mug of tea, and favourite book/show/study subject (maybe the latter isn't so much a fave). Everybody needs this important self-care time whenever they can get it, and setting aside a few of those hours can really reset everything.

Psalm: This cozy friend has paired a freshly-made mug of tea (actually made just for these photos because #aesthetic) with an extremely soft, extremely comfy striped crewneck sweater which she thrifted with some also comfy leggings. It's a simple look but if this doesn't inspire you to stay in this weekend, I don't know what will!Also, how is her smile THIS radiant?!

An additional side note! The black blanket on my bed is so soft, so wooly, and from United By Blue! I think it inspires the outdoorsiest of vibes, and you can find it here if you're interested.

Fall Look #4: AFTERNOONS SPENT OUTDOORS

Fall is filled to the brim with opportunities to embark outside and take in the crispness of this magical season. Whether it be a visit to a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard, a coffee with a friend on a park bench, a relaxing hike, or simply a walk to clear your head, please take every chance you get to enjoy it.

This last outfit, I must say, has got to be my favourite - which partially has to do with where we traveled to take the accompanying photos. We visited the most golden of parks in my favourite part of the Plateau (the neighbourhood in which I live) - Square Saint-Louis! Although the light was quickly dimming and it was extremely chilly, the big beautiful streetlights were gorgeous and the squirrels were so cute and we were surrounded by the oldest, most amazing houses there are! I'm sorry to ramble on but I just love where I live and I'm so thankful to be here, feeling so swept up by the beauty of it all.

Aspen: In my look, I'm wearing a chambray button-up top that I purchased from thredUP, as well as a pair of thrifted army-green mom jeans from Depop.

A quick story about the jeans - they were too small! Well, I could wear them, but they crushed my insides, and I respect my organs so I decided I needed to stretch them out. I did this by throwing them in the wash, and then putting them on before I hung them to dry (yes, damp jeans - as uncomfortable as it sounds). I then proceeded to do squats, toe touches, and honestly just some crazy air kicks and dance moves for about half an hour before I got tired and hoped for the best. And actually, after I tried them on again, they fit much better!

Finally, to "tie" the look together, I'm wearing a thrifted orange and black (ooh, Halloween-y?!) bandana around my neck that I just knotted twice. I am so obsessed with the way it looks.

Well, that's all from me for today, and for ETHIGIRL's first post in my fall series! Thank you so very much for reading this, for looking at the pictures, and for supporting me. Just to be sappy for a moment, whenever someone reads or comments or shares, or even comes up to me and tells me that they like what I'm writing, I always do an internal happy dance! So thank you a million times.

With so much love and sustainability,

Ethigirl <3