Spring Refresh: What’s In My Cart…

Spring is here (finally!) and there are a few things I am planning on getting to freshen up my basics. These are the pieces I wear over and over with some of my more statement pieces in my wardrobe. Take a look at what is currently in my cart!

Most of these are a part of the current Shopbop Sale – where you get 20% off order under $500 and 25% off order over $500 using Promotion Code: EVENT19.

  1. High-waist white denim. For me, there is no Spring (or summer for that matter) without white jeans. This season I’m in the market for some super high-rise ones like these because I’ve decided I never want to *not* wear high-rise jeans and I need them in every wash. 
  2. Fresh T-shirts. I’m always either spilling something on my white tees or if I don’t, one of my kids definitely will. So replacing my old with fresh bright white tees is a must. One of my favorite classic outfits is a great blazer with a t-shirt and a few dainty necklaces, a pair of jeans, and flats. 
  3. Cute jewels. I’m a sucker for fashion jewelry, and I mix it easily with some of my fine pieces. I just bought this necklace and I can’t wait to wear it alone as a choker or layered with another longer necklace. 
  4. Updated basics. Like a basic tee, I love adding a few staples that have a little something extra. I love the exaggerated shoulders in this style, that would look perfect tucked in to anything from a wrap skirt to denim.5. Rayban Hexagon sunglasses. Confession – I’ve already bought these so they aren’t technically in my cart, but they are new and they are my favorite and they are on SALE so I just had to share.

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My Beach Style: Jamaica

We escaped the polar vortex in Chicago for a quick getaway minus the kids – our first time alone on vacation in ten years! This week I’m planning on putting away the phone, swimming in the ocean, eating all of the gorgeous food and just soaking in the sun.

Ten years ago exactly Tom and I had planned a trip to Jamaica – we had a weekend snowmobiling in Wisconsin, then we had planned to trade our snow boots for swimsuits and hop on a plane to paradise – only that never happened because I crashed my snowmobile and was in a coma and almost died. After my traumatic accident, I felt very lost – eventually I broke up with Tom. I even thought maybe that accident was a sign from God that we weren’t supposed to be together. After about a year of absolute anguish, I followed my gut instinct and asked if we could get back together – and thankfully he wanted me back after all I put him through. So being here now, after being married and having two beautiful kids together, I’m just so thankful we made it through.

Scroll down to see some of my favorite swimsuits I wore on my trip.

Swimsuit  / Hat / Necklace 

  1. Leopard: If you’ve followed me for a while, you know leopard is my favorite color, and a one-piece swimsuit is a mom’s best friend. I’ve always loved Mara Hoffman swimwear, not only for the aesthetic, but also because of her commitment to sustainable fashion.

Swimsuit / High-Wasist Acid Washed Shorts – Levi’s (thrifted off of Poshmark)/ Sunglasses 

2. Assymetrical: This high waist bikini has side-ties which you can’t see in this pic, but I’m partial to details like that. I am also in love with the one shoulder strap – but just a warning you may end up with some fun tan lines.

Swimsuit (similar) I bought mine second hand on Poshmark

3. Retro: High-waist and ribbed fabric is the way to go for bikini’s – I’ve seriously never felt so comfortable on a beach before.

Living Room & Guest Room Makeover Plans…

It’s 3:00 a.m. and I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d share some things I’ve been working on! I love following along with bloggers on decor projects, so I’m hoping you will enjoy this too. I just realized it has been a long while since I’ve done anything home decor related on the blog – my Master Bedroom and my Basement Refresh were over two years ago. So its no wonder why I’ve had the itch to decorate!

Side note: We are planning on moving and for years I kept putting off projects in order to save all of my ideas (and money) for the next place, but we keep pushing back our move date and in the meantime my current home isn’t bringing me the Marie Kondo joy that it should be. I’ve been itching to get some items from a professional antique silver shop for so long but keep putting it off thinking it’ll all look better in the new house, but I might just go for it!

I’m focusing on two major rooms in my home that could use some help. First off, the Guest Room. We have guests who stay with us often, especially my parents and Tom’s. For a while now our guest room was sort of a mish-mash of leftover furniture, so I decided to get in touch with a designer similar to these Billings interior designers to help me redo the whole room. The room is a beautiful space overlooking the pond behind our house, but it is currently painted a really dark olive color. The bed is dark wood and it is pretty bulky too, as is the glider/rocking chair. There is also a desk in the room which is pretty big – and style-wise it doesn’t have much to offer. One friend suggested I replace it with lighter furniture made from old barn wood to give the room a more airy, relaxing feel. Here’s what the room currently looks like:

Guest Room (Currently):

and here are my plans for the room:

Guest Room Inspiration

First of all I want to make this room as cozy and bright as possible. I will start by lightening up the space by painting the walls a neutral warm but still light grey tone. I am leaning towards Dolphin Fin by Behr or something similar. The bed also needs to be light and I want to go with an upholstered headboard because they are so comfortable to sit up in. As much as I love metal or wicker style beds, functionally they aren’t my favorite. The bed (also available in green and navy) and cantilever chair are both pretty modern, which can be a little cold- so I like to add some soft details to make it a little cozier, like the tufted bench and the gorgeous throw blanket also obsessed with this one.

I definitely want to add some gorgeous pillows and I love these printed ones, though I’m debating on if I want this color or the blush pink ones. For art, I want to keep it simple and I love hand drawn framed prints, but I also want to add some texture with crystals, geodes, and pearlized materials (like this lamp). I am also debating on whether or not I need a rug as we have carpeted berber flooring that is a nice light color – but if I do it will be something at the foot of the bed under the bench only.

Now on to my living room!

So I mentioned on instagram a while back that I have a love hate relationship with my living room wall color. It is a mustard-ish yellow which at times can look stunning, giving off a maximalist, colorful, almost Moroccan vibe. At other times, it just looks orange and I’m tired of it. I absolutely love bold color, and I want to incorporate it into every room in my home, but even for me this can be a bit much. One of my friends has a light-grey wall and she was planning on getting a sunset 5-panel art print as the contrast would look great. I haven’t considered much about incorporating it in my living room for the time being, maybe for the next time!

Here’s my living room now (or actually when I last took a picture of it during Christmas last year):

And here is my inspiration for it:

First off, the obvious HERO of the room is the sofa – the Anthropologie Lyre Chesterfield in this stunning green velvet. As much as I love a modern design aesthetic like my current mid-century modern sofas, I think a Chesterfield is so romantic and elegant and very ‘grown up’. (Tom thinks green is a horrible color choice, but I am slowly working on getting him on board. Creating this inspiration board was part of that process!) Note: My inspiration board was heavily influenced by this post by Alisa Bovino, a design blogger I recently discovered when googling ‘room inspiration for a green velvet sofa’.

Because we are working with this luscious velvet fabric, I want to contrast with pops of pink and animal print like these chairs which are sold out, but I may reupholster some chairs I already own, or add pillows in that fabric. I’m not sure exactly how, but there WILL be animal print in the mix somewhere. Wall color will probably be the same as the guest room, Dolphin Fin, and I will keep the rugs and curtains a light grey-ish tone. The coffee table will stay the same (see first pic), but I plan on styling it with peachy pink floral arrangements, some aesthetically pleasing design books, and a gold and marble tray.

So that is all I’ve got for you today! I am currently sourcing all of my furniture, art, and fabrics, and since I love to shop second-hand and vintage, the final product may take me some time, and it also may not look exactly like my inspiration board, but that is ok with me! I prefer rooms that have a vintage collected vibe to them over a shiny perfect new room any day. Stay tuned for more room updates over here and on my instagram account.

As always, thanks so much for visiting. Please consider subscribing so you never miss a post!

Of Woman Nature Podcast: Manifesting Purpose, Mindful Living, Conscious Fashion

I’m so excited to announce my very first podcast interview with Of Woman Nature! This is the brand new podcast by The Demureist – a blog that I have been a long time fan of – ever since I serendipitously met its founder Mariana during New York Fashion Week (back when I used to do that kind of thing).

Mariana Aguilera and Nazhah Khawaja host the podcast by the The Demureist, which is such a refreshing blog full of real insight and think pieces – which is so rare when you think about the majority of content we are inundated by daily through social media.

We discuss what my goals are for 2019, my journey to living a conscious lifestyle, and why exactly I quit ‘fashion blogging’.

You can listen to the whole episode wherever you get your podcast fix – I’ve included the link below.

I hope you enjoy!

January Favorites

What’s changing the game and inspiring me this month from the Internet, Books, Fashion, TV, and Beauty ~

Get Your Pet – A nationwide online marketplace for pet rescue and adoption. There are so many pets in need of a good home, and this site is making it easy for people to find their new best friend. Hoping this will mean the end of breeding farms in the near future!

A Place For Us – A beautifully weaved story about an Indian Muslim American family. Note: I read this book in a day an a half – ignored my husband and children because I just couldn’t put it down. I also cried multiple times. At the heart it is a universal story about the love of family, but it also gives the reader a unique perspective into the Muslim immigrant experience. Blue Tin Productions  – A Chicago-based clothing manufacturing co-op employing female refugees to produce clothing – providing brands and retailers an alternative to sweatshops. A radical concept challenging the fast fashion model by Activist/Blogger (and my friend) Hoda Katebi.

Diet Land – Currently streaming on Hulu – this show blew my mind. Exposing the dangers of ‘diet culture’ and also challenging the patriarchy. Really fun and lighthearted despite being dark with intense themes. Think Handmaids Tale meets The Devil Wears Prada.

Sahajan Balance Toner – Ok this one might not be a ‘disruptor’ per se, but I just LOVE the scent of this toner and how it makes my skin feel after – it is so beautiful and also makes me calm and happy.

Video: Self-Care Sunday With My Husband + Vasanti Cosmetics

Because guys need self-care (and exfoliator) too

Today’s post is in collaboration with Brown Girl Magazine and Vasanti Cosmetics. Vasanti Cosmetics is one of the oldest South Asian woman-owned beauty brands, started by three sisters over 20 years ago. When they first reached out to work on a campaign including Tom, I was thrilled. I absolutely love to support women owned businesses, especially women of color. It was also right after I filmed my Meet My Husband video which was so much fun, and I thought the timing couldn’t be better to do a work on another blog project with him. Can’t say for sure what Tom’s excitement level was, but he agreed – and that is the important thing!

Every Sunday I like to take some time out to do self-care, which usually includes drawing a bath and trying out some new products I’m testing for the blog. I asked Tom to join me this time and test out the one of Vasanti Cosmetics best selling products, their Brighten Up! Exfoliating Cleanser, which is known to be popular for both men and women. Lucky for me, Tom is a big fan of a good skincare product – he often consults me before he buys something – or he may just steal it from my medicine cabinet!

Watch the video to see more of us doing couples self-care. P.S. I think this could and should become a trend, just sayin.

The Review

Tom and I really loved the Brighten Up! Exfoliating cleanser. There were so many amazing reviews (over 200,000 of them) online, so I had hyped it up quite a bit in my mind. Luckily it did not disappoint. It is packed with all natural ingredients like Papaya Enzyme and professional micro crystals that really exfoliate and deeply clean the skin, and then aloe to soothe the skin after. I have combination skin, but my cheeks are very sensitive, prone to large pores and redness, and Tom has normal to oily skin and he can get acne breakouts if he doesn’t keep up his routine. Tom was really into the fact that the texture of the micro crystals in the scrub made his skin feel extra clean – he hates when it just feels like you splashed some soap and water on your face. My sensitive skin didn’t get irritated and my face looks so much brighter immediately after using Brighten up! I even scrubbed my hands with whatever was left and got a little hand treatment bonus out of it. I also liked that the product packaging and scent is neutral and it doesn’t look like it is too “girly” for a guy to use, which I’m sure Tom appreciates.

Tom and I agreed, we really think everyone should incorporate Brighten Up! Into their skincare routine.

We also discussed the advantages of using mushrooms to improve your skin over time. Since we both consume quite a lot of mushrooms each day, we decided to try and replace this with mushroom capsules. The result? The same effects, without eating 500 mushrooms a day! We found a manufacturer of wholesale mushrooms capsules to ensure that we had a years supply for as cheap as possible – a nice little money hack. NEVER buy from retailers if you intend on using a supplement frequently. Often, you can get it cheaper from wholesale manufacturers!

Learn more about Vasanti Cosmetics ~

Note: This is a sponsored post, however all thoughts expressed are 100% my own – thank you for visiting!

Three Glam Holiday Party Looks I Need A Place To Wear

Where da party at?

 Look 1: Dress: Christian Dior | Look 2: Dress: Alexandre Vauthier | Look 3: Dress: Balenciaga 

Holiday party season is officially upon us! If you are looking to stand out this year in some seriously drool-worthy designer pieces for your upcoming function, charity gala, or even just for some fresh instagram content (no judgement) – do yourself a favor and get familiar with the newly launched designer rental boutique, By Fashionaholic.

The Chicago Boutique’s personal touch turns designer fashion rental into the bougie shopping trip of your dreams 

Designer fashion rental isn’t a new thing. When I first started this blog, I met Lucy Sykes – the Fashion Director of Rent The Runway, one of the pioneers of designer fashion rental. Check out my blog post reviewing them (but please pardon my terrible photo skills!). At the time, it was a new and exciting idea that through renting, an average gal like me could have access to the most coveted high fashion brands. On top of that, it is also an incredibly easy way to shop sustainably if you are looking for ways to be more of a conscious consumer. More fashion rental companies have popped up since that post, which I am very happy to see, however:

 By Fashionaholic stands out in two pretty major ways:

 

  1. The curation. You won’t see a rainbow of Hermes Birkins or a gaggle of Chanel like this anywhere else. They have racks and racks of your favorite designers, from Gucci to Valentino, and everything in between. Mixed with all of the top fashion houses are some of the hottest new and under the radar designers. You can browse their website, but the showroom has so much more – all one of a kind hand selected pieces.

     2. They create a shopping experience. A high-touch personalized service that is usually reserved for expensive boutiques. The decor is lovely, with separate dressing rooms, some that can fit a group if you are shopping with friends. I definitely imagined coming back for a shopping party with some girlfriends. Your personal stylist will bring you lots of options to play dress up in, and bring you anything you might need – like a glass of champagne (or for me, some lotion for my perpetually ashy knees – ha). They also offer tailoring services, and my friend had her dress tailored and delivered directly to her hotel room before an event.

Sizing runs from 0-14, and rentals can range in price based on the item, for example you may pay $150/week for a Gucci bag, to $300/week for a Balenciaga gown.

My fashion-savvy friends agree with me that renting is only going to become an even bigger part of retail in the future. People want options, but don’t want to invest too much in a dress they will wear once or twice, even if it’s Dior. Fast-fashion in its current form is on its way out, as consumers are becoming more aware of the negative impact on the earth and unethical labor standards. Also it maybe just me, but I believe people are sick of overconsumption, and looking to live simpler, with less ‘stuff’.

Every girl still needs to look fabulous though whenever she wants to, so there will always be a need for amazing, high quality clothes for every occasion.  For those days, By Fashionaholic is the place to go, as they say, to ‘dress like you own it’.

 

 

 

How I Stay Thankful

We are in California right now visiting my family for Thanksgiving. Upon arrival, I was immediately confronted by this intense smell of smoke, like we were at camp and the fire had been burning a little too long. The fires that have ravaged Butte county and Los Angeles County are the worst I remember seeing in my lifetime, with over 800 people still unaccounted for. My sister went to Chico volunteering and giving out supplies to people in need, but there is still so much work to do. The rain that is expected to come is supposed to help with the fires that are still burning, but now we think that may cause mudslides which could be even worse.

This Thanksgiving I’m extra grateful, being safe at home with my family. Yet another reminder that nothing is ever guaranteed in life, and we need to appreciate everything we have, because it could always be worse.

It is easy to feel grateful during times of crisis, but not so much in the thick of mundane everyday life. I have a motto that keeps me on my toes though. It is:

Live life, but make it cute.

I learned this from watching my kids and how they turn every situation in to an opportunity to play and imagine. Kids instinctively know the secret to happiness.  As human beings we all have to do the same things – eat, work, sleep, repeat. But instead of just going through the motions or complaining every step of the way, I like to make every thing I do ‘cute’, or in other words- just a little extra special. Doing this takes a little practice and effort, but it is so worth it.

Some examples of what I do to make life cute:

When Tom asks me for a favor, I say – ‘Anything for you, the love of my life!’ or when Adam asks me for another meal, even after he just ate – I answer with, ‘It would be my pleasure, my first born son!’ I may just be extra excited to welcome home my family members by showering them with hugs and kisses like I haven’t seen them in years. Even if I am not actually feeling it, just acting that way tricks my subconscious brain to make me actually start to feel that way. Then comes the ripple effect – after I put out all that good energy towards the ones I love, I get it back and then some.

For dinners, I like to try out new recipes all the time, and experiment with new flavors – it makes cooking and eating dinner way more fun for me. When I get dressed, I pretend like I am in a boutique and shop my closet for pieces I haven’t worn in a while, mixing and matching accessories and even DIY’ing when I feel extra creative. When I am doing my own makeup or hair, I’ll pretend like I’m a professional artist and I’ll give myself a tutorial on my look.

When I shop, I like to imagine I am styling a client that has unlimited funds (a trick I picked up from Immaculate Wardrobe Stylist, Sophia Hyacinthe) I go to my some of my favorite online retailers like Shopbop, (which is currently having their big annual sale!) and I start favoriting items I love. You can get emails when those items go on sale, and I always take advantage of that feature! These boots were my latest sale purchase and I am obsessed with them.

Moral of the story, it is easy to stay grateful and appreciate & enjoy your life – you just have to make it cute!

  PantsBoots (similar) | Blouse (similar) | Trench (similar) | Hat (thanks to Tenth Street Hats) | Pants and Top thrifted from Material World |

 

 

Conscious-ish: How To Define Your Personal Style (Part I)

“We are all going to consume, but the point is to consume with a purpose and be aware about what you buy and what you do, and use it as a tool to serve you” – Sophia Hyacinthe – Personal Stylist and CEO, Immaculate Wardrobe

Boots: Dorateymur (on sale!)| Jeans: Levi’s | Sweater: ALC via Material World

Conscious-ish is a Style Series where we explore personal style from a conscious consumer lens.

We are going to kick off this series with what I think is the most important and most elemental step in creating the wardrobe of our dreams, and that is defining our personal style. Deciding what colors we look good in, picking out our favorite gorgeous bags, and accessorizing for the Gods are “must-have” decisions. Getting “conscious” about it, if you will. Before we dive in to what, where, and how exactly to shop, it is absolutely key to figure out just what our style type even is. This is not to say your style can’t change or evolve over time, in fact I hope it always does! But when it does evolve, your new personal style awareness will help you make future changes accordingly.

I also created a Personal Style Quiz to help you narrow down what your style personality is. Scroll down to take the quiz – you may find you fit perfectly into one style type, or you may be a mix of a few!

To help us really figure out our personal style, I tapped in to the expertise of NYC/ATL based Personal Stylist & CEO, (side note: also a DJ by night – how cool is she?) Sophia Hyacinthe. She helps real modern professional women create a style strategy, build looks, and build a timeless wardrobe through her Styling company, Immaculate Wardrobe.

In her experience, many women shop impulsively. It could be tied to their budget, for example if they get a big paycheck or there is a blowout sale going on, or something emotional like feeling depressed or filling a void -hence the term retail ‘therapy’. Shopping this way ultimately leads to a closet that may not be cohesive, like too many statement pieces but not enough quality staples to make the outfits work. You end up with the ‘closet full of clothes and nothing to wear’ situation which is super frustrating.

Figuring out your personal style can help you streamline and edit what you need and what you don’t need in your closet, to make getting dressed less stressful. It will also help you to present the best image of yourself to the world. Often our emotions are tied to our self-image, so being confident in what we are wearing can also really have a positive effect on us.

“We are all going to consume, but the point is to consume with a purpose and be aware about what you buy and what you do, and use it as a tool to serve you”

According to Sophia, there are a few things you need to consider first when determining your style type:

(You may want to grab a pen and some paper and take notes)

  1. What Is Your Lifestyle? Are you a stay at home mom looking for easy comfy clothes for most days, and cute trendy outfits for date nights and parties? Are you a social butterfly who needs playful statement pieces? Do you work corporate and want your clothes to be stylish like these cat workwear for sale or do you prefer to look professional?
  2. What Do You Love About Your Body? What are your favorite attributes? What types of clothes make you feel your most vital, confident self?
  3. Who Are Your Style Icon(s)? Celebrities, Friends, Family members – think about anyone who’s style you truly admire, and why.
  4. What Are Your Style Goals? How would you choose to dress if you had, say, Beyonce’s bank account?
  5. What Is Your Budget? Realistically, think about how much you can afford to spend – think in terms of price per wear for the items you think you will wear the most.

Once you answer the above questions you should have a much clearer understanding of: What type of clothes you may need to supplement your current wardrobe, which silhouettes work best for your body type, and how much you can actually afford to spend.

If you haven’t yet, take my Style Quiz below to help you determine your Style Personality!

Answer a few questions to determine if your style is Classic, Glamazon, Bohemian, Modern, or Avant Garde
A. Sophisticated, demure
B. You like to make an entrance AND an exit
C. Chill flower child
D. Trend-setter, laid back
E. Adventurous
2. Your Favorite Outfit
A. Tailored trousers or midi dress with feminine accessories
B. Monochromatic body con dress, high heels and an oversized jacket
C. A vintage flowy maxi dress, layered necklaces and cocktail rings
D. Jeans and a blazer with some statement heels or flats
E. A jacket with dramatic shoulders and oversized arms, paired with a statement chunky heel
3. Describe The Style You Aspire To
4. What Home Decor Style Do You Love
B. Velvet pillows, floral arrangements, grand chandeliers
5. When Shopping, You are most likely to:
6. Your Favorite Handbag
7. Who Is Your Favorite Celebrity Style Icon?
8. When looking at your closet, you see
E. Track pants, cropped sweaters, fishnet stockings
9. If You Could Choose One Designer, You Would Have A Closet Full Of:

Add up your total number of A, B, C, D, and E’s and see below for your results! If you are split, then you have a combination of style types.

If you are:

Mostly A’s: Classic

You prefer timeless styles over flashy trends and prefer beautifully tailored pieces. You like to invest in high quality clothing and accessories and expect them to last a long time. You tend to stay safe and stick to what you know works for you. You are sophisticated, well-groomed, and generally have very good taste.

Famous Classic Style Icons: Jackie O, Victoria Beckham, Queen Rania, Kate Middleton

Mostly B’s: Glamazon

You love to make a statement and showcase your confidence in your outfit choices. You know how to accentuate your favorite attributes, and you put them to work, honey! Designer bags and shoes are your favorite place to splurge. You are either in spandex shorts and hoodies or a patent leather bodycon with sky-high heels, there is no in-between.

Famous Glamazon Style Icons: Kim Kardashian, J.Lo, Bebe Rexha, Beyonce

Mostly C’s: Bohemian

You are Earthy by nature and your fashion choices reflect your zen philosophy. Loose and flowing maxi dresses are your fave, you are most confident when you are feeling comfortable and feminine. You like to accessorize and show your personality through your style by playing with color and jewelry. You would probably love to wear a chakra bracelet that looks great with any casual outfit, just for the vibes and energy of it.

Famous Bohemian Style Icons: Cher, Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens

Mostly D’s: Modern

You have that cool-girl vibe and you don’t shy away from trying out fashion trends that you find fun. Are bracelets or scarves back in vogue these days? Sure, you’re not afraid to try them. Just look at these guys and other brands that offer a fresh take on old classics. You appreciate originality and always look for a twist on classic pieces. Function is just as important as fashion for you and you like to splurge on high-quality basics and designer shoes that you know will get a lot of wear.

Famous Modern Style Icons: Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, Tracee Ellis Ross, Olivia Palermo

Mostly E’s: Avant Garde

You love to experiment with fashion and are not scared to make a big statement. It may be something small like accessories, or it may be your entire outfit, but one thing is for sure – there is nothing boring about your style. Your philosophy is that Fashion is wearable art, and you appreciate designers who push boundaries like you.

Famous Avant Garde Style Icons: Zoe Kravitz, Rihanna, Christine Centenera, Lady Gaga

Thank you so much for visiting! Stay tuned for next week, where we will talk about the exact steps Sophia takes her Personal Styling clients through to edit and streamline their closets!

Find Sophia on Instagram or check out her website Immaculate Wardrobe

Conscious-ish: The Conscious Style Series – An Introduction

How to be Stylish and Conscious-ish

Jacket: Reformation | Jeans: Levis

I thought of this idea months ago when I was talking to my friends about shopping and I found myself at a loss for words when I was explaining why I don’t shop at Zara.

I hesitated on using the word ‘conscious’ or ‘ethical’ or ‘sustainable’ because to me those words connote something boring, and often sound super preachy and annoying. Conscious-ish is a light take on the word, making it more palatable and inclusive. We are being conscious-ish when we try our best to do better. (Note: This could be a great podcast idea, right? Calling it right now…)

I’ve noticed there are two major types of shoppers:

1) First, there are ones who will shop anywhere and everywhere without giving much thought to whether something was made ethically or sustainably. They usually have great style, may love to shop high and low, supplementing their expensive Designer investment pieces with tons of trendy fast-fashion finds. They won’t necessarily be thinking, “is ASOS fast fashion?” when they see the perfect item to complete their outfit. In their minds, the cheaper, the better since they spend a lot on fashion. Possibly a fashion blogger! They could be a social media blogger or have a popular website, writing about fashion style, culture, etc. They may use fashion photography equipment or other technology to promote their blog content.

2)The second type are those who do care deeply about ethical and sustainable fashion, and exclusively shop are very curated group of (usually expensive) sustainable brands. They may or may not also have a capsule wardrobe which is full of black, white, khaki and grey items, and quite possibly also have an air of superiority about themselves.

Personally I don’t like anything that is too extreme or restrictive, be it religion, diet, or lifestyle. I subscribe to the idea that moderation is the best, the most sustainable, and from a human perspective, the most realistic goal.

As a newly aware conscious shopper, maybe someone who just finished watching The True Cost (which I highly recommend), looking at the other end of the style conscious spectrum, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed with restrictions and fall back into the ‘ignorance is bliss’ mode.

It is also really hard to imagine life with a black, white, khaki and grey wardrobe – no thanks! Give me all the loud color and prints!

My goal with this series is to make it easier for all style lovers to learn new ways to adapt ‘conscious-ish’ shopping habits. I believe everyone should be a conscious shopper – there really is no excuse not to be nowadays with all that we know about the Fashion Industry and its blatant harm to the planet and people. And because of this, we see more and more brands in the fashion industry bringing major changes to the way their clothes are manufactured. The awareness around fast fashion has made it relatively easy to find plenty of amazing Recycled Fashion brands for the next shopping spree! It’s always in our hands to bring about a change in the way we do things. It does not have to be the way it always has been. However I don’t expect, nor do I advocate for everyone to immediately overhaul their lifestyle in order to affect change. If everyone we knew just took a few small baby steps, maybe shopping a little less often, or starting to get into resale shopping instead of always buying new, or supporting some amazing sustainable brands, I really believe we could see a huge collective shift in perspective, which I believe is ultimately what is really going to change the industry.

Conscious-ish: The Conscious Style Series – will attempt to bridge the gap between the new conscious style enthusiast and the seasoned expert.

We will discuss:

  1. Baby steps we can all take to improve our current shopping habits to align with our conscious style philosophy.
  2. How to find and develop our own personal style.
  3. How to shop savvy and avoid getting into debt. Tips on managing money and creating a budget.
  4. Resale & Consignment Shopping – How and where to do it, and what to watch out for.
  5. DIY and Fashion Styling tips to get the most out of your closet.
  6. Favorite Fashion Apps and Technology.
  7. And much more…

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all images and content, unless otherwise noted, are property of zahra sandberg. Please request permission prior to use of any of my images. if you have further questions, email me at zahra{at}lovezahra{dot}com.