Hiyeee….did y’all hear the recent news about one of our favorite retailers? Nordstrom is getting into the secondhand game, both in their New York store and online. Find the ‘new’ used items at See You Tomorrow. AND, Nordstrom also just launched a Sustainable Style shopping page. You can read all about it here, and shop it here. Beware though, in case you haven’t read Shana’s recent weekend post, you’ll probably want to stick to the Sustainably Sourced…OR…Responsibly Manufactured sections of their sustainable shop if earth-friendliness is your concern. BUT, it’s a start.
Also in sustainable news — this is Lex talking — er, ah, writing— y’all — Fashion Revolution, the entity who compiles the annual fashion transparency index, is organizing a global clothing swap during the week of Earth Day. Check out the deets, and we’ll keep you posted if/how TME intends to participate.
Sustainable Style: February Fashion & Home Picks
Anyhoo….we’re here with our top 10 sustainable clothing picks for February. There are a ton of smaller sustainable clothing brands gaining traction, especially in California and Australia, that are worth checking out — a few of which are noted below. I really love Spell & The Gypsy’s boho-romantic vibe, and I’m super-excited about Rareform (it reminds me of the Tyvek bags popular overseas). Our fabulous intern Abby found For Days, a clothing subscription company, AND — she also just told me about this cool app (in addition to Good On You, which rates clothing brands), called Think Dirty, which rates beauty products and identifies “clean” products. It enables you to learn ingredients and scan products, so it’s easy to use.
To our Sustainable Style shopping page this month, we’re adding Earth Shoes — an oldie but a goodie that’s sustained (see what I did there) multiple iterations over the decades, beginning with it’s Kalso grounded heel; Spell & The Gypsy Collective (you can shop them on their site, or at Shopbop, Revolve and Free People); and Swedish Hasbeens.
Oh…and finally…(drumroll please)…
Nordstrom Sustainable Style (see note above).
Below are our top 10 sustainable style picks for this month. Don’t forget to check out our sustainable style page, and have fun shopping (or browsing).
- Rareform Wristlet: This little wristlet is super-cute and functional — it’s a wallet that zips and features a pouch for your smartphone. Rareform makes one-of-a-kind bags — including messenger and crossbody bags, as well as backpacks and duffles – from old billboards. All of the bags on this site are super-fun to look at.
2. Levi’s High Rise Deconstructed Button Fly Skirt: (also in white at Revolve) – I recently bought this from Shopbop during after-Christmas sales. I couldn’t be happier. I have the blue, which appears to be out of stock ATM. It provides just the right amount of edge, especially styled with a blazer, tights and boots for those of us who prefer a little juxtaposition in our outfits.
3. Adidas Superstars: With a giggle I’m linking to the special February version of the Original Superstars, but you can find our fave black and white duo right here. I recently bought my first pair since about 10 years ago — the last ones I had featured the pink stripe. I got silver stripes this time, mostly bc they were on sale. I did have to exchange them twice (to go down 2.5 sizes), but Adidas was great with the process; it didn’t cost me anything. Find them at Zappos here.
4. The Weekender Dress from For Days: So our intern Abby found this cool new site that you can basically shop for new items, but also swap ones you already have for a discount. You’ll need to read the FAQ for all the deets, but it might be worth it if you’re looking for more genuine ways to close the loop. This cute little ribbed dress in organic cotton is enough to have me considering it…
5. Lolë Flat Track Dress: I absolutely need this hoodie dress. Remember how I wanted a dress for a dance class? Even if I don’t keep this on during dance, it’s perfect for throwing on before or after class (although, I probably would wear it during class). It’s made of 57% OEKO-TEX-certified cotton, plus modal and elastine.
6. Voloshin Aurora Weekend Dress: LOVE. This reminds of the dramatic tiered corduroy dress S and Linzi wore this fall, which I happened to buy on sale post holiday. I love it (I might be overusing that word here.) It’s dramatic on it’s own, so even though it’s a lot of all one fabric and color, all you need is some cool but unassuming earrings, and (for me) boots that juxtapose it’s babydoll vibe. This one is cotton and has sleeves, so I wouldn’t be cold :-).
7. Spell & The Gypsy Knit Midi Dress: Swoon. I’ve been dying for a sweater dress (it’s one of many investment pieces I don’t have in my closets), and I think I just found it! It was tough to narrow down my choices to just one (they actually use models with breasts in some of their clothes, so I can see how I’d look in a slip dress!) But, this is the one piece I’d buy I bought as I was making this post. It includes a detachable slip and slits on the side. YES. Update: The shipping was super-fast and with earth-friendly packaging. It’s just as good as it looks. At a DD, this slip still fits, and as a shortie, the dress isn’t too long. WIN all around.
8. Diva Cup: Just tried the Diva Cup for the first time last month. It does take some getting used to…BUT…I am committed to a more sustainable approach to menstruation (just typing that makes me think of Judy Blume….Are you there, g-d?…), and to avoiding wasteful spending (my one New Year’s resolution). It’s worth the commitment to both.
9. Yoloha Yoga Mat: You GUYS….I’ve been drooling over this yoga mat ever since I saw it while researching my at-home yoga post. It’s made of renewable and recyclable environmentally friendly cork and produced by a family-owned company. There are tons of different designs to choose from. Buy from the company’s site before Valentine’s Day, and get a discount.
10. Plushbeds Wool Topper 100% Handmade: Totally obsessed. I’m all for all-natural bedding of late, and you really can’t beat handmade wool. Wool is also reportedly cooler than other materials, in addition to being naturally fire-resistant. If you need a mattress upgrade, but aren’t ready to spring for a new mattress (haha), this may be the route to go. If you want a new mattress, I highly recommend Plushbeds. They’ve been extending their post-holiday sale since after Christmas, and I’d bet they’ll continue. Plus, they have purity certifications no one else can match.
Have y’all found any good sustainable brands we haven’t checked out yet? Is there anything out there you want us to try? We have sustainable shoe brands on our radar as an area we want to research more, so if you have suggestions, leave ’em in the comments for us, please.
xo,
Lex
