Black Leather & Summer Whites {Made in the USA by Trina Turk}

WEARING Trina Turk cotton eyelet "Marquise" dress, made in the USA (c/o Zoe Boutique) Deeply discounted now at Trina Turk and Zappos; secondhand black leather jacket; sandals (not fair: fair options HERE and HERE); Tarte lipstick PHOTOGRAPHY: my obliging husband.

One of my favorite "colors" to wear during summer is white, white and more white, but I like to toughen it up with a black leather jacket (key for making the switch to frigid blasts of air conditioning in restaurants and stores) and chunky black sandals.



I was able to keep this dress after wearing it as part of the Cobblestone Runway lookbook I was featured in a few months ago (also see behind-the-scenes shots HERE), thanks to the kind folks over at Zoe Boutique. It feels good to put my own twist on styling it.



Shop the look fairly by scrolling right and left using the arrows:

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

Cobblestone Runway Lookbook: Behind the Scenes

WEARING: Perforated cape by Eva Franco, Dress by Trina Turk, and necklace by Loren Hope, all made in the USA. PHOTOGRAPHY: Alumbra Photography  STYLING: Spicy Candy DC

As you know, last week the Cobblestone Runway Lookbook debuted, and with features on the Washingtonian blog and Northern Virginia Magazine I'd say it was a smashing success!



What's more, the folks at Zoe Boutique and Bishop Boutique were incredibly accommodating when I requested that the majority of my outfits adhere to the ethics of my blog. In fact, it was easy for them, as both stores carry an array of beautiful clothing and accessories that are handmade, and/or made in the USA.



In fact, I was psyched to discover a few new brands that I didn't realize were made in the USA, such as Loren Hope's jewelry line and Eva Franco's apparel.


WEARING: Trina Turk dress and Loren Hope necklace. Adorable doggy not available for purchase.

We shot at the Morrison House (below), a member of the Kimpton family, one of my favorite boutique hotel chains, and at Jackson 20 (above), famous in Old Town for their "yappy hour,"  where you can bring your pup to enjoy the open air while you enjoy excellent drink specials.





This is by far my favorite behind-the-scenes shot. Britta was a little bit of a diva, and was done with the photo shoot about one minute after it began.

Last but not least, in addition to the dresses you see above, I put together a collection of my favorites from the made in the USA brands that were featured. Shop them all below by clicking on the arrow buttons:

The Cobblestone Runway Lookbook was produced by:
Bishop Boutique, Zoe Boutique, the dog park, Sugar House Day Spa & Salon with help from US! The Morrison House hotel, Jackson 20, Hotel Monaco, Suzanne from Bronzed Berry organic mobile spray tanning

Models: Tammy from A Loyal love, Wendy from Old Town Home, Rachel from My Fair Vanity & Bryarly from Everything That Flickers

Puppy Models: Lulu, Britta, Merci Faye, Haro WHO IS UP FOR ADOPTION AS WELL as Darling!

Photography by:
Susannah from Alumbra Photography

Design & Layout by:
Bryarly from everything that flickers

Styling by:
Spicy Candy DC

The project was made possible by support from the Alexandria Marketing Fund.

12 Rompers for Spring: Commence Ethical Romping

As promised in yesterday's romper style post, I've gathered up oodles of fair spring options for ya'll, ranging in price, style, color, and fit.

Above, you can see three options from one of my favorite lines, Reformation. They make all of their clothes in New York and Los Angeles using only vintage or deadstock fabrics, so no new fabrics are ever ordered or created to make these upcycled, on-trend beauties.

Below are the rest of the pack, from $48 on up to $500, and every single one is made in the USA.

And here they are embiggened:

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.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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.

Ikat Print Romper {Old Suan Juan}

As part of our recent military appreciation tour, my fellow dancers and I were able to do a little exploring in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. I loved the candy colors of the buildings there, and in the tropical heat, I had to bust out my favorite ikat romper and my trusty fair trade (and handmade) Pikolinos sandals.

The romper I'm wearing is conventional (not fair), but I found you some solid alternatives by Trina Turk, a California-based label known for their colorful patterns and Los Angeles vibe. Thankfully, they still make their apparel line in California, so you can proudly buy American when you shop this brand.

Update: The jumper pictured above and below is majorly discounted right now!

Below are a few more ikat-inspired Trina Turk items I'm digging:

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P.S. Happy World Humanitarian Day!