Maternity Style | Mollusk Surf Tee & An Offer from Le Tote

This ever-expanding waistline presents all kinds of sartorial challenges – namely, styling my favorite pieces without stretching them or otherwise insulting their integrity. So far, I'm a big fan of the tie-above-belly method. I bought this Mollusk Surf Shop tee last summer, and it was my weekend go-to along with jean cutoffs and sandals. Since none of my shorts fit any more, I paired it here with a black jersey a-line dress I snagged at a local maternity shop (also made in the USA). I've found that I'm willing to invest in a few staple maternity pieces if it means I can combine them with my normal clothes, and this dress has been a godsend so far.

Trying Out Le Tote

Now that I'm feeling 1000% less awful, I'm actually having fun playing around with new silhouettes (it's all about that baby doll, baby). But I'm also not in love with the idea of buying an entirely new maternity wardrobe. Conveniently, Le Tote got in touch with me with an offer to try them out for a few months. I'm pretty stoked on the concept, and I'm looking forward to sharing my experience with you soon.

want to join me?

If you're interested, you can also try Le Tote for free for two weeks. The offer is valid for both classic and maternity accounts and good until Wednesday, so knock yourself out!

Outfit Details: 

Mollusk Surf Shop striped tee (made in California; similar here) / Susana Monaco dress (made in USA; similar here) / J. Crew Panama hat (old; responsibly-made versions available from Pachacuti or Tumi)

Suit Yourself - Ethical Swimwear by Mollusk, Prana, Patagonia, and Seea

Northern California is notorious for its frigid waters and strong currents; so while our beaches are great for surfing, they're not so inviting to the casual swimmer. In fact Jon, an East Coaster-turned NorCal-er, doesn't believe me when I tell him that you can actually get in the water in San Diego without a wetsuit. Guess I'll just have to prove him wrong with a little jaunt down south this summer. 

Whether your swimming plans this season include ocean, river, pool, or hot tub, here are a few ethical swimwear options to keep on your radar (from top left):  PATAGONIA KUPALA TOP & SUNAMEE BIKINI BOTTOMS - Made ethically and sustainably in Columbia; you can read more about the suit's impact by checking out Patagonia's Footprint Chronicles / PRANA ALEKA TOP & SAYHA BOTTOM -  Made using sustainable materials; you can read more about Prana's commitment to conscientious manufacturing here / MOLLUSK SURF SHOP SALIDITA ONE-PIECE - Made in California / SEEA CAPITOLA BIKINI TOP & BOTTOMS- Made in California / MOLLUSK ATOLL BIKINI - Made in California / MOLLUSK SURF SHOP HOLLY BIKINI - Made in California

Moody Blues and the Lights of Downtown

I don't work downtown, but sometimes I like to pretend. 

Although I've lived in the bay area for thirteen years (eight in the city proper), I've hardly spent any of that time in the hustle and bustle of the Financial District. There's an energy there – a sense of urgency, wheelin' and dealin' – that you don't get in Silicon Valley, or at least not so viscerally. I like my laid-back days on the peninsula, but sometimes I miss feeling like an urban working gal, wearing my power pumps and just trying to make it in this crazy city...

Anyway, enough of my musing. Here's how I created a classic, professional look that just happens to be ethical too: 

Outfit Details: 

Candice Blouse in Cobalt / Amour Vert (Made in the USA, sustainable materials)

Black wool pencil skirt / J. Crew (thrifted, similar here)

Black and white houndstooth coat / I've had this forever; can't even remember where I got it!

Del black pump / Corso Como (read about their ethics here)

 

St. Augustine

These shots are from our trip to St. Augustine, Florida, the country's oldest city – and probably the only place in the U.S. that was a balmy 80 degrees on December 29th. At first I was a little hesitant to post these pictures because I'm showing my midriff (gasp!) and I look a little hungover (no further comment there).

I think they're worth sharing though, if only because they feature a handmade necklace I found at a night market in New Orleans a few days before. Crafted from black onyx and other reclaimed materials by Shell and Bone, I call it my Black Heart of the Ocean necklace. And it works for me... on dark and sunny days alike. 

Have Dress, Will Travel

I’ve worn this American-made, 100% silk Amanda Uprichard dress every weekend for the past two months. It has accompanied me to Portland, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Reno, and probably needs to be washed. But the great thing about this particular dress is that it has survived beautifully after being danced in, picnicked in, hugged in, flown in, and carelessly balled up in my suitcase over the course of my travels.

I’m going to chalk this up to the amazing construction. I have to admit that a lot of the American-made clothing I’ve purchased lately hasn’t lived up to its promise (I won’t name brands, but I was pretty annoyed when a blouse I bought at a significant markup started unraveling at the seams a few weeks later). But somehow the genius designers and makers at Amanda Uprichard have managed to create a sturdy, structured yet playful day dress out of a delicate and hard-to-work-with fabric (it even has boning in the bodice). And don’t get me started on the print. A lush summer palette, watercolor floral, and a geometric overlay? What?

So dreamy.

Although bought on a whim and followed by a flood of post-spending guilt, this dress has definitely turned out to be a good investment. And I’m happy to have found another American-made brand that’s worth the splurge.

Are there certain items you're willing to spend a little more on, or any pieces you've worn the holy heck out of this summer? While you consider this, I'll leave you with my signature move: jazz hands! 

You can find a similar Amanda Uprichard dress here.

Of a Kind: Shop Indie and Made in the USA

I've had Of a Kind on my ethical radar for a while, but My Fair Vanity's recent post on Ace & Jig reminded me of all the other awesome indie brands available on their site. Above is a gorgeous handmade chevron cuff by Dream Collective and a hand painted silk tee by Rachel Rose. Below, a simple black silk dress by Wren (those lines!), and beach-ready chambray shorts by Toujours Toi Family Affairs... all made in the good old US of A. 

Chula Lane

Thank you, resident of Chula Lane, for letting me use your font door and geraniums as a backdrop (you weren't home, so I'm assuming this was ok). Featured here are some of the most-loved pieces in my wardrobe, hailing from the good ol' USA and around the world:

Merino wool sweater from Pendleton's Portland Collection. Pendleton, the Oregon-based company with origins dating back to 1863, is bringing production back to the U.S. with its Portland Collection, a line of women's and men's apparel, accessories, and blankets designed and manufactured in its namesake city. And this sweater is simply magical; every time I put in on I swear I catch a whiff of wood burning stoves and hear echos of the Decemberists.

Krochet Kids alpaca scarf. Made in Peru by Fiorella Pereda, this Krochet Kids scarf kept me warm all through California's cold snap. Now, if we could just get some rain...

TOMS Kitty sunglasses in tortoise. So as to solidify my love of TOMS and its new business model, I finally bucked up and bought my first pair of fancy sunglasses. They're big, well crafted, and cooler than cool.

Cuff bracelet by Gorjana. My parents gave me this very special piece of jewelry for Christmas. It's the first piece I've owned by Gorjana, a socially conscious jewelry and accessories brand headquartered in Laguna Beach.

Adriano Goldschmeid jeans. Made in LA; I've had these jeans for over four years and they still look fantastic.

American Apparel red wool beret. Made in LA; one of my all-time favorite accessories.

Photos by Jonathan Meyer (husband, works for free). 

ASOS to the Rescue: The Green Room

For a while now I've been lamenting the fact that I couldn't find a US-based shopping site that sourced a wide range of ethical clothing that I would actually wear. Somehow I managed to miss ASOS's Green Room, which does just that (although ASOS is based in the UK, it has a US site allows users to browse without worrying about currency conversion). Launched in 2010, the Green Room is a section of ASOS's larger site that carries organic and fair trade brands like People Tree as well as a number of Made in the UK and Made in the USA brands like The Cambridge Satchel Company and Gloverall. Although they can be pricey, all of the items in the Green Room fall into one or more ethical categories, which the section conveniently describes in an interactive glossary.

Definitely worth checking out as you make your way through your holiday shopping list.

Made in Maui: Love from the Islands

After the horror of hurricane Sandy and the dreary drizzle here in the Bay Area (I know, tiny violin), I thought it would be fitting to revive this long-hibernating blog with a little tropical escapism.

My now-official-partner-in-crime and I spent our honeymoon on the island of Maui enjoying spectacular sunsets, remote winding highways, tranquil beaches, and boutique-perusing (ok, the last one might have been more of a solo activity). Here's a quick look at some of the gems the island had to offer: 

Shopping in Paia, Maui

In this laid-back little beach town I found Biasa Rose, a boutique with a great selection of  eco- and socially-conscious brands and handmade goods (there's also a second-hand section hiding in the back). After finally breaking down and deciding to buy a pair of TOMS, I picked up this lovely hand-printed clutch by Palapala Designs:

And in spite being completely unnecessary in Maui's balmy climate, this soft and cozy cream-colored scarf knit by Fiorella of Krochet Kids International caught my eye.

I love the modelbehind the company, which provides women in northern Uganda and Peru with employment, training, and education to offer a pathway out of poverty. The website includes a "meet the ladies" section with a profile of each artist, and encourages you to write a thank-you note to the woman who created your hat or scarf. It may seem simple, but enabling that personal connection to a product is pretty powerful, making each accessory so much more meaningful than something generated en masse. I know I'll be thinking about Fiorella (and the presumably adorable alpaca who provided the wool) when donning my scarf on those chilly San Francisco mornings.

Around Town: Snapshots