fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

finding personal style + rest

9/14/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
As I wrote about evaluating enough in my wardrobe recently, one sentence seemed to beg for a post of its own :
I care about style, and I can create style without needing a huge collection of clothing.

This idea holds so much meaning for me. My fairdare experiment has involved so much happy discovery + this one feels particularly rich + beautiful.

Changing styles often come down to pretty minimal shifts like skirt lengths​, pant widths + trendy colors. I don't come across much written about this, but I'm wondering if personal style might ultimately be made of similarly small preferences. One can read an article about the ten items needed to have french style or collect photos to inspire goth or normcore style. But that is more about a group aesthetic rather than personal style. Personal style might just be smaller than that.

Deciding that I want to experiment with "less" means that I've spent a bit of time evaluating what I want to wear. I've tried choosing one, closer-to-perfect version of an item rather than having five, imperfect-in-different-ways versions. Living through decades of shifting styles has allowed me to recognize what works on my body + what my eye prefers. Attentive reflection has allowed my time-tested, favorite aspects of clothing to come into focus.

Here are a few examples of my own small preferences:
  • I wear high waisted jeans.
  • There is a certain length at which I prefer my pants to fall.
  • Certain colors do + don't look good around my face.
  • I will never not like deep dark indigo blue.
  • I like bracelet length sleeves.
  • The presence of one lived-in + worn item makes most of my outfits look better.
  • There are a few, specific pieces that will always be in my wardrobe.
  • A long, loose braid is the hairstyle I've worn most days for the past couple years.
Picture
These small preferences have become tools toward "less" + "enough" for me:
  • I know what I like, so I wear that :: I now have three different pairs of the same style of jeans - one cream, one light denim + another dark denim.
  • It lets me make things I already own into my favorite things :: One of these pairs of jeans hit a little longer than I wanted, and I just didn't wear them. It took courage, but I finally cut them off at my favorite length, and now I wear them twice a week! They just feel like me now!
  • It allowed me to let go of some things + not feel lack :: If I'd always rather wear my oat, cashmere sweater, why would I feel like I have to have 6 other sweaters? Why not just wear that one (when I want to wear a sweater) + feel great every time?
  • It makes the wait worth it :: I'd been wanting a vintage, army jacket for years, I finally found the softest, worn jacket at a vintage sale. I could touch it + try it on. It needs a lot of repair work, but time spent investigating, visualizing + stitching always makes me feel such connection to my clothing. This piece was worth the wait, and I will wear it for a long, long time.

These recognitions have became the building blocks of not only my wardrobe, allowing me to be choosy about what I purchase + keep, but also of my personal style. I find this to be a really lovely, grounding, affirming realization actually. I find peace in noticing that I know something about myself + allow myself to act on that knowing. (And I really need that feeling in my life!)

What I'm making a case for here is this:
  • take the time to notice what you come back to over + over
  • note what makes you feel comfortable, confident, like yourself
  • settle into that + find rest

Much love,
Jane
0 Comments

evaluating enough :: autumn wardrobe

9/13/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Autumn clothing collections are coming out, and the weather has shifted a bit this week too. I just realized that this is the fourth (!) autumn in a row that has found me with a different job description in a different environment. And so...I'm again thinking through what is enough when it comes to my wardrobe. 

If I don't tune into intention with my wardrobe, my excitement can carry me to acquire pieces I like without paying attention to what I need or what works most effectively with the pieces I already own. This can lead to "needing" to purchase additional pieces to match or being left with holes that make pieces "unwearable". (I'm adding quotation marks, because these statements are merely style + privilege driven.)

My motivation for recognizing "enough" is to consider my impact on farmers, garment workers, a warming planet + all my fellow humans. New clothing requires resources like fibers, land, water, waste, labor, transportation. Holding on to more than I need withholds from others + contributes to those around me feeling that more is necessary. (This is not an endorsement for repeated closet clean outs. It is hope for a movement toward recognizing the beauty of less.) 

A few things I've learned over the years I've been tuned into "enough" (most of it still really surprises me!):
  • I care about style, and I can create style without needing a huge collection of clothing.
  • Every single season, I realize that I need less than I thought I did at the beginning of the season.
  • Rarely do I need more than three of something (work pants, sweatshirts, button ups).
  • Mixing + matching offers a lot of variety.
  • I know which pieces I like to wear over + over...what feels like me.
  • No matter what work environment I find myself in, I usually already have enough to form a sort of work uniform.
Picture
I'm asking myself if I can find contentment + confidence in knowing + committing to my personal style...a set of styles, colors, pieces I feel best in.

And so, rather than starting by scrolling fall collections or assembling pinterest boards (both of which I love doing), I start in my own closet. I pull out pieces that I can wear in the next few months, put them together + see "enough". It really is that simple. I may add a top or two to create a bit more happiness + ease. My intention is not to be rigid, but there is no urgency or feeling of lack here either now.

Recognizing enough is like a muscle that I find the need to keep in shape...a practice I need to do repeatedly...thought processes I need to keep limber. And that's pretty exciting to experience!

Love,
​Jane
0 Comments

fair brand :: doso

9/12/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Dosa designers, Alex + Steph, are siblings whose parents have almost 40 years of sewing + production experience in the Los Angeles garment industry. Doso is short for "library" in Korean, which is how these designers see their parents (who run the production side of the brand). I love this beautiful story of a family owned + run business. These elevated basics get style points for their wearability, local production + natural fabrics, many of which are also made locally in LA. I can't wait to see what they do next!

Find this + lots more fair fashion brands on our ethical clothing brands page when you need them. All lovely photos via Dosa. 
0 Comments

weekend reads + such

9/2/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Two reasons I'm loving my library right now:
​
Enchantment : Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May :: A collection of beautifully communicated thoughts + observations which ripple deeper + deeper into my mind + create a path of breadcrumbs toward my own connection. 

Still Life by Rebecca Pacheco :: We're digging into this meditation thing...practicing...learning...opening to its possibilities...and feeling into its offerings. This book is part of that gentle quest.  


More reasons to pay attention to what goes into our clothing.

A quiet phase out that lowers emissions.

A government clothing repair scheme.

When you know what is enough, you are happy.
0 Comments
    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow