Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Meet Hatch Collection: Tasteful Maternity Style, 100% Made in the USA

3 hatch maternity jacket made in the usa ethical fashion

WEARING: Hatch Blazer; Alternative Apparel shirt and DVF heels purchased secondhand from Secondi; conventional black pants. PHOTOGRAPHY: Victoria Corkhill.

Pregnant ladies (and pretty much any ladies who think they might want to be a Mom someday), rejoice in all that is Hatch:

  • Easy, on-trend, comfortable wardrobe staples for work and for play that are designed to be worn before, during, and after pregnancy.
  • Entire line is 100% made in the USA
  • Hatch has contributed regularly to charity Every Mother Counts since 2011.



hatch maternity jacket made in the usa ethical fashion

Shop the look, including a few secondhand shoes I dug up from theRealReal:





4 hatch maternity jacket made in the usa ethical fashion

I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful blazer as a gift from a dear friend who turned me on to Hatch. Thank you so much, Kimmie! Above, you can see the real deal, i.e., what I actually wear to work all day: flats. I had the heels on for the District Closets event at Secondi, but for a typical day in the office, I ain't crazy, ya'll, I wear flats. :)

But let's get back to Hatch: they truly have created a robust collection of pieces that any woman would want to wear, pregnant or not. Add to that their commitment to domestic production, high quality, and supporting charities that benefit maternal health, and I think that what may seem at first to be a rather steep price tag begins to make a lot of sense. These are pieces you can invest in (or give as gifts) with confidence, ladies.

And get this: they have several items in their sale section right now that are perfect for fall and winter wear. Again, I kid you not, these are pieces that you will want to wear whether you are preggers or not. Below are seven seasonal staples including a cocoon coat, cocktail dresses, and a tuxedo blazer from Hatch that are all 50% off right now:







And, of course, I can't resist sharing a few more Hatch pieces I am in love with, but which aren't on sale (yet):







Still need more maternity style inspo?


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

This Saturday: Shop My Closet at Secondi!

district closets my fair vanity secondhand shopping secondi DC

Anyone who reads this blog knows I am a huge fan of shopping secondhand. If you search for the term "Secondi" on my blog, you will see that almost every outfit I wear has at least one piece from my favorite consignment store. I love to support brands that are treating their workers and/or the environment with dignity and respect (like this one or this one), but if you think about it, it's even more fair and kind to reuse a garment that is already out there, which is why I am excited to be participating in District Closets this Saturday. I hope you can come on out to shop and make merry! 

The deets: all of you local ladies will have the opportunity not only to shop secondhand selections from Secondi (hand chosen by me and the other girls), but to shop the closets of some of the most stylin' ladies I know, who have been kind enough to ask me to join in on the fun. This Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy complimentary mimosas while browsing District Closets at Secondi in Dupont Circle.

Not local? That's OK! Tune in tomorrow for a round up of all of my favorite online places to shop secondhand, from Etsy to Ebay to The RealReal.



P.S. Carlis from Spicy Candy DC did a little interview with me yesterday and will be dishing on all of the ladies whose closets you can shop, so I recommend keeping an eye on her blog this week to get an idea of the different styles of the participants and what types of items you will be able to choose from. With a percentage of the proceeds of the event going to charity (I've chosen to benefit Nest), you'll be doing good all over the place!



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Eco-friendly Fall Essentials from AHALife









I don't know about you, but I am ready for fall! And to celebrate it's arrival, I've picked out a few of my favorites from AHAlife, one of my favorite online resources for discovering thoughtful, on-trend brands. And just through today, you can take 24% off of your first purchase on their site with code AHANEW.

I'm a big fan of AHAlife not just because they seek out thoughtful brands creating high-quality goods, but because they disclose the details of each item so well on their site. With one click, I can see whether something is handmade or organic, where it is made, and sometimes even how it is made. They tell the story behind their products quite thoroughly and I wish more online retailers would do the same.

In the (shoppable) image above, you can find:
  • Shwood sunglasses, handmade in Oregon from sustainably harvested wood.
  • Botkier tote (also available in a more conservative all-tan or all-black), made in the USA.
  • Cuff by Kelly Wearstler, made in the USA of gold-plated brass. I wish it were recycled gold plated brass.
  • Organic Pink Fijian Tea, made in Fiji. 
  • Wool Wrap: Crafted from hand-combed Mongolian yak wool, designer Khunu worked directly with herder communities to responsibly source its yak wool which is then crafted in the oldest textile workshop in Mongolia. Boom.
  • Wrap clutch (also in this size) by Busk and Bask. Hand-crafted from vegetable-tanned leather, Chicago screws and a solid teak wood floor.



Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Little Black Dress: Day to Night {Maternity Style}


2 maternity style made in the USA baby bump my fair vanity

Today I'm celebrating three things: 1) entering my third trimester (home stretch!),  2) the versatility and general awesomeness of the little black dress, and 3) most importantly, the return of Victoria, sister-friend and photographer extraordinaire! She has been traveling for six weeks straight and I don't know how I survived without her. Three cheers for the return of Victoria Corkhill!

WEARING:

6 maternity style made in the USA baby bump my fair vanity




4 maternity style made in the USA baby bump my fair vanity

At 29 weeks along (translation: seven months prego), ain't no hidin' the bump! At this stage, I have found that stretchy-yet-substantial fabrics are my bestest friends, along with loose shift-style dresses.

A fellow preggers blogger, Haya from Good Good Gorgeous, remarked in a post that now, more than ever, she feels so much more comfortable wearing tight slinky dresses that really hug her curves, and I have to say I feel the same! I might never have worn something like this before, but for some reason, I feel more confident in silhouettes that really show my shape. 

7 maternity style made in the USA baby bump my fair vanity

To transition this look from "day at the office" to" night on the town," all I did was lose the jacket, add heels and throw on an enamel cuff. You may recall these strappy little sandals from when I wore them in the middle of January because they are amazing secondhand Givenchy heels, that's why!

5 maternity style made in the USA baby bump my fair vanity


Last, but certainly not least, here are 15 little black dresses that are all made in the USA, priced from $58 for this shift by Wayf all the way up to $1,495 for a more conservative take on the dress I'm wearing by Lela Rose.

Shop your eco-hearts out!





















Monday, September 1, 2014

12 Baby Shower Gift Ideas for Eco-friendly and Ethical Moms-to-Be

baby shower gift ideas, organic cotton, sleepsack and footies

For obvious reasons, I've become quite the connoisseur of organic cotton baby clothing and pretty much all things eco-baby as of late, so I thought it was high-time to share what I've found. This first set includes three of my favorite infant clothing companies (so far):
baby shower gift ideas, eco-friendly diapers, honest company, organic baby bath products

Samplers are ideal for new Moms who have no way of knowing exactly which brands they prefer just yet. Honest Company Bath and Body Baby Bundle includes a sampling of everything she might need from diapering to bathtime. Other nice options include:

  • This "Baby Road Set" from Mayron's Goods has everything you might need for baby while on the road, and all of it is made from organic oils and ingredients.
  • Babyganics products: you can make your own "New Mom" gift collection by shopping separate items at Target or other drug stores. This brand is a big favorite among my Mom friends, and their ingredient lists are clean, clean, clean.

baby shower gift ideas, handknit baby sweaters, etsy, winter baby clothes, my fair vanity, ethical style

Etsy is awash with adorable handknit and handmade wear for fall and winter babies, like this hand knit wool cardigan from Camp and Company, but there are so many more great gift options, like this hilarious knight hat from Thoughtful Stitches (only $23) or this Yoda hat by Nita Mae's Garden.  

The booties and hat are by Tane Organics and available from AHAlife. Each one is handknit from the baby booties, to the hat, to the onesie, though the baby booties are by far my favorite.

baby shower gift ideas non-toxic toys


Babyearth.com has an array of affordable, non-toxic, old-school wooden toys and other accessories like this pull-toy alligator or this more modern organic playmat.



baby shower gift ideas the perfect tote

The Perfect Tote (aka diaper bag, aka baby everything bag)
I've never had a friend who is a Mom tell me I will need a diaper bag. Instead, they simply throw diapers and wipes in a ziplock and into their own bucket bags and purses. That said, everyone can use a good tote, and I feel like this Baggu collaboration with West Elm comes close to perfection.

With two ways to carry it, a monogram option, several colors, and a snap closure top that makes it easy to stuff full without worrying about spillage, I think it's well worth its $45 price tag. Add to that the fact that Baggu is a thoughtful company that makes its leather products in New York City and uses only eco-friendly materials like 100% recycled cotton canvas and durable (but recyclable) nylon to make its other bags ethically in China, and I'm sold. I just can't choose a color...apparently they come without the dip-dye as well for only $26.

Last but not least, they would make the perfect (eco-friendly) gift bag to hold other small shower gifts like toys, bottles, bath products. Something for baby, something for Mama.





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