Fair Trade Summer Jumpsuit by Ace and Jig {Sustainable Summer Style}

WEARING: Ace & Jig jumpsuit; Pikolinos Masaii Project sandals; Mango Tree Bangle (sustainably wood), old belt. PHOTOGRAPHY: my obliging husband SCENE: beach house in Nag's Head

I've recently acquired some summer staples that I know I'll be wearing again and again this season, and the first one is this jumpsuit by Ace & Jig.  With soft cotton weaves made fairly in their small factory in India, Ace & Jig are masters of easy, breezy patterns and cuts.



Season after season, they churn out loosely cut, laid-back silhouettes that aspire to exist outside of current trends, made instead to be pieces that stay with you for life, and that's a goal that anyone who cares about the ethics behind fashion can get behind. Lucky for all of us, the brand has only grown in popularity with each passing year, are they are now on offer at retail heavy-hitters like Barney's, Shopbop, and Saks.



Although they are not fair trade certified, Ace and Jig's fabrics come by way of a small factory in India whose proprietor not only provides free health and child care to his workers, but also offers them organically grown produce that has been nurtured by the recycled rainwater collected on the roof of the building.



Don't be fooled by the appearance of a short trouser length on the models who wear this in the lookbook below-- I'm between 5'4'' and 5'5'' and had to belt it to achieve this length.



The quality of the fabric is representative of all of their weaves, which always keep to the design duo's signature stripe motif, and to their high quality standards. Remember this riff on chambray, for example? It's thick enough to wear in winter, but breathable enough to throw on for breezy beach days.



I love the open back for hot summer days, and love even more that even though the fabric is just slightly see-through, it's only a concern if you're out at night using flash photography. In other words, if you don't often experience paparazzi attacks, you have nothing the worry about re wardrobe malfunctions.

Shop this exact summer jumpsuit (in three colors), more Pikolinos sandals (made ethically in Spain), and a few more American-made onesie options below, using the arrows to scroll through:

Follow me on Pinterest for more fair trade, made in the USA, and otherwise sustainably-made summer options!

Garden Party {Mixing Prints and Patterns}

• Ikat shorts are fair trade by One Mango Tree (and on sale for $21.60)
• Tank is made in the USA by Porridge from Anthropologie. Similar HERE

I went to my mother's house this weekend for some pool time, but I also got some bonus time in the garden. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to "steal" green beans and cherry tomatoes right off the vine. My Mom truly has a green thumb, and she grows everything from herbs to lettuces to strawberries to squash.  Sadly, I can barely keep houseplants alive, so I love benefiting from her end of summer overages.

The pattern and print mixing is out of my usual wheelhouse, but I was feeling breezy and bohemian. Would you have have paired these two crazy patterns, or is it too much?

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The Perfect Summer Sandals {by Pikolinos}

Shoes by Pikolinos; dress from American Apparel; lipstick by Radiant Cosmetics

Last Saturday was the perfect summer day: my friend Victoria made us a delicious brunch, the weather was warm but not humid, and I got to wear my favorite new shoes!










I'm so pleased to introduce you to my new summer sandals from Pikolinos, a Spanish company that is clearly committed to being kind to people and to the earth. This pair has beautiful Maasai beading and is part of a recent collaboration with the Association for Development, Alternative Commerce and Micro-credits (ADCAM), which works to promote social projects in various parts of the world, and specialises in education, women and micro-credit.

Even though they are brand new, they feel buttery soft like I've been wearing them for years. Plus, Pikolinos uses a vegetable tanning method, water-based dyes and solvent-free glues. I'm in love!

I'd also like to say a special thank you to the sales team at Pentagon City's Nordstrom. When I explained that I was looking for shoes that were made in the USA or fair trade, they were so incredibly helpful, and I never would have discovered this lovely company without their expert assistance. Thanks, ladies!

Shop Pikolinos at Nordstrom here (free shipping both ways!)

Photography and styling by Victoria Corkhill.

Last but not least, I want to reassure you that I am hard at work on a few big posts, so please stay tuned for an exciting collaboration that I hope to reveal this month. :)

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Rock the Ballet {Fairly}

Photography by Victoria Corkhill

I don't know about you, but I see people doing contemporary ballet and dancing around ALL the time in Dupont Circle, so I thought, why not join in?  ;)

I also thought it would be a neat way to share with you that I will be performing this Saturday, March 23, at the Lincoln Theater. I will be joined by dozens of amazingly talented dancers that I am lucky to call fellow company members.

Tickets here!

I would love to have you join us for what will surely be an evening of high energy, incredibly diverse dance. Capitol Movement's repertoire includes contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and various ethnic styles, because we commission both locally- and nationally-renowned choreographers to set pieces for us each year. If none of those words mean anything to you, google So You Think You Can Dance and it will all start to make sense, I promise. Or, you can check out our Instagram for a behind the scenes look at our rehearsals.

If you'd like to rock your own studded ballet flats to our show, there is a wonderful DIY post over on Orange Juice. If you'd rather just buy a handmade pair, you can buy here or here.

To get the full look fairly, I strongly recommend purchasing your work-out t-shirts and leggings from Alternative Apparel, who have strict sustainability and labor standards, or American Apparel, who manufacture their clothes in the USA. Both retailers offer organic cotton items and are my go-to when it comes to workout and dance gear. 

Tickets available now at $20-$25

If you've read this far, I'd like to tell you a little bit about our dance company, which is definitely kind to people and to the earth. In addition to our recent tour through the Mediterranean and Africa (here is me in Egypt!) to perform for the men and women of our armed services in partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment, we also offer

• free classes and performances for DC public school students,
• scholarships to our youth training programs and to prestigious college dance programs across the country, and
• classes here in DC that anyone can pay to take. 

Since it is Women's History Month, it's important to note that Capitol Movement is co-founded and directed by two local DC women who give their hearts and souls to our company each and every day. Amber Yancey and Stephanie Jojokian are two of the hardest working women in DC, managing children, day jobs and a non-profit dance company with a smile and some serious sweat. They are amazing, our show is amazing, and as if you needed one more reason to come, remember that your ticket purchase supports badly needed arts education for young people in the DMV area.

:)

xo

Rachel

  

Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.  ~Voltaire

An Afternoon at Dumbarton Oaks

Barney's COOP cashmere sweaterdress, vegan Stella McCartney boots, both from Secondi.
Photography by Victoria Corkhill

I spent a perfect Sunday afternoon at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection last Sunday with my friend and photographer extraordinaire, Victoria. Founded by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barns Bliss and now administered by Harvard University, the museum and libraries are housed in what I would certainly call one of Georgetown's hidden gems.

Filled with natural light, beautiful pre-Columbian artifacts and Mayan jewelry, Dumbarton Oaks is the ideal place to spend your next free weekend.

Tune in on Friday to see more of our visit.

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{Dear Santa...} A Fair Holiday Wish List

1. Necklace is made in the USA by Colette Ishiyama
2. Cuff is made in the USA by Tom Binns
3. Clutch is vintage from Etsy
4. Earrings are made in the USA by Colette Ishiyama
5. Booties are vegan faux croc by Stella McCartney
6. Bracelet is part of the Brave Collection and made in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by fair-trade Cambodian artisans. 

1. Necklace is made in NYC by Lizzie Fortunato for Of a Kind
2. Wool blanket is made in the USA by Pendleton
3. Bracelet is handmade in Los Angeles using leather and brass sourced from local suppliers for Of a Kind
4. Sunglasses made in the USA from sustainable wood by Shwood
5. Booties are made in the USA by Rag & Bone
6. Vegan floral brocade kitten heels by Stella McCartney

1. Stacked bracelets are fair trade from Rwanda by Indego Africa 
2. Coated leggings are made in the USA by J Brand Jeans
3. Strappy heel is made with fair trade methods of vegan suede by Olsen Haus
4. Beanie is handmade in San Francisco by Ryan Debonville for Of a Kind (there were only 50 made).
5. Oversize clutch is handmade in Maryland by Love, Cortnie
6. Bowl is fair trade from Rwanda by Indego Africa. It's for fruit, but I would fill it with bangles!
7. Studded iphone 5 case is handmade from Etsy 

Fingers crossed that I (or some lucky reader) wakes up to find a few of these goodies under the tree! All items are fair trade, handmade, made in the USA, or vegan, of course.

Don't forget to check out my other Fair Holiday Gift Guide for Him. There's something there for Metro Man (takes you shopping) as well as Cave Man (takes you camping).

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Workin' {Oxblood} at the Pyramids Tonight

Birds of a Feather

When Victoria and I came upon this little scene the other day, we couldn't help but snap a few pictures on our way to dinner.

This outfit is almost exclusively from Secondi, from the blouse to the pleather skirt to the shoes. I sincerely believe that Secondi is the best consignment store in DC. It's certainly my favorite. I always find something special there, and I feel like they give me a fair price for the pieces I consign.

The bag is vegan and the earrings were a gift from my friend Jeannie, who brought them back for me from her cross-country road trip. I love them so much that I styled the whole outfit around them. They're handmade in the USA-- she met the woman who made them--and I was so touched that she bought me "fair" jewelry on her trip. Thanks, Jeannie!


 Photography by Victoria Corkhill

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A Hint of Mint at The Smithsonian American Art Museum

One of my favorite museums in DC is the American Art Museum. First of all, it's like two in one because it's also the National Portrait Gallery. Secondly, it has a beautiful new courtyard thanks to the Kogod family, and too many exhibits to ever get through in one day.

It also happened to match my outfit on Saturday, which was inspired by pattern-playa Aaryn West. I love seeing her color mood boards pop up in my facebook feed each Monday morning, and I think many of my outfits have been unconsciously influenced by the pretty colors she puts together. So yesterday, I decided to make it official with an homage to Aaryn's Hint of Mint color mood.

Mint sometimes feels more spring or summery, but when you pair it with warm camel and browns, and creamy winter whites, it starts to move into the fall feeling, methinks.

Here's how to get today's look fairly:

• White bracelet is fair trade and made from palm leaves
• Woods bracelet is handmade using mango wood, which is sustainably grown.
• Pullover is made using organic and recycled threads by Alternative Apparel
• Jeans are made in the USA and ON SALE NOW by Current/Elliott
• Ballet flats are vegan
• Cardigan is Organic by John Patrick

All photography by Victoria Corkhill.
Linked up with Monday Bloom.