Vintage Floral Jumpsuit

Earlier in the month I attended the annual garden party fundraiser for the Belle Isle Conservancy, located at one of my favorite spots on Belle Isle - the conservatory gardens and greenhouse. The purpose of the event was to raise money for projects to benefit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, an amazingly beautiful place in the warmer weather, but my favorite secret hideaway once the winter months come.

In my opinion, garden parties should be fun and full of whimsy, so when deciding on what to wear, I knew I wanted my outfit to mimic that tone. And nothing says fun and whimsical like a vintage, floral, wide leg, cropped, jumpsuit.

Let's be honest. This jumpsuit is a little ridiculous. It reminds me of the curtains in my grandma's house that she's had since the 60s. Maybe that's partly why I love this. Maybe it's also because I love a good bargain and this jumpsuit was purchased in a vintage bundle at an estate sale where I got 5 pieces for twenty dollars (check out the skirt I scored from the same bundle here). But mainly, I love this ridiculous piece of clothing because it's whimsically unique. And that's exactly the type of outfit to wear to a garden party.

jumpsuit: detroit clothing circle

clutch: stella and dot (similar)

shoes: old target

cuff: nomad collective

NYFW - The Outfits

When attending New York Fashion Week, I obviously put some thought into what I would wear for the weekend. In the past, I probably would have ordered a bunch of new items online - things I didn't really want or need - in order to try and compete with the street style scene and to prove how "fashiony" I am. But I really wanted to both feel like myself in my clothes and also show that you could stand out without buying a bunch of new shit. And more importantly, show that ethical clothes could be fashion forward and on trend and compete with the scene.

So when packing for my trip, I committed to only shopping my closet, and my outfits ended up being a mix of vintage, resale, and ethically made items.

Day 1 included a vintage skirt I bought for 4 dollars at an estate sale earlier this year, which I paired with my favorite neutral accessories. This was the hottest day of our trip, and while I loved my outfit, running all over Manhattan in vintage polyester probably wasn't the smartest choice. If suffering for your outfit is fashionable, I definitely achieved that goal (also please note, I did not actually run around in those 4 inch heels - like any sane person, I wore sandals most of the day).

I ran into photographer (and friend), Joe Polimeni on the streets

top: pitaya (this is actually a bodysuit)

skirt: detroit clothing circle

shoes: old target

necklace: clyde's rebirth

cuff: nomad collective

bag: camelia roma

belt: old target

For the second day, Michelle (part of my Detroit girl gang who joined me on the trip) and I decided to spend the day bike riding around Brooklyn, which was a nice reprieve from the chaos of Fashion Week. 

It was another scorching day, but when we weren't on bikes, we stayed cool scouring the vintage shops (hello, Beacon's Closet, I'm obsessed with you), bowling, and eating our way around the city. I've been to Manhattan countless times, but I've never really spent much time in Brooklyn. And as much as I loved witnessing the fashion week craze, I really love the excitement of exploring a new place even more.

romper: thrifted from regeneration

vest: old zara

shoes: old zara

bag: camelia roma

We decided to spend our final morning stalking a few more of the shows in search of celebrity sightings and amazing outfits (check out that recap in my street style blog post). 

For my last day in the big apple, I knew I wanted to wear my Vetta culottes. If you guys aren't familiar with Vetta, it's a women's capsule collection (their first collection was 5 pieces that can be mixed to create 30 outfits), that is entirely ethically made. I fell in love with the company when I discovered their kickstarter campaign about a year ago and have been eagerly awaiting the new fall collection ever since (rumor has it, it's coming soon). And since volume and cropped pants are totally on trend right now, not only did I stick to my philosophy and only wear what I owned (and highlight ethical fashion), but I really loved and felt great in my looks. Which at the end of the day, is how everyone should feel, every day, whether you are taking part in fashion week or not.

culottes: vetta

shoes: thrift on the ave. 

necklace: clyde's rebirth

bag: camelia roma

cuff: nomad collective

Dîner en Blanc Detroit

It began in Paris, where most great ideas begin. It was started by one man, as a way to reconnect with lost friends, and has since spread to thousands of people all over the world. This past Sunday, Dîner en Blanc - the secret, flash mob style dinner party - descended on Detroit for it’s sixth consecutive year.

The evening is all about community, al fresco dining, and of course, a little bit of secrecy.

Dressed in white formal attire, hundreds of guests met up in the revealed location of Palmer Park, bringing with them tables, chairs, linens, centerpieces (everything from small candles to elaborate 3 feet floral arrangements), and of course all the food and libations to consume throughout the night. It's a lot of work (carrying all those tables and chairs isn't easy), but definitely worth the effort. And as in years past, it was a whimsical evening full of laughter and good company.

A special thank you to Andy Didorosi for snapping photos all night and I hope to see you all at next year's Dîner en Blanc!

dress: nha khanh

shoes: m. gemi

necklace: clyde's rebirth

ring: kendra scott

Designer Spotlight: M. Gemi

Shoes have the power to transform. Whether you are in jeans and a tee or your best LBD, the right shoe can truly elevate your outfit.

When I made the decision to quit fast fashion, I wasn’t worried about where I would shop for clothes - turns out there are a lot of responsibly made options. What I was worried about? Where I would buy my shoes. And not just any shoes - there are a ton of brands making ethically-made pairs - but modern, sexy, “look at me” statement shoes. The kind of shoe that can transform your basic jeans and t-shirt combination. The kind of shoe I seek out to wear (like these gladiator stunners).

And then I discovered M. Gemi.

Handcrafted by small family run factories in Italy, these ethically made shoes are luxury at a (more) affordable price. By shipping directly from the factory to your front door, you get the same quality as other high end, Italian crafted brands, but at a fraction of the cost. New styles are released in limited quantities each week, keeping the inventory fresh, but because of the small batch approach, once a style sells out, it’s gone for good.

In terms of quality, aesthetic, and company values, the brand really is unparalleled.

dress: old bcbg

sandals: m. gemi

clutch: clare v. 

Cold Shoulder

I know it’s been a long time. Over two weeks in fact. I didn’t intend to stop blogging during this time, but the combination of life and shoddy internet forced my hand. Instead, I spent the last couple weeks traveling and visiting family on the East Coast. I got wrapped up in the fun of my 5 month old nephew (can you blame me?) and practiced my zen at the Wanderlust Festival in West Virginia.

But now I’m back.

And I’m excited to show you another look from local designer, Ann Normandy (I first showed you her work here).

This cropped cold shoulder top is one of my favorite pieces in her collection and currently on trend for the summer. Off-the-should tops have been everywhere this spring and I don't expect the fad to fade anytime soon. The shape is effortless and cool, and can be worn just as easily with a pair of pants as a great summer skirt. And unlike other off-the-shoulder tops, this version can be worn with a regular bra. Major Perk.

And like all Ann Normandy pieces, if this particular item is out of your price range, you can buy the pattern and have your own version made in a more affordable fabric, allowing you to both be on trend and support a local designer.

top: ann normandy

bottoms: thrifted

heels: target (old)

clutch: fashionABLE

necklace: thrifted