Well hi! :)
Remember how I wanted to include a pretty pink tee in my spring capsule?
Well, it came time to post my capsule on the blog … and I hadn’t found the right one yet. So I intentionally left a gap for it.
Sometimes, it takes a little while to find the right piece and that’s a-okay. Better to wait, than to fill a gap too quickly for the sake of the capsule schedule. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way, and it’s why I don’t adhere to the capsule rules the way I used to. :)
But, a couple of weeks ago, I found the one! And she’s a beaut! That peachy/nude/blush color? I feel so at home in it even though I’ve never worn a shade quite like it. I think it’s my new favorite color.
So here’s the scoop on this shirt:
- It’s machine washable. :)
- It’s made by hand in the USA.
- It’s got a cropped and flowy fit. I got an XS and the fit it spot on. (My measurements are B:30, W: 25, H: 36 for reference.)
- The fabric is raw silk, which means it’s got this nubby, worn look. Personally I love this about it. It makes for a rich, relaxed texture. This tee exists to be worn — not just saved for special occasions, but meant for real living.
And! If you’re interested, you can get 10% off this tee with the code UNFANCY1000 — because today is the first day of a very cool Virtual Pop Up sale.
See, my friend Morgan of @thegarmentlife is hosting a Virtual Pop Up Sale over the weekend, and she invited Lee of Style Bee, Andrea of Seasons and Salt, and myself to co-host and spread the word.
Morgan recently set a goal to connect women with responsibly made garments, which is the inspiration behind this Virtual Pop Up. Lee and Andrea and I are thrilled to support her as she takes on this goal.
So what exactly does this Virtual Pop Up mean for you? Well, it means you can get 10% off at five different small shops that focus on small batch, responsible clothing: Two Fold Clothing (my pink tee), Only Child (jumpsuits, dresses, and tees), Avarcas (sandals), Pyne and Smith (breezy dresses), and Free Label (activewear).
Simply enter the code UNFANCY1000 at checkout to get 10% off your order — the same code works for any of the clothes in all five shops, and it’s good through April 10th.
You already know this peachy-pink tee is my favorite from Two Fold Clothing. But here are a few of my favorites from the other shops:
- This breezy black linen dress from Pyne and Smith. I’d pair it with lace up sandals and a straw hat.
- These classic pons sandals from Avarcas in natural tan. I’d pair them with high rise skinny jeans and a simple tank — perfect for running errands.
- This easy linen tee from Only Child. I’d pair it with black skinnies and clogs. (I’m also into the tie front version of this tee.)
- This super cool reversible crop top / sports bra and these cutout yoga leggings from Free Label. I’d wear both pieces together for an at-home yoga session. Or, if I was headed out to yoga class, I’d throw a loose tank on top.
Your turn! I have about a million ideas for this pink tee, but I’d love to hear how you might style it! And can we all give a cheer for Morgan for coming up with this cool idea? Do you see any pieces from these makers that fill a gap in your wardrobe?
See you tomorrow for the start of the Spring 10×10 challenge! WOOHOO!
xo,
• • •
Liked today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using these affiliate links:
01 | Pink top by Two Fold (made responsibly) | similar (under $25)
02 | Black shorts by Madewell | similar (under $20)
03 | Lace up sandals by Madewell | similar (made responsibly)
04 | Bandana by Madewell
05 | Round bag by Baggu (made responsibly) | similar (under $50)
YAY!! It is the perfect blush! Looks awesome on you babe! Can’t wait to start the 10×10 Challenge tomorrow :) xoxo
Thanks friend! Too fun :)
Oh we can’t wait for tomorrow for the 10×10. And speaking of the “pink” tee…you will have to check out our post tomorrow…it’s pretty good…we Pinky Swear!-Laurel Bledsoe
Just looked — too cute :)
Oh, wow that t-shirt looks really gorgeous on you, the peachy blush really suits you and the bandana looks lovely with it. I can’t wear those blush colours without looking really washed out, but that cut of t-shirt would look great with flares and clogs, boyfriend jeans, cargo pants, denim skirt…
I hear that. I look terrible in that colour! Darker colourings look great in it. I’m so blonde and fair i just look washed out. Looks lovely on Caroline though!
I have dark hair and fair skin and most pastels do nothing for me. I just bought a flowy tee in a crimson rose color. I need contrast.
Love how this looks on you and excited to hear you found a sustainable fashion option. I’m definitely going to check it out. I could totally see this styled with flax linen pants. Easy and comfy, yet dressy enough for the office!
Karen, that sounds so cute! :)
Machine washable is a must!!
-Kirsten // http://www.porkandcookies.com
Hey Kirsten! It definitely becomes more and more important to me. No fuss, easy clothes! :)
This is an amazing effort and I applaud you both! And to Morgan, way to step up and support a cause you care about in a super cool way that allows both consumers and companies to benefit!
I just want to say that this post and the clothing in the virtual pop up highlights my number one issue with the sustainable fashion world. As someone who values fit and functionality, none of these clothes are my style. I know this is a nascent market, and I totally get that there is a particular minimalist aesthetic that appeals to a lot of slow fashion consumers, and it makes sense that a small company would want to minimize the amount of work that goes into making these garments as much as possible and maximize the wear-ability of these clothes by offering looser, somewhat over-sized fits that will fit a wide range of bodies.
I get it. As a market research analyst, I get the importance of supporting these clothiers and doing what I can to grow demand for these items. I want to support it.
But none of these clothes feel like me. Very few of these clothes look good on me. I go to Madewell and try on all the boxy tops, and I see the wide-leg ES cropped pants that everyone is blogging about, but they all make me look pregnant or feel frumpy. Or both. I honestly hope that one day these clothiers will grow and be able to offer a wider variety of styles, but for now, I really struggle with being able to support them and help them get to the point where that makes smart business sense.
If the uber minimalist shift dress is truly someone’s authentic style, awesome! But I’d love to see a greater variety of styles in the slow fashion community. This is actually one of the reasons I started my blog, https://everydayjoys.blog this spring, because I feel like the sustainable, minimalist, capsule wardrobe community is missing something. I just don’t feel that we’re really enabling women to create their own personal style when it appears that every responsible clothing company is essentially producing the same style or when I see the majority of sustainable wardrobe bloggers wearing and promoting the exact same items of clothing.
Caroline, thank you for your interest and support of this industry, for building relationships with the people who are creating and supporting these clothes, and for having a blog where I feel comfortable sharing this opinion. If you or anyone else has any insight on sustainable clothes in other styles, I’d LOOOOOOVE to know about it!
XO,
Anna
Anna, I share your opinion and difficulties with the prevailing style of “responsible” fashion. My own style is just not a good fit for it, plus a demand for sustainable clothing still requires using environmental resources to manufacture new garments. I have been vintage and second hand shopping since I was old enough to buy my own clothes, and have just kept these habits going. Roughly speaking, a lot of my basic pieces are thrifted and my statement pieces are vintage, although there is some crossover. eBay is great too. Also, I’m learning dressmaking so that I can make my own clothes. These solutions serve my personal style much better and are more in line with my own ethics.
Yes! I also love vintage and second-hand, and this is where I find most of my favorite items.
Since writing my original comment I’ve done further research and have found the following brands which seem to have a different vibe…(remember this was a super quick search and I didn’t thoroughly investigate these brands’ ethics, materials, or processes):
https://www.wearethought.com/
https://amourvert.com/
https://www.matatraders.com/
https://elegantees.com/
https://synergyclothing.com/collections/new-arrivals
Anna, I agree with you 100%! As someone who is 4’10”, a lot of these wide leg pants look very silly on my petite frame; not only that, but a lot of the loose, flowing cuts are (like you said) not my style at all. I agree that there is definitely a theme among the minimalist, slow fashion aesthetic and it really makes it hard for people to look “original” when many of these pieces are so uniform and similar. Thanks for putting your thoughts out there so succinctly!
Hi Anna, like you I’m a sustainable fashion blogger whose style doesn’t quite align with the prevailing aesthetic. Some of my favorite ethical brands are Reformation (more fitted, feminine silhouettes), Stone Cold Fox (breezy, bohemian styles), Eva Franco, and Marine Layer. All of these lines are made in the USA with sustainable principles.
Like Clarice, I also shop vintage/ secondhand. I even learned how to sew my own clothes a few years back, and that opened up a whole new world of possibilities. There’s nothing quite like designing and creating your own, personalized piece of clothing (but it IS a lot of work!).
Jacqui – I love it all! Thank you so much for sharing!
Growing up with a proper Southern Mama and MawMaw, I learned how to sew not too long after learning how to tie my shoes. It is A TON of work though, and a while back I decided my sewing hobby wasn’t adding a lot of value to my life and left it by the wayside to pursue things that brought me more joy. I still love doing my own alterations and repairs when possible though…make do and mend!
Props to you and Clarice for diving in to that skill!
Hi Anna,
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. I’m one of the brands listed above (I hope that you don’t mind me chiming in on this, you’ve just brought up some really great points!). I’m curious to know if you have any examples of silhouettes or styles that you wish the sustainable fashion community had. And I totally get what you’re saying, I’ve only been in business for about a year and a half and have already seen so many new brands with similar styles spring up.
On my end, it’s hard to let myself experiment too much if I want to make something that will last. If I get too trendy I worry that people won’t buy because they don’t view it as something timeless enough to justify the price point. On the other hand, I can only create so many simple silhouettes before I start to get totally lost in the sea of other brands. It’s something that I’m constantly struggling with and it’s interesting to hear that from a buyer’s perspective.
Haley, you are amazing for reaching out! And congrats on your clothing line! *virtual high five* I’m happy to elaborate and will do my best to provide some examples.
Also, before I dive into that, Caroline, I’m sorry, I absolutely did not intend to hijack your blog comments. I’m super happy that you have an incredible blush tee that you love! I’m also just really excited to be able to have this conversation with other women!
My main desire is to have clothing that accentuates the waist. Not just “oh, this would be cute with a belt!” but something like an a-line dress that hugs the ribcage and waist a bit (here is a simple but potentially figure-flattering dress I seriously considered buying but it was just SOOOO expensive: https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/461358/The_Row/nista-stretch-felt-midi-dress)
More a-line inspiration:
https://www.theoutnet.com/en-US/Shop/Product/Alice-and-Olivia/Maelyn-crochet-trimmed-embroidered-chiffon-dress/852012
Also, while I love the simple and casual vibe in a lot of the clothes being offered, that’s great for time off, but I used to work in an office building and even now meet with suit-clad clients several times a year, so in my mind, wearing loose linen pants or a flowy crop top to work might as well be like wearing pajamas. So I’d love some simple a-line or pencil skirts (that don’t have elastic or pleats or drawstrings or gathers of any kind at the waistband), and some simple shells that are dressier than a tee and might work under a cardigan or blazer:
Top inspiration:
https://www.anntaylor.com/twist-front-shell/411157?skuId=21161896&defaultColor=9000&colorExplode=false&catid=cat70008
Skirt inspiration:
http://www.thehouseoffoxy.com/skirts/40s-whirlaway-skirt-navy
http://fromchloehong.com/product/flare-skirtlight-blue/55/?cate_no=1&display_group=3 (seriously if you or anyone in the USA managed to perfect a crepe or other crepe-like material similar to the one Chloe Hong sells in Korea, I would personally promote it to all of my swing dancing friends who have been dying to have this article of clothing for years…I would also be willing to bake you cookies or pie or cake or whatever you like)
All of that being said, I absolutely understand that the items I’ve shared are not everyone’s style. And I absolutely understand that many times a clothing company’s aesthetic and brand are intricately tied together, so I’m not really saying Everlane should start making trumpet skirts…that type of vintage classic item really wouldn’t fit with their uber minimalist brand. I’m just saying that I think there are missed opportunities for someone out there to create clothing like this that is ethical and sustainable!
Thanks so much for listening!
Note – In my desperate plea above I forgot to mention that the item of clothing my swing friends and I have all been looking for is a *trumpet skirt* in a crepe or crepe-like material….sorry! Got carried away :/
I have to agree, I’m not into big and shapeless/wide styles either. The outfits at a lot of these sustainable fashion shops are starting to remind me of a toddler wearing a playsuit. I think a cropped wide silhouette can work with cinched higher-waisted bottoms, but after having a piece or two, who needs more of them? I miss waist-defined and tailored styles. As always, you look lovely, Caroline, and I like that you made this top your own rather than looking like everyone else who’s a proponent of minimalist fashion.
It is so nice to see some actual conversation happening here. Quite lively!
Anna, have you ever shopped on Etsy.com? It is one of my favorite online stores. You can filter search results by Handmade or Vintage, and you can also filter to United States (sustainable clothing for ya). Most of the sellers on Etsy use natural materials, however I like to make sure because that is something very important to me. Etsy is a great place to work with the actual seamstresses and find wonderful pieces of clothing that aren’t sold in average stores. It’s also a great place to find vintage items. Or start your own shop. Possibilities are endless.
Miss Field, Yep! Love Etsy – especially if I’m searching for vintage or am able to splurge on a custom garment!
Anna,
I think you’ve brought up a few very important points. I want to support this movement, and have been buying from companies like ES and OC, but this oversized aesthetic doesn’t always work. At best some of these clothes can be used as loungewear, while others just look downright frumpy. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that by continuing to support the movement, we will get to where we need to be eventually.
Anna, I absolutely LOVE your thoughtful comments — just look at the awesome conversation you’ve opened up! :)
This is such an interesting / important topic. I can relate to your feelings — last year I wanted to support responsible brands and kept feeling like I “should” be super into that responsible/minimalist aesthetic, but I just couldn’t get there. But then I realized I don’t have to adopt the whole aesthetic — I can just incorporate a piece or two and style them in a way that feels like “me”. Like here, with the cutoff shorts and bandana. Or styling a flowy Elizabeth Suzann top with overalls.
The thing is, everything will keep evolving — everything from my style to my thoughts on responsible shopping to the available options and aesthetic for responsible clothing. I find so much freedom by resting in that flow. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and I don’t have to have it all figured out right now. I can do the best I can today and believe that whatever needs to change will come to me, one day at a time. We’re all on this journey together. :)
A few of my fav non-minimalist aesthetic, responsible brands: Reformation, Marine Layer, Amour Vert, Everlane (they are changing up their asethetic!), Faithfull the brand (sometimes at Free People), Lacausa (sometimes at Anthro), Stateside clothing (at Shopbop, http://bit.ly/2oazjvJ), Riller + Fount, Taylor Stitch, AYR, and Modernation.
Whoa, that’s a ton. Obviously I need to write a post on this, hah! :) Definitely check into the ethics of each one if you’re interested — some are more responsible than others. But I hope that helps!
LOVE you guys. LOVE this conversation. Thank you for being so open and vulnerable. <3
YES! THANK YOU! And yes PLEASE write a post on this! Or create a resources page…cause this list is awesome!
And thank you for the reminder of flow. It can be so stressful to balance a desire to DO SOMETHING NOW with personal finances, life goals, and the realization that even if my sweater was thrifted or made responsibly, the coffee mug in my hand probably wasn’t. Sigh. It’s a lot of mental and emotional work. (And for these awesome retailers, a lot of hard actual work!)
Flow is good. Flow is doing what you can. Flow is not breaking in the process but allowing the process to happen. Flow is letting yourself be ok with everything not being ok. <3
Yes that would be a great post. : )
I have to remind myself to go with the flow quite a lot. I’ve always been an all-or-nothing kind of girl, and it gets my brain all messed up when something isn’t quite how I like it but I can’t quite fix it!- yet.
I love it when you give tips and reminders, Carolyn, about waiting for that piece, being settled with what you have etc. It’s a positive influence! (Even if it seems like you do spend a lot on clothing and quite frequently too lol XD)
This is such an amazing discussion and just the thing I’d love to host over at http://sustainablefashionchat so these thoughtful comments don’t get lost in the shuffle. I’ve captured some of the great ethical fashion choice suggestions in this post:
http://sustainablefashionchat.com/discussion/4/where-to-shop-for-sustainable-fashion?new=1
and invite anyone who’d like to discuss this topic in more depth to please join in the discussion :)
Loving the colour of your tee, it’s a warmer, more muted and richer take on the blush trend, which can look a little saccharine-sweet (although I’m into that, my own style has a definite nod to girlie). I might style it with something terracotta to continue in that warm muted direction, perhaps a pair of tapered paper bag trousers with equal parts slouch and structure. Or a washed-out blue denim pencil skirt. Or a shortish A-line or circle skirt in blue or black denim. Oh the possibilities…
Right, Clarice? I didn’t think I’d love it so much, but I just do! It works with everything. :)
Your style is simply great. Perfect combo and the scarf is so pretty…
xo, Sonja
http://www.littlewhitepages.wordpress.com
I still can’t get over blush colors this season. Also, that neck scarf is super cute!
http://www.wonderlandsam.com
i love it! how weird is it that i was JUST today wondering how you were faring with your blush tee search?!?! :) i guess i’m an un-fancy dork!
Angela, If anyone can appreciate a good dork, it’s me! ;)
As someone new to sustainable clothing, I appreciate learning about these dedicated clothing makers. I agree that the shapes are not for everyone, but certainly the quality and care that goes into these clothes inspires me to be more selective in what I add (or keep) in my ever-shrinking wardrobe. As a retiree, I’m decluttering my years of retail therapy. So having the ideas of capsule wardrobes is really helpful. I’m doing your 10 x 10 challenge (in my case 12 x 12) because it adds some fun to my day WITHOUT more shopping!! I will return to the weblinks you provided off and on to see what’s being made and consider how these comfy relaxed styles might work for me. I’m on a three-month shopping ban at the moment (self-imposed). However, when it’s over, I’ll be looking for my perfect blush tee also!
Yay Sarah! Hope you enjoy the challenge and it gives you some clarity as you go forward on your shopping ventures. :)
That color is just so so pretty and fresh and happy, i love it, great addition to your capsule, can’t wait to see how you’re gonna style it! xo
Melodie
http://www.happymelodie.com
I love that you took your time to find the perfect fit! Love this top!
http://www.madsmuses.com
Those linen dresses are so cute!! Thanks for the code and speeding the word!
Hey Joanna, so happy to share! :)
Caroline,
I LOVE your Blog, thank you for posting and being awesome!
Question – do you carry a brown purse in certain months and black in others? Trying to minimize and try this capsule wardrobe for real this time and I am trying to figure out what to do as far as that goes…. Thank you!!
Hey Alana, not necessarily on purpose — but I do tend to lean toward the brown bags for spring and summer. I’m a big fan of matching my bag and shoes, which is really easy to do in the fall, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out during the “sandal” months! :)
Love your outfit, so effortless yet put together <3
https://www.myblackcloset.com/
Respectfully, I find it a little convenient that you left a spot for a $100+ top, that you then advertise for. I understand that this is a source of income, but I would rather read, “I was gifted this shirt and it fits perfectly with my capsule.”
Hi Jen! :) The pink tee actually wasn’t gifted — I paid full price for it. It’s important to me to be open about gifted items, so if an item is ever gifted, you’ll see it listed in the credits as “gifted by”. After accepting a few gifts in 2016, I decided to not accept them in 2017 — it helps me keep my wardrobe smaller, grounded, and more intentional. You can read a little more about that decision here: http://bit.ly/2ogsAki . I totally hear where you’re coming from and hope that helps clarify things a little. Thanks for your thoughtful comment! :)
That tee is perfect! The sleeves are just the right length.
I love that blush color! I’ve also been really intrigued by raw silk tops I’ve seen. I just wish this came in a non-cropped version. Cropped and boxy tops look horrifying on me :(
Still, can’t wait to see how the raw silk wears over time (so I hope you will comment on that) and how you’re going to mix it up with the other colors (my color palette is fairly similar).
Hey Eve, you might want to check out Jamie + the Jones: they have raw silk tops in all colors, shapes, and sizes (dresses too!) :)
That color looks so good on you! What a great top. You and Lee nailed it with that one. Thanks for the shoutout friend! Looking forward to seeing your 10×10.
xo
Thanks Andrea! Your stuff is looking super cute too! :)
As someone new to sustainable clothing, I appreciate learning about these dedicated clothing makers.
I love that blush color!
Thrilled with my discount. Shopped at Free label. Still debating blush tee. Thanks!?
Peggy
Yay Peggy! Hope you love what you got! :)
I love this tee! Boxy cropped fits are my favorite and the color is perfect. I really like it styled with shorts, but i can see it with a good pair of dark wash denim skinny jeans as well x
http://www.insearchofsheila.com
I’m going to be honest, I hate pink, but I love this shade! The peach undertones are really nice! I’d live in this with a good pair of mid-tone skinny jeans!
I feel the same way Anna! Not a huge fan of pink, but this shade feels so right! :)
After seeing so much Madewell on your blog, I finally got my first Madewell pieces. A couple of tee shirts that are SO SOFT. I went back to Nordstrom Rack and got one in every color (except black; trying to incorporate more color into my life). Love that you’re a style blog but also extremely accessible to people who want something simple but nice like me!
Question. As I see more and more ethical bloggers/clothing companies talk about their items I often see the term “made by hand” (like your listed as a perk on our blouse). But, what does that mean exactly? I sew a lot of my own clothes and I’ve always used the term “by hand” to mean using a needle and thread and literally sewing the garment with your hands like they did back in the 1700’s before sewing machines existed (or just for simple stitches that are sometimes still used on gems, etc). I’m pretty sure I can assume that the items listed on these websites were not literally hand-sewn, and if “made by hand” means a person sat at a sewing machine and made it, well all sewing machines are operated by a person whether the company is “ethical” or not so why is “made by hand” used as a selling point? All clothes are made by hand! Am I missing something?
P.S. This is so not a major deal, just something I have been curious about for a while now. Thanks!
OSM tee, i liked the color :)