October 24, 2024 Edition
When I lived in San Francisco, I remember thinking it was weird that people would wear flip flops and a down sweater - at the same time. But after living there for a while and getting used to the weather, which was similar most of the year, I refined my wardrobe.
I had been traveling for work for years and had realized a couple of things, after a few weeks of unpacking on Saturday morning to do my laundry to get ready to pack again for that 6am Monday morning flight.
1/ I didn’t wear even half of what I packed each week
2/ unrelated to today's post but maybe useful for some: having enough socks and underwear that you don’t need to do laundry every week allowed much more time for fun and allowed me to only do laundry when I had a full load ( less resources including mine)
BUT, I digress. What I really learned was that having a smaller wardrobe of just my favourite things worked much better for me and having things that were versatile meant that most of my clothing I could wear year round ( in SF) and that what I needed to supplement it for travel to places that were hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter made much more sense too.
In a week of sharing some of our October best sellers, I’m sharing a favourite picture of this best selling shirt jacket - to show how lovely it is on Denise @mattercompany but also to show that you can wear it with your lighter weight clothing as well as layering up as needed when the weather is cooler. It’s a great three season layer and if you focus on the three season parts of your wardrobe, you will always have something great to wear.
Photo taken by one of Matter Company’s neighbours
Here are a few ways we styled it for this Fall:
Mara Shacket 2.0 in the new navy colour
Willow Top/ Tillaa Jeans/ Fern Bag
Left: Mara Shacket 2.0/Weaver Top/Scarf/St James Pants
Right: Mara Shacket 2.0/Wild Side Sweater
May 24, 2024 Edition:
Shorts Round Up:
from longest to shortest, with some commentary about fit & style
you can click on each style to see more info on sizes and colours available
Hayley Organic Cotton Walking Shorts, by White Stuff
10 1/2" inseam
97% Organic Cotton, 3% Elastane
traditonal walking short style with side pockets, a slim leg and patch pockets on the back. Could easily be dressed up if desired. If you prefer a slimmer leg on your pants, this might be a good option for you. Pictured above with the Lindale tank and the Sophie Jute Embroidered Pouch
Arden Shorts, by Aventura
10" inseam, but it's adjustable to a 12" inseam when the cuff is rolled down, so these actually are the longest.
Lightweight 98% Organic Cotton, 2% Spandex
They are a lower rise than some and fairly slim in the leg. They are a little more on the sporty side style wise but also many people's favourite style over the years. Aventura is really known for this style. Honourable mention to the Arden Capri and Skort ( not shorts, but great shorts alternatives) I love the skort for puppy play time at the cottage and it's great for travel as well. And, bonus, it has natural fibre shorts on the inside, which is actually hard to find in a skort option. Pictured below with the Jilaana T-Shirt and the Rosie Packable Cloche Hat
Clover Bloom Shorts, by SeaSalt Cornwall
9" inseam
100% linen shorts with a a flattering flat pleated front and an elastic back and a wider flowy leg
Pinja Shorts, by Masai Clothing
6" inseam
100% Linen, need to photograph as the picture online is not accurate. they have a flat front, side pockets and an elastic back ( but not the smoked back as shown in picture) These can be quite dressy if desired with a matching top or vest.
Landis Shorts, by Aventura
6" inseam
these are a 4 pocket short that are a little sturdier in a 98% Organic Cotton, 2% Spandex blend and they have a fairly low profile look, so can be styled a little bit with a dressier top or worn for outdoor sports
Mollie Cargo Shorts, by White Stuff
6 " inseam
blend of Tencel and Cotton, with a super soft hand and cargo style pockets
pictured above with the Ellis Tank, Dotti Cardigan and Azele Scarf
Breezy Shorts, by Aventura
5 1/2 in inseam
lightweight and soft blend of Hemp and Tencel with pockets and a comfortable wide, smocked elastic waistband. I like the idea of having a shorts outfit to wear to someone's house for a casual dinner, especially if you're not a dress person and these could fit the bill.
pictured above with the Ellis Tank and the Dotti Cardigan
Tarn Shorts, by Toad and Co and pictured at the top of this post with the Rae Shirt & above with the Jilaana
5" inseam
blend of Hemp and Tencel, with a paper bag waist and a removable belt and these can definitely be dressed up with a pretty top
Lusk Shorts, from FIG Clothing
5" inseam
53% Linen, 24% Viscose, 23% Cotton
these comfortable shorts can be paired with the matching top as shown above with the Brighton 2.0 top or with any of your tops They have an elastic waist and pockets
4" inseam
Tencel and Organic Cotton blend
These are the shorts version of the VERY popular Chaka Pants and they are great for lounging, but also can be paired with a pretty top and dressed up a bit if you like as seen above. ( picture from last year, so sweater isn't available)
4" inseam
98% Organic Cotton, 2% Spandex
These are lightweight and sporty
3 1/2" inseam
same fabric as the VERY popular TAJ pants, a soft and comfortable blend of hemp and tencel. They are paired above with the Vernazza Tank, but also come in a pattern and can be paired with the matching top if you would like to have a romper look.
3 1/2" inseam
96% Ecovero viscose, 4% elastane
soft and flowy and very breathable - these are great for hot days and you can pair them with the matching tank if you would like a romper look
3 1/2" inseam
100% Cotton
These are light and breezy and made with a soft crinkle fabric, they they would be great for weekend road trips or travel as they won't look wrinkled. They are a pull on short that will work with any top. We have them paired here with one of the matching tops and also dressed up with a sweater tank and a dress, as a jacket.
January 7, 2024 Edition
I just heard this week that we will not be getting our Spring 2024 order from Thought Clothing. It's a disappointment since we had such beautiful things ordered that you would have loved.
Can fashion ever truly be responsible? Yes, when you choose style and good design over trends. Buy better, buy less.
In a market that's oversaturated with fast fashion, it was nice to see a brand like Thought Clothing delivering beautifully designed clothing that was both ethically made and made with sustainable fibres. Here's a link to what we have in stock from Thought Clothing, but I wanted to call out some of our top selling basics that we have sourced from Thought Clothing and encourage you to have a look at them, while we still have some in stock.
based on the kinds of questions I get regularly, I don't think it's well known that clothing is ordered about a year in advance and when a brand decides to stop selling through retail stores or goes out of business, we don't generally get much notice, so it's difficult, if not almost impossible to replace styles we were planning on. So that's why I want you to have a look at these now - just in case they could fill a need in your wardrobe.
The POSIE cardigan pictured here and above is a 100% Organic Cotton cardigan that's very flattering and easy to wear. We styled it closed on Stefanie to show that it can be worn as a sweater on it's own, but also takes a layer well under it and here on Jean we were showing that it made a great layer under other things as well. She's also wearing one of our best selling t-shirts, also a Thought classic style that's 100% Organic Cotton and available in long sleeve and short sleeve options.
GOTS Certified, Fair Trade Organic Cotton Long Sleeve T-shirt
Our Best Selling style from all the basics that we have stocked from Thought Clothing is the Dashka Trousers and they are great as a travel pant, a casual pant and even dresses up nicely too when needed.
Shown here in a seasonal pattern and below in classic black
And, so many people really love the Thought Socks as well, so have a look at your supply and see if you could use a solid black basic or something fun like this.
All Thought Clothing Styles we have are HERE
November 9, 2023 Edition
Do you know when you like something so much, you're a little sad when it's in the laundry? For some of us who favour the uniform approach to dressing, sometimes considering a 2nd of something or something similar is a great options. This week's feature is on styles that our customers like enough that they buy a second. And I hope when you review this, you will see that having some similar favourites doesn't need to be boring.
Here's the link the Instagram Live, if you would like my commentary and to see the items on camera.
A list of styles that people enjoy on repeat, starting with t-shirts/tops:
Annie - pictured above in one of the five patterns with organic cotton jeans and in one of the two solid options with the St James pants that also made this list
People seem to really like the Annie because it's soft 100% cotton that's comfortable and easy to wear. It's a t-shirt that's looks like a blouse, but in an easier care format.
Jilaana- pictured above in one of the two stripes with the super comfortable organic cotton/recycled cotton jeans and in one of the three solid colours with another customer favourited pant, the cropped cargo pant also available in a full length option
Jilaana is a short sleeve shirt that many wear year round. It's a blend of organic cotton and tencel and light, breathable and dressy enough to wear with a blazer to the office and nice enough, that if you remove your blazer, you still look very stylish.
Cassie is a fun 100% fair trade cotton option, with a little more novelty than many of our top sellers. It's available in different options seasonally and has lots of great details
GOTS Certified Organic Cotton T-Shirt long sleeve & short sleeve it's a really nice slub knit that's really comfortable and stylish on it's own, but a really great layering piece and like it's style name it's 100% GOTS certified, fair trade organic cotton & it's been discontinued from the brand, so if you could use a basic, give it a consideration while we have in stock
Essential Bamboo T-shirt long sleeve and short sleeve is made in Toronto from Bamboo and it has a nice soft hand and somewhat flowy fit
Sweaters are next and the one pictured above is an updated version of our best selling item from last year...and it's styled very casually in the picture, but many wear it with a pair of trousers for a great work look as well.
Merinaa - pictured above is 100% organic cotton and a nice weight on it's own, but also nice with a layer under it or over it too.
Lulu Cardigan - a 100% Organic Cotton button front cardigan in lots of colours
Posie Cardigan - a 100% Organic Cotton Cardigan with a v-neck, pictured below, with the GOTS Certified T-Shirt
Laarni Sweater - what I like to call an over/under. A style that's great on it's own, but also works well as a layer over a top and also looks great under a top too and it's a super soft blend of Organic Cotton and Tencel
Customer favourited pant options:
*See the post below for more on the pants since they are all good options
Magdaa pictured below with the Cotton Stretch Blazer, which is also a style people would happily have as part of their "uniform"
And one style you have seen and will see me wearing and it's a really great example of a layer for under or over basics as well. It's a very soft and comfortable 100% Organic Cotton and almost like a lightweight sweater weight.
The Jaanisa is show here with the Kaathia Turtleneck and a Denim Jacket and all can be worn together.
October 25, 2023 Edition
This week's edition focuses on pants. It sems like this is something many of us need for our day to day lives and sometimes an update can help you make so many more outfits more comfortable and stylish. Here's the link to the Instagram Live review of pants if you prefer to watch it
Here are the links to pants that seem to be working for many of our customers and we'd love you to consider if you could use some pants.
1. Belle Wide Leg Trouser is our dressiest option. It's great if your office is a little more formal or you're looking for a comfortable pant that can also double as a dress pant. I paired for the IG Live with a new top from White Stuff with a little sparkle, thinking this would be nice for a special occasion and also since it's a cropped pant, an intentional sock is a great idea, especially if you're going to be removing your shoes or boots.
Style Tip for cropped pants:
- make sure you're choosing a sock that you are okay to show
- generally looks best if it hits at your ankle and you pair with a tall or short book, or an oxford or loafer. If you're wearing with a "cool" sneaker you can show some ankle and wear a sportier top. If you're wearing a "functional" sneaker, then choose a fun coordinated sock to tie the look together
Style Tip for wide leg pants:
- make sure your top is not too long, esepcially if you plan to wear it untucked. Aim for it to land half way between your natural waist ( top of hip bone) and the bottom of your hip bone so it doesn't look bulky or if wearing a longer shirt jacket or blazer, wear a more fitting inner layer to make sure you can still see your waist ( feel free to get some personalized help with this or any other style tip)
Outfit pictured with the Kilburn pant: Lightweight Sweater, Scarf, Blazer
Outfit pictures in the IGLIVE with the Kilburn: Lightweight Sweater, Organic Cotton ShirtJac , Socks
2. Kilburn Pant
The Kilburn pant and well as the other styles from FIG Clothing, are an exception to our natural fibre criteria. They have some Nylon in them that seems to make them last forever, as many of our customers will attest, having owned a pair or more in this fabric over the years. (see what people have to say about the SOZ here) They wear and wash really well, keep their shape and keep their colour.
The Kilburn is a really easy to wear pull on cropped wider leg pant and it seems to suit a lot of people & is really easy to dress up or down as desired and isn't as wide as some, so easier to also pair with all your everyday top options.
Pictured above with the Himaari: Bamboo Blazer and our two best selling tops, the Jilaana and the Annie
With the Himaari on the IG LIve, for a dressier option
3. Himaari
This is the widest of the pant options and make a really great comfortable dress pant. It is wider through the hips and legs and may need to be hemmed, but it's a very classic pant that would be a great wardrobe addition for years to come and it's in the same great fabric as one of our top selling pants:
4. the Madgaa
Outfit above : Magdaa pants and Cozy Sweater
Outfit from the IG Live with these pants: Annie & Posie
Pictured above with a wrap top, tucked in
Pictured on the IG Live with a tunic length shirt
5. St James
This is one of the pants that suits almost everyone who tries it. It looks like a dress pant, but it's very soft and stretchy and definitely built to last. It has functional belt loops should you want to add a belt, but they are very low profile and I would expect most people will not feel the need to add one. If you needed one pant - for work, dress up and play - this might be the one!
6. The Jodhpur
This one is like a dress legging with pockets or a dressy jogger that you likely will wear for yoga, walking the dog and dressing up to go out....it's very comfortable with a wide soft waist. We like it with a cozy sweater like shown above & it works with a blouse and/or blazer too. But we recommend this one for casual, with the occasional dress up if needed.
7. OTH Pant
This is the jogger we recommend as a work pant ....and a comfortable and stylish one. Of course it's great for those not heading to school or office as well, but it's a jogger that lends itself to looking professional. It has a structure and a soft, comfortable waistband and side pockets.
Style tip: to dress up a jogger style pant, wear a short boot that hits at the cuff and this instantly makes it look dressier than if you wear wiith a sneaker. Also, you can elevate it by making sure your top is tailored. It also does go well with casual options too, of course.
8. Dashka seasonal print and Dashka Solid
We have had this style for a while and it's popular year round for lounge, yoga and travel and does come in solid navy and solid black as well as the print pictured above. We dressed it up with a blazer here to show that you can....and if your blazer is the soft and comfortable, you might want to. And, for anyone looking for maternity pants - we have had quite a few customers wear these really comfortably throughout their pregnancy and also it's a comfortable postpartum option too.
9. Straight Leg Cargo Pant & Straight Leg Pant
We haven't photographed these pants on any of our community models yet, but they are the go to work pant for a lot of people, especially when paired with the matching blazer. They are a full length, classic style with a straight leg, so any sort of shoe or boot goes well and while they have a bit more structure in their brushed cotton "hard pant" style, they are very soft and comfortable. And we can't wear "soft pants" everyday, right?
This is an incredibly soft, made in Canada Legging by Duffield Design and we like it with a shorter dress and socks & boots instead of tights ( with feet) for a more comfortable casual look and of course these are great for tunics as well. They are pictured above with a sweater dress
October 5, 2023 Edition
This week, we shared some outfit ideas in an Instagram Live and if you would like to see it, click here
Our focus was on versatility; if you can wear things at least three different ways, you get the most wear from these items. We love the idea of pre-planning this, but also being spontaneous and trying some things together. You don't always like the result, but sometimes you end up loving it, so we think it's worth a try!
Atina is wearing the Wide Leg Jeans from White Stuff, a Blouse from Thought Clothing and a machine washable Blazer from Duffield Design. Romina is wearing a Sweater from Thought Clothing and Pants from Armed Angels. We love recommending some pops of colour in your Fall/Winter wardrobe for a mood boost on the grey days. You can click on any of the highlighted words throughout this blog to learn more about these styles on our website
Atina's Outfits:
We wanted to show three different ways to wear the Fawn Pin Tuck Blouse, but you could use this idea with the blouse or shirt of your choice. Our selection is here in the Women's Sustainable Clothing Collection.
First outfit, shown and tagged above is the dressiest option
Second outfit we exchanged the blazer for a cozy sweater coat
Third outfit, we put the blouse with a jogger and a hoodie for a much more casual look. All are of course also comfortable!
Next up, we shared four more outfit options for the jogger since we know many of you love a comfy pant option that you can wear everyday.
Left -we paired the jogger with a really pretty cotton/linen blouse
Centre -we added a warm and cozy sweater
Right- we added a lightweight sweater and a blazer
A lot of you love a nice dress year round and these are both is great weight for 3 seasons for sure. Wear Spring and Fall as is and then layer tights and sweaters or blazers for the Winter. We're showing both Romina and Atina in a more casual sweater coat & Shacket, but they can both be dressed up as well. Remember, we're focusing on getting the most wear from your favourite clothing items
Atina's Dress & Sweater Coat
Romina's Outfits:
She's wearing one of our best selling pants - one that a lot of people like for a work or travel pant and we styled of with three different outfit ideas.
Left - Stretch Cotton Blazer, Blouse & Magdaa pants
Centre - Soft knit blazer, plaid blouse with the same pants
Right - Warm & Cozy Sweater
This Shacket makes a repeat appearance, since it's such a great third layer for so many outfits (Shacket = Shirt/Jacket ) and it's paired with a lightweight sweater and another of our top selling everyday pants. One of the things we did with Romina's outfits was to mix navy and black, to inspire you to do the same. In the pictures above, she has a black blazer on with navy pants & here she has on a navy sweater with black pants.
More outfits with the St James Pants:
Left - with best selling top knit "blouse"
Centre - with the same blouse from above, but with a more casual sweater
Right - with a dressy wrap top - we have it tucked in, but it looks great untucked and has a generous amount of figure flattering ruching.
Lots more outfits and tips are shared in the Instagram Live if you would like to watch, but to end this weeks review, see below for both models wearing the Organic Cotton Eco Dog Walker Sweater - one with a cropped wide comfy dress pant ( yes this exists) and the other in a printed legging. As always, we're available to help you find your very own personalized options either virtually, or ideally in our new shop at 77 Florence Street, Studio 105 so you can try things on and experiment with us!
September 14, 2023 Edition
We have some favourite suggestions for ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable and in this week's edition we are featuring some of our top selling styles from last year. Basics don't need to be boring. They can help you make so many outfits and if they are soft, comfortable and fit you well, you will want them on constant rotation in your every day wardrobe.
We took some of these basics and styled them on two of our Community Models so you can see how many different ways you can wear them. If you prefer to see the video, here's a link to watch this week's Instagram Live Style Session
Let's start with denim. If you have one pair that you really like that are in a mid to dark wash, you will be able to wear them with your whole wardrobe and dress them up if needed for a work event or dinner out.
Outfits pictured:
Jean ( on the left) Armedangel's Tilla , paired with an organic cotton tank and an organic cotton sweater for an upscale casual look
Nikki (on the right) Thought Clothing's Essential Straight Leg , styled with an eco-vero blouse