Just a quick check in on my consumption in May. I bought only one thing this month (in both the clothing and housewares categories.) I finally used up the store credit from Oak + Fort that I mentioned a few posts ago. I’ve been trying to spend it for almost exactly two years!
Oak + Fort used to draw me in with its minimalist style. However, once I started paying attention to fabric content, I realized that a lot of their clothes are acrylic and polyester. And who knows how they make their things. I can’t find any information on their practices, which probably means they’re not ethical or sustainable. So, I decided I should avoid them — but after I spend my store credit. Let’s not waste money I’ve already spent, right?
I bought this boxy blouse, which was pleasingly just a few dollars more than my store credit. I like its loose, cropped shape, texture, and the neutral oatmeal color. (It pairs well with my high-rise jeans.) However, it’s a viscose linen blend. Viscose, a variant of rayon, is a cellulose-based fabric, so it’s made out of wood most likely. But even though it’s sourced from a natural material, the process to create it involves lots of chemicals and is polluting. Sigh. At least it’s not a plastic like polyester?
The fabric content thing has made it difficult for me to find things in most stores that a) are made out of natural fibers and b) fit me well. Hence the two-year time lapse trying to spend this store credit. I had a suspicion that I’d have better luck in the summer when cotton and linen make more of an appearance.
I think the shirt will work well in my wardrobe and can see myself wearing it often. It almost didn’t happen though. I had already made several sweeps through the store with no success. But on my last round, I spied this on the garment rack by the fitting room. It was the only one of its kind left (or at least the only one out on the floor.)
So far this year, I’ve been pleased with how much I haven’t bought. I only added two things to my wardrobe in April. (Though of course there was some buying and returning.) So, my grand total for the year thus far is three items. Compared to a few years ago, I’ve cut down on my consumption significantly. (Insert here a pat on the back.)
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I do still feel pulled to shop, though. Sometimes it feels like I’m holding back a dam. I keep eyeing things and trying to justify them. For example: Maybe I should get a pair of Allbirds Tree Skippers because I love how comfy my wool loungers are (review here), but sometimes they’re too warm. Or: I should get these Vetta high-waisted cotton pants because maybe they’re the perfect pants for me but how will I ever know if I don’t try them?
I’m also kind of a sucker for the sale section at Club Monaco even though they’re not an ethical retailer, but their clothes have been well-made in my experience. Oh, what’s that, a relaxed boatneck sweater on sale, you say? (Weirdly though, they don’t even mention the fiber content for this item, so I take that as a sign to stay away.)
I’ve tried to distract myself by attempting to improve garments I already own with a little basic sewing. And by basic, I mean super, super basic. (I don’t really know how to sew.)
For example, I bought this Amour Vert dress back in the fall. I had deliberated between sizes and ended up getting the larger one because it gave me more room across the belly and hips.
But then the neckline was a little too big on me. I turned the dress inside out and just stitched the neckline closed a little by about an inch. This helped with keeping my bra strap from sight too. The sleeve still doesn’t sit on me like how it does on the model, but whatever.
Amour Vert Atica Dress // Eileen Fisher wedge heel [similar on sale] // Vintage purse
Similarly, I stitched the side splits on a Target dress (one that I wrote about back when I was still buying polyester.) The split sides showed too much of my thighs for my liking when I sat down, so I just closed up each side by two inches.
Dress pre-sewing
These little improvements — in inch here, two inches there — make a difference. It’s a good reminder to myself to attempt little fixes or bring things to the tailor. The more something fits, the more likely I’ll be to reach for it and to keep it in my wardrobe. And hopefully, the less waste I’ll create.
Welcome Objects 2019 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 1 item (but I also returned 1 item that I bought last month, the Everlane Wide Leg Crop) = 3 items total for the year
Subtractions: 0 this month = 27 items (more or less)
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That Amour Vert dress and the belt you’re wearing with it are both super cool! I have barely enough sewing skills to do those kinds of small fixes, and it can help a lot.
I’m the same way about preferring natural fibers for my casual clothes (I don’t really apply this preference to more formal business clothing, as everything remotely close to my price point and made in the last decade or so is very likely to be blended with synthetic fiber, usually polyester or nylon and viscose as well, and have a synthetic lining), and it has made shopping more difficult over time. I feel like a bit of an unreasonable snob about it, because intellectually (and also from personal experience) I know that a lot of clothing with added-in nylon or polyester will be more functional and potentially a lot more durable, but I can’t help but prefer the 100% natural fiber item if it’s available. I’m at least very certain about disdaining 100% polyester for casual clothing, particularly dresses and tops, and also for work tops, as that stuff doesn’t breathe and can smell really bad very quick while I wear them just once after each wash.
Though with viscose and rayon, in my experience, there’s a case to be made for always proceeding cautiously, even with blends, mainly because the fabric can behave very strangely and unpredictably in the wash. But the price and market realities make it hard to avoid. I even still buy some 100% rayon items because I find the fabric breathable in the summer, almost equal to cotton or linen or silk, and I still buy rayon/viscose blends. But dang, some of it shrinks or is oddly fragile or prone to getting splotches or looking dingy very quick.
I feel a little like a snob too, especially when I’m rooting around trying to find the damn tag inside that will tell me the fiber content. But oh well. It’s true that a lot of categories tends to be blends, particularly outerwear and business. I’m more forgiving about it if something fits perfectly and I think I’ll wear it forever (like this Club Monaco coat), but I still try to find natural fiber. I’ve purged most of 100% polyester garments from my closet because of the breathability issue (except for a handful of things like the floral dress above and another vintage one because I like the prints. But if I found these dresses in silk, I’d swap them out in an instant). And now that you mention it, you’re right, I’m remembering how viscose and rayon behave unpredictably. I’ve had some things shrink and others pill like crazy right away. It’s hard to tell which ones are going to hold up.