Change has been a theme around here lately. I've tried three jobs in the past three months (yikes), and have been settling into a good one for a few weeks now. I've settled into a sort of uniform too. These jeans from Madewell are fair-trade certified (yay, Madewell!), and I love them. I'm also really into these tees from It is well LA. They are designed + made in California from cotton + modal...and they work well under my apron. My Vejas are good for being on my feet for a big chunk of the day.

It's nice to not have to waste any of my limited decision making abilities getting dressed each day. I simply pick the next tee in the stack. I can wash my jeans + apron once per week + the tees (+ socks) along with the other laundry throughout the week. I like knowing that everything I have is getting worn + earning its place in my wardrobe. 

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane

I've been revisiting some of these images for years + instead of letting that make me feel boring...I'm finding contentment + comfort there. It's perfectly fine for tastes to change over the years...to meander...to vacillate...to wander. But it's also lovely to find myself coming back to the same things again + again.

White tees...white shorts...black tanks...breezy pants...brown shoulders...a shady hat...messy hair...soft, pale denim...bare feet...these are my simple summer staples. There's no reason to complicate "enough".

All lovely images via links.

Love,
​Jane

Keiko Hirosue has been making shoes for almost twenty years. When she realized the shoe-making tools she'd collected could be put to even more use, she started sharing both the tools + her knowledge with others. 

Today, those lucky to be near enough can take classes in Keiko's studio, Brooklyn Shoe Space. The rest of us can join her for an online class + can shop her supply shop for items as varied as sneaker soles (wow!) + stiletto heels.

Keiko's interesting interviews with shoemakers like Isobel Schofield of Bryr Clogs can be found on the Brooklyn Shoe Space instagram page.

These lovely photos via Brooklyn Shoe Space.

Love,
Jane

I've been on the hunt for some good trainers for over a year now. My old trainers' soles are completely worn through in a number of places, so I feel good about replacing them. I tried a number of different pairs that just didn't work for a number of reasons. Finally, however, I've found my match. This new model from Veja is pretty great...so I thought I'd share.

I tried their previous trainers + they just didn't fit my foot very well. The knit uppers on these hug my feet better. They are comfy + supportive + of course they have all the eco-credentials + innovations Veja keeps coming through on. These shoes are mostly made from plant-based materials + recycled plastic bottles (in Brazil). 

I've replaced my completely worn through socks with these GOTS-certified, organic cotton, Pact socks. My old socks were the old version of these socks + they lasted for years. I really love these.

And...I am really enjoying these organic cotton, made-in-Los Angeles leggings from Mate. I have a pair of the shorts too. The weight of these is great for the warmer months + I've been wearing them happily + often both for exercising + for lounging. They are a great alternative to plastic leggings.  :)

Love,
​Jane

Lots of changes + uncertainty here right now. There is so much to think about + to be honest the last thing I'm thinking about is my wardrobe. But why not have a diversion for a minute, right? :) Stress, jobs, weight changes, body image, budget concerns, the weather...they are all impacting my wardrobe. Maybe gaining some perspective over something that seems a little bit more in my control will be good for me. 

We can all go through some of these changes at some point...hopefully they happen a little bit more one-at-a-time...but maybe we can come up with some perspective on keeping these changes manageable + sustainable at least in the closet.

Job ::

• Whether my job requires a uniform or not, I think the idea of a uniform can be helpful. It's mostly about perspective + numbers for me. A uniform allows me to be ok with wearing a few pieces over + over again.
• Looking through my closet for anything that fits the dress code is my first step. Wearing my own clothes makes me feel the most like myself + I will take any comfort I can get in those first days on a new job. 

Weight changes ::

• Wearing what I have is the priority as my body shifts. I know don't need a whole lot, so I will try to make what I have work for as long as possible.
• Pants don't fit pretty quick with weight shifts. I'm considering trying to alter one pair of pants + embracing the slouchy look in a couple of others at the moment.
• Thrift stores are probably the best option here. I don't know how long I will wear a pair of pants, so I can drop them off to be resold when I need a different pair.
• Elastic waistbands, dresses + jumpsuits can have great flexibility.

Body image ::

• I am no expert on this or anything else, but I did choose (and let myself keep) a pretty dress for my birthday. I actually had a moment the first day that I wore it when I walked past a mirror, stopped + the thought came to my mind, "You are actually really pretty." I don't want to advocate for things giving us value...but this soft, beautiful dress allowed me to see myself a little bit differently in that moment. Choosing pieces with an eye toward softness + beauty is in my thoughts now.

Budget concerns ::

• Wearing what I already have...refashioning or altering things already in our house...and generally making-do...are my go-to thoughts when our budget is tight. These are also great for the planet.  :)
• Thrifting is also a great option...in-person thrifting is often the cheapest, in my experience. Flea markets sound just dreamy right now.

Weather ::

• This refers to that quarter-yearly shuffle that involves digging out the shorts one day + retreating into the wool jacket the next. I'm trying to find an organized way for it all to be out at once...and considering alternative systems.
• These days make a case for having access to everything all the time + just putting things into cloth zip bags right in their designated, accessible drawers when they become "out-of-season". Maybe accessible under-the-bed storage would accomplish this. (Still need a bed frame.)

Hope you are enjoying a sunshine + warm breezes mindset today. 

Love,
​Jane

Two new books by two inspiring makers I've loved for years (exciting!):

The Act of Sewing by Sonya Philip :: Sonya Philip's patterns have always been offered in an extended size range + are great beginner sewing patterns. Sewing with secondhand fabrics is encouraged + her patterns lend themselves well to a variety of fabrics. Sonya's own style + sunny personality is a perpetual inspiration to pattern mix + to embrace vibrant color.

The Sandalmaking Workshop by Rachel Corry :: Shoemaking is often a maker's final frontier, and Rachel Corry has been a wonderful resource in this category for years with her kits + workshops. (She is offering a zoom workshop in May.) This book looks like a feast of possibility + I can't wait to catch a peek!

All lovely images via links.

Love,
Jane

I recently started a new job. Suddenly I have a new situation to dress for, and I want to be sure that I'm prepared (at least wardrobe-wise). As I applied for different jobs, I considered what I would wear to each one. I would need to buy something new for a few of them, but I tried to keep my potential shopping list minimal even when I didn't have many things that fit the dress code. I reasoned that if I kept the pieces simple, repeated wearings would be less noticeable.

I was able to wear what I have for interviews, and I have a relatively simple dress code to follow at this job: solid (or simply patterned) tops + solid bottoms + comfy shoes. Two days in, I realized that I needed something warmer to wear + stopped at a shop on the way home. Almost as soon as I entered the store, I remembered something I'd already packed away for the season that would work. Out it came + nothing new was needed after all. 

The pieces I have feel more "like me" than most anything I could find quickly. They might not be the "perfect" thing to wear, but they work. I have time to add things later, if necessary. 

Each time I realize that I already have all that I need, it feels like a new triumph...not because shopping is bad...or because I feel that I should never add anything to my wardrobe. I just like to be quite thoughtful about new additions...and I also realize that "enough" feels pretty good.  :)

Love,
Jane

This excellent article by Matt Simon offers a logical explanation of how 1100 tons of microplastics currently finds itself in the skies over the American West. 

A study released this week by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America concluded that "roads dominated the sources of microplastics to the western United States, followed by marine, agriculture and dust emissions".

Simon explains:

​Sources of microplastics in the air :: and how we can think about our own actions in response:

• Roads :: tiny bits of tires slough off and get propelled into the air by highway speeds :: makes a case for driving less, consuming less + depending on local products rather than trucked-in food and other goods as much as possible

 

• Marine :: plastic garbage breaks down into smaller + smaller pieces...and plastic microfibers shed when polyester/nylon/acrylic clothing are made + washed...both get washed out to sea + blow into the wind with sea spray :: makes a case for cutting synthetic fibers out of our closets + for using as little plastic packaging as possible

 

• Agriculture :: plastic microfibers from washing + producing synthetic-fiber clothing get applied to agriculture fields as fertilizer + blow off in dust :: makes a case for cutting synthetic fibers out of our closets

​These same plastics continue to cycle endlessly, since they don't completely biodegrade. We continue to increase our plastic manufacturing by a rate of 4% per year...even though we know better now. ​This makes the case for widespread legislation that works to decrease the manufacture of plastic + plastic fibers. The time is now.

Love,
​Jane

Lovely images via Elizabeth Suzann.

Love,
Jane