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Before we begin, who’s feeling lucky?
Walk and Talk (and Going Green)
CHRISTA : This week on our walk, we’re discussing the sustainable solutions offered by many of our favorite retailers. The options include: resale sites (think Poshmark but on the retailers own site), clothing lines that give back, repurposed merchandise for sale, and eco-friendly collections. So many retailers are making it easier to build a sustainable wardrobe. We’re happy to see more and more of our favorites offering some kind of solution, but it’s only the beginning. I know that I definitely have more work to do to be more aware of my shopping habits and consumption of goods.
MEGAN : Lots of thoughts on our walk this week about sustainable fashion. Have you ever been to the donation door at a Goodwill? Holy cow, mine had an 18 wheeler filled to the tippy top with loose clothing items. Insane. Sustainable clothing is a welcome pivot in the future of fashion.
The 90s and early aughts introduced us to “fast fashion.” When retailers like Old Navy, H&M, Forever 21, Zara, offered trendy pieces that were made with less expensive fabrics/lower prices, consumers could afford to have “the look,” but those fast fashion pieces weren’t made to hold up. Don’t get me wrong — if the trend is new and I’m not sure it will stick around, I’m first in line at Old Navy. But these are not the building blocks of a wardrobe. Think about the articles about the “French Women’s Wardrobe.” French women tend to have very few, high quality basics (i.e. 1 pair of black pants, 2 pairs of jeans, 1 silk blouse, 1 crew neck, 1 cardigan). They supplement their wardrobe with fast fashion, trendy pieces.
There is a place for these stores in the fashion industry. Clearly. But, there is something to be said for pieces that maintain their value, stand the test of time, and can be repurposed/handed down. (Anyone have a well loved sweater from their granny?) After this research project for the blog, I realize that I have room for improvement. I’m also starting to notice “sustainable” demarkations on different sites with certain products. Baby steps.
Retailers with Buy Back/Resell Programs
LULULEMON “LIKE NEW” (link)
How it works: You can trade in your lululemon gear at a participating store and receive a lululemon e-gift card. They’ll inspect and clean merchandise, and you can shop it on their “Like New” online resale shop. Look for new products daily.
MADEWELL FOREVER (link)
How it works: All about second chances, Madewell has partnered with thredUP to create an online resale site. It’s pretty simple, print out a free shipping label and send your preloved clothes to thredUP. They’ll resell or responsibly recycle your items and you’ll score Madewell credit in the amount of the resale value. You can also bring your old jeans to any Madewell retail store and they will give you $20 towards a new pair of jeans.
COACH (RE)LOVED (link)
How it works: Coach offers four ways to shop: upcrafted (gently used bags that have been reimagined), vintage Coach bags, restored (gently worn and refurbished), and remade (remade from deconstructed, rescued bags). They offer some one-of-a-kind bags that definitely make a statement! And it’s not just bags – they have shoes, belts, other accessories and clothing.
Retailers with Resale Sites
ULLA JOHNSON PRE-LOVED (link)
How it works: We LOVE Ulla Johnson dresses, and wanted to share this with you now even though they aren’t selling just yet. You can currently only list your items, but we thought you’d want to get on the email list to be notified when they start selling.
MICHAEL KORS PRE-LOVED (link)
How it works: On the Michael Kors resale marketplace, you can resell items you no longer need. You need to be a member of the KorsVIP Program (and you item had to be purchased when you were a member) in order to list your item to sell. (You simply select which item to sell from your purchase history.) If you are not a member of the KorsVIP program, you can still shop their gently used items at great prices, like the ones below.
Retailers with Sustainable Collections
J.CREW REIMAGINED (link)
How it works: J.Crew is “reimagining” how they do business, using more responsible materials in their clothing and factories. They’re also doing more to have an impact in the communities where they live and work. Check out their sustainable denim!
PATAGONIA (link)
“For our 50th year, we’re looking forward, not back, to life on Earth. Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.” – Patagonia
An industry leader in sustainable apparel, Patagonia is working on a global level to educate and change the way the supply chain feeds and chokes on apparel. Although their clothing is expensive, it is meant to last a lifetime. Both my boys wore Patagonia parkas (sent in multiple times for new zippers and rips — always fixed for free). Those coats were passed to a friend with younger kids who then passed them on to a cousin. A life well-lived. If you buy a quality product it will last. (The cost per wear on that $120 parka by now is pennies!) When purchasing an item that will get a lot of use, check out the company’s policy on fixing and maintaining the item. It could end up saving you money.
Retailers that Give Back
NORDSTROM (link)
At Nordstrom, you have many options: you can recycle your beauty packaging/empties, donate clothing/accessories, extend the life of your clothes with Nordstrom’s alterations, and purchase clothing that gives back. They make it easy to shop, every menu has a section to find sustainable styles — here’s a link to their women’s sustainable styles. All styles included in their list are manufactured with sustainably sourced materials/ingredients, give back a portion of the proceeds, use responsible packaging, and/or use responsible manufacturing.
With every purchase of the Nordstrom brand Treasure & Bond, they donate a percentage of the purchase to support organizations that work to empower youth.
You’ve cleaned out your closed and simplified, but now what? Check out our post about what to do with the clothing, bras and shoes you no longer need.
What We’re Watching
CHRISTA : I’m digging into the archives for this one! One of my favorite sitcoms is The New Adventures of Old Christine (aired from 2006-10…told you I was digging!). If you’re a Julia Louis-Dreyfus fan, then you need to make sure you see this. I think it’s some of her best work! You can watch it on Apple TV or Prime Video, or you might randomly find it on cable. Pro tip: This would be a great download on your iPad for your next trip. Here’s a little peek….
MEGAN : Ted Lasso (Apple) is back! Season 3 released on Wednesday the 15th. If you haven’t watched seasons 1 and 2, now is the time to catch up. This is a feel good, funny show the whole family will enjoy. Some of the best TV I’ve watched in ages. Who’s your favorite character? It’s Roy Kent for me, gggrrrrrrr.
What We’re Wearing
CHRISTA : Need a little help putting together an outfit? Let the retailer do it for you! I spotted this outfit and immediately added it to cart based on how the retailer put together those pants with that blouse. I might have missed that combo on my own.
These pants come in 5 colors, the blouse comes in 61 colors/patterns (yes, 61!). They’re all from NYDJ. Click through the tops to see how they’ve paired them with different pants, and find a combo that speaks to you. It’s that easy to create a winning look! Sometimes, seeing the whole thing on someone else makes all the difference.
If you’re not familiar with NYDJ, their pants and jeans have their exclusive Lift Tuck technology that smoothes and supports in front and lifts in back. Size down in both their tops and pants for the best fit. The blouse is made from sustainable materials, and they’re donating 10% of proceeds to CARE® to help women through 3/31.
And, it keeps getting better! Use code SPRING25 for 25% off site wide at NYDJ, through 3/20/23, plus they offer free shipping and free returns. Happy Shopping!
Shop the Look
MEGAN : Sharing my picks for spring. These are items on my wish list, in my cart… items that will make getting dressed easier as the seasons change. Will I purchase them all? Probably not, but I like having an idea board for when I do shop. It helps keep me focused and from buying things “just because they’re a good deal”. Pro tip: The Sam Edleman loafers are *sustainable*.
Pro tip: The pink dress is on sale – 40% off everything at GAP with code FRIEND + extra 10% off with code GET10; valid now through 3/19.
Shop the Look
Have You Been Watching?
CHRISTA : Have you been watching Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)? Let us know what you think in the comments. I had high hopes, but I’m finding it to be a little too basic, too PG. It should have been edgier — the book certainly was. I think they missed on this one. Maybe it would have been a better R-rated movie? It’s good, but not great, and that hasn’t kept me from watching! Here’s what the The Guardian had to say: Why Amazon’s Daisy Jones & the Six is Missing That Star Quality.
MEGAN : I have been so excited for Daisy Jones & the Six to come out and tbh I’m a little disappointed. A dominate topic on our walk and talk this week, we’re trying to figure out WHY we don’t love the series as much as the book. Riley Keough and Sam Claflin are great, but are they so dynamic that they are over shadowing the other characters? I find myself comparing this to Almost Famous (one of my all time favorite movies). Don’t get me wrong, on Fridays I’m binging all three episodes like it’s my job. I’m going with Christa’s theory that it’s just a little too PG.
What We’re Eating
MEGAN : I always make Shepard’s Pie on St. Patrick’s Day. Here is my recipe for anyone celebrating today (or any day!).
Shepard's Pie
www.StyleAmongFriends.com
Equipment
- cast iron skillet or large (deep) pan and a casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lbs ground turkey
- 1 onion (chopped) I use a box of mirapoix from TJs
- 1 bag frozen mixed veggies or your fav frozen veg
- 2 Tbsp butter plus more for dotting on top at the end
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup chicken broth or beef or veggie, whatever you've got
- 1 healthy dash worchestershire sauce
- 1 lbs mashed potatoes or mashed cauli or sweet potato or puff pastry
- 1 dash smoked paprika
Instructions
- cook ground turkey in the cast iron skillet with onions (or mirapoix if using)
- in a sauce pan melt butter, add flour stirring constantly, add worchestershire and broth, keep stirring until thickens and lumps are gone
- pour frozen veg in with the meat
- pour "gravy" over all and cook until heated through
- If you are transferring to a casserole dish do that now
- Spread mashed potatoes over the meat
- dot with butter and sprinkle paprika on top
- bake at 350 for 30 min
Random Stuff We Like
MEGAN : Who watched the Oscars last Sunday? Did you notice the “champagne” carpet that replaced the iconic red carpet? So many women wore white/silver/light colored dresses, I think they would have shown better against a dark carpet. Lots of ethereal looks, silvery sparkles with sheer organza overlay. Did you notice all the rosettes? They were everywhere, on men and women, as accessories and as part of the dresses. Should I start wearing a silk corsage to the grocery? My absolute favorite was Monica Barbaro in Elie Saab. Biggest miss for me was Florence Pugh (who I adore), it looked like she had on bike shorts and wrapped her down comforter around her shoulders to collect her Door Dash order.
HITS
MISSES
Something to Gift (That They’ll Love!)
CHRISTA : How adorable are these book/pajama sets for a new baby gift or first birthday gift? They’re available in infant and toddler sizes in lots of titles and book characters. Pro tip: Do a quick google search for “Books to Bed” for even more options.
Friends Share the Good Stuff
Was there something on the blog that you purchased and loved? Let us know! Share with us and we’ll feature you here on the blog…because friends share the good stuff!
What’s Happening on the Blog
WHAT’S TRENDING…
The most popular link from last week was the boxwood topiary that Christa shared from her Amazon cart. Apparently we’re all looking for more spring and adding a little green to our decor helps with that! Happy decorating, friends!
Pro tip: Extend the life of your preserved boxwood by lightly misting it with water every month and keeping it out of direct sunlight.
…and Last Year on the Blog
Best White Jeans for Spring and Favorite Spring Sandals
Weekly Walk and Talk | 3.18.2022 – This week, we have more shows for you to watch (do we watch too much TV?), shopping for home decor and shoes, some new kitchen gadgets to go with our recipes, and a whole lot more fun and random stuff!
Christa’s Links
- The New Adventures of Old Christine
- pants and blouse from NYDJ – Use code SPRING25 for 25% off site wide at NYDJ, through 3/20/23
- The Guardian‘s Why Amazon’s Daisy Jones & the Six is Missing That Star Quality
- Adorable baby/first birthday gift idea
Megan’s Links
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Along those lines, Anthro is giving $20 off a pair of jeans if you donate a denim item. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Thanks for the info. FYI… the Anthro deal on jeans ends 3/31.
Yay for talking about sustainable fashion!
There are stores I won’t buy clothes at anymore after reading Secondhand.
I do love a good Shepard’s Pie!
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Thanks ladies…speaking of sustainable fashion, I just purchased my first Rothy’s flats.
A lot more comfortable than the Tori Burch staples that I have.
Christa..yes, I like NYDJ’s too!
Thanks for the review of the Rothy’s flats! How was the sizing? Did you size up?
I get so many compliments on my clothes, and people are shocked when I tell them that almost everything I wear is from Goodwill! Yes, you have to look, but for me, that’s the fun of it!
Thanks for the recipe! I’m looking forward to trying it.
Thanks for sharing your shopping secret! You can definitely find some good deals and treasures. 💕