June has been hot, and the outfit I've been reaching for most is this one. It's made up of a pair of linen shorts + fitted tee. I knew I loved these shorts from Black Crane the moment I saw them. They somehow feel very modern + minimal to me..and at the same time they remind me of summers in the (not so modern + minimal) late 80's. Shorts weren't so short, and clothing was oversized. Summer, for me, was full of sun-kissed shoulders + sand between my toes. 

Today, I wear these shorts with a little tee that reminds me of 90's, tiny tees worn over + under slip dresses. Tiny-tee summers were, for me, full of a different coastline's sand + salty breezes. This summer, these two pieces feel just right together. There is no sand where I live these days, but we have a trip planned. This outfit will come along to the beach, no doubt.

The pieces:
-Black Crane shorts :: made in the USA from natural materials - linen :: they get wrinkly + it just doesn't matter to me 
-It is Well LA tee :: made in California from natural materials - cotton + modal :: this tee has held up well to weekly wear over more than a year
-Birkenstocks :: made in Germany from leather, cork + synthetic material :: I wear these year round with socks or without

My small wardrobe offers plenty of variety...but also...I have no problem wearing my favorite things (also know as "the same things") over + over again!  :)

Love,
Jane

I had a hard time thinking of what outfit I'd highlight for May. The weather was quite rainy + then it was hot + then it was cooler again. When it comes down to it...the outfit that I wore most in May is the one I have worn almost every day for the past year. It's the outfit I wear to work as a coffee roaster: a tee, jeans, socks, trainers + a watch. 

I thought I'd check in with myself + answer a few of the questions I'd have had about wearing the same thing every day...before I did it.  :)

Do I get tired of wearing the same thing every day?
Not really. There are times that I think I'd like to have some different things to wear, but I don't think I've actually felt that way as I'm getting dressed for the day. Whenever I've worn something else...like a button-up or a sweatshirt...I find out why it that piece doesn't work as well as my regulars. A sweatshirt is usually too hot + a button-up gets in my way. I wore different shoes one day + immediately stained them with coffee. On the other hand, this outfit just works.

Do my coworkers notice that I wear the same thing every day?
I don't know...maybe. They most often wear some version of this uniform too...though they probably have more of each item.

How are my clothes holding up?
I spend most of my time on my feet, dragging 150 lb sacks of green coffee, carrying the chaff bucket out to the dumpster, lifting + pouring + bagging + shipping coffee beans. My clothes have to work hard + get dirty + sweaty too. I not only wear these shoes to work, but work out in them too. They've logged a lot of miles this year. Everything has held up very well. 

What are the benefits of wearing the same thing every day?
There are so many!

• No decisions to make in the morning. I wear the same jeans for a week (or two) + grab the next tee on the stack...clean socks (they're all the same) + same shoes + my watch. Done.
• No urge to shop. I have everything I need + I know it.
• If my weight changed (which it had at the beginning of last year), I know that all I'd need is a different pair of jeans.
• There isn't much to take care of. At the end of the work day, I fold up the jeans + lay my watch on top...ready for tomorrow. 
• Less expensive than always adding to the collection.

Will you do it for another year?
Quite possibly, yes! Maybe I'll find the perfect pair of overalls or start wearing my olive pants to work (I'd like them with a different pair of shoes). I'm not looking to make a change...but I haven't really made a commitment to only wearing this uniform either. It just kinda worked out that way...and it does work.

Do you wear a sort of uniform to work? I'd love to hear.

Love,
Jane

Would you consider a cotton "swimsuit"? I grew up in a beach town going to the beach a lot more often than I do these days. I've had a couple cotton swimsuits, and I don't remember the cotton being too much of an issue (not that I swim a ton)...so...yes. Yes, I am considering wearing a cotton swimsuit on our beach vacation this summer. :)

My minimalist heart loves the idea of a two-piece option that just so happens to double as an "everyday necessity". It's all in the perspective, right?

My perspective is greatly helped along by seeing these types of items worn in the beach-like spots.  :)  (Thank you, Pansy.)

I decided to try Modibodi. They are made from bamboo viscose rather than organic cotton + come from Australia, but are less expensive than Aisle. Modibodi has some statements about fair wages in their factories + work they are currently doing to trace their supply chain. Modibodi offers an almost completely biodegradable pair (just cut off the waistband before composting). They just aren't my preferred absorbency or color. 

I really like the ones I bought. I've used the first one I purchased for a month + would truly wear them any day of the month. They are that comfortable + work as I depend on them to do too. 

I would love to have found some completely compostable, comfortable, effective, leak-proof underwear priced + sized for everyone...and made from American-grown, organic cotton, spun + sewn close to the farm...with all those involved in the supply chain receiving fair wages + healthy working conditions. As usual, I'm doing the best I can for now.

​If you decide Modibodi is something you'd like to try, you can click through the links here to receive $15 off your purchase. I would receive $15 off a future purchase too. Thank you so much!

Love,
Jane

Once upon a time I had a pair of vintage army pants that felt like my unicorn pants (trousers to some).  :) Over the past year, my weight changed + our relationship wasn't quite the same any more. I found a new to me vintage pair that fit pretty well. Every time I put them on, however, I didn't like the fact that I could grab a handful of fabric at each hip...so I would take them off again.

I found another pair of olive pants that were made in a fair-trade certified factory that fit like a glove. I bought them, because I just wasn't wearing that vintage pair. For some reason, I would take these off again each time I put them on too. I just wasn't sure about them.

This week, I finally found the courage to take the vintage pair in hand + start seam ripping. There is just so much about these vintage pants to love. There is really nothing like the worn-in color, texture, softness + durability of the vintage fabric of these pants. The exaggeratedly high waistline is my favorite. They are exceedingly comfortable and have been around for a long time. 

I'm not sure I altered them the way a tailor would, but they fit just like I'd like them to now. I picked the outside seams from hem to the middle of the pocket and then moved the seam over onto the back of the pants...overlapping more than it had done before. The seams were pinned in place, so that I could try them on for fit. I readjusted them, tried them on again + sewed the seam in place.

​I can return the other pants + get on with wearing these now...often + for a long time. All it took was courage + time. I'm glad I found both.

Love, 
Jane

I like to do this exercise where I try to figure out the smallest number of clothing pieces that would offer something to wear in all the foreseeable situations + weather in which I might find myself. 

My current list :

• a few tees
• a sweatshirt
• an oversized pullover
• a pair of jeans
• a pair of soft pants 
• a pair of leggings
• a pair of sandals
• a pair of trainers
• a pair of boots

This covers situations + weather as follows:

work (colder) :: tee + jeans + trainers + sweatshirt 
work (warmer) :: tee + jeans + trainers

home (colder) :: tee + leggings + pullover or sweatshirt
home (warmer) :: tee + soft pants 

out (colder) :: pullover + jeans + boots 
out (warmer) :: tee + soft pants + sandals

athletic wear :: tee + leggings + trainers + sweatshirt

pajamas :: tee + soft pants

formal-ish (colder) :: pullover + soft pants + boots
formal-ish (warmer) :: woven tee + soft pants + sandals

This exercise feels liberating. It feels like possibility. It lets me feel like a vacation with just a backpack is possible. It feels like security. It lets me feel like starting over (if we had to) might not be completely impossible. It feels like adventure. It lets me feel like living in a tiny house or van could work.

Less is the best way, in my opinion, to set ourselves up to be able to value farmers, garment workers + the planet by using less resources, using up our clothing, and making less waste. I like to do this exercise at different points in time with my current preferences in mind. It's not an excuse to change everything in my wardrobe, but it is fun to apply some of my current favorites to the list. If I'm getting by without something on this list, I can probably wait to buy an item until the predicted situation arises. (I haven't gone anywhere that requires more formal attire in the past couple of years, for example.)

With this list in front of me, I can easily see that the pieces I already have are indeed enough. What a gift! 

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
​Jane

A few weeks ago, I wrote about recognizing one outfit in particular that I feel I could wear every day. It feels like me. When I wear it, I don't feel conscious of any part of my body. It feels comfortable + appropriate. I can wear this top + pants with different shoes which change the look + feel of the outfit.

I was writing about this outfit in particular. It's not exceptionally exciting, but it's the one right now. It makes me feel the way I want to feel most days: easy going, windblown, casual. I like more adventurous shapes, but the classic-ness of these pieces allow me to feel like it could be worn over + over without notice. Knowing this outfit is in my closet allows me to feel like I have enough. It is good. It is rest.

It's less about my specific pieces than it is about finding the ones that feel personally good (but here they are anyway):        :)

• shirt :: slightly oversized, pale blue cotton button-up :: mine is old...these are often listed on resale sights (helps to know the exact search words)
• jeans :: slim, light-weight, not stretchy, slightly cropped, fair-trade certified
• sneakers :: classic shape, leather + suede, made in italy :: again, these are years old 

Love,
​Jane

Since the first(?) mention of personal basics here, I feel like the pieces on my list have become more specific. This list pretty much encompasses my entire wardrobe now. At this point in time, I am feeling very comfortable with less. I am recognizing with clarity the things that feel like me, serve me well + endure. It's just that simple.  :)

My current personal basics include:

• semi-fitted tees :: both long-sleeved + short-sleeved :: my favorites are from mate, doen +  jennypennywood

• blundstone boots
• veja trainers
• birkenstock arizonas
• classic tennies

These pieces just work for me + my life right now. The end.  :)

Love,
Jane

I'm on a constant mission to redefine my relationship with things...my wantiness...my desires. I want to live in appropriate relationship with others + the planet. I know that I cannot live without impact, so I long for my impact to be as minimal as possible, to be collaborative + to promote further flourishing. This is a highly aspirational introduction to my evolving thoughts on personal basics, but I believe that it provides a goal to work toward.  :)

In the past, I've approached the idea of my simple wardrobe by thinking through silhouettes I want to embrace. Maybe this goes along with that, but I feel that my thinking has evolved. I am understanding with more clarity what I feel good wearing + what works for my life. Maybe I am just settling into being satisfied with what that means for me. Anyway...I am feeling differently these days.

I've noticed two things in particular that have moved me toward these feelings:

• I found my jeans :: I've said before that I could live without jeans. That's still true, but jeans do work particularly well for my job as a coffee roaster. About a year ago, I found my jeans...not the jeans that I thought I was searching for...not the jeans that I find most intriguing or new or stylish. I found my jeans...the ones that feel like me...the color + shape I want to wear. These jeans work well with every sort of top I want to wear...further confirming that they belong in my personal basics.

• I recognized one outfit in particular that I feel I could wear every day :: This outfit feels like me. When I wear it I don't feel conscious of any part of my body. It feels comfortable + appropriate. I can wear different shoes (with this top + pants) that change the look + feel of the outfit and make it work in various climates.

These two realizations may not seem like much, but they bring me so much peace + comfort. They feel like a resting place in my quest to know "enough". I want to own less + to wear what I have until it wears out. I have found that this means I don't need much. The more I have, the less I wear each piece...and chances are that I will tire of a piece before it is worn out. It is best to have a few versatile pieces that I want to wear over + over. 

The pieces I have landed on are probably the least important part of this. The point is for each of us to personalize our own basics. A few questions that might be helpful:

• Is there an outfit I would be happy to wear over + over again?
• Is there a piece that I always reach for as soon as it's clean?
• Do I have a signature piece?
• Is something stopping me from having "everyday pants" or wearing the same thing again + again? Am I ready to challenge that fear?
• What values are most important to me here?

I truly feel that love is the key to sustainability. Once we establish where our true values lie (for me that's with people, planet, plant + animal life), we can put other desires (maybe personal style + fun) in their rightful places. 

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane