Fast Fashion-Free Friday Featured Winter 2016 Garment 2: Fisherperson Skirt

Happy Fast Fashion-Friday, folks!

Here's my first post of 3 fast fashion-free outfits (excluding accessories).

I'm featuring this lovely hand-made fisherperson tapestry skirt:

It's from the Etsy shop LUREaLURE. The shopowner, Saskia, creates beautiful pieces of art by recycling old vintage/thrifted fabrics, and combining them with new fabrics. She makes skirts, stools, cushion covers, and more. I bought this skirt that was made from an old tapestry. It's beautiful, and she took the skirt in for me at no extra cost. Also, based on our interactions, Saskia seems like a very kind and sweet person. She was punny, too! For example, when she shipped the skirt, she wrote me "the little fisherman has left the harbor and started the great crossing." XD Her items may be quite expensive, but they're one-of-a-kind, and I'm always happy to purchase a true work of art. 

Also, as with all of my posts, none of them are sponsored. I'm featuring this skirt and writing about it as a very happy customer. I hope that you'll check out her beautiful works, as well.

Anyways, onto my outfits:

Outfit #1:

Outfit #2:

Outfit #3:

I added more variety in footwear when compared to my previous post, and I'm still keeping up with the three-layered top approach to stay warm for winter. For outfits #2 and #3 I tried to match the cardigan color to the flowers along the bottom of the skirt. I hope you liked how I styled this skirt, and come back for more!

Best wishes,

A Metal Pansy

Featured Winter 2016 Garment 1: Beige Floral Skirt

I'm happy to make my first outfit post on one of my best friend's birthday. 😀 The format of my outfit posts will be my selecting a piece from my capsule wardrobe, then presenting at least three different outfits that include the piece.

Today's featured piece is a skirt from the Canadian brand Pink Martini:

I got this skirt over 3 years ago, and it's very warm in the winter. I got it from ModCloth, and though not all the brands that are sold there practice ethical clothing production processes, their Made in U.S.A. section is! I was happy to learn that this particular brand, though not made in the U.S.A. is transparent about their clothing production process, and stay in close contact with the factory that produces their clothes to make sure that the workers are treated fairly.

Now, on to the outfits:

Outfit #1:

You'll notice that in the winter, my outfits usually consist of a similar formula: a blouse, cardigan, coat on top, and a skirt with fleece-lined or sweater tights, and boots on the bottom. Though I wear skirts, I manage to stay very warm because I wear three layers. I also make sure to wear a hat that covers most of my ears, and a scarf to keep my neck warm.

Outfit #2:

There's not much variation in the second outfit from the first one. I forgot what scarf I wore with this outfit... whoops. ^_^;;

Outfit #3:

This is my favorite outfit of the three, I think, since I love how the blouse and skirt look together. They're like a match made in heaven. Also, I noticed I wore the same tights and boots with skirt in all three outfits. I'll definitely try to add more variety in footwear in my future outfit posts, but then again, I think these boots and skirt go beautifully together... so I'll probably wear these boots each time I wear this skirt. Hopefully the variety in cardigans and blouses helped make these outfits look relatively different from each other, though.

I hope you liked my first outfit post, and have a lovely day!

Best wishes,

A Metal Pansy

Winter 2016 (November 2016-February 2017) Capsule Wardrobe

I'm featuring a capsule wardrobe on this blog for the first time! Please look at my FAQs to find out more about capsule wardrobes. Since it's very cold and wet for about 4 months in the northeast corner of the U.S., this capsule includes lots of warmer bottoms and sweaters. I have a total of 36 items, excluding accessories. Here they are:

I have a total of 9 blouses for this capsule.

#1) This cotton-blend vintage blouse is from Etsy vintage shop EELT. It appears to be Edwardian-inspired, and I appreciate the pearl buttons. 

#2) This cotton blouse is from the shop April Cornell. They have a lot of vintage-inspired clothing and house accessories, including linens and quilts. Though the clothes are made in a factory in India, the staff makes personal visits often to oversee the process, and assures customers that the workers are treated fairly.

#3) A wonderful cotton blouse I got for $4 from Goodwill. It was in great condition, too.

#4) There's a bit of this story behind this adorable blouse with a collar that looks like flower petals. I used to buy clothes from a shop from the U.K. that's well-known for creating high-quality, vintage-inspired, adorable clothing. When I contacted the company about how workers were treated, though, they replied with a message about how they were unsure about what happens in the factories that make their clothing, which are located in China. Furthermore, it is against company policy to share with customers about what happens in these factories. Transparency is incredibly important for ethical companies. If the certain company that made this blouse was proud of the factory conditions, I doubt that they would be hesitant to share what happens there. Though the clothes are adorable and great quality, I won't be buying from the company again until they're more transparent about their clothing production process.

#5) Though it probably wasn't ethically made, I still really love this blouse and it's versatility, so I decided to keep it. I bought it from a boutique when I was in Korea.

#6) A blouse from one of my favorite brands Book of Deer. The creator and designer, Eilidh Ho, hand-draws her prints, then mass-produces fabrics at a factory that she visits regularly to ensure that they workers are treated fairly. Though I'm unsure of whether or not the fabrics are particularly environmentally sustainable, the clothing's quality is amazing, and they're made to last for years. Also, each piece is a work of art. The brand releases a collection twice a year, and I'm always blown away by the imagination behind every collection. For example, this blouse is from the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, and the print depicts a cute little town. Eilidh is also very personal designer and after I bought from her a few times, she sent me a very sweet note along with the package. She's such a caring, sweet, imaginative, and talented person, and I love supporting her work.

#7) I love this blouse from Etsy vintage shop VintageEasyStyle. It has a sweet bow and it's very versatile.

#8) A cute blouse from Etsy vintage shop Madison Avenue Vintage. I really like the lace collar and fabric-covered buttons.

#9) A vintage blouse from Etsy shop Milliewinks. It has lace and pearl buttons, two things I adore.

 I have a total of 7 cardigans for this capsule. 

#1) A 1960s vintage cardigan from Etsy shop FoxyBritVintage. It also has pearl buttons, since I'm obsessed. ^_^;;

#2) A vintage beaded cardigan from Etsy shop HiddenTreasureHunter. The seller specializes in vintage knitwear, and this acrylic cardigan was in amazing condition.

#3) An old cashmere cardigan I've had for years. It was a present from my Great Aunt.

#4) Though it may not be ethically produced, I really liked the floral pouch and elbow pouches (you can't see them in this picture, but they're there ^_^). I could have easily made one very similar, though, by adding some patches of floral fabric to an old cardigan.

#5) A very thick and warm vintage cardigan from Etsy shop KatieMelrose. 

#6) This cute peplum cardigan is from a consignment shop nearby my college called Urban Exchange.

#7) Though I can't find much information about this cardigan's brand, I do really treasure the embroidery around the collar. I bought it from Modcloth. psst: Though not everything on the site is ethically made, the pieces in Modcloth's Made in U.S.A. section are.

I have a total of 2 coats for this capsule.

#1) L.L. Bean has made great-quality clothing for decades, though they're very expensive. They have a published Code of Conduct on their website, and seem to treat their workers very well.

#2) I need to find out more about this brand before hopefully sharing it. It's lined with flannel, so it's very warm, and it's handmade. Also, it comes with a detachable faux-fur collar and cuffs.

I have a total of 4 dresses for this capsule.

#1) I have contacted the company that made this dress. I really love their pieces; they're adorable, whimsical, and very feminine. However, when I e-mailed them about the ethics of their clothing production process, they never replied. Hopefully they ethically produce clothes, but I'll refrain from buying more from them until I can learn more.

#2) This is a corduroy dress I've had for 7 years. It's very warm, and even has a nice bow on the back. :)

#3) Another dress from the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection by Book of Deer. The print is of the Aurora Borealis!

#4) I like to call this dress my Snow Fairy dress. The print depicts a snowy forest. It's from the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection by Book of Deer. 

I have a total of 2 jeans for this capsule, since I don't wear pants very often.

 #1) These jeans are incredibly comfortable and I've had them for years. I got them from Gap, which unfortunately used to produce clothes at the infamous factory in Bangladesh that collapsed in 2013. This is referred to in social media often as the Rana Plaza collapse. You can read more about it here. In this tragic incident, thousands of factory workers were killed and injured when the building they were working in collapsed. After the incident, Gap, though not perfect and not the pinnacle of ethical clothing production, has become more transparent and you can read the run-down of Gap on Project Just here. I avoid buying from Gap too often, but I do appreciate how they've taken steps to improve worker conditions.

#2) I bought these jeans from Levi's recently, since I wanted to add some good quality high-waisted jeans to my wardrobe. It was amazing how difficult it was to find relatively ethically produced high-waisted jeans! Levi's isn't perfect, but they do try hard to make sure they're clothing is produced ethically. You can read the run-down of Levi's on Project Just here. 

I have a total of 3 (what I like to call) pinafores for this capsule.

#1) I was delighted to find out that one of my favorite brands, Pink Martini, though not perfect, is transparent and often checks up on the factory which produces their clothes. This tapestry pinafore is one of my favorite pieces, and it looks lovely worn over blouses.

#2) This pinafore was handmade and is from the Etsy shop LovetoLoveYou. The seller was really helpful and took in the dress and added pockets at my request! She's very talented and the pinafore was amazingly made.

#3) Yet another piece from Book of Deer. This was from the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection. It's made of velvet, and I adore the little illustration of a cottage in the woods.

I have a total of 4 skirts for this capsule.

#1) Though I'm unsure of how this skirt was produced, it's very thick and warm, so it was a keeper. I got it from a boutique in Korea.

#2) I forgot which exact second-hand shop I got it from ^_^;; but I found this versatile wool skirt at a shop nearby my college.

#3) Another piece from Pink Martini, this is a very warm skirt that comes with pockets! 

#4) This is another one of my favorite pieces of all time. It's from Etsy shop LUREaLURE. The seller , Saskia, is one of my favorite people on Etsy. I messaged her because I wanted this skirt taken in, and she was so nice, and wonderfully punny! She messaged me back once, for example, "I hope the fisherman will be a great catch." But puns aside, she recycles a lot of vintage fabrics and puts them with new ones to put together works of art! She's so talented and her skirt was wonderfully made. I definitely plan on buying from her again someday.

I have a total of 4 boots for this capsule.

#1-#2) The brands of these boots did not mention much about their production process, so I do not want to list the brand. 

#3-#4) Both of these boots are Dr. Martens, which I'm delighted to say are known for their ethical production processes! I have multiple shoes from the brand, and they're amazing quality and last for years. I unfortunately need to be very picky and buy top-quality shoes because I have Stage III bunions on my feet, and my feet are naturally very wide. In order to avoid surgery, I need to wear shoes that are wide, and am banned from heels *cries* However, Dr. Martens' shoes are naturally wide and fit my feet wonderfully. 

I will be featuring outfits with only these 36 pieces until this upcoming March of 2017. I think I may have included too many pieces, but this is a learning process for me, too, so I'll definitely share about what I learned from keeping this capsule wardrobe once March of 2017 approaches!

Best wishes,

A Metal Pansy

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are some questions people have asked me during my everyday life, and I'm expecting to be asked on this blog:

Why is this blog called A Metal Pansy?
One of dear friends nicknamed me that. She thinks that I try my best to be kind and considerate to others, but I can still be tough. I wear a lot of floral and lace dresses with sunhats and oxfords, but blast heavy metal at full volume when I drive. I love tea parties, headbang to Vivaldi, and have an atrocious potty mouth. I think that, also, this blog will be a juxtaposition between hard and soft. I want to use this blog to present my own methods of combating fast fashion and animal-tested cosmetic products, all the while supporting the brands that take steps to produce more ethically and businesses and artisans that create/sell hand-made and vintage clothing.

What is the ultimate purpose of this blog?
I hope this blog encourages readers to support more ethical fashion and cruelty-free products and shop less from fast fashion chains. However, I also don't want to make this blog merely about shopping. An important part of this blog is to show people how to build personal wardrobes that they can be happy with. It doesn't make sense to get rid of any and all clothes that come from fast-fashion brands, since we already bought those clothes and our money went to the brand. I still have clothes in my closet that may have been made in sweatshops, but I really like the way they look, so after a lot of internal debate, I decided to keep them. It's all about moving forward, after all. I've been promoting and trying to buy mostly from ethical brands since I found out about ethical fashion, and I have also been trying to make the most of the pieces I already have in my wardrobe. I hope I can help readers do the same!

What exactly is fast fashion, and why is it harmful?
Many international clothing stores chains use a "fast fashion" concept, so that though the clothes may be designed and sold under fair conditions, the actual clothing production often happens in places overseas where it is cheaper to produce clothes. Fast fashion entails clothing that are produced at sweatshops, or sweatshop-like conditions. The workers often work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions and are not paid a living wage. They're often paid as little as a few cents per each hour of work. Furthermore, fast fashion also refers to clothing that's not made to last, which people can buy for a cheap price and just toss out after a couple of months of wearing it. Fast fashion is harmful from a social standpoint, as it involves a process that exploits workers who are probably working at sweatshops because they have no other choice than to be there to earn money for their family. However, fast fashion is also harmful from an environmental standpoint, since many synthetic fabrics are used for clothes made via the fast fashion process, and these fabrics take decades to disintegrate. Cotton clothing can also be harmful, since cotton farms often use harmful pesticides to grow cotton. However, please be aware that just because clothing is produced in the U.S.A. does not always mean that it is ethically produced. Forever 21, for example, has horrible working conditions in its Los Angeles factory. You can read about the run-down of Forever 21 here.

What does it mean to shop ethically?
Just as fast fashion involves a process via which workers produce clothing under unsafe and hazardous conditions, slow/ethical fashion involves producing clothing through a process under which workers are treated fairly, with a living wage and humane working hours. Though ethically produced clothing tends to be more expensive than clothing produced via fast fashion process, these clothes are often built to last for years, and are much better quality.

How can I shop ethically?
There are two ethical fashion blogs that I follow regularly. Annika Victoria, an ethical fashion blogger, used to run a blog called A Pineneedle Collective. It's the first blog where I learned in easy-to-understand terms about what fast fashion is, and how harmful it is. She has a new website here, though. She's a brilliant sewer and has many videos for DIYs. Still Being Molly is another blog with a good fashion directory here. Project Just is a place where you can find out a lot about the clothing production process of most mall brands, and even about ethically produced brands. Buying secondhand is another amazing way to buy ethically. Even if you buy unethical mall brands secondhand, the money you spend doesn't directly go to those brands, and you save clothing from going to landfills. Consignment shops and vintage shops can be quite expensive, but the clothing there is generally carefully hand-picked and they're easy to shop at. Thrift shops have amazing prices if you're on a budget, and it's like going on an adventure, but you my need to dig deep to find things you like. Here is an amazing video with tips on thrifting made by Annika. I'll definitely add more ethical fashion blogs that I like someday.

Will you ever put together your own ethical fashion directory?
As of now, I don't foresee myself having the time to put together a really good one. However, when I present my capsule wardrobes for each season, I will list the brands of the clothing in it comes from an ethical brand, or from vintage shops people can shop at. A lot of my pieces are handmade and bought from Etsy, and though not all of the shops may source each and every fabric they use from ethical sources, I personally believe that clothing that's put together under ethical conditions is a step up from buying from unethical mall brands. It is important to try and buy clothing made from ethically-made and sustainable fabrics, though, since many people making the unsustainable or unethical fabrics are exposed to a lot of toxic chemicals in the process.

Why do you not list the brands that some of your clothing comes from?
I'm not perfect, and it's only been about a year since I have eliminated almost all shopping from fast fashion chains for clothes. Even before I really focused on shopping ethically, I loved hand-made and vintage clothing, so I had a great selection, but some clothes I bought from places with questionable clothing production processes. However, some of those pieces were great quality and I loved too much to sell or give away, so they're in my wardrobe. You wouldn't be able to buy them now anyways, even if you were interested, since they probably stopped producing the specific item(s) of interest, but listing the brand they came from would make me feel like I was promoting the brand. If you really are interested and want to look into the brand, though, I will not refrain from informing you of the name of the brand if you contact me. I am not in a position to judge people if they choose not to buy ethically. However, I do hope that many more people wish to buy more ethically produced clothing after reading my blog.

What is a capsule wardrobe?
I think the best rundown of a capsule wardrobe can be found the blog "Un-Fancy" and Anuschka Rees's blog. It is essentially a rotating wardrobe with a specific number of pieces, and the wearer will only wear these pieces for a season, and not shop for new pieces. I've only had a capsule wardrobe for a couple of months, but am loving it! I try to make my wardrobes consist of less than 40 pieces for each season, but with enough clothing to make outfits that will last me 2 weeks, since I do laundry every other week. Each season, clothing is taken out of storage, or a few new pieces may be bought, to fit the season. Capsule wardrobes are wonderful because they tap into outfit-building creativity since there is a limited number of pieces to choose from, and it forces me to be creative as I try not to repeat outfits. Also, it helps me save money since I make the most of the pieces I already have in my closet, and am more cautious about only choosing pieces. Keeping a capsule wardrobe has helped stay organized and really only keep the pieces that I love and will keep for a long time.

When will you post capsule wardrobes and outfits?
I'll present a capsule wardrobe at the beginning of each season, maybe my autumn wardrobe around the end of September when the weather gets cooler, and maybe my winter wardrobe around the end of November when it starts snowing, etc. After posting my wardrobes, I will try to post outfits at least once a week during each season to show you what outfits I can build from my wardrobes. I will usually feature a piece from my capsule wardrobe and post outfit pictures including that piece, so that I can show how to mix-and-match.

Any more advice on how to build a capsule wardrobe?
I use an amazing app called StyleBook. It's $4, but it is so worth it. You can upload your entire wardrobe, and save outfits. You can even keep track of what outfits you wore with an outfit calendar so it is easier to avoid repeating outfits. I love having it because when I go shopping or when I'm out and about, since I can look into my closet right then and there to see if a new piece I want to buy would mesh well with other pieces in my wardrobe.

How do you afford to buy clothes?
In all honesty, I have always been financially stable and from a place of privilege. I think it's better to admit it, rather than to deny it and pretend that anyone can buy from the brands I present. I know that most people, especially my age, will not have enough money to buy from a lot of the brands that I present. How I can afford the clothes I buy is that I've had jobs, working as a research assistant, teacher's assistant, and tutor, and I sold a lot of the clothes I already had for the sake of building a capsule wardrobe. A lot of consignment shops and secondhand shops buy clothes from anyone with a valid ID and who is over 18. For people who are on a strict budget, thrift shops are a great place to find interesting clothes, and buying more from thrift shops will help provide more people with jobs, and many thrift shops are run by charities which benefit, for example, cancer patients, hospices, etc. Please refer to the above FAQs to find out more about thrifting. I also recommend people on a budget try building a capsule wardrobe, and buy pieces that may be more expensive, but function as an investment. You could buy well-made, versatile, and timeless garments that could last you for decades. Buying cheaper clothing will probably cost you because often-times, they fall apart after a couple of washes. And most importantly, the clothing in my wardrobe has often been in my closet for years and I take good care of them. Building a wardrobe I'm happy with took a lot of time, so patience is key when trying to shop ethically, and to build your ideal wardrobe.

Any advice on how I can buy cruelty-free beauty products?
Yes! The best place to look into is the Leaping Bunny. They have an amazing directory where you can look up whether or not a brand is cruelty-free. Whatever information Leaping Bunny doesn't have, you could probably find on the PETA cruelty-free directory... which I unfortunately think is not working anymore. Though I have my qualms about PETA, since I have felt that they sometimes contradicted themselves and even has a history of resorting to violence to end animal testing (there have been instances in which they have set research facilities on fire, for example), I really did like the directory for their "Beauty without Bunnies" program. I'll try also someday try to post about my favorite cruelty-free beauty products.