Reformation Wish List

Part of my slow fashion journey involves fairly constant decluttering. I don't go full Marie Kondo every time because that method didn't really work for me. I have a lot of items that I like but don't love. I like variety. I have too many shoes. It's just who I am. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do try to pay attention to what I'm just never reaching for, though, and remove those items from my wardrobe. The most common reasons that something gets axed are because it is ill-fitting or it's seen better days quality-wise. As good as I've gotten at stain removing, some pieces you just need to say goodbye to. I always have two bags for clothes in one of the guest room closet's - a thredUP bag for items that are still in good shape but aren't for me, and a clean up bag for items that need to go to a textile recycling facility.

One of my favorite sustainable brands for timeless pieces with a hint of trendiness is Reformation. I would consider a lot of Reformation pieces to be investment pieces, particulary the jumpsuit and dresses, because the prices are not particularly affordable. Here are some of the Ref items that I already own and love.

Kensie Dress

Mayer Jumpsuit

Mere Dress

Whenever you make a Reformation order, your purchase comes minimally packaged and contains a ThredUp x Ref bag that automatically turns your ThredUp earnings into a Ref giftcard.

I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with my current credit from decluttering five years worth of Victoria's Secret bikinis. For the past few years, I usually feel like I never have enough tops. I mean, I have lots and lots of tops, but I don't want to wear most of them. Can anyone relate? I decided to use my credit for some tops, and then Ref had a sudden 30% off sale. You'd think this would be serendipity, but, unfortuately, my size was sold out in every single item I wanted.

Here's my Ref wish list for when sizes finally come back in stock, which I hope is soon! 🤞🏻

Carrie Top in Terracotta

Remy Top in Black

Maui Top in Black

Black is my go-to, with neutrals and earth tones closely following. I really, really love to wear white, but I find most white shirts completely see-through, and I'm not into the seeing the bra through the shirt look. Has anyone found the perfect white shirt or tank? Please share if so!

Do you have any Reformation faves? Let me know if there's something I'm sleeping on!

Spring Cleaning

It was 28°F in Boston this morning. Despite it being the first official day of spring, it sure doesn't feel like it. I remember spring being so much different as a kid. Now it feels like we skip straight from winter to summer, but I digress.

Even though the temperatures aren't cooperating, one thing that is giving me springtime vibes is my urge to clean. After being cooped up all winter, I'm ready to get the clutter sorted out for a fresh start to a new season of longer days, warmer temperatures, and rebirth.

As a human being using the internet, you have most assuredly encountered Marie Kondo, the Japanese organization guru who forces us to contemplate what sparks joy in our lives. This question is so loaded, heavy, complex, and almost too deeply personal to be the crux of a seemingly lighthearted Netflix show, but our exploitative and voyeuristic tendencies lend themselves to binge watching an entire season of watching people talk to their clothes while having existential crises about their happiness.

Much like every other functional adult in 2019, I Kon Mari'd the shit out of my wardrobe. I didn't follow the process exactly, and I regret to infom you that I failed to thank each item of clothing. I did, however, sort my clothes into three distinct piles: to sell, to give away, and to "trash."

To sell. I have slowly accumulated designer pieces over the years. These items are totally worth selling, and I am making an effort to recoup a fraction of the price I paid by selling these items on Poshmark or at a local consignment shop. I find that is it hard to discern what a fair price is for these items, and it's also tricky to figure out what is still current enough to be desirable for buyers. This is a reason not to spend a lot of money on trendy pieces. You can always re-sell the classics.

To give away. I am hosting my first clothing swap next month, and I am super excited about it. I've invited women of all shapes and sizes in the hopes that there will be something for everyone at the swap. Most importantly, I want people to take my old stuff out of my house (and hopefully get some joy out of it!)

To "trash." I've mentioned previously that putting textile waste in landfills makes me feel icky. I was so excited when one of my favorite brands, Brass Clothing, started to offer Clean Out Bags. These bags are "the easiest, most sustainable way to pare down your closet and get rid of unwanted clothing. The pre-paid poly mailer sends old clothes directly to our recycling partner and diverts textiles from landfills." At just, $10, it's a small price to pay for a clean conscious. Plus, several times a year they run promotions and each bag comes with a $10 discount code. It's a win win!

I feel like it's rare to talk about the logisitics of large clean out projects. The Kon Mari process was arduous, and I felt so accomplished when I completed it, but the reality was that the stuff I didn't want was still in my house, just in a different place. At the moment, I just want it out. Like everything, though, to do it well is a process.

But, hey, do you want any of my old clothes?

A Paradigm Shift

Have you figured out yet that I have a master's degree in a liberal arts field? I can't help but write like an art historian. One of my favorite things about my adventures in blogging is the ability to just write. To jot my thoughts down and share them with anyone who cares to read them. Also, after a long day at work with too many cooks in the kitchen, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoy being my own editor.

Speaking of work and advanced degrees in liberal arts, it took me a few years in my career to make "good" money. I finished graduate school in 2010 with a master's and bachelor's degree in art history. Those were not super helpful degrees to land well paying jobs in what could easily be argued as the height of the recession. At my first job I made $11.50 an hour, and I had a sizeable amount of student loan debt. I wasn't buying Prada or really thinking about where my clothes came from. I barely had enough money to exist in the Boston area.

I got in the habit of running into Target or Forever 21 and picking up a few items every couple months. I felt fine about treating myself to some new things for my wardrobe because the prices were so affordable. I quickly realized that everything literally began falling apart after a couple of months. I got in the habit of putting old clothes into a garbage bag to give to my younger cousins as hand me downs or donate to Goodwill. These items were often so badly damaged that I couldn't even give them away. Putting textiles in the trash doesn't feel good, nor does thinking about the working conditions necessary to make a profit off of a $4 shirt. The more I thought about this situation, the ickier I felt.

Jobs came and went, skills were acquired, connections made, and I worked for two well respected higher education institutions and established myself as a competent and eager fundraiser. This meant I was fortunate enough to make more money, and that I had the luxury, privlege, and responsibility of being more discerning about where and how I spent my money.

The first thing I worked on was cutting down on impulse purchases. I try my hardest to think on every decision to buy a new item. I'm a firm believer in sleeping on it. Even then, I sometimes wait weeks or even months to make sure I really, truly want whatever it is I was lusting after.

Next, I adopted the mantra of quality over quantity. Yes, seven gray t shirts are great, but one really, really, really comfortable and perfect gray t shirt is even better, and often times, the same amount (or less!) money.

Shifting my thinking about consumption of goods is a process. As much as I'd like to be, I'm not a minimalist. I was raised in a family of consumers, and buying things just because you want them is very normal to me.

I took a lot of courses during my second master's degree (in management, much more practical than art history!) about judgment and decision making. Learning about heuristics and biases made me realize how important it is to SLOW DOWN. Out of necessity, our brains make shortcuts for us, and our assumptions can win out over logic. With our tendency to exist on autopilot, it's important to take the time to be mindful.

I try to be thoughful about the things I buy. As my ethics, judgments, and beliefs evolve, so do my shopping habits. Like I said, it's a process.

I'm really glad to have you along for the ride.