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

NYFW Street Style

Elaine Welteroth (left), Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue

I know New York Fashion Week has come and gone - and we are now finishing up the London shows before moving on to Milan - but I needed a little time to recuperate from the whirlwind weekend in the big apple. I'll share more about my trip, including what I wore and my experience at my first fashion week runway show (thank you Detroit designer Mila of MP Fashion for the invitation!), but for now, here is a little street style eye candy from my 3 days in the city.

Even though the temperatures were incredibly hot, most people I saw tried to incorporate some fall trends into their looks. Some themes I noticed on repeat? Lots of volume (in pants, in sleeves, in everything), creative layering, interesting cut outs, and - the most refreshing trend of all - stylish flats!

My girl and fashion blogger, Nailah Ali (top left) of The Moda Intersection & Natalie Joos (bottom right)

Pandora Skyes (top left), Fashion Stylist & Leandra Medine (top right), The Man Repeller

Taylor Tomasi Hill (right), Style and Accessories Director of Marie Claire Magazine

Jane Keltner de Valle (left), Style Director of Architectural Digest & Chloe King (top right), PR Manager at Bergdorf Goodman

Rachel Wang (top right), Stylist and Fashion Director of Allure

Zanna Roberts Rassi (left), Senior Fashion Editor of Marie Claire & Shiona Turini (right), Fashion Market Director of Cosmopolitan

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

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.