Why Failing in the Fitting Room Can be a Good Thing

Hello, gorgeous Readers!

Come in! Sit down! Get comfy! You nice and relaxed? Good! That’s good.
Because I want to talk about fitting rooms.

Hey, calm down! I know I got your heart rate up, but I’m going to teach you a little secret about the fitting room that’s going to make shopping for clothing easier and more pleasant.

Are you ready? Okay, here it is: it’s good to fail in the fitting room. No, it is!

Think about it: you’re strolling through a store, and garments are catching your eye left and right. Your arm is so tired from everything you’re carrying that you decide to head to the fitting room to try it all on (because you have to try stuff on or I get mad).

You try on the first thing. Looks great! Alright, onto the yes hook! Next item. Wow, that one looks great, too! Yes hook again! And on it goes in your magical, fairytale fitting room where the light is flattering and you have plenty of space. By the end, you loved every single article of clothing, but the total is more than 3 months rent. HOW are you supposed to decide?

Do you take American Express?!

Luckily, we live in the real world, where clothing sizes are a mystery even when they’re labelled, light in the dressing room is always fluorescent, and you never have enough space to put your purse. In the real world, pants are hard to fit into. Bras are cut too wide. Blouses are see-through (but not on purpose). When we experience fit issues like these, we often tell ourselves that our asses are too wide, or our boobs are the wrong shape, or that if only we had a different figure, the see-through blouse would be okay.

But you know something? These are all lies. There is nothing wrong with you. The failure is not with you, it’s with the clothing. If it doesn’t fit YOU, then it isn’t for you! And the best part is… you don’t have to buy it! That’s right! If clothing doesn’t work on your body, than you just dodged an expensive, time-wasting bullet!

Medium, my ass.

The next time you go into a fitting room, with your arms laden with exciting options, please remember that IT’S GOOD TO FAIL IN THE FITTING ROOM! It’s good for our budgets and helps us narrow down what colors and styles work WITH us, not against us. And if you really need professional help, send me an email: talia@wildroma.com

Until next time!
Love,
Talia

 

Style Personalities and Your Body Type, Part 4

SURPRISE!!

Got You!

Whew. That was fun! Today, we’re going to talk about Androgynous style!

The Androgyn- The Androgynous womyn (or person, rather) pulls style elements from both the masculine and feminine. This might mean a womyn who identifies as a womyn wearing men’s suits, suspenders, or A-shirts (usually white tanks commonly worn by men as undershirts).

This might mean a person who identifies as genderfluid, wearing whatever feels authentic to them today.

This might mean a man who identifies as a man wearing unisex or feminine clothing, hairstyles, or make-up.

 

This might mean a totally adorable boi dressing like a totally adorable boi.

This might mean David Bowie. Yum.

Androgyny can be achieved in a lot of ways, from casual to formal, from male to female, from extremely trendy to…well, me in a grandpa sweater. The defining characteristic of the Androgyn is that you don’t subscribe to gender norms. That’s it.

If you’ve never experimented with Androgyny, a great way to dip your toe in the water is through Menswear. Every few seasons, designers remember how INCREDIBLY HOT wemyn look in men’s clothing (and occasionally vice versa).

 

During those blessed seasons, you usually see wool three-piece suits, crisp trousers, neckties, or gorgeous hats.

 

Pick one or two and blend them into your wardrobe. Menswear-inspired shoes are very stylish, as well.

Aren’t they gorgeous?

You can find some great boots, heels, and oxfords modeled on classic wingtips. Pair with a dress and tights, or under a suit and rakish hat. You can’t go wrong.

About the Androgyn that has curves, DapperQ writes, “The current aesthetic seems awfully narrow and limiting compared to the textbook definition of androgyny. Androgyny does not belong to one gender or one body type: it is for all genders and every body!” Read more here, and learn some great style tips for Androgynous people with curves, but also advice for the rest of us: “If you love your curves, embrace them!” Hell, yeah.

That’s it for this series! I’ll be back with a great post about the worst nightmare of every one of my clients: THE FITTING ROOM *cue spooky laugh*

I’ll play myself out with awesome pics of Ruby Rose.

Love, Talia

 

Style Personalities and Your Body Type, Part 3

Breathe in, breathe out, and welcome back!

This week in our series, we’re going to talk about the Creative and the Gamin(e) style personalities. “Gamin” can be spelled with an E on the end or not, so I’m putting the E in parentheses so if you’re doing research later, you’ll be able to find a wide range of pictures and outfit ideas with both spellings.

“You’re welcome, Readers!”

The Creative- This confident, freethinking womyn wears her artistic flair on her sleeves, her shoes, her pants, her dresses, etc. Her patterns are wild, sometimes even famous prints. Her bag is likely to be a screen printed tote (with Edie Sedgwick on it, perhaps).

Telling the Creative to stay away from color in her clothes is like asking her not to breathe. She has such an eye for color that she can match better than you, but she won’t do it (especially when it’s trendy to match). In fact, she cares very little about trends. She wants to stand out and be surprising, and throws layers together in the least ordinary way she can.

Here’s a three-fer!

The Creative understands how to thrift shop, and has no fear when it comes to tearing apart her clothing to make something WAY cooler. Even if she’s not a do-it-yourself type, the Creative will incorporate lively patterns into classic pieces such as a blazer or trousers. If you are a Creative type, get weird with your hair! It suits you. After all, “you’re such a free spirit!” (As though you’ve never heard THAT before).

Iris Apfel, the Queen

The Gamin(e)- If you are petite and look incredibly good in a hat, it’s very possible you are a Gamin(e).

Just crazy good.

The Gamin(e) is adorable, stylish and perky. She can wear touches of the youthful Romantic, Creative, Natural, and Classic styles, but she looks best in a mix and match style.

Pull a cardigan from the youthful Romantic’s wardrobe, a sheath dress from the Classic, colorful sneakers from the Natural, or jewelry from the Creative. Cuffed jeans, even-width stripes, and fun oxford shoes. Ruffled dress, patterned tights, granny boots. Vintage (even horrid polyester) looks so cute on the Gamin(e). I know, it’s not fair. If you are a Gamin(e), you might be snidely referred to as a “hipster,” but really, they stole YOUR style! The Gamin(e) owns the pixie cut, and has the large eyes to balance it.

Says Carole, “clean, straight lines…complement both her body and her energetic spirit.” Gamin(e)s, if you don’t own one great pair of flats (ballet flats, leopard smoking slippers, gold oxfords, plaid loafers, etc), then you are missing out! Womyn, you are quirky! Go with it!

Next week, we have a surprise bonus Part 4! I can’t tell you! It’s a surprise!

Love,
Talia

Style Personalities and Your Body Type, Part 1

Happy Late January, Readers!

I have a deep and abiding love affair with old books. To be clear, I do not mean actual classics. I mean books published in the 1960’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, that I pilfered from my mother’s library and are hopelessly dated. But once they held their fingers to the pulse of the nation, culture, or the fashion of the time. If this was a very different blog, I might write about Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman (that taught me how to shoplift), or A Child’s Garden of Grass by Jack S Margolis (that taught me people from the 1970’s smoked the wrong part of the pot plant). But this is a fashion blog, and so I wish to share with you the wisdom of Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson (that taught me that I am a Winter).

There are many sections of this book that are incredibly useful even today (although the out-of-date cosmetics suggestions would make any Sephora novice cringe), and I’d like to give them all the attention they deserve. This week, I’m going to start with your style personality.

Your sense of style, combined with your body type, coloring, and personality all contribute to your style personality. Let me be clear: just because someone says you can’t wear large yellow floral prints with your coloring BUT THAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO WEAR, so what? Wear what makes you feel good. However, if you are looking for style help, a nudge in the right direction, or some new ideas, I urge you to keep an open mind! This lady puts blush on weird, but she still knows her stuff! NOTE: I may very well be quoting heavily from the source material, but I’ll put all the book links down at the bottom of the blog so you can find it if you are so inclined.

The Dramatic- She comes first because she waits for NO ONE! The Dramatic wears what’s cool, because she can. She can go way over the top, and somehow it still works for her. Powerful colors, geometrics, animal prints. Shiny, glittery, or severely plain. Skin-tight or ultra blousy, she is extreme in any direction. Dramatic fabrics are “theatrical and striking.” Some of her biggest drama, however, is saved for her shoes.

BECAUSE OH MY GOD.

Carole says, “Full-fledged dramatics are…exotic looking and have flat hips and long legs.” I say, try the dramatic style if you have a loud voice, look very cool with an undercut or bright haircolor, or are constantly drawn to anything with studs on it!

The Romantic- This womyn might call you “shug,” and you might like it.

Her clothing is beautiful, soft, sweet, and feminine because she is, too. Frills, ruffles, draping, lace…nothing is too feminine for the Romantic (although she needs to dress for her age. Pigtails and bows are the jurisdiction of the Ingenue, the “youthful romantic”). Romantic wemyn have curves, and look great in clothing that drapes or has curved lines. “Her hair is best in…curls, even if she sweeps it off her face, and her make-up can be strong if it is not overdone.” Highlight your favorite feature! Eyes? Fake eyelashes! Lips? Strong lip color (in your palette)! Cheekbones? Learn how to use bronzer and highlighter to make them stand out, with some shimmer! Girl, shimmer is a Romantic’s best friend. She can shimmer in satin, velvet, silk, brocade, and/or chiffon. She can shimmer in off-white cotton. I’ve seen it with my own heavily-lined peepers (I’m a Dramatic)! Try the Romantic look if you’ve seen the Notebook more than once, if you self-describe as ‘sweet,’ or if you just can’t get enough of lace.

Next week we’ll be looking at The Natural and Classic wemyn! If you’re interested in buying Color Me Beautiful, you can get it here.

Completely unrelated, but: Wild Roma has been going through some changes! We now specialize in handcrafted skincare and home remedy products. Visit us at our new shop: Etsy.com/shop/WildRoma

Love,
Talia

5 Day Challenge, part 2

Salutations, Readers!

For a long week, it sure went by awfully quick, didn’t it? It gets dark before 5 p.m. here now, which makes even the short days seem longer somehow. The black sky sparkles with icy air crystals. My writing gets more poetic. Don’t worry, it’ll clear up in the spring (just like my cough).

How did we all do with the 5 Day Challenge? I know that it took some coaxing for me every night! I made it through each time, and I definitely noticed that I appreciated Past Me’s sacrifice heartily in the morning. Others were not safe either: my co-worker (my supervisor, actually) was forced to take pictures of me while I was busy feeling awkward for imposing on her. Thanks for being so cool about it, Jessica!

On Monday, I was on time for work (barely), and I had a good day. It was very productive. Seriously. Mountains of orders were filled. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t slow down juuuust a little bit… My outfit was dramatic and striking, playing on my strong Winter coloring. Aubergine trousers (Yeah. Aubergine. I went there) under a pure white blouse with black detailing. A high bun, hanging chain necklace, and cream and black wedges polished the look. Said Jessica: “You look super profesh!”

Tuesday, I managed to get into work early! Tuesday was another good, productive day. I wore my hair half up/half down so you could see my huge earrings (but mostly because it was clean). Black, flocked trousers and gray granny boots lent texture to a simple blouse, and a red cardigan topped it all off with another dramatic burst of color.

Wednesday- early again! I’m starting to feel good about all this challenge business! Clean hair! A soft, black collared shirt, pleated Vera Wang skirt, and striped shrug over fleece leggings and combat boots! An unnecessarily sparkly necklace! I love hump day!

Thursday was a sugar crash. I was super tired and unproductive for the majority of the day. To be fair(-ish), it was a quiet day with few orders to fill. But I’m normally very good at finding new projects, or something to stock or clean, or a new skill to master. Nope. Not Thursday. EVEN THOUGH I looked very cool in my white blouse, black skirt, burgundy tights, brown oxfords, SUPER FLY new jacket that I’ll never take off, ever! and a patterned infinity scarf. Hmph.

Friday was another quiet day, so I took a half day. Between work and then errands, it was still pretty productive. I chose a simple outfit to finish the week. Black skinny pants, a gray tank, and my favorite chartreuse green cardigan, mixed with black granny boots (Why, yes I did buy them the same day as the gray ones), a slick ponytail, and the biggest feather earrings I own. I chose this outfit because I really want to emphasize to you, darling Readers, that simple things can look elegant, fun, and polished, without costing a lot of money or being difficult to care for.

I can’t wait to see your challenge pictures! Post them in the comments, or email them to talia@wildroma.com.

Lastly, I would like to announce the winners of the Wild Roma Facebook contest!

Winner #1 is Brittany Pieper! Winner #2 is Tish Tam Sing! They will receive sample sizes of Wild Roma’s full Home Remedy Shop line, as well as $5 gift certificates to WildRoma.com!

The Grand Prize Winner is Martha Gaines! She will receive the full size line of Home Remedy Shop items, as well as a $10 gift certificate to WildRoma.com!

Thank you to everyone who entered! And if you’re just hearing about it now, head over to Wild Roma’s Facebook page to like and share us with all your friends!

Love, Talia

5 Day Challenge, Part 1

Hey there, Readers!

Last week was just one of those weeks, you know? Stress at work, stress at home, a completely stupid and minor injury cramping my style. I barely had time to get dressed in the morning, and consequently went to work late nearly every morning wearing whatever-I-could-reach paired with whatever-was-clean, and accessorized with toast crumbs. NOT my favorite look this winter. If I didn’t remember to put on lipstick in the car, then I worked the whole day without it. The whole thing made me feel plain and grungy, and on days that I was plain and grungy, I was more tired, more worried about my job, and just generally felt off my game.

A game that no amount of coffee could win.

However, on the two days I managed to pick out my outfit before bed, I felt calmer and less hurried in the morning, and more like myself at work all day. And that’s how I came up with:

THE FIVE DAY CHALLENGE!!!

For each of the next five days, I’m challenging myself and all of you wonderful Readers to pick out your outfit at night before bed (preferably at a time that you are not delirious with exhaustion), including accessories, shoes, and outerwear (refer back to this blog for additional help). Go to bed at a decent hour. Wake up on time. Grab the gorgeous outfit that Yesterday You picked out and put it on without even thinking about it. Eat breakfast! Have someone snap a picture of your cute self, or selfie that biz. Throughout each day, see if you feel more confident, better prepared, and maybe even punctual (that’s my personal extra challenge. BE ON TIME)!

I’ll be collecting my own pictures and thoughts for the whole week, and I’ll share the results with y’all next week. I would LOVE it if you sent in some of your best outfits and/or comments on how your challenge week went!

And in case you aren’t friends with Wild Roma on Facebook, WildRoma.com is having a sale! 50% off clothing with coupon code “Holiday2014”! Come visit us and we’ll hook you up right!

Good luck and happy Challenge Week!

Love, Talia

 

Fashion, According to John Waters (and Other Icons, Legends, and Nogoodniks) Part 2

Welcome to Part 2, Readers!

I know it’s been longer than one week, and I missed you, too! Let’s jump right in with more awesome quotations about fashion.

“Do we secretly idolize our imagined opposites, yearning to become the role models for others we know we could never be for ourselves?” -John Waters
My current fashion inspiration is Claire Underwood. I don’t look like her, dress like her, or command a room like her, but I hope to influence others as she influences me.

The fabulous Robin Wright.

“Fashion embraces the weirdos.”-Chloe Sevigny
The first words out of my mouth this morning were, “I love being weird. It’s my favorite thing to be.” From Coco rocking her lover’s trousers to Michael Jackson wearing one glove, fashion has always been made and changed forever by the weirdos.

Be fearless.

“If you wear clothes that don’t suit you, you’re a fashion victim. You have to wear clothes that make you look better.” -Vivienne Westwood
I hope this is a no-brainer! If your clothes don’t make you feel great, take them off! And if you get too cold, I suppose you should put something else on…

Confidence is the sexiest accessory. Just ask Vivienne.

“When a person is in fashion, all that they do is right.” -Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
I’m sure he meant ‘in fashion’ as ‘the King likes you,’ but it translates to clothing as well. As a society, we are so forgiving of those who look ‘right’ at the moment, for better or worse.

The very definition of super fly.

“Fashion is a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will- like an instinct.” –
Edith Head
I know it, and I can teach it! Let me know if you struggle with learning this language.

“Fashion is a weapon that you can use when you need it.” -Donatella Versace
Amelia Jenks Bloomer did not invent the style known as ‘Bloomers,’ but she adopted it quickly and promoted it enthusiastically during her tenure as the editor of suffragist magazine The Lily in the 1850’s. During the 1850’s and again in the 1920’s and 1940’s, we see wemyn wearing trousers and advocating for rights: the right to vote, the right to earn a living wage, the right to hold an equal place in society. Fashion is very powerful.

Bloomerism. It’s a thing.

 

“The great thing about fashion is that it always looks forward.” -Oscar de la Renta
Oscar, my favorite contemporary designer, passed last month. I had his quotation all ready to go, and didn’t realize how fitting it would be to finish these posts with the idea that fashion moves ever forward, not to make yesterday less beautiful, but in the eternal hope that tomorrow may always be filled with beauty.

In Loving Memory.

Love,
Talia

 

 

Fashion, According to John Waters (and Other Icons, Legends, and Nogoodniks), Part 1

Hey, Readers!

As Fall slides into Winter, I am in full-on research mode. I even dragged my partner through several stores at the mall with the lure of a movie (I know, I’m a monster). Autumnal colors abounded, puffy jackets were a-display, and basics came mostly in fluorescent colors (unnecessary and mysterious).

It was like this everywhere.

For some reason, though, I was totally drawn to white blouses. White, off-white, eggshell, powder, palest gray, cream. I want to wear them with navy trousers! I want my hair in a controlled messy bun! I want to be disguised as normal! But I…I… I can’t stop thinking about a quotation from my favorite director, and weirdo extraordinaire, John Waters:

Smile pretty for the camera, now.

“[I]f you’re young and buy designer clothes, you’re an idiot. It’s for over forty; you need help then. But at twenty, if you’re spending money on designer clothes, it’s ridiculous. You should be wearing the things they copy.”

I have been designing, modifying, and customizing my own clothes since adolescence. I love looks big designers come up with, but I value being unusual and different. I like to take people by surprise. If I wear trousers and blouses, I might fit in really well with 30-somethings at my fancy office, but I don’t want to lose the intrinsic weirdness what makes me me.

Free time.

Looking for that John Waters quotation got me reading and thinking about how much thought, effort, and love we as a society put into both high and low fashion. High fashion meaning haute couture, red carpet, that-dress-costs-as-much-as-my-student-loans. Low fashion being, well, everything else (including what you make yourself that is way cooler than anything you can pick up at the mall).

Here are some of the best observations and musings on my favorite subject (part one):

“When I’m putting looks together, I dare myself to make something work. I always look for the most interesting silhouette or something that’s a little off, but I have to figure it out. I have to make it me. I think that’s the thrill in fashion.”-Rihanna

Love it or hate it, her style is her own.

RiRi, that thrill wakes me up in the morning and makes getting dressed a game. I lay in bed and imagine putting pieces of outfits together, like a puzzle. Sometimes I only have one garment to start with, and I wander around half-dressed until I find the missing pieces.

“I think what’s wrong with fashion, particularly men’s fashion, is the lack of creativity behind it.” -Macklemore

That’s what you wanted? A cape? Alright…

You are a little on the preachy side, hon, but you ain’t wrong about men’s fashion. I love a great suit, but seriously, designers. Pants + shirt + shoes ≠ creative outfit.

“Fashion… saved me from being sad.” -Lady Gaga

All hail the Haus of Gaga.

Finding passion in simple things can save your very soul. If I had one wish, I would be a designer in the Haus of Gaga. If waking up to dress ME is exciting, I can’t actually fathom the intensity with which I would awake every morning to dress my hero. Someone that works for her made a hat out of a telephone. And she wore it. *sigh*

“Fashion is chaotic, and it can be an aggravation, too, but it is at its best when it allows you to express yourself.” -John Malkovich

Sir, that is a dope scarf.

I’m not sure there’s any other reason to clothe oneself. Besides the cold. It’s getting down into the low 50’s here in Portland. But I’ll take a charcoal wool coat over a puffy jacket any day.

If you’re in your twenties and your fashion sense runs more toward 5th Avenue than DIY, that’s okay! But don’t forget that your weirdness can and does inspire designers. What John is saying is that since you’re in the most trendy demographic, pretty much everything you wear is trendy.

Everything.

Including over sized grandpa sweaters or teddy bears. Y’all look good, so don’t be afraid to be silly and strange. If you like the idea, but aren’t sure how to pull it off, try putting together the most understated outfit you can (plain bottoms, simple top), and throw a bitchin’ accessory on top. Eyeball earrings. Necklace made of barbie shoes. Bracelet made out of paperclips. See beauty in junk! Garbage makes the best accessories. Don’t be afraid to try things. Making mistakes is how we learn, and our twenties are when we learn who we are and what we like. Mostly by making mistakes!

I like to think these folks learned quite a bit in their youth.

While you’re out there in the world, Readers, designer clothes will constantly be getting shoved in your face, but let your originality shine through. Don’t be a label slave; they have no style. And if you ever need help, swing by WildRoma.com or shoot me an email at talia@wildroma.com.

I’ll see you next week for Part 2!

Love,
Talia

 

My Third Client: Dana!

Oh, Readers! Am I glad to see you!

I’ve just about gotten to the end of the recent hectic life stuff! I can see a light at the end of what was a very stress-filled tunnel. I’m so grateful to everyone that’s helped me get here (especially my partner, who has been really cool about me not washing dishes in a month). That definitely includes all of you! I’ve also had a surge of international readers (in Canada, the Netherlands, and Italy), so thank you to everyone who has shared this blog!

Seriously, thank you!

A couple of weeks ago I was in California, and had the wonderful opportunity to help my friend Dana find a style that suits her.

Flash is blinding in a dark bar. I chickened out.

Dana was having a hard time finding the motivation to shop, and the stores that she shopped at didn’t really have her best style in mind. Since she was usually combing the racks at discount retailers, the selection always seemed inconsistent and immensely overwhelming. Dana was coming home with a lot of striped t-shirts that do absolutely nothing for her powerful legs, cute waist, and athletic arms.

 

The second problem is that Dana recently cut off her long hair, and is now rocking the hell out of a pixie cut (blue, see above). However, her clothes were starting to seem a little butch, and Dana was looking for a style that reads as feminine, but not overly girlish.

Please imagine her in all of the following pictures wearing combat boots.

Since we live and work in different states, I made a list of what I wanted to teach her, in addition to items I thought she should have in her wardrobe. I asked her to describe her body, and give me her sizes so I could do remote research. I looked at style sites, but mostly I kept my eyes peeled while in the city for wemyn who had a certain look, and when I spotted one, I kept a list of what she wore. I’m not weird!

I’m a little weird.

The look I mapped out for Dana is comfortable, but edgy and put together. She loves leggings and has tons in different patterns. Great! Now all we need is a skirt with a great pattern and a chambray shirt.

To make her legs look longer, here she is in a belted tunic.

The tunic is actually royal blue. SUPER dark picture. Still cute.

To make her torso look longer, here she is in an untucked shirt.

The bodice shaping and lacy, repeating Hamsa pattern add femininity to this top.

Grays, black, rich blues, deep reds: Incredible on a Winter like Dana.

Because she’s just very cool, I insisted that she get a moto jacket.

Sweaters!

All the sweaters!

More all the sweaters!

This lady was not super into us.

Dana:

I wish I had more time to spend with you, as a client and a friend. I think your style is starting to emerge, and I think you’re getting a nice handle on it. Here are some things I touched on, in more detail.

You have a lovely body. Don’t fight with it, you won’t win. You are powerful, you are shapely. You need bold colors and edgy accents, tribal prints in black and white, and strong jewelry. Tunics and leggings are always going to look fun on you. In addition to the benefits of comfort, there are dozens of combinations you can make from just these two simple elements, just by changing up the different patterns and colors.

People see what you want them to see. If you tell them your waistline is high, they’ll think your legs are long. If you tell them your waistline is low, they will think your torso is long. Because you have a proportional body, you get to play with your proportions. With tunics, a belt at the waist. With skirts, a blouse that hits you mid hip.

 

Because you are a Winter, you should aim for cool toned, clear colors. Bright, bold, jewel tones, stark contrast. These are powerful colors to go with your powerful style.

You are young, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in yourself and your clothing. Take the time to care for each garment properly (and wash most things in cold water). Store them away from moths. Neglecting your clothes will make them fall apart faster, which means you will have to replace them more often. Which means braving the mall more frequently, and NO ONE wants that.

Shop for clothes that excite you! Make a plan (“I need some jeans,” for instance). Then go online and find out which retailers carry jeans you like. Are they in your area? Go in the store and try stuff on! Do they offer free shipping to your home? Leave the store (knowing your size), go home and get that free shipping! Make the internet (and the mall) your bitch.

If you aren’t feeling “pretty enough” in your day to day, add a five minute make-up regime. Eyeliner; mascara; lipstain/lipstick: pick two, or use them all if you like. They take no time to apply and can make a big difference. I always feel very plain without lipstain. I assure you, that rhymed completely by accident.

And finally, to complete your outfit(s), accessorize! Wait! Before you freak out, belts totally count! As do rad pendant necklaces, superfly earrings, and bitchin’ handbags (WildRoma.com carries a fine selection of all of these)! Keep your jewelry simple, strong, powerful, and cool… just like you.

Until next time, Readers.

Sustainable Fashion

Dear Readers,

Life has recently made some great demands on my time. I’ve been juggling two jobs, two new businesses, a blog, a novel, and additional personal life stuff! I’m pooped. But you Readers have never strayed far from my thoughts, and I’ve been dying to get back to you!

This week, I want to talk about the Fashion Industry as a whole, and one intrinsic problem that I feel will come to bite the establishment in the tushie in the near future. Let’s talk about sustainability.

Sustainability: The ability of a business to do their business without impairing the ability of the next generation to do business in the same way. I.e. Can be sustained over time.

I have previously worked in clothing production, and there is so much waste that is part and parcel of the industry. Just the quantity of fabric scraps left over after the pattern pieces get cut could fill dozens of garbage bags in a week, and we weren’t even a large factory. There aren’t large scale uses being found for scraps of fabric. That’s not to mention the thread wasted by the yard (usually cotton or polyester). Wow, that’s a big topic. Let’s talk about cotton!

Cotton is one of the most widely used fabrics, due to its tensile strength, breathability, and ability to be dyed any color. It grows best in dry, hot regions of the world, and has been traded for centuries. It is a pain in the butt to harvest, but worst of all (and we’re skipping right over the entire 18th and 19th centuries here), cotton has to use a crazy high quantity of water and pesticides just to grow it. The move to organic cotton is happening, but very slowly.

There are simple and inexpensive alternatives to growing cotton: hemp and bamboo, to name just a couple. Hemp does not require pesticides to grow, and can be made into surprisingly nice fabrics (unlike the hippie burlap common until just a few years ago). Bamboo is even better in my opinion, considering its antifungal properties, the fact that it can grow in most climates and conditions, and makes gorgeous fabric.

Not this, but…

THIS.

Most store-bought clothing is covered in toxic dyes, pesticides, and chemical treatments. This keeps the moths and other bugs from eating the fabric en route from (typically) China to the States. There are a whole bunch of other problems related to the wide-scale import of most of our clothing from overseas (child labor, human rights abuses, no living wage, carbon pollution, not to mention the ethical toll that sweatshops take on global morale, etc), but those problems are far beyond the scope of this post.

Are you wondering why sustainability matters? Readers, the world is changing. We can either prepare for that and start being responsible now, or we can pretend we had no idea what was coming later, which would be a lie. And I don’t know about you, but a lie on this scale makes it hard for me to sleep at night. So what can you do about it?

GLOBAL WARMING. CHILD SLAVERY.

First, invest in yourself. ”Saving” money on cheap clothes will cost you more in the long run, as badly made clothes fall apart, cheap fabrics develop holes, and a bargain isn’t really a bargain if it never fit you right to begin with. I have made so many mistakes: I once bought a 2-in-1 shirt (shirt collar and sleeves poking out of a sweater vest) IN A SIZE 1X because I needed interview clothes. I figured, “Oh, I’ll just alter it later.” I didn’t. I have also been choosing between two similar dresses and gone with the cheaper one THAT I HATED WEARING. Because it was less expensive. Did I wear it often? I did not. Don’t waste your money.

Sadly, the Money Tree is all but extinct.

Second, as my mother says, “vote with your dollars.” Spend money at companies that reflect your values, whatever they may be (environmental, sweatshop/cruelty free, workers’ rights, etc), and support local businesses. Remember, secondhand clothing businesses keep clothing out of landfills, and not all of them charge high prices, even for the great stuff. Like, oh, say, Wild Roma!

Save this beautiful dress from a landfill! Or just shop because you love me!

Love,
Talia