Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Beached Winter Mermaid

Steal My Show by TobyMac
Feeling like a mermaid in this skirt, hence the title of this festive post...


Necklace/Earrings  |  Ecolissa
Bralette  | Free People (not ethical)
Backpack  | From my trip to Mexico
Vest | Upcycled Myself (hours of fun)
High Low Maxi Skirt  |  Accompany Us 
Handwoven Inkkas Sneaks  |  Modavanti

Promo code, promotion code, discount code for my ethical fashion finds:
20% off at Ecolissa "EcoFashion"
10% off Inkkas Shoes "DEAL10"
10% off Modavanti "BeyoutifulYOU"
15% off Modavanti "FREEPEOPLEINTL"
$20 off first purchase, Sign up at Modavanti
$30 off first order of +$150 from Accompany Us

_________________________________________________________

So, the weather was horrible for photography, but I really wanted to get a photoshoot done for all of my exciting new ethical clothing! I am actually working on an ethical clothing haul video which I will post sometime next week!You can't really tell, but it is 25 degrees outside, and so yes, I was a bit more than tepid in that no sleeve top.  But the skirt kept me surprisingly warm.  So, I hope you liked my "winter bathing suit look."  We can just pretend I am a winter mermaid leaving the lake in search for new travels on land. That works, right?  ^_^

I am very much looking forward to shooting on this location when Spring actually arrives, because I don't really consider it spring when there is snow outside and I have to wear 2 jackets, boots, sweatpants, and a scarf. :p  Below is information I copied and pasted from the online retailers on every piece I have worn, because I believe you deserve to know why it is important to choose ethical fashion.  As a new ethical fashion blogger, I am beginning to integrate more socially conscious purchases into my wardrobe.  The pieces may be 2xs more expensive that what you normally purchase, but think of it this way, they last 3-4xs as long and give back to the world, so that alone is a worthwhile investment.  The only difference now is that you can buy less clothes, but the ones you will own are better for the community, the environment, and yourself (natural dyes etc).  Why not want a better life for yourself?  What are your thoughts?

Quality > Quantity


Necklace
 Project Have Hope Extra Long Multi Color Necklace  made of rolled and colored magazine strips. Project Have Hope works with a group of 100 women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda and helps them transform their lives and the lives of their families. Through the sale of their beautiful, handmade paper bead jewelry, the women can feed their families, send their children to school, and look forward to a richer future.

Earrings
Green Tree Earrings, laser cut key and lock earrings. The Goal at Green Tree Jewelry is to create unique designs that are made entirely from renewable and recycled materials. Made in the USA.

Vest
Upcycled. This was a project which took a few days between my and my BFF. I purchased a green denim jacket from my local salvation army then cut off the arms, bleached it(although it is still green), then we used a seam ripped to frey it.  We then bought a 1/2 yard of creme lace, doubled it up, dip-dyed it, cut it into a cross, and sewed it on the back with my sewing machine.  Finally, we purchased spikes which we screwed on the shoulders.  It's so fun taking something old and making everything new.  Looking at the impact: the bleach wasn't very environmentally friendly, and actually was a total waste because it did nothing to the vest, and the dyes purchased were from the local craft store and were probably not environmentally firendly.  But we were able to save money, have fun, and reuse something old.

High Low Maxi Skirt
This lovely maxi skirt is made from repurposed remnant jersey material by women in Cambodia.  A slight high-low effect in the front gives this skirt a beautiful flowy feature.  These eco-friendly skirts help empower at-risk women in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to provide for their families. Raven + Lily also returns proceeds to fund health care and literacy programs for this partnership.

Handmade Sneakers
Shadow Low Top by Inkkas. Vegan, handmade, fair trade... GORGEOUS!  Inkkas is a fair trade company that also partners with Trees for The Future and for every shoe sold, they plan a tree.  All of their textiles are from local communities.  I actually purcahsed the shoes through an online retailer, Modavanti, because it was a better deal (with my discount codes) hehehe.  Also, through Modavanti, every sale you also give 2% to our amazing charity partners who are working to improve the fashion industry.  "This way we can ensure that you look good, feel good and do good in what you wear."

I am totally loving the Inkkas kickstarter campaign more than any of their other videos, so I chose to share this one.  Enjoy!

 
Inkkas - Kickstarter from The Base Studio on Vimeo.

Finding God's Grace,
Christine

Follow on Bloglovin

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Waiting On Spring

Bomber Jacket | F21
Tunic | Free People
Jeans | UO
Boots | Steve Madden
Mouse Wrap Around Ring | c/o Born Pretty

As Jas and I went wandering around town searching for a new place to do a photo shoot before we found this gorgeous cranberry red house. Along the way we kept asking each other, "When is winter going to be overrrrr?"  In New York, winter comes, and then it comes, and comes some more.  Half of the year is spent in long sleeves, boots, and jackets.  However, days like today come along, when we are able to go outside in only three layers, and we throw a party! haha

Whatever weather you live in, there are always fun places to explore... you just have to get the courage to dress properly and go out there! *smile and eyebrow raise*


Find Inspiration,
Christine

P.S. For daily inspiration and motivation, follow me on Facebook and Twitter! :)

Follow on Bloglovin

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

We Got The Beat

 Asymmetrical Blazer | c/o Sammy Dress
Blue Heart Earrings | c/o Born Pretty
Leaf Wrap Ring | c/o Born Pretty
Sequin Ends Blouse | c/o Sugarlips
Jeggings | Maurices
Boots |Clarks

Get 10% off  your entire order, including Jewelry&Accessary, from Born Pretty with my custom code: "CTT10"

My days and weeks have been melding into one lately.  I suppose that is just what it's like to be a senior in college.  Anyways, working hard at school and beyond as always!  For all of you in midterms, keep going! You are only in school for a small portion of your life, so take this opportunity to surprise yourself with the goals you can achieve!  <3
***

It's that time of the year where winter and spring clash against each other, leaving all of us running between our scarves and thermals.  I've had this blazer (totally 80s, right?), which I got from Sammy Dress, for a while and had been wondering how I would style it because I felt like I wanted to go after the so-chic fitted blazer look... you know, the look everyone wears these as: clean, fitted, and chic.  However, I don't own the other pieces to make that happen, and I am not about to buy every other component of that look to make it happen. So, I decided to take all of the other pieces in my closet that I don't know how to style and plopped them all together!  The results didn't turn out that bad.  Although, I think one day I may look back and laugh at this outfit.  I suppose sometimes, when you feel like your creativity bowl is gettin' empty, or like you don't have the right tools to complete your job, you just have to think less complicated and just do it.

This applies to more than just fashion.

Keep Going,
Christine


Follow on Bloglovin

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Happy International Women's Day!



Pom Hat (my 2014 investment hat piece) | Free People
Hand Warmers (made by a women's group in Peru) | Anthropologie
Necklace | Element Style Boutique
Jeggings | Maruices
Boots | Clarks

Okiedokie y'all, finally, I have re-entered the blogosphere. Seriously, I have been so busy with school and applications that I haven't had time to do a photo shoot for myself in well over a month.  But, I am back now!  Happy International Women's Day (read more here).  First of all, how awesome are women? Pretty sah-weet! We have come so far thanks to women's movements, women who believed we could do more than stay at home and clean, and a select few men who believed in us along the way.  Today there is not complete equality between genders, but I am very thankful for all the hard work that has brought us sisters this far.  I can go to college, I can become a professor, doctor, chef, business owner or stay at home mom, whatever I want... because of women who fought for our rights!  But there is still so much more work to be done (pay gap, women's education)! I do think that some women now days push us women back while claiming to propel us forward, I am talking about pop culture here.  I believe that it is very important to look at the long term impacts of your actions before claiming to represent an entire movement... and I just really realized this somewhat recently.  

Each of us still have so much more to learn from in life, and many more times we will make mistakes.  But as we experience these things that help us grow, let's remember all the challenges and obstacles that we have overcome in order to become the people we are today.  As someone sometime once put it, "it's easier to just try and apologize later for a mistake than not try at all and just stand there doing nothing."  Let's take this mentality forward and achieve the greatness God has in store for us!

We Got This,
Christine

Follow on Bloglovin