My order from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale arrived, so here’s a quick update from my first post. It’s easy to get carried away with all the sale hype, but I am getting better at resisting! I think that’s the most important thing to remember when trying to shop sustainably. A few years ago, I would have ordered a bunch of stuff, and then I would have ended up not wearing a chunk of it. This time I ordered true wardrobe staples: a few tops and a sweater. I did end up putting one fanciful (to me) item in my cart, a leather fanny pack, which hasn’t arrived yet.
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Halogen Boatneck Cotton Top
Halogen Boatneck Cotton Top – $24.90 (regularly $39), comes in petite and regular sizing
First up is this Halogen boatneck shirt. I originally saw a version of this shirt in a sweatshirt-like material in the store and ended up ordering the 100% cotton version online.
Halogen Boat Neck Cotton Top, Everlane High-Rise Jeans [review], AGL flats [similar]
I’m wearing the XS petite here. (I’m a dress size 4 for reference.) It feels a bit big. While I love an elbow length sleeve, the sleeves seem too long.
Halogen Boatneck Cotton Top // Everlane High-Rise Jeans [review] // AGL flats [similar] // All Saints Bag
For some reason the same shirt in the same size but in stripes made me look way wider. I should have sized down. The shirt is currently sold out, though. I’m sure they’ll restock it as people like me return their orders, but the sale might be over by then. (Prices go back up on August 6.)
The shape of the shirt reminds me of some of my recent Uniqlo collaboration purchases (like this Marimekko one and this Supergeometric one). Like the Uniqlo ones, the Halogen shirts are made out of a medium-weight cotton fabric that feels smooth. The Halogen ones are made in Vietnam, the Uniqlo ones in China.
One difference is that the Halogen shirts have a split on each side, and the underside of each split is trimmed in thick ribbon. I prefer the Uniqlo shirts, though, for fit and price. I measured the Halogen tops and the Uniqlo ones and they’re both about 18″ across the chest in XS. This surprised me since the Halogen ones seem so much wider. This is proof that the cut makes all the difference!
At $15, the Uniqlo ones are $10 cheaper than the sale price of the Nordstrom ones. And it’s not like the Halogen ones are organic cotton or produced in an ethical factory. At the moment, Uniqlo doesn’t carry their boatneck tees in solid colors. I think I’ll wait and see if they make a similar tee with a boatneck.
Halogen Puff Sleeve Sweater (and some thoughts on materials)
Halogen Puff Sleeve Sweater – $45.90 (regularly $69), comes in petite and regular sizing
Next up, this puff sleeve sweater, also by Halogen, which comes in 10 colors and is still in stock.
Halogen Puff Sleeve Sweater // Everlane HIgh-Rise Jeans [review] // Vionic Ankle Boots (on sale, limited sizes) [similar]
They weren’t kidding about the puff sleeves. This is more drama than I’m used to, but I am into it. Again, I’m wearing the XS petite. The material is thin yet warm. It’s half merino wool and half acrylic, which sucks because acrylic is a synthetic fiber.
I know I’ve said this before, so please bear with me if you’ve heard this. Not only do synthetics take a lot of chemicals to make — though it’s true fabrics of all kinds involve chemicals in the process; cotton is guilty of this too — but washing synthetics pollutes our water and wildlife with tiny plastic fibers.
It wasn’t that long ago that I was still buying synthetics like the cute floral print dress in this post. I would think, “Oh, this is cute. It fits me. It’s in my price point,” so I’d buy it. Now that I know how horrible plastic is for the planet and how much of it there is, I’m trying to reduce my consumption.
But I’m not going to purge everything with synthetics out of my wardrobe because that seems wasteful. (It would also leave me with no bras or swim suits!) I try to steam clean my synthetic clothing instead of throwing them in the wash, but sometimes you have to throw things in the wash. I just learned that Patagonia sells a mesh bag called The Guppyfriend that’s supposed to catch microfibers. I’m going to try one out and will report back. [UPDATE: here’s my review of the Guppyfriend.]
Anyhow, this is all to say that now that I read clothing tags for fabric content, I realize synthetics are everywhere. They’re often blended with natural fibers, like this sweater.
Halogen Puff Sleeve Sweater // Uniqlo Below Knee Pencil Skirt [similar] // Vionic Ankle Boots [on sale in limited sizes, similar]
Ugh. I really like this sweater. Look how cute it is with a pencil skirt! I guess I could buy this cashmere one from Chloe instead. (Just kidding, I don’t have $800 to spend on a sweater.) Sigh. I’m torn. I want to keep this. It fits well, is cute, and in my budget. But I’m trying to have principals. Ha. Fall is coming, so I’m sure other brands will make puff sleeve sweaters too. Pssst, Everlane. I have an idea for you!
