A Block Print Wrap Skirt & the Case for a Good White Button-Up
If you know me, you know I love a good block print. There’s something about the slight imperfections and hand-stamped effect that can’t be matched by a digital print, and it’s long been a mainstay in the designs of some of my favorite brands like Faherty, Bash, and Ulla Johnson. So when we got a new crop of handmade Indian block prints at the shop, I knew some of it was coming home with me.
I decided on the Petrol colorway and I put it to work on a Simplicity 3104 wrap skirt, swapping out the original button closure for ties to make it less preppy, more resort. The cotton is on the lighter side, but the faced hem at the bottom does adds just enough weight to give the skirt a really lovely drape.
Up top: The forever white button-up
For styling, I kept it simple with a classic white button-up Max Shirt from Sézane. If there's one piece I'd tell any sewist or non-sewist to invest in, it's a great white button-up shirt. It works with everything: tuck it into a pair of jeans, knot over a floral skirt like this, or layer it open over a slip dress. It's a blank-canvas staple that complements your handmade and statement pieces perfectly.
Why Sézane?
Beyond their very Parisian, very aspirationally-me style, Sézane is a brand I feel good about buying. Founded in Paris in 2013 by Morgane Sézalory, the Franch brand has distinguished itself by prioritizing quality, creativity, and affordability while also committing to high environmental and social standards. In fact, it's a Certified B Corporation!
On the materials front, more than three quarters of their ready-to-wear products are certified by independent organizations such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and FSC, and they're actively working to increase the percentage of eco-friendly materials across their collections. They've also made some bold calls in the name of sustainability, including removing all cashmere from their collections in 2023 given the industry's high carbon footprint and links to desertification, and powering all of their permanent boutiques with renewable energy.