sometimes i think i can hardly call this a fashion blog because my outfits aren’t exactly fashion. i follow the trends in the way that i see them while scrolling through my instagram feed. and those trends certainly creep their way into my outfits by way of what is available at my favorite shops and boutiques. but i don’t necessarily strive to be trendy because it’s awfully hard (and expensive) to keep up, and i literally don’t have the time or money to do so without completely exhausting myself and ending up with that terrible not-good-enough feeling. who needs it?

so over time, i’ve really given up on fast fashion and embraced the idea of conscious consumerism. but of course, it’s not exactly as simple as telling everyone to drop $400 a single pair of pants made by hand in california. i think what a lot of people in “the fashion industry” fail to recognize is that it is an incredible privilege to be able to do so! the average person does not have the time or means to “shop ethically” or “shop small” because as romantic as it sounds to slowly pull together your dream wardrobe using natural fibers woven through artisanal looms, most people need to wear more than a single pair of pants. it’s complicated!

which is why i really can’t stress the importance of vintage enough! most designers have mood boards filled with vintage photos to serve as inspiration for their latest collections. and most thrift stores and yard sales have these beautiful gems hidden among the racks and tucked away in closets just waiting to be unearthed. i spend a ton of time hunting for the goods, hoarding away some of my favorites, but also selling a few items each week on my calivintage shop feed. if i were to sell this set i’m wearing right now, i would probably ask $80, which is on the high end of what i charge. that amount couldn’t even buy you an ethically made top, but when you’re looking at vintage, it can buy you an entire outfit. and if you’re doing the thrifting yourself, it could practically buy you a whole wardrobe! this vintage set was made in the usa with a natural, textured cotton gauze. a beautiful textile! and it’s a matching set, so you can wear it together like this or do the whole mix-and-match thing. endless wardrobe combinations!

i suppose i’m preaching to the choir with this information, but it’s something that is on my mind very frequently as a fashion blogger of sorts. or at least someone who has been a fashion blogger and who isn’t quite a mommy blogger, but not exactly certain what it even means to call myself a lifestyle blogger? whatever. here’s some photos of me wearing clothes.

wearing:
vintage matching set in cotton gauze
only child cardiff work coat in denim (it also comes in white!)
mari giudicelli leblon mules
karen walker x benah bag
steven alan bryce sunglasses in crystal peach

ah, the wrap dress! it’s a total classic, yet i don’t think i’ve ever worn one before! it’s a wardrobe basic that i’d just never considered, but now that i have one, i’m beginning to see the light. this particular spaghetti wrap dress is by rachel pally. it comes in a longer length with a raw hem that you can cut to your preferred length. i don’t tend to wear maxi dresses, so my first inclination was to trim it to midi length. but then i thought it might be nice to dress this up for a fancier occasion, so i left it at a maxi length and just tied the ends in a knot for more of a casual look. i was going for a weekend brunch with the in-laws type of look. but it’s also totally something you can wear alone to an outdoor wedding or even as a bridesmaids dress. you see what i mean about versatility?

speaking of rachel pally, i had heard of the brand before because i think she dresses a lot of celebrities, but what i didn’t know is that her clothes are actually made in los angeles! she mostly does casual chic modal jersey (which is incredibly soft and luxurious), but this season, she also released a small linen collection! and you know that’s right down my alley. there is a perfect reversible linen wrap dress, linen overalls, and a swingy mini dress, all of which i could see fitting right into my own wardrobe.

wearing:
rachel pally spaghetti wrap dress
han starnes mockneck tee
mari giudicelli leblon mules
vintage woven bag
garrett leight wilson sunglasses