Jan 15

Jan 15 A Sustainable Fall/Winter Lookbook || Featuring Toad & Co.

If there was one brand I could confidently rely on to supply my entire wardrobe, Toad & Co. would be it. Sure, I love lots of sustainable brands, and have a wide variety in my personal closet, but Toad & Co. seems to surpass even some of my tried and true favorites in quality, transparency, price, and selection.

This post is more than a "blog post", which is why I'm referring to it as a "lookbook". In October, Toad & Co. sent AJ and I a grand total of 10 pieces to test, wear in our real lives, and if we chose to, review them on SL&Co. The scope of that project scared me, to be honest. In most product review scenarios, I received one (maybe two) pieces to review and style. Some I even return to the brands after photographic and styling, if I don't feel they mesh well with my lifestyle.

Jan 2

Jan 2 Why Wool?

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Winter is my second favorite season, after Fall of course. I love the chill-inspired layers, dreary days inside by the fire, endless cups of hot coffee, and cozy slippers to warm up chilly toes.

Winter is the season of my second favorite holiday (Christmas, of course), the beginning of a new year. I'll never tire of the way a fresh dusting of snow seems to bring fresh hope and life to the day.

But, winter is also harsh. Especially in Colorado. And after growing up in "the icebox of the nation" (no, really, Google it), I've learned a few tricks about the best ways to stay warm without sacrificing personal style.

Dec 22

Dec 22 Lauren Morgan Co. || Traceable, Sustainable Outerwear

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

If there's one thing that can be hard to shop ethically for, it's outerwear. Basics, sweaters, pants, shoes- those can all be found fairly easily (or, with a bit of help from an eco-fashion enthusiast ;) , but some things are hard for even me to find.

I don't live in the rainiest climate, but having a well insulated, waterproof coat is a must during our cold, snowy, Colorado winters (bonus points for one that's ethically and organically made).

Dec 21

Dec 21 Saya Designs || Turning Heads for All the Right Reasons

Olivia Youngs

Motherhood, Slow Fashion, Slow Living

Beauty has always been a fluid concept to me. I believe beauty can be found in nearly every situation. Maybe I just prefer to see the good, rather than the bad, but when it comes to my own beauty, I (like most women) can be far more critical.

I'd more readily compliment a woman I sit next to in a coffee shop than accept the same compliment from my husband or, worse yet, a stranger. The line between objectification and appreciation is a fine one, and at times, I'd rather not be "seen" or "appreciated" than risk being "too much".

Dec 18

Dec 18 People of Leisure || #LiveConsciously, and Mean It

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

It's one thing to research a company's website to find out information on their ethics and sustainability. It's another to email the brand directly asking for help with parts you feel they may have missed. But entering into a contract with a brand? Adding your name to their website and aligning yourself with their practices? That's another step entirely.

And, of course, exactly what I've done with People of Leisure.

As their copywriter, I do what I love doing most- write about not only their gorgeous pieces, but what it means to be a conscious consumer, highlight other conscious influencers, and get to know the brand on a deep, personal level.

People of Leisure is an LA-based ethical and vintage clothing brand that focuses on sustainability- both when it comes to the fabrics they source and how their employees are treated.

Dec 11

Dec 11 Artisan & Fox || Celebrating Heirloom Craftsmanship

Olivia Youngs

dressember, Slow Fashion

Although fashion has so much to do with individual expression and personality, it always amazes me how impersonal the fashion industry has become. Perhaps due to sheer size, but likely due to many other factors and cultural shifts as well, the fast fashion industry dehumanizes our clothing, allowing us to forget that there were actual hands that made the pieces hanging in our closets, not just unattended machines in a warehouse somewhere.

Dehumanizing anything, as I'm continually reminded by participating in Dressember, is a dangerous action. Nonetheless, we do it, almost everyday. From the clothes we buy, to the foods we consume, to the way we ignore the person standing next to us in line, preferring our phone over immediate interaction, dehumanization has become so ingrained in our culture that we forget about it.

Sure, I love the self-expression involved in fashion. I love finding pieces that make me feel beautiful or, more often, practically fit into my everyday life. But when I ignore the countless other people involved in aiding in my self-expression, I can't feel beautiful, not truly.