I'm going through my closet as the seasons finally change in a more dependable way. I've pulled everything out of my closet + after putting most of it back, I'm left with a few extra things. I have a leather belt that I haven't worn since transitioning to high waisted pants. There is a tiny box of earrings. (I've kept the same hoops in my ears for years.) I realize I have a few coats again. I stand there...kinda stuck. I don't want to allocate space to these things.

I wonder if I need to keep these items, but I don't think I want to part with them yet. I've spent years wanting to own less. I'd really like to live with very little, and yet there are things that I want to hold on to.

As I moved everything down + up the stairs recently, I felt the weight of photo albums + craft supplies + a tiny collection of Christmas things. I realize that I need to allocate space for the few things I want to keep. That's all really. I suppose that when we've minimized as much as we want to, we have to reckon with the space that is necessary to hold our things. Even van-lifers, if you watch them long enough, end up revealing some mostly unmentioned corner of a relative's basement where they have storage bins waiting for them. 

I think a few helpful ways of thinking about my stored items are to:

• decide how much space I can + want to give to them. The allotted, single cabinet or closet or set of shelves creates a boundary by which to abide.
• use them. I've always wanted our family photo albums to be accessible, so that we could look at them. We don't do that often, however, so maybe a more intentional way of living with them would be to set one or two out on designated holidays like Valentine's Day or Thanksgiving. Grandma's quilt or dishes could be used on her birthday every year. This way, these things are not just stored, they are appreciated + become instruments of celebration.
• revisit them periodically. Enough time may have passed in a year or two for me to be ready to let that belt or some more craft supplies go. (That time might also be tomorrow.)  :)
• allow them to be useful again. It's fun to see Jo + Julia wearing my rings + to know that they love them as much as I do.

Love,
​Jane

The wind blew cooler temperatures our way overnight, and as a result I pulled on a sweatshirt + comfy pants this morning instead of the breezier clothing I've been wearing for months. These pieces feel really good + even better when I take a moment to appreciate the time + effort that went into finding pieces made with intention + care.

This week I walked through rei thinking I might find a cozy layer to take on a camping excursion. I looked at a lot of fabric content tags + felt so much dissonance of purpose: a whole store dedicated to outdoor activity packed full of clothing that is made to pollute it. Polyester reigns supreme in outdoor clothing today.

Years ago, my partner worked at rei, where he learned about gortex + was smitten. Today, gortex is banned in several states, because its waterproof finish comes from forever chemicals that have been linked to cancer. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency addressed exposure to forever chemicals by issuing legally enforceable drinking water standards. Using these standards, forever chemical bans have been proposed in many states, but Republican lawmakers stand in the way of their passing. The Republican candidate for the presidency has told us that he plans to dismantle the agency + his record clearly shows us what he is willing to do.

​And so...what started as a post about lovely loungewear:

• unbleached cotton is my new black   :)
• organic cotton forever (for farmers, for planet, for garment workers, for us!)

...has made a soft turn toward what's at stake this week here in the US. Please, please vote, if your citizenship allows. There are things to dislike about each candidate...but, make no mistake, the choice is between Harris + Trump. State + local elections have great importance as well. Don't waste the opportunity to influence the future we will all live in.

Much love,
​Jane

When I saw the ad for Woolaroo at Outerknown, I got excited...and then I just figured it would be like other brand's partly wool, partly plastic-fiber fleece. But...Outerknown DOES have a couple of 100% recycled wool options! 

It's happening! Brands that care about the fact that microfibers are a very real problem...are making moves away from polyester fibers. They still offer partly polyester options which does not show a complete commitment, but I did want to highlight the fact that there are starting to be options for those who want their fleece without the microfibers.

A couple other longer standing 100% wool options:

• ​Engel :: made in Germany
• Ibex :: "fair workplaces" for garment workers

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Over the past few years, I've recognized the persistence of my personal basics as a sort of affirmative beauty. I think of this positivity as growth beyond thinking of it as acquiescence to stagnancy or disengagement from nowness.

I'm beginning to see discoveries like this one as sort of scenic overlooks along the winding road toward a destination of enough + less + fair. 

Today's recognition seems ever so related. It is just another tiny spark that keeps things interesting + makes it all feel like - yes! there is beauty here. This insight came in the form of an image of basics being worn in a way that I just hadn't been thinking of before. A perfectly hip grazing sweatshirt worn with a ribbed skirt? Yes! An oversized button-up with oversized jeans? Well, yes! These are not necessarily the basics that I see myself wearing, but they are just the spark that sets me off toward my own basics wondering how I might be able to combine them a little differently.

Lately I'm also seeing color combinations as revelatory. There are certain color combinations that hit my brain like umami - they make me aware of what eyes are for...that they are attached to my brain...that my brain can light up with pure joy! Oh, what pleasure could be derived from wearing orange slides with an otherwise neutral outfit!? Why not see lavender as a neutral? (I have bought nothing, but the mere thoughts make me feel alive.) And when I leave the house, I remember my own orangey-red bag that is years old, and it gives me a little joy jolt as I throw it on with my own monochromic look.

Yep, I'm alive. Thank goodness.

All joy jolty photos via links!

Love,
​Jane

And these pants got the same ankle bone skimming hemline as all my others. What can I say? I just know what I like...on me. 

(That army jacket benefitted from the offcuts from the same ankle bone skimming hemline on my army pants.)  :)

Taking time to get intimate with my clothing truly does reinforce my relationship with each piece. I reawaken to this connection with each intervention.

The immense value of the farmer's time in sowing seeds, cultivating + harvesting natural fibers comes into focus. I feel gratitude for the process of spinning fiber into thread that gets woven into cloth. I consider the effects that the dyes have on surrounding waterways + the origins of the buttons, zipper + thread. I can imagine myself sitting shoulder to shoulder with the people who cut + stitched the garment together. I honor all the time + effort + work that went into each of my garments by wearing it again + again. I am honored to wear their handiwork...and the little that is mine too.

Love,
​Jane

March felt transitional in weather + dressing + feeling. Some days called for windows thrown open, weeding garden beds + clipping fresh chives, thyme + daffodils. Days later snow floated in the air. That's spring...a shift that is also a back + forth.

I took the shift as an opportunity to pull everything out of my closet + reassess ...again. The feeling that I have too much clothing had been poking me. This feeling was more disturbing than its opposing feeling (that I don't really have that much) was calming. Both things were true, but once the things that I decided to let serve someone else were removed, I felt so much more at peace.

I listed for sale lots of things that I still like, because I decided that I don't like or wear them enough to hold space for them...space in my house + space in my mind. I sold shirts that I do like to wear to work. I just choose to wear other shirts more often. I listed lounge-y pants that I tried just this year. They are still in good shape, so someone else can start fresh with them. 

My objective is really to listen for peace. I'm trying to tune my dial to "enough". Too much feels just as uncomfortable as too little. I think society, consumerism, social media (whatever...something) tries to deaden the feeling of too much. Might it not be helpful to recognize the feeling of too much? What does it feel like to you?

To me, too much feels like:

• stuff is closing in on me
• being trapped or overwhelmed by stuff
• frustration at stuff always being piled up outside of its designated container, drawer, closet, spot
• the ever-present pressure to clean more, do more laundry, pick up more
• nothing is working
• my space is too small
• visual clutter
• tightness or heaviness

To me, less feels:

• expansive
• light
• easy
• simple
• freeing

Forever tuning the dial to "enough",
Jane

Jesse Kamm's new collection affirms my love of monochromatic outfits. (Those colors!) The shapes affirm my love of straightforward, utilitarian pieces that wear like champs + won't look dated any time soon.

I'm still attracted to outlier pieces that make a statement. I also understand that I'd only really want to wear many of those pieces to the same place a few times per season. Monochromatic outfits are the perfect statement outfits for minimalists.

Remix those same pieces + they play a bit less memorable...in a good way.

All lovely photos via Jesse Kamm.

Love,
​Jane

• Dressier shoes, coat, hat... :: A pair of dark jeans or a jumpsuit that I usually pair with trainers is instantly elevated when paired with dressier shoes + a longer coat. I think a red beret could add a playful, festive touch.

• Playful thinking :: This one is purely theoretical, but I'm wondering if (hoping that) displaying a bit of playfulness on the outside might allow me to sort of live into this attitude. Mingling activates my shyness, so I'm consciously asking my clothing to imbue me with a little lightness of spirit. I believe it's possible. :)

I love this sort of creative exercise. Minimalism offers us so many opportunities to stretch our imaginations toward different ways of being + that makes me so happy! Wishing you all the most fun + festive of holiday seasons!

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

All that to say...I love that WRN FRSH is taking "waste" + making it functional + beautiful. Each piece is made by Gene + Michael in their San Francisco studio from disassembled vintage clothing or brand offcuts. I'm especially loving this colorful collaboration with Gravel & Gold.

As a sewist, I enjoy brands like this as much for inspiration as for shopping. There is so, so much opportunity + need for zero-waste creativity! 

All inspiring photos via links.

It's that point between seasons, when I can look back over what I've worn + not worn in the hot months. I pull things out for cooler days ahead + see a couple pieces that I now feel comfortable letting go. This process brings me to list a few things for resale. 

I love that resale has become an accessible way to make sales + purchases. I love that the stigma has been removed from wearing secondhand clothing. We are keeping things in use + out of the landfill! And...I like to use this process to reevaluate my purchasing mindset, because it is never my goal to sell things that I haven't used up. 

When I sell things, I always go through a process of wanting to get some money out of them...feeling that I am always on the losing end of the money exchange...realizing that I just want to get those pieces worn...and wanting to choose better next time.

At this point in my fairdare journey, I know that each of my purchases was made with intention. This is just a great opportunity to reeducate my intention with new insight!

This time around I'm letting go of:

• a dress + jumpsuit that I love. I thought they would work with my job, but black linen just doesn't. I'm going to let someone else wear them more often than I would.
• a jacket that I thought was perfect for layering up for outdoor exercise. It would be on someone with a little bit different body type.
• a dress that I just never wore.
• a dress that I never wore + was able to return.

A few lessons I can take from the things I'm letting go of:

• Black linen doesn't work with my job.
• Longer sleeves just feel too hot in the summer (even with bare legs).
• I might just not be a dress person right now?
• I need to figure out whether I will choose to wear a new item rather than my favorites. 
• Whether or not an item can be returned is a worthwhile consideration.
• Coming to peace with a sort of uniform is not boring. It is a gift.

Sustainability always rests on "less" + "enough". Resale is great, but only as long as it stays in proportion with use. The goal is not to purge + sell. The goal is to wear + use up.  ;)

​Love,
Jane