Recycled cashmere has been catching my eye this autumn. As with any natural fiber, and especially with cashmere, reusing rather than starting again from scratch is an exciting advancement. Much of the cashmere used in recycled cashmere at this point comes from fibers left over + previously discarded from the cashmere industry. It would be wonderful to see previously worn cashmere getting a second chance, but this is a great start. This is often how the technology advances, new options for recycling come into play, and then collection can have a focus + outlet/input.

Another intriguing way of recycling cashmere is simply cutting it up + sewing it back together into useful shapes. This could be a way to use bits of sweaters riddled with holes or stains...or too small, secondhand sweaters. These makers are doing amazing work! I love seeing the sleeves of sweaters made into pant legs, and that amazing scarf/blanket is the most beautiful way to ensure that no scrap of this luxurious fiber goes to waste!

Love,
Jane

The library has been good to me this week. I happily happened upon 150 Best Tiny Space Ideas + A Tree in the House while browsing there. Many of the homes highlighted in the Tiny Space Ideas book are familiar to me, but this is an impressive collection. Worn in New York is another offering by Emily Spivack that I felt focused more on story than clothing. Her first book Worn Stories is my preference of the two. I've also been reading The Great Gatsby all over again with Julia this week as well.  :)
​
This is the city where I'm from + where I'm raising my children, and putting that money back into my city is very important to me.
Some amazing (+ focused) secondhand autumn finds.
Inspiring grandpas + grandmas of the umbrella movement.
​Make it organic, please...or better yet...recycled.
An earth + trash house.
Is new clothing even an option anymore?
​An October playlist we're loving.
Truth.

Hope you are enjoying some lovely transitional weather this weekend, friends!

Love, 
Jane

We don't need a handful of people doing zero-waste perfectly.
We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.
​~Anne Marie Bonneau

above images via 

...an oat-colored layer, comfy leggings...

...a pale sweatshirt, an oversized pullover + pale soft pants.

Silhouettes I'm wearing ::
-tee or button-down + jeans 
-leggings + any top
-sweatshirt + any pants
-oversized pullover + soft pants 
(all + a cozy layer as necessary)

Pieces ::
-cream tee
-chambray button-down
-sweatshirt
-pullover
-pale jeans
-cream jeans
-soft pants
-leggings
-oat layer
-quilted jacket
-clogs 
​-boots 

Simple!  :)

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Each of us has our own individual preferences + desires. A few of my desires are simplicity, zero-waste + beauty. Beauty for me often involves things that are natural. As I look at the things that surround me, I see a jute rug, a terracotta pot, a silk scarf, plants, and cotton clothing. Wild curls, silky straight locks, or a natural face are things that communicate beauty to me as well. (Not the only things that communicate beauty...)  :)

As I tried to move toward zero-waste, "less" often seemed like a good option. Rather than shopping for zero-waste versions of various packaged cleansers + treatments or zero-waste make-up items that would have to be shipped to my doorstep...I considered which products I really needed to continue to use. I took note of the fresh faced women I admired + carry them with me as my moral support.

Again, each of us are different. In certain environments, I may decide to add a coat of mascara or lip color...but as an every day practice...here is what my zero-waste face involves:

In colder months:
-wash face with unpackaged soap in my morning shower
-apply a small amount of skin cream + lip balm (reapply as necessary during the day)
-wash face with soap before bed

In warmer months:
-wash face with unpackaged soap in my morning shower
-lip balm as needed
-wash face with soap before bed

I find that during the warmer months, my skin has more than enough oils to stay moisturized. I really love giving my skin the chance to take care of itself for a few months of the year. Our bodies are amazing!

I love the fact that people have been able to figure out ways to make their own cosmetics out of natural ingredients + that others have figured out some less wasteful packaging options. For me, I have found "less" to be the least wasteful + most simple option. Others have found even simpler ways...like washing with water only or oil washing. 

It's interesting to see how doing things differently for a while changes your brain. The other day, I saw a commercial for makeup + thought...how weird is it that women are expected to wear all this foundation + makeup...while men are not expected to worry about any of that. There was a time in my life when a thought like that never would have crossed my mind, but at that moment it just felt totally comical + tragic that we'd let it come to this.  

If make-up makes you feel good, wear it. If it feels like a burden, experiment with wearing a less. Give yourself time to adjust. Smile. Be kind + generous. When I think of those I find most beautiful, it has absolutely nothing to do with make-up.

Love,
Jane

The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.
~Center for Action + Contemplation

Autumn seems like a natural time to consider color...and I love these nature inspired tones. These lovely pieces could mix + match + layer for lots of lovely outfit options. We obviously don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe's worth of pieces, in order to consider color in our own collections.

One way I've been considering color is by choosing pieces in white + natural tones.  :) I choose white tones not only because I like them...but also because I'm thinking about longevity. I am anticipating extending the usefulness + my own love for these pieces by dying them with natural dyes as necessary or desired. Dyes are a great way to add a little color to a thrifted, stained or existing piece in one's wardrobe! I love indigo dye + am looking forward to trying some of EarthHues natural dyes too.

Another way I like to add a little oomph to my regular outfit lineup is by mixing colors in unconventional ways. A few of my outfit dreams using the pieces above include...

I'm actually wearing this combination right now. It doesn't seem like it would work (one of those unconventional color combinations mentioned above), but I think it does.  :) It's one of my favorite cozy at home looks.

I like the idea of sliding a heavier, cozy layer over a simple, sleeveless jumpsuit. The ease of two piece dressing feels like a luxury as temperatures dip. I'd really like to see these different tones of green together, but I have a similar grey jumpsuit already in my closet that would benefit from a cozy layer like this.

These colors are an autumn dream...and that green cardigan above could take this pairing into cooler days. Let the leaves fly!  :)

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

This week I've thoroughly enjoyed Creative Spaces by Ted Vadakan + Angie Myung, the owners of Poketo. I enjoyed reading about the artists, their careers + the spaces they inhabit. The fashion was pretty inspirational as well.  :)

Protect. Restore. Fund.
See ya.
​That's a good example of how changes in the ocean can affect even people who live far from the coasts.
​Are vegan leather alternatives better for the planet?
In case this was missed over there.
Another 100% merino wool fleece jacket substitute.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Love,
Jane

...and all at once summer collapsed into fall.
​~Oscar Wilde