Sloane Girl

It's London Fashion Week and it feels appropriate to share an eco outfit post from my time there this fall, roaming the streets of Sloane Square with Kit Lee. 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

One of the things I love most about London is it's encouragement to dress up. You can go from a corner pub to a five star restaurant wearing the same thing because everywhere you go everyone else it also dressed to impress. Do they dress up from themselves? Or each other? I'm not sure. My answer is: both. This summer I started putting more into my everyday looks, and doing even a little makeup or styling of my hair before leaving the house. I did it for me. To feel my best and what I found is it actually made life easier because I was able to go from one thing to the next appropriately attired. Hmm, those Brits are on to something...

This was one of my favorite looks that we shot while I was in LondonTown. It just feels completely and utterly like ME. Many of you know that I lived in London while attending university and I always say that London is where I found myself. My sense of style and being-ness as a woman. Maybe that is why it will keep a piece of my heart forever, and remain one of my most cherished places. 

MY TOP THREE ECO BOUTIQUES TO SHOP IN LONDON.

ETHICAL COLLECTION- Pop up shop usually making an appearance in Notting Hill. A fab curation of wearable and also a little more fashion forward pieces.

THE ACEY- Cool girl staple. Think vegan sneaks and minimalist shirt dresses. 

69b BOUTIQUE- The most extensive offering of eco chic pieces in one place. Founded by an ex-editor at British Vogue, this store makes shopping for stylish pieces while appeasing your conscious seamless.

Eco Outfit details:

WOOL COAT, Wintervacht via Ethical Collection #recycledfabric #ethicallymade #sustainblefabric #naturalfibers

TURTLENECK SWEATER, Everlane #transparent #ethical #naturalfibers

JEANS, Paige Denim #madeinUSA

BOOTIES, (similar to ones shown) Fortress of Inca #ethical 

BAG, via Rent The Runway #sharedfashion

SUNGLASSES, Carla Colour via Ethical Collection #recycledmaterials #sustainabilityproductionpractice

Many thanks to Kit Lee for these fab images and to Ethical Collection for lending some brilliant eco fashion pieces.

Secret Identity

I relish the start of a new year. For me, it's less a time for 'fixing things' and more a time of introspection and reflection that translates into intention for what's wanted going forward. I'm not a huge fan of goals. Not sure why. Maybe I feel there is too much pressure? Either way, this year I did feel motivated to set somethings down on paper. And I thought to myself, 'how can I write out what I want in a way that feels good to me?' So, I created a master To Do list for 2018! 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Drafting a list of things I want to do in the year ahead felt way better to me. I think it made it more relatable and actionable too, because I was listing things I know I for sure want to do. I organized it into three columns: Professional, Relationships, and Personal. And for each column I listed 4-5 things I wanted from each area within the next year. Here are examples from each of my columns:

Professional- Raise seed round of funding for my app (I'll share more on this in the near future!).

Relationships- Pen pal with my Dad.

Personal- Up my daily meditation to 15-20 mins and add a 10 min visualization workshop on after.

If this master To Do list approach resonates with you, try it! I'm finding a lot of excitement and power in it. I'm also pumped about a practice from a book I'm reading called Super Better: The Power of Living Gamefully. It helps you see life as a game and engage in ways that expand the brain and your experiences. There's a ton of research in the book, and lots of little things you can do to enhance your experience and enjoyment of life. One that stuck out to me is adopting a secret identity. Think of it as having an avatar for the real world. I know this may seem a bit out there, but I promise there is real value in this exercise. 

According to the research we typically have five signature strength that we naturally exhibit and can actively call upon when faced with challenges or growth, known as the Value in Action Strengths. To see the whole list and take the survey visit this site. Choose the top five that feel most like you. Don't overthink it. 

Okay, now use those strength to summon your secret identity name. Choose something heroic because you are the hero of your own game (or movie). You now have a secret identity that you can share with those closest to you or keep private. As you move through your day, or a challenge that arises, you have your own super powers to call on. They are your innate strengths and will help you show up as your best self. I love this and have it marked down in my Personal tab for the year. It's a game I can play in my mind to keep things light and help me feel powerful. 

This is what I'm up to for the new year. I'd love to hear what you've set in front of you and any tools you are using too. Here we come 2018! 

Eco Outfit:

OVERSIZED SWEATER, Elizabeth & James via Rent the Runway #rented #sharedfashion

JEANS, Current Elliot #madeinUSA

DUSTER VEST, R Collective x Barneys #ethicalproduction #ecofabrics #local #upcycled

BOOTIES, (similar to ones shown) Lulu's #vegan

CLUTCH, (similar to one shown) via Ethical Collection #handmade #local

A few years ago I attended an eco fashion conference in Raleigh, NC called ReDress. It was the start of something- something cool. A group of people committed to fashion and ethical production, without compromise. To date it was one of the conferences I've enjoyed most in the sustainability sphere. Today, they've upped the ante with an incubator of sorts that supports emerging sustainable designers with designs so on point they've partnered with Barney's NYC. Interested? I thought so. Check out the label The R Collective here. xx

Photos taken in London by the super sweet Kit Lee. 

Outside View

Chatting with a couple of friends the other day, it became clear that we don't always see ourselves the way other see us. In particularly, we don't always see the value we naturally give. For whatever reason we tend to see our shortcomings more readily than the areas we thrive. Not only that, we can question our contributions as being worthy or not. That's when a little outside perspective comes in handy.

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

In a safe space with people who accept and support you, there's an opportunity to share your truest thoughts about where you are and what you want to do. And in that space is also an invitation to ask for feedback. We did this with a small group the other day and it was incredible. What struck me most was how clearly others see you and your value, while you might be questioning what you can give to the world. Sometimes we know what we want or need to do, but just need someone outside of ourselves (and minds) to say it, or to see the value we are ready to offer. Have you had this experience? I encourage you to share what you are up to and ask for feedback if you are unsure of how you want to proceed. Many minds are better than one, and may also see you more clearly than you see yourself.

Eco Outfit Details:

BE LUXE TRACK PANT, Made By Riley #ethicallymade 

CAMEL SWEATSHIRT, Uzma Bozai #naturalfibers #ethicallymade 

WOOL CASHMERE BEANIE, Everlane #naturalfibers #transparentproduction

NAVY OVERSIZE COAT, Jil Sander via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion

SMILEY CROSSBODY BAG, Anya Hindmarch #ethicallymade #handcrafted 

SNEAKS, Pretty Ballerinas #ethciallymade #madeinPortugal 

My first day in London I met my friend Mona Lisa Godfrey for a stroll around Notting Hill and we stumbled upon a pop-up shop called Ethical Collection. I was beside myself with excitement! And my enthusiasm turned to sheer joy when I met co-founder Annina Youngblood who graciously allowed me to pull pieces from her lovely store to style. 

Absolutely everything in the store was curated to appease the most discerning fashionista and her ethics. It was a match made in heaven, and the best part is you don't need to be in London to shop their lovely collections- all you need is to follow this link. xx

Photos by the lovely Kit Lee in Chelsea, London UK. Many thanks to Ethical Collection for contributing so many cool and eco pieces to this shoot!