Sustainable Style: Vintage Levis, Polished Blazer {#StyledbyShellBCheri}

Just a few short weeks ago, stylist and blogger Shell B Cheri* waltzed into my apartment to give me a little closet refresh, and I'm so glad that she did. I was participating in a project she was working on with several other bloggers, in which we each chose an item from our closets that we loved but rarely wore so that she could help us style it.

But you guys, she did so much more. For my difficult-to-style items, I had chosen a well-cut creme blazer given to me as a Christmas gift by one of my bestest friends, as well as a vintage beaded bag that I'd worn for New Year's and never really picked up again. I loved them both but was intimidated by the creme and wanted a more casual way to wear a beaded bag during the day.



Well, Ms. Cheri dove into my closet and after pulling out almost everything I owned (ok maybe half), she unearthed a completely unexpected item: a pair of beat-up vintage Levis that had been my father's. I'd worn them in 9th grade with combat boots (yuuuuup), but simply carried them with me ever since then, unable to bring myself to donate them or sell them, but not actually wearing them.

Since my father passed away in 2004, I've held on tightly to the little pieces of him that I have: his old t-shirts, or his 70s jeans that I loved to wear in jr. high.   When Shelby whipped out these jeans from the depths of my jeans pile, she was shocked that I never wore them, and I was just so, so happy to see them, and a little teary.



When I wore my rad new outfit to the group photo-shoot at Malmaison in Georgetown, several fellow bloggers asked if I had destroyed/distressed the jeans myself or if they "came that way." When I explained that they were my father's, and that he had so artfully "distressed" them by mowing the grass, changing the car battery, and doing various other outside chores in them, I laughed to myself (and at myself) for not realizing what a gem had hiding in my closet! Move over boyfriend jeans, these are Dad Jeans, and they are AUTHENTIC.

There really is nothing like having someone else help you to shop your closet. Aside from the fact that getting more wear and re-styling the clothes you already own is much more eco-friendly than buying new ones, it's super fun, economical, and inspiring. If you have a friend whose style you admire, ask him/her to come over one day for a glass of wine and some style advice. Just as Shelby had us do, pick a few items that you can't let go of but also don't really wear, and let the magic happen.

STYLING by Shell B Cheri  /  PHOTOGRAPHY by Ashley Lettich  / WEARING vintage Levis, bag, gifted blazer, and eco-friendly white t-shirt by Alternative Apparel.

*To see more of Shell B Cheri's handiwork, check out #styledbyshellbcheri on Twitter and IG.

Secondhand Score: Alexander Wang Romper

WEARING: Alexander Wang Romper purchases secondhand, secondhand heels, conventional tights. STYLING: Rachel Mlinarchik and Victoria Corkhill  PHOTOGRAPHY: Victoria Corkhill

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the weather to be warm enough to try out this badass romper! The see-through paneling, the angled sleeves, the easy drape-- it's the jam, and I'm so excited to share this great consignment find. I love Alexander Wang, though I wish the label focused more on sustainability and ethics.

Tune back in tomorrow for more than a dozen fair romper options for those of you who don't live near gobs of amazing consignment stores, but (of course) still want to rock this trend ethically come spring and summer.

Shop today's look the look here:

{Style Formula} Strappy Givenchy Heels, Jeans, Sweater

 Wearing: borrowed sweater, consigned JCrew coat, second-hand Givenchy heels, and Rag and Bone "The Plush Legging" jeans. <---Soooo soft and comfy.  See this post for more fair jeans options.

Although I love fancy heels, my favorite way to wear them isn't with party dresses, but jeans and a very basic shirt (button down, t-shirt, sweater) in a neutral hue. I like to put the focus on the shoes, but it's also just a really easy, simple way to dress. Looking back, I can see that it's a formula I go back to again and again:  HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, for example.



I got these Givenchy heels used (second-hand) for a song and I have to be honest-- I had no specific plan for them, I just loved them. I'm not usually a gold heels type of person, but the rose gold is little softer, and I like the architectural, modern detail of the half-moon thingie on the heel. I even thought I would re-sell them this spring on Ebay, but now that I've tried em out, I'm not so sure. Sorry folks.



I realize they are a bit impractical for the cold weather...or, like, walking, but it warmed up very slightly this past weekend, and they do work for an evening spent in taxis and standing/sitting at a bar.



When Victoria and I zipped out to the Memorial Bridge to check out the sunset, I discovered that I can even walk (very short) distances in them with no problem. Boom. ;)



And just to clear the ethical air: to my knowledge, there is nothing fair or sustainable about Givenchy's manufacturing processes or their shoes, with the exception of the possibility that they are very well-made and thus made to last. I will look more into that and update this post if I learn something to the contrary.

With that said, my purchase does exemplify a type of shopping that I do think is ethical, and that is second-hand or consignment purchases. Although the majority of my second-hand purchases are made in the USA, organic, or fair trade pieces, I have a weakness for a few favorite edgy, high-end designers, and this is how I get my fix. I'll be honest and say that it's not ideal to broadcast these brands by wearing them, but this is the middle ground I'm comfortable occupying. For now.

Last but not least, all of this secondhand shoe love got me thinking that I haven't done an Ebay round-up for you all in a while. Tune in tomorrow to see my favorite second-hand deals and steals (in various sizes) from Ebay, and perhaps from a few other consignment sites.

Photography (technically Iphone-ography) by Victoria Corkhill. 

Follow me on Pinterest for more ethical style shopping finds.

Fall Back into Vintage {Brocade, Bag, Necklace}

It's been a little while since I've donned a vintage find here on My Fair Vanity, but when I found this stunning brocade top in Secondi the other day, I knew before I tried it on that it was coming home with me. The fact that it has pockets only adds to the perfection of its elegant pattern and rich detail. 



Maybe it's all of the Project Runway reruns I've been watching, but this top makes me wish I could sew. The fabric would look beautiful in a robe, an ankle length trouser, a pencil skirt...so many options!



I paired the top with a "vintage-inspired" necklace borrowed from a friend and a vintage bag that was my husband's grandmother's-- I think it's so fresh and modern even though it's from years ago. Each time I look at it I am impressed by her classic style.



If I had a powder room, I would wall-paper it in this fabric. But since it only exists in the form of this top as far as I know, I've found a few vintage options on Etsy to get you started on your own personal vintage vision quest.

1960s Gold Metallic Paisley Brocade Top from Revival Vintage Austin
{More options here and here}

Vintage long-chain pendant necklaces: 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 (not pictured, but a great option)

Photography by Victoria Corkhill.

Linked up to DCinStyle

Three Polished Ways to Wear Plaid, Embrace your Inner 90s Grunge Girl, and Stay Eco-friendly

Now that I've introduced you to my favorite new hat, it's time you met my favorite new shirt. The dream of the 90s is officially alive in DC.



This rockin' plaid shirt is made from upcycled dead stock flannel by a company called The Reformation. I looooove them.



In fact, not only do I have three ways for you to wear this tartan treat today, but I also have three reasons that you, too, should fall in love with The Reformation. 

1. They're an environmentally sustainable fashion brand that repurposes vintage and surplus materials to create on-trend, limited edition collections. Waste not, want not.
2. They make all of their clothing in New York and Los Angeles. 
3. The clothes are really edgy and cool. I think of them as the eco-friendly version of Nasty Gal. 

I mean...look at that collar. The shirt has a sweet, polished silhouette, but the plaid keeps it tough and a little masculine, which is super important to me. The cut is roomy but clean, and it's really, really warm. Like this is the real deal flannel, people, not some thin polyester crap. The material is so soft and yummy that it feels like wearing pajamas, and isn't that the ultimate win in grown-up dressing? If only all of my favorite clothing could feel like pajamas but read like "fashion."

I know I'm not alone on this one, as my girl The Glamourai went on a bit of a pajama rampage during her recent travels through southeast Asia (see here, here, here), and I want to put it out there that I fully understand and support her new jammies-in-the-daytime lifestyle.

All pajama discussions aside, I do hope you will take a minute to check out The Reformation. I think they are the jam. And no, they didn't pay me to say this. I just like sharing awesome things with you, and I think they are awesome.

Photography by Victoria Corkhill. She is also the jam.