everlane glove boot review

I’ve never been able to wear Everlane’s shoes because my feet are wide. Also, because I’m an old lady and I need to wear orthotics. So when they released the Glove Boot, aka the sock boot, I got kindof excited because maybe there was finally a shoe that would work for me. Around the same time, I was invited to become an Everlane affiliate, meaning I would get gifted a couple of items. In return, I’d post about them, and if enough people bought things through my affiliate link, they’d continue to gift me items. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing that I also assumed I’d make a commission off of the sales through my link, but I’m actually not even sure about that. So anyway, I thought I’d choose the boots as one of my gifted items (the other gifted item was a pair of jeans, which I didn’t love and returned, even though they were free).

The boots themselves are fine. I love the color and they’re really comfortable. The heel height is perfect and since there’s almost no structure, my wide feet and my orthotic fit just fine in my normal size (6.5). It’s just a bit weird to be able to see the outline of your toes through the top of your shoe! 

The interesting thing is that because the boots were free, I didn’t put them through the rigorous examination I normally would when I decide whether or not to keep a purchase. If I’d had to pay for them, I most likely would have decided that they didn’t add enough value to my wardrobe and would have returned them. Since I didn’t have to make that call because I had no money invested, I kept them. Have I worn them? Yes, and I’ll try and continue to wear them as much as I can to make them useful (some influencers resell the stuff they’re gifted and I could also do that). But I know that they’re not going to be a long term addition to my wardrobe and that makes me uncomfortable.

To give an example of how this works when items are not free, recently I sat online waiting for the new sweaters to be released from Elizabeth Suzann. Elizabeth Suzann is one of my favorite brands. I love the philosophy behind her company, her investment in her workers’ well-being, and of course, I love the clothes. I’m wearing the Elizabeth Suzann Harper tunic in linen in these photos. Because of the difficulty in sourcing ethically made wool, it had been two years since she sold any sweaters. I love sweaters+I love Elizabeth Suzann=I must have one of those sweaters. I paid my (not small amount of) money and waited for several weeks for my item to get made and shipped to me. It was truly like Christmas day when it arrived. But then, I put it on. And my heart sank. I didn’t love it. I loved a lot of things about it and I really really really wanted to love it, but it didn’t feel great. I think it’s that I don’t love the color, but I’m not actually exactly sure what it is - and I don’t have to know. All I have to know is that I don’t love it. In this case, I’m sending it back, but I can imagine that if I hadn’t paid for it, it would have snuck right under the bar I set for my wardrobe and stuck around.

This isn’t about whether Everlane is a good company or whether or not I like their products. This is just a reminder that you don’t have to take things that are free. Those tee-shirts at the conference or the run expo? You don’t have to take them just because they’re there. Your sister’s closet cast-offs? Will you actually love and wear them? If not, don’t take them. A strange thing happens once something comes into your possession - all of a sudden, things have more value. So if you take the free t-shirt, even though you didn’t care about it when you took it, because it now belongs to you, it’s now harder to let go of, adding hassle and stress. I don’t need to take gifted items just because they’re offered to me. I’m only human, and if someone offers me something I know I would buy for free, I’ll probably take it. I’m a moderator, so I won’t make any hard and fast rules about what I’ll do in the future, but at least now I’m more aware of my behavior.

P.S. the links to Everlane products in this post are affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you purchase something through it.

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sometimes i feel guilty about ethical fashion

This week is Fashion Revolution Week, which was created to commemorate the Rana Plaza factory collapse, where 1,138 people were killed, and encourages millions of people to demand greater transparency in the fashion supply chain.

I’ve been so fully immersed in the online community that’s dedicated to ethical fashion that I feel guilty when I consider a purchase that’s not from an ethical brand. Maybe you do too. It’s hard. We really can do good in the world just by choosing where we buy our clothes, but at the same time, it’s not easy.

Ethical clothing is often more expensive. It’s not easily available at the shopping center nearby. Ethical retailers may not have size or style options that fit our needs. Even expensive designer brands may not be made ethically. You might feel that sustainable fashion is only for certain styles. 

Even if you can’t buy directly from ethical fashion retailers, there are still three important things you can do to make purchases more ethically:

1. Reconsider a purchase and make use of what you already own. Maybe this is where part of my guilt is coming from. I do have plenty of things to clothe my body. I don’t need anything new. However, style and fashion are my creative outlet and I do like evolving my style, which often means adding new pieces now and then.

2. Buy secondhand. This is always my first method of buying something. If something’s on my shopping list, I first check on ebay, Poshmark, and in consignment and thrift stores. Sustainable and affordable. 

3. Make a mindful purchase and plan to get as much use out of the item as possible. The least ethical purchases are those that are made and then barely used. The more you wear an item, whatever its production origins, you're slowing down the fast fashion cycle of buy, discard, repeat. 

It’s all about baby steps. Do what you can. Awareness is the first step.

(This ethically made top from Elizabeth Suzann is on my wish list)

More:
What I wrote about ethical fashion more than three years ago. 

A few of my favorite blogger resources on sustainable fashion: Grechen, Andrea, Lee.

Amour Vert is a pretty reasonably priced clothing company with a wide range of styles made in the USA. 

I'm partnering with Route, a St. Louis based ethical retailer, on an upcoming event. Sign up below to get details!

notes on nashville

My husband traveled often this summer, leaving me home alone with a fussy toddler for a couple of weeks, so it was my turn. I thought about asking some friends to go on a trip with me, but to be perfectly honest, being social can be draining for me. If I really wanted to relax, going alone was the way to do it. I decided on Nashville, since I’d never been there, the food and shopping seemed good (two of my favorite pastimes), and it was a relatively easy drive from St. Louis. Mr. mindful closet called it my “all-reclusive” vacation.

(clockwise from top left) Imogene & Willie, trying on Rick Owens at UAL, Mas Tacos, pasta at Rolf and Daughters, pants mid-construction at Elizabeth Suzann, more trying on, tacos at Mas Tacos, a cute house in Germantown, Rolf and Daughters. 

As soon as I got into Nashville, I headed for 12 South, the hipster-y area of town, and Imogen & Willie, the hipster-y-est store of all.  Imogene and Willie is in an old filling station, as most hipster places in Nashville seem to be, so it was a cool space. I’ve heard about their denim for years, but was slightly disappointed when I realized that they ONLY carry denim. Since I’m not in the market for a $300 pair of jeans, that was a pretty quick visit.

Next I walked down to White’s Mercantile. Cool stuff, nothing I needed. Tried Local Honey (vintage) - my 20-year-old self would have loved it. Next on my list was United Apparel Liquidators. Jackpot. Designer and couture fashions at more than 75% off. I had a great time searching through designers from Rick Owens to J. Brand. Ultimately, I didn’t buy anything for myself, but I will definitely go any time I’m in a city with one of their stores. Other places I looked but didn’t buy: Buffalo Exchange, H. Audrey, and Draper James (so not me, but paradise for prepsters!).

In between stores, I ate. Loved the hot chicken I had at Edley’s BBQ (my first choice, Hattie B’s, was closed when I tried to go). Went to Mas Tacos Por Favor - meh. I like the tacos here at La Vellesana on Cherokee better. Had a lovely solo dinner at the bar at Rolf & Daughters, amazing pasta and really beautiful space. Also grabbed coffee and a (delicious) snickerdoodle at Dose Coffee.

My last stop on my way out of town was at Elizabeth Suzann. I’ve blogged about my love for these clothes before, but hadn’t ever purchased anything because there’s no way to try the clothes on before you order. I wrote in advance to get an appointment to see the workspace and showroom and try on samples. Lydia, the “Head of Customer Experience”, gave me the tour and hung out with me while I tried on clothes for an hour. It was inspiring to see a business that started from scratch, created all their own systems, built up a loyal following, and seems to be honestly invested in their employees’ well-being. And on top of all of that, the clothes are really, really good. I ordered the Harper Tunic and the Artist Smock. Because none of the clothes are produced until an order comes in, I have to be patient and wait until my items are made and shipped. That in itself goes along with the philosophy behind the brand - these aren’t clothes to be bought on a whim and tossed after a few wears. They’re investment pieces that are classic, easy to wear, and long-lasting. I seriously can’t wait.  

Have you been to Nashville? What are your favorite shops and restaurants?

replacing a wardrobe staple

Last summer, this top bit the dust. It was a bummer, because I didn't feel like I'd worn it for as many years as I would like. Since a relaxed white top is a pretty important component of my summer uniform, I set out to search for a replacement.

I tried all of these tops (above) and ended up with the cheapest version, simply because it fit best. The length wasn't too cropped, the sleeves hit in a good place and it also has the added benefit of being machine washable.

I don't normally advocate buying multiples, but because this one hit so many of my criteria and because it's so integral to my wardrobe, I bought two. Yes, both in white.
Currently on sale at The Limited for $25 ;)

P.S. Keep your eyes out for a special event I'll be hosting at The Limited in August!

wish list: elizabeth suzann

Every so often, a designer keeps popping up in blogs I read and Pinterest feeds I follow - Elizabeth Suzann is the latest. I quickly fell in love with the easy silhouettes, made-in-Nashville production, and company philosophy (in a nutshell, less is more).

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Above, a few pieces currently on my wish list. 

(Images courtesy of Elizabeth Suzann)