My Ethical Christmas Elf Outfit: Color-blocked Jeans, Plaid Flannel, & Aid Through Trade Bracelets

This weekend was all about last minute elf-like activities: shopping, wrapping, and tidying in preparation for holiday guest arrivals, so I of course I had to don the ultimate in elf colors: red and green.

You can only see my true Christmas spirit from the side, though, when both my color-blocked Koral jeans (made in the USA, similar HERE) and my trusty flannel from circa 1995 are visible (flannel last seen HERE, fair trade and festive option HERE, by Ace & Jig).



It goes without saying that any Christmas elf worth their weight in cookies needs to sport some sparkle to fully embody the holiday spirit, so I mixed in my new roll-on bracelets-- recently received c/o Aid Through Trade-- into my usual wristwear.  Each Aid Through Trade piece is handmade by artisans in Nepal under fair trade conditions. In fact, the founder of Aid Through Trade was also one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Federation.
 


Above, I'm wearing three bracelets from Aid Through Trade's "Midnight in Paris" color way, but there are endless color combos and so many other neat pieces in their line, so I strongly recommend checking them out!You can purchase several colors- including the ones I'm wearing- on Amazon, and some of them are Amazon Prime eligible.





Shop the look:

Fall Style Recap {Chunky Sweaters, Punk and Plaid, Felt Fedoras}

Three Polished Ways to Wear Plaid

Chunky Knit Sweaters for Fall

All Black Everything

Bailey Hats for JCrew: The Perfect Fall Fedora?

Since it's officially winter, I thought I'd look back at a few fall faves, from made in the USA fedoras from JCrew, to upcycled plaid from Reformation, to secondhand monochromatics byAlexander Wang, to my favorite chunky sweater (which you may remember from such  posts as...the one before this).

Happy winter!

Sustainable Splurge Alert: Trina Turk & Suno Sale

Suno is a line that grew from founder Max Osterweis' and designer Erin Beatty's idea that great fashion could sustain positive growth in developing countries. I found an interview in New York Magazine with their head of production, Nadiyah Bradshaw-Spencer, and I liked what she had to say about what "ethical" production means to her, and to Suno:

You said it's ethical. That's something we hear about often now.
All the time. Meaning how [the workers] are sitting. How it's not a sweatshop. There are fans in the room. There are ACs in the room. They're not sitting on top of one another. There's not water dripping on the walls, and slime, and people with their heads down. For Suno, "ethical" means I can sit, as head of production, at a sewing table and sew a garment and feel like I am comfortable. That's what it means for us.

It's refreshing to hear this kind of thinking, and I wish more fashion company employees could practice the simple act of treating others as they would like to be treated. Ethical fashion doesn't have to be complicated, and it begins with awareness and intent. Suno takes other steps as well, such as regular factory visits that build strong relationships, and hiring staff in-country whose job it is to ensure the quality of the work and the working conditions.

I'm kind of hypnotized by the highly structured, short-sleeved, high-low shirt above. I want to tuck it into high-waisted black skinny jeans and studded ankle boots, then hop on the motorcycle I would never ever own and drive into the sunset.

Up next are some affordable basics from Ms. Trina Turk.

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Trina Turk is having a HUGE 60% off sale right now, and I rounded up the the basic blacks that we all need to build into our wardrobe. We have a little black dress, a jumpsuit, a statement skirt, and conservative dress for work, and pajama-style track pants, and each piece is made in sunny California.

Below, I've put together a few more of the sale highlights for you to shop, and just FYI that easy jumpsuit is $91.

Summer Faves for Summer's End

Preppy in Plaid

Mixed Print Mania {Clover Canyon}

White Out

Ikat Romper

Even though we're headed towards fall, the temperature just doesn't seem ready to drop just yet, so I thought I would pull together a few highlights from June, July and August.

I also feel I would be remiss if I did not highlight the collaboration I did with Teeki, Capitol Movement, Aaryn West, and photographer Jason Hornick, which was the most fun summer post by far!

Feel free to share your favorite summer look in the comments-- I'd love to see what you were wearing, especially if it was fair.

Don't forget: you can shop all of my favorite, fair items 

in my new store section!

Spring into Summer

Cherry Blossom Girl

Rock the Ballet

Black and White

Graphic Florals

Just wanted to share a few of my favorite looks from spring as I think about how to transition them to summer. For me, white jeans are a staple year round, and that floral dress is definitely going to get some use this summer. Click on the photos or the descriptions below them to see the full posts.

I wish you a happy almost Friday and a wonderful holiday weekend!

I'm headed to Charleston to soak up some much-needed sun and surf. If you'd like to follow my hopefully peaceful but possibly zany adventures, follow me on instagram at @MyFairVanity

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Cherry Blossom Girl

Spring has finally sprung, and what better way to celebrate than with plaid on plaid mania?

Also, the cherry blossoms are at their peak today, so if you haven't seen them yet, today is the day, my fair friends.

The shirt and belt are both second-hand from Secondi. The bangle is made of sustainable mango tree wood by Mango Tree Bangles. The gold necklaces were given to me by my mother: the locket when I was a baby, and the jade necklace for Christmas last year. Thanks, Mom!


Get the Look {Fairly}

Vintage plaid shirts from Etsy
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White Jeans (from this post) are all made in the USA by

Rag and Bone / A.N.D. clothing

Keds and Converse shoes are vintage from Etsy

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Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @FairVanityDC

for fair news, deals, and adventures!