Designer Spotlight: Filson

As we (too) quickly approach fall, I have been daydreaming about weekend trips up north. Daytime hikes near the lake, nighttime sing-a-longs around the campfire - the smell of burning logs lingering in the crisp air. It’s my ideal all-American getaway.

And because there’s nothing better than a weekend vacation, I teamed up with the American made company, Filson to show you guys some of my essentials I pack when I head out of town, starting with this incredible leather weekender bag from their new Weatherproof Collection.

I’m a huge fan of Filson and the products they create. They are made in the USA and they believe so much in the quality of their craftsmanship, that they offer a lifetime guarantee. So while the price point can be a little steep, you are investing in a product for life. And as you all know, I’m a huge believer in quality over quantity.

For the Weatherproof Collection (that also includes a backpack, briefcase, and rolling carry-on bag), Filson worked with a century-old tannery in Pennsylvania to develop a new vegetable-tanned proprietary leather that's both highly durable and lightweight. The leather is made for boots so it can repel rain, snow, and saltwater, meaning it’s built to last even in the worst conditions.

In addition to a great weekender bag, I have a couple key pieces that always come with me, regardless of where I am going. These include reading materials (typically whatever book I’m reading plus a stack of magazines), a notebook (I’m loving my monogrammed Shinola version), a striped long sleeve tee, some beat up jeans, and a couple pieces of jewelry to dress up my look (right now I’ve been living in a statement necklace, large gold cuff, and a menswear-inspired watch). Lastly I throw in a hat to both protect me from the sun and cover up untamed hair.

If you guys are in Detroit, check out the new Filson store that opened this summer (rumor has it, the women’s line is coming this fall), otherwise you can order from their collection online. And I’d love to hear from you - what are the qualities you look for in a weekender bag? And what are some of your packing essentials?

And thanks again to Filson for allowing me to test out the new leather collection!

photography by mar manzaneres

bag: c/o filson

top: ann normandy designs

jeans: old

shoes: banana republic

hat: similar

sunglasses: the peacock room

notebook and watch: shinola

necklace: clyde's rebirth

cuff: nomad collective

The Cost of Fast Fashion

As I mentioned in my last post, fast fashion is out. It leads to millions of tons of clothing being manufactured at unsustainable rates, taking it’s toll of the environment, factory workers, and our closets. It creates an impulsive need to stay on top of the trends and always buy more. It means we are filling our closets with low quality items that we see as disposable and ultimately end up in landfills or back in the third world country that they originally came from.

There is a lot of information out there about the negative effects of fast fashion on the environment, the workers, and the communities in which they are being produced. So instead of overloading you with enough facts and statistics to fill a book (those already exist - check out this one and this one), I’m going to keep this simple and share some of the most personally staggering statistics I’ve learned on this journey so far (all quotes from The True Cost documentary).

• “In the 1960s, 95% of clothes were made in America. Now 3% is. 97% is outsourced to developing countries.” That number is staggering. This just reaffirms the need to buy and support local! 
• “The average American throws away 82 pounds of textile waste a year, adding up to over 11 million tons of textile waste from the US alone.  Most is non-biodegradable, which means it sits in landfills for over 200 years, emitting harmful gasses into the air.” 82 pounds of waste? From clothing? Per person?? Avoid being part of the problem by shopping with more intention. Really think about each item. Do you really love it? Or will it be added to your 82 pounds of waste next year?
• “Only 10 % of donated clothes are sold in thrift stores. The rest is shipped off to third world countries, like Haiti, where the castoffs could conceivably end up being worn by the very people who made them.” These second hand pieces aren’t being given away for free. They are being sold (at prices that are still difficult to afford). This has also dramatically effected the local textile industry, which is now disappearing because of the flooding of second hand clothing. These economies are no longer importing garments because most of the workers are selling our used clothing. 
• “Fashion today is the number 2 most polluting industry on earth. Second only to the oil industry.” Our disposable habits are destroying the environment. Period.

These facts do a damn good job of showing how our wastefulness effects our environment. But what about the people creating the clothes? They - and the communities in which they live - are the ones who are effected in real time, every single day. Clothing is not made in a factory by machines. Clothing is made by people. Men and women who are literally dying because of the overconsumption of first world countries.

• In 2013, the collapse of a factory in Bangladesh killed over 1000 workers - workers who had called attention to the failing infrastructure of the building, but because of the lack of rights, fair wages, and labor laws, their concerns were ignored.
• Workers in Bangladesh - where most of our clothing is made - get paid the lowest minimum wage in the world, making less than $50 a month. So the people with the worst working conditions anywhere in the world are making the least amount of money. Making our clothes. 
• The toxic chemicals used to produce are clothes are skyrocketing the rate of cancer and other health related issues in the areas making our clothes. Children, surrounded by the toxicity, are effected and are getting sick and dying. And guess what? Those toxins also get absorbed into the people who end up wearing the clothes - people like you and me.

To sum it all up: “The price of clothing has gone down, but the cost has gone up.” Our addiction to overconsumption and fast fashion is costing us so much more than the $9.99 Forever21 top.

So you're probably thinking now what?? Where do I shop? Can I shop? How to I get the most value out of my wardrobe? Can I shop ethically on a budget?

It's unlikely that most of you are going to give up shopping. And it's even unlikely that most of you will give up fast fashion. But there are smarter ways to do it, ways that can work for everyone, regardless of your budget or stance on ethical fashion. So stay tuned as I share ways to shop with intention.

Tracy Reese: A Detroit Love Song

I know I'm a little late since this video originally debuted several weeks ago at New York Fashion Week. But since it combines my love of fashion and my love of Detroit, it was just too good not to share. Designer Tracy Reese decided to forgo the traditional fashion week runway show in favor of a video showcasing both her hometown and her newest collection.

The video - titled A Detroit Love Song - plays homage to the city's culture - both past and present. Her Fall 2016 collection perfectly blends old and new, masculine and feminine. I'm not sure which is more beautiful, the video or the collection.

Hour Detroit Best Dressed Party

Nothing gets you in the mood for fall fashion like a runway show and a room full of Detroit’s best dressed.

Last week I attended the Hour Detroit Best Dressed Fashion Show party at the Fillmore Theater, honoring the best style of metro Detroit. In addition to the usual models, the fashion show - put on by Neiman Marcus and The Somerset Collection - included the best dressed winners walking the runway, showcasing the best of this season's fall fashion.

And if my two favorite things colliding - Detroit and fashion - aren't enough for you, the evening started and ended at the historic Whitney. Complete with champagne toasts and the most perfect indian summer patio weather, you couldn't have asked for a better venue to bookend the evening.

Both my hubby and tribe of lady friends joined me for the night (thanks to my friend Jay of Christopher & Sofee Phaze who was one of the event's sponsors and was super generous to hook us up with tickets). We had a blast people watching, imbibing in delicious cocktails, and creating our fall fashion wish lists.

Check out the full list of this year's best dressed, and to all the people over at Hour, if you're looking for next year's nominees, I'm available (*jumping up and down with hands raised*).

dress: parker via rent the runway unlimited

bag: zac zac posen via rent the runway unlimited

shoes: zara (similar here)

belt: old, similar here

ear cuff: lord and taylor

Fash Bash Recap

If you follow me on Instagram, it's no surprise that the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is one of my favorite locations in the city. It not only hosts some of the best art in the world, but the architecture of the building is one of the best backdrops in town. It is also home to Kresge Court, my (not so secret) go-to meeting spot for coffee and cocktails.

It's also no surprise that I love fashion (duh).

So when the two worlds collide, what emerges is my favorite event of the year - Fash Bash. Partnering with Neiman Marcus, the museum fashion show/fundraiser/dance party, supports the DIA, helping to keep one of Detroit's culture gems the incredible asset that it is.

This year, I was lucky enough to receive a media pass for the Neiman Marcus fashion show, hosted inside the museum. Showcasing the best fall fashion has to offer, it had me craving for cooler temps and lots of layers.

(See more photos of the event, as well as the Neiman Marcus runway show, at the Detroit Free Press and MLive). 

Guests tend to get a little more creative with their looks, so I decided to forgo the usual cocktail dress in favor of this bright Diane Von Furstenburg jumpsuit. As I've mentioned before, when choosing an outfit for an event, I tend to lean towards the unique. Both the shape and color of this jumpsuit stood out in a sea of dresses and had me receiving compliments all night.

Thanks to the DIA for throwing another fantastic event in Detroit. Looking forward to the next!

Outfit photos taken by Nailah Ali of The Moda Intersection (be sure to check out her recap of the event). Hair & Makeup by Stephanie Ford-Umachi of Runway Meets Everyday.

jumpsuit: diane von furstenburg via rent the runway

clutch: clare v. via willys detroit

bracelets: rent the runway unlimited

necklace: stella and dot aida tassel necklace

ring: stella and dot rebel ring

Dîner en Blanc Detroit

As the sun set over the Eastern Market on Sunday evening, hundreds of Detroiters descended upon the previously empty Shed 2, dressed in their finest whites, carrying with them all the supplies for a formal flashmob-style dinner party. Everything from the tables and chairs to the linens and centerpieces (all in white) and of course the food and drinks were supplied by the diners for the occasion. The event was started in Paris 25 years ago, but it’s been only four years since an anonymous lover of revelry and fine dining carried on the yearly tradition in Detroit.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a select few guests receive an invitation with the time and date of the event. Those lucky receivers invite 10 people, who in turn invite 10 others, creating a mob style soiree. The day before the actual event, a second invitation reveals the location of the pop up party.

For this year's Dîner en Blanc, I decided to skip the traditional attire and dress up a white romper with some major bling and sleek wedges. It may not have been the fanciest choice, but I was able to flutter around the shed in both style and comfort.

romper: old forever21 (similar here)

wedges: elie tahari via nordstrom rack

necklace: jcrew

Bruce Weber for Shinola

Bruce Weber via Shinola

 It’s rare that my two loves - Fashion and Detroit - collide in such a perfect and beautiful way. Fashion photographer Bruce Weber teamed up with the Detroit manufacturing superstar Shinola to - in the words of the fine folks at Shinola - "explore the beauty of manufacturing, while capturing the spirit of Detroit.”

What resulted is a beautiful campaign filled with real Detroiters (alongside All-American supermodel Carolyn Murphy) showcasing the spirit of the city we love. Not unlike Shinola's craftsmanship, Weber's photographs prove that beauty really is in the details.

Definitely check out the full article from Shinola and also this piece from Vogue.

Bruce Weber via Shinola

If Weber's name sounds familiar to Detroit, he first captured the Motor City in 2006 in an incredible spread for W Magazine with the iconic Kate Moss as his muse (Check out the Model D article). To say I am a fan of Weber's work is an understatement - that copy of W sat on my coffee table for years before finally getting moved to a more permanent spot on my bookshelf.