Become an Eco-Warrior: 3 tips to fight fast fashion

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Become an Eco-Warrior: 3 tips to fight fast fashion

Fashion is an ever changing and constantly evolving industry. Driven by immense passion and societal pressures, it has become our job to keep up with it. From Anna Wintour reporting on the most current fashion trends, to models showcasing designer’s creations on the runway; fashion has always been portrayed as a unique, creative, innovative, and mesmerizing industry. But how often do you stop to think of the harmful impact it has on our planet? I’m warning you, it can get pretty ugly when you start to pay attention.

Now, just to clarify, eco-friendly fashion does not mean you will be solely dressed head to toe in hemp. It simply means, you are not actively trying to harm the environment, instead making a conscious effort to help preserve it. As consumers here are three tips you can participate in to help combat fast fashion:

Build your uniform

We live in a ‘see now, buy now’ world and this is becoming a crisis that consumers face daily. We all want that new cute shirt from Zara, but do we really need it? As professional fashion students, I encourage you to shop smarter by only buying staple pieces that you just can’t live without. This will ultimately build personal style instead of contributing to the current frivolous fad. Anyone can showcase the latest fashion item, but not everyone can have a great unique style. Work on upping your style game with key pieces instead of flooding your closet with the newest and trendiest.

Ask yourself: will I wear it 30 times?

Don’t make a purchase for the sake of making a purchase. In other words, do not feel as though you have to buy that latest and most popular fashion item. Instead, stop and ask yourself, how many times will I wear this? If it is less than 30, put it down and walk away. You don’t need it and in 3 months, you won’t want it! Once you start to question all your purchases, the more you’ll realize how much you don’t need, and start to realize that owning another grey sweater is not the key to happiness.

Download the App

There is no argument that sustainable fashion is more expensive and will cost companies more to produce. However, consumers need to start considering quality over quantity. Three Apps that are readily available at our disposal are ‘Good on you’, ‘Avoid’, and ‘Good Guide.’ The common trend seen in these Apps is a rating system. You can play around inputting different company’s and see where they fall on a good verses ugly eco-conscious spectrum. Just having this little bit of knowledge will increase your will to shop smarter, eventually making it an everyday habit.

Heading into the holidays and new year, I challenge all of you to keep these three tips in the back of your mind when shopping, and start making conscious fashion a lifestyle. Keep asking yourself questions like ‘which purchases are the responsible ones to make?’ and ‘will this item really enhance and further my style?’ Stay hungry for knowledge and play your part in decreasing your eco footprint because let’s face it, our closets are not all guilt free, mine certainly isn’t.

God is a Woman

God is a Woman

            Over decades, we have seen many styles come and go. The cycles of skinny jeans, fur coats and crop tops have made its reappearance in the fashion industry many times. If you ask someone from an older generation, they will tell you that they have seen many styles thrive and disappear, some more successful than others, and some that no one ever wants to see again. However, in recent times, we have seen a huge comeback with styles from the mid- to late-1960’s which was not only an important era in politics, war and the economy, but it was a drastic strive for women’s rights.

            The 1960’s were a time of civil rights and women’s movement, where women were fighting for equal rights, putting a stop to sexual harassment and promoting women in the workplace. Simultaneously, the fashion industry was dramatically changing from skirts to pants; long pencil skirts to mini-skirts; and block colours to extravagant patterns. The 1960’s was a time for women to feel empowered and to dominate the fashion industry. Celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, Olivia Newton-John and Julie Andrews shaped the way for fashion by introducing these daring styles, which encouraged independence for women.

            Certain styles were introduced and conquered in this era. In 1964, the mini-skirt was introduced by French designer André Courrèges. Olivia Newton-John was the mini-skirt heart throb, leading the fashion industry with this look. It was seen in many patterns, such as floral and checked; to various fabrics such as corduroy, wool and rayon. In the 1990s, the mini-skirt had made a second come back, with the focus on the plaid school-girl mini-skirt, as seen in this iconic photo of Jennifer Anniston’s, Rachel Green from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. As we have seen for the F/W 2018 fashion styles, mini-skirts have made their successful come back and are sold by several retailers like Wilfred, Forever21 and Urban Outfitters. This style is often paired with the plaid turtle neck to put emphasis on the style of the skirt and to create depth within the look.

            Before the 1960’s, it was nearly impossible to see a woman wearing pants. Around the same era of the mini-skirt, pants made a debut as the everyday pant for women to wear. As seen regularly by Audrey Hepburn, the Jax Pant was a popular style which was designed with a high-waist, straight leg cut and sat just above the ankle. This style was designed to put emphasis on the tiny waist trend and to be paired with a crop top. As this style went away for a few decades, it has made a comeback in recent times. These styles are being seen at Aritzia, Uniqlo and Zara. Along with the famous trousers comeback, the bell-bottoms are being brought back as the new everyday pant. The bell-bottoms style has been an iconic style and best-known for its Hippie look of the extension of the leg. Similar to the mini-skirt, this style is being seen at many retailers and comes in a variety of fabrics, colours and patterns.

In recent years, brands like Aritzia have promoted high fashion at a respectable level. The brand expresses this new freedom of the reinvented and independent woman. Retailers understand their audience have lives and careers so they lively up the traditional work day with bright colours, different fabrics, and old styles such as slimming the turtle neck, or taking away the traditional school girl uniform look on mini-skirts. Professionalism in society is required so brands adhered to that construct and made clothes comfier as well as respectable to fit this 60’s style resurgence in a new way.

            For the upcoming new year, these styles are bound to stick around and carry you into spring/summer 2019 with glam and confidence. Designed to be effortlessly feminine, these looks can be worn to the office or a night out with the girls. Make 2019 about you and embracing the woman you have become today. Be daring, confident and strong, because this year is all about, YOU!

U.G.L.Y: This Winter’s Trends & How To Own Them

U.G.L.Y.

This Winter’s Trends & How To Own Them

Tired of that cream argyle knit or your mouse grey wool trousers you’ve been wearing for the past couple of winters? Here’s how you can spice up your winter wardrobe this season and how to stop heads in the streets, and at the office! These are my simple steps to transitioning this winters trends.

Ultimate Check

Check mix is all the rage this winter. Although print on print might seem like commitment, go into your closet with in open mind, odds are, you probably own something check already. Check. Mate. Pair together two pieces of clothing that are check and voila, you’re officially a trendsetter.

TO THE OFFICE: Execute “Check Mix” by pairing a structured red and green, tartan plaid blazer paired with a simple black silk top and a pair of black and white, houndstooth plaid mini boot trousers. Finish the look off with some leather ankle boots and a little navy patent bag for some shine.

OUT ON THE TOWN: Pair together a forest green, high-waisted argyle wool miniskirt, a sexy crop cream knit, a long, navy, window pane plaid menswear wool coat, black tights and dark grey, flat thigh-high suede boots.

Guilt-free Leather Look

Add some edge to your looks this winter by supporting a guilt-free leather look. This could include vinyl pants, coated denim, or even a vinyl jacket. Gloss up your look this season.

TO THE OFFICE: Piece together a black fitted ribbed knit with a black wide leg trouser and some leather booties. Finish the look of with a red vinyl raincoat as your pop of colour and a black leather tote.

OUT ON THE TOWN:  Start with a simple black cotton t-shirt and add a black biker leather jacket. For bottoms, pull a navy coated jean and finish the look with some black leather pointed toe high heels and a small navy velvet crossbody bag.

Lawless Layering

Calling all fashion rebels! This trend is super simple. Just layer, layer, layer and layer. Just when you think you’ve layered enough, add another layer because WHY NOT! This time there are no rules.

TO THE OFFICE: Take a white poplin top, layer over a cognac coloured V-neck cashmere sweater, then add a nude coloured light down puffer jacket and camel coloured wool wrap jacket. Outfit it with a camel coloured wide-leg wool trouser and a parchment coloured leather boot. For detail add a tan cashmere rectangle scarf and a nude coloured work tote.

OUT ON THE TOWN:  First layer will be a royal blue, sleeveless knit turtleneck sweater, add a black leather jacket and a black, oversized cocoon wool coat. For pants, pull a navy, crop straight leg jean and add a burgundy leather boot and matching burgundy crossbody bag to balance the look.

Yielding Instincts

Be the leopard. Be the zebra. Be the animal in you. Turn heads during your daily promenade. It’s time to catch your prey.

TO THE OFFICE: Wear a simple sleeveless silk blouse with black straight-leg trousers. Add a leopard print, long-line blazer and add a pair of pointed toe shoes!

OUT ON THE TOWN:  Take a sexy leopard print blouse, black skinny jeans and textured leopard print pointed toe heels and piece them together. Add a deep purple leather handbag for some extra colour.

Eeeek to Chic

Eeeek to Chic

How to style your frumpy sweaters into fabulous outfits

It happens all the time, we wake up and step outside to a bone chilling draft only to recoil back scavenging for the warmest, thickest and comfiest sweater possible. Though this is great for our warmth and comfort, most times than not it isn't aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately I hate to say it but it's frumpy. We look like a sack of potatoes and it isn't couture, it's lazy. Now I'm not saying we can't wear these brilliant balls of fluff, I just think we should spice it up. Here are a few ways to make your frumpy sweaters look fabulous!

Belt it!

Oh what a great belt can do, it's a simple hack but it can make a world of difference. Belting a sweater allows you to have a waist believe it or not and its life changing. All jokes aside, any belt can work thick, thin, western or girly there’s a lot that can be done. Wear a chunky sweater with a narrow pleated skirt and thin belt, and wa-lah you have an effortless chic look! Or a turtleneck, black jeans and a thick western belt and boom you’re instantly a badass chick out on the town!

Shimmy shimmy!

What’s more sexy than a bare shoulder? If you’re going to wear an oversized sweater

why not make it an off the shoulder one. Allowing to show a bit of skin gives your look a less frumpy look and a more flattering one. Add a little lacy bralet to the mix and you’re first date ready!

Thigh high!

Speaking of first dates, we all know an over-sized sweater isn’t usually our first choice. We want to make a great first impression and sometimes wearing a boxy sweater can be a big no no. During the fall/winter season it's inevitable, so how can we jazz it up? Thigh highs. Turn your over-sized sweater into a dress, pair them with some sexy thigh high boots and oooh la la you’re first date ready! Little more chilly outside? Wear some pantyhose for extra warmth.

Edge it up!

Accessories are your best friend! If you’re like me and you just love a chunky knit, but you want to elevate your look add some accessories to give your outfit some life. Some cool ways to do this is to wear some layered necklaces, delicate or more statement pieces they bring a nice detail to your outfit. Another way to edge up your look is to wear some leather tights, adding some interest in textures gives the edge you need to look cool but comfy! Want to dress it up? Adding a simple heel or an interesting shoe can create the illusion of a more put together look. Put those all together and you have the perfect look for dinner and drinks on a cool breezy night.