Typically, the mainstream media portrays thin as the only beautiful body type. Yet, here is an example of the mainstream media, promoting a beautiful, curvy woman. About: Lizzi Miller, A Poster Girl for Positive Body Image
Making negative statements about your body may be deleterious to your body image and mental health. Today Health: Calling Yourself Fat Increases Depression Risk
As a little girl, I thought I was gorgeous, because I was me. Huffington Post: What I Know About Beauty Now That I’m in My 20s
It is important to support our own economy and help those in this country struggling to find a job. Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog: Made in Britain
As a teen my negative body image was intertwined with my low self-esteem and shaky sense of self. Weightless: What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Body Image & Life
Viewing the body as a sex object has, embarrassingly, appalled countries, cultures, and religions worldwide. The Universe: Letter on Body Image
When I was 13 I was different than I am now. Medicinal Marzipan: Unfortunate, Ugly, and Inspiring Adventures From My Life As a Teenager
Being Asian the assumption is that you’re more apt for engineering or medicine. We have a so-called fondness for numbers. I developed an affinity for words and images instead. Daily Good: The Importance of Imagination
I thought I was abnormal because I hated hanging out in groups; never liked parties; loved doing a whole lot of things alone. Cynosure: I’m an introvert, not an alien
Today’s Fashion Beauty Friend Friday post comes courtesy of Katy at Modly Chic who asks us to consider the “one-time use phenomenon” in fashion. That is, buying an item and using it only once. Or, returning that item after wearing it with the tags attached and hidden. Ugh. To me that is stealing. I remember my mother helping me choose accessories for my prom outfit back when I was 17. When I balked at the price she whispered that we’d return them tomorrow. I knew it was wrong then and, well, my mother and I have different value systems and I accept that.
Sometimes we use something once because we made a poor judgment or an impulse buy and the item sits in our closet waiting for one day that never comes. I’m guilty of bad shopping decisions and I’m sure many of you are, too! Rare lapses of judgment aside, I believe in recycling in the form of timeless clothes and thrift shopping, seasonless dressing, and having a few key items that can be mixed and matched. Such habits help preserve the environment and prevent one from becoming a) a slave to fashion, b) a fashion victim, or c) a fashion whore.
On to the questions:
1. Are you a one-time wearer?
No. See above.
2. Do you feel the need to purchase something new for an evening out or a special event?
I used to be guilty of grabbing a cheap and shiny fast fashion top to go with my jeans for an unexpected Friday night at the club. Now I do my very best to use what I have in my closet in the interests of consuming less. A “special event” is usually somebody else’s big day so I keep it low key anyway and train the spotlight on them.
3. Re-mixing is something a lot of bloggers are proud of being able to accomplish – are you a re-mixing pro or do you shy away from posting items frequently? Why?
I’m not that type of blogger but as a fashion lover and follower I enjoy the challenge of using what I already have in my closet to create something new and interesting.
4. Do you have a clothing budget or are you an impulse buyer?
I used to have a very high clothing budget as I thought expensive clothes and brands were a necessity as a fashion writer. Now I understand that it takes a lot more creativity to put together outfits on a shoestring…and it’s a lot more fun and eco-friendly (thrift shopping, NOT fast fashion a la Zara and H&M).
5. Do you find yourself bored when reading a blog in which clothing items are often remixed and appear frequently?
NO! The most inspiring aspect of fashion blogs is that they teach ordinary women how to dress well on a working girl’s budget while also encouraging sustainable style. It is a revolutionary concept which has democratized fashion in a staggering and uplifting way.
How do you feel about those outfit posts?
Toronto Fashion Week is coming and Fashion Takes Action is hosting a high-end clothing swap on Friday, March 16 at Fashion Week headquarters. FTA is a non-profit that works with the fashion industry and general public to improve environmental sustainability. For each gently used brand name or designer item you bring in, you will be given one swap token, to a maximum of 20 tokens. Early bird admission tickets are $10 until March 5, $15 by March 15, and $20 at the door. No jewellery is being accepted for this swap.
Clothing will be displayed in a boutique setting for your shopping pleasure. You are encouraged to drop off items ahead of time to the FTA showroom in the Distillery District in Toronto to help you avoid the line on the day of the swap. What a fine opportunity to support sustainable fashion and improve your wardrobe at the same time. I’m a firm believer that re-using is the truest form of sustainable style and also the most pocket-book friendly. Get all the details on the FTA website.
Source: Cashmerejeans.blogspot.com
When we think about ethical fashion, we’re usually referring to clothes, but jewellery is another way we can make a statement about our values. Pippa Small, a Canadian born, London-based artist, anthropologist, and designer, just launched her Spring 2012 collection of ethical jewellery. Already embraced by fans like Rachel McAdams and Julia Roberts, Pippa’s pieces incorporate stones, shells, minerals, beads and other found objects for truly organic treasures.
Pippa furthers her interest in human rights advocacy while practising her art by reviving old traditional jewelry methods and working in Bolivia with the world’s first registered fair-trade gold mine. In 2008, Pippa Small became an ambassador for Survival, the movement for tribal people and the only organization working for tribal peoples’ rights worldwide.
I don’t know about you, but every time I buy a re-usable travel mug I lose it within days. I did this about half a dozen times before I decided the amount of plastic I was going through might be harming the environment more than the few paper cups I’d use at Starbuck’s (I usually have morning coffee at home, after all). Then it occurred to me that the sunglasses principle might have something to do with my inability to hang on to a travel mug. That being, the value I place on the eye wear determines how long I keep it. I’ve discovered that if I really love and look great with my sunglasses I will hold on to them for years, while less coveted pairs have disappeared within weeks or even days. I believe the same to be true with my vanishing travel mugs.
Enter KeepCup which looks like this:
The lovely colour combination and simple design appeal to my esthetic sensibilities before I even think about the environmental benefits, which bodes well for the sunglasses principle. I received my KeepCup from the company, but you can go on the website and design your own…I’m fairly certain I’d hold onto a travel mug I custom-made for myself.
KeepCup is “the first barista standard reusable cup” (because it replicates standard takeaway sizes and fits under the group heads of most espresso machines). Plus:
- KeepCup users have diverted an estimated 30,000 tonnes of disposable cup waste from landfill
- KeepCup users have stopped 70,000 trees being felled for paper pulp.
- International Paper estimates that in the United States alone over 58 billion disposable cups are discarded every year, the majority relegated to landfill. (Oh, it breaks my heart!)
Disposable Cup Facts
- 500 billion disposable cups are manufactured globally every year; that’s about 75 disposable cups for every single person on the planet.
- Half of the plastic used in the world today is for single use items. (Oh, the humanity!)
- The 500 billion disposable cups used in the world each year placed end to end could circumnavigate the earth 100 times.
- World paper use has exploded by 400% in the last 40 years. Now nearly 4 billion trees or 35% of the total trees chopped down are used in paper industries on every continent. (Why is this getting worse instead of better?)
- Very little recycled paper is used to make disposable cups because of contamination concerns. Because most disposable cups are coated with plastic, both composting and recycling of disposable cups is uncommon.
- Most of the world’s paper supply, in fact about 71%, still comes from diminishing forests, not tree farms or the recycling bin.
I am planning to hold on to my stylish KeepCup and stop being part of this easily avoidable waste problem.
So often, it’s the hot, new–and young–actresses that get all the red carpet love at award shows. Not so at the Golden Globes. Fashionista: A Look at all the Stars over 45 Who Stole the Red Carpet
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve avoided wearing my prettiest clothes because I was saving them for a nicer occasion. Weightless: Self-Care is Never a Waste
Beyonce‘s latest promotional image for album “Four” has caused quite a stir–and unfortunately the buzz has got nothing to do with the music. Fashionista: Critics Accuse Beyonce of “Whitewashing”
Consumers are becoming more aware of ethical issues and many are wanting change. But how can we help to drive this change? Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog: Is Boycott the Answer?
Most successful people were not born into success; they simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential. Marc and Angel Hack Life: 12 Things Successful People Do Differently
Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.
Fashionista: Are Today’s Lesser-Known Campaign Stars Alienating Brands’ Target Customers?
Golden Globes red carpet walkers took on a challenge: wearing dresses and designs made using green processes. Refinery 29: Chanel, Valentino, YSL, Tom Ford & More Go Green at the Golden Globes
The relationship between strength and vulnerability is counter-intuitive. Daily Good: How Vulnerability Can Be A Strength
Via Already Pretty: Smaggle: How to Walk in High Heels…And When Not to
Youtube: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus
I have let go of my inner critic. I don’t need her anymore. By Anika: I don’t need her anymore.
It’s not where we stand but in what direction we are moving. Marc and Angel: 101 Simple Truths We Often Forget
Who wouldn’t want to wear something inspired by candy and Andy Warhol? Adhesif Clothing’s SS12 collection uses reclaimed cottons, silks, and nylons to create pencil skirts, patterned dresses, and feminine blouses in candy colours and a style that derives from Warhol’s 60s pop art. With names like the Sugarmod Dress, the Penny Pencil Skirt, and the Twizzler Dress (whch folds to the size of a handkerchief for you frequent flyers), the collections calls to our innocent, playful, girlish…and eco-friendly sides.
Canadian label Adhesif can be found throughout the country and in Toronto’s Distillery District at the Distill Gallery, 55 Mill Street, as well as online at Etsy.
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say, and innovation often arises from a need. When Jonathan Elias tried to sell his clothes online and became frustrated by the choices available, SHOP MY CLOTHES came to life, an online marketplace providing a space for users to buy and sell second-hand designer clothes, shoes and accessories. What sets Shop My Clothes apart from eBay and Craigslist is its exclusive devotion to fashion and its branding as a destination for fashion-forward folks who know something about clothes, understand their value, and are not in the market for bargain basement cheapies.
The average price per item is $80 to $100 which represents a quarter to a third of the original retail price. Unlike eBay, which has driven away yours truly with its punishing fee schedule, Shop My Clothes charges no fees for either buyer or seller and rather than auction-style bidding, lets the seller set a firm price.
Currently, the vast majority of users are in Toronto, and as the site gains attention, fashion lovers are logging on from all over Canada and into the United States. The service sounds perfect for someone like me who enjoys the eco- and wallet-friendly nature of buying quality secondhand clothes. It’s a unique opportunity to purchase valuable designer items at a fraction of retail while also earning some money cleaning out your own closet. Recently featured in Chatelaine’s holiday shopping guide, Shop My Clothes features such luxury brands as Alexander Wang, 3.1 Philip Lim, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Behnaz Sarafpour, and Chloe.
I’ll be checking out Shop My Clothes. Will you?
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I’ve been selling high quality used clothing on eBbay for a year or so now and have found the juggernaut online marketplace to be spectular for buyers and terrible for sellers. Shoppers demand rock bottom prices regardless of the value of the item and often request a discount on shipping, a cost completely out of my control. One negative comment from a buyer, regardless of his or her mental health, can ruin your reputation as a seller. There have been months where I actually lost money because my fees were higher than what I took in. eBay is definitely a buyer’s marketplace, which makes sense because that’s where it’s bread is buttered.
I like a good deal as much as the next person. I also believe a business or any transaction needs to benefit everyone involved: buyer, seller, and the world at large. In my business, the buyer and the world at large benefit (recycled clothing is good for the environment). Me, not so much. I’m not the only eBay seller dealing with such frustration.
After being undersold on her high-end designer treasures, Pauline Truchot co-founded Style Recovery, an antidote to eBay for fashion lovers who understand the value of gently used designer garments: “I had many nice things in my closet that I didn’t use, and was turned off from selling them on websites like eBay because it’s hard to find an audience who knows the value of the designer items that I love. Most of the things were simply not sold or at very low prices. I noticed a gap in this market and decided to create a website and a community that has the same expectations as I do.“
Enter StyleRecovery.com where items are sold at an average of 62% of retail price and 85% of items for sale were purchased within the last year. Sounds like a win for both buyer and seller. And there’s that recycling aspect again. StyleRecovery.com is the first website that concentrates solely on reselling high fashion products. Registration is free and the first 1,000 members take 10% off their first purchase with the code word ‘Welcome‘.
Will you use Style Recovery?
