favorites in vintage & sustainable clothing
happy spring, dearies!
vintage clothing is a wonderful way to build or add to a sustainable wardrobe. many items that i wore years ago are committed to storage for the dearie daughters to discover in upcoming years. i've also collected vintage items through the years that were just too beautiful to pass up. sometimes i bought something because it was constructed in a beautiful fabric, or perhaps there was a gorgeous design detail i hoped to interpret in a future design. a few things i was lucky enough to wear, like a stunning "barbie" vintage ballgown i wore to the opera with mr. dearie back in 2012: a strapless black lace and tulle number over blush pink satin, cascading down into a froth of a deep ruffle hem of tulle.
we all have those favorite items within our wardrobe which we naturally grab to wear regularly. i have two items myself that get worn both separately and together in regular rotation (including to bed if i'm too lazy to change): the first is my vintage "ugly sweater" that belonged to my dad when he was in college back in the early 1960's; and secondly, my first darling dearie flag pant sample, now nearly two years old, in an espresso yarn-dyed linen/cotton blend.
my beloved sweater (a "mcgregors midnite sun collection"), somehow made its way into my moving boxes when i stealthily left home during my own freshman year of college. i don't remember wearing it much in those early years, but it's definitely gotten lots of regular wear these past twenty!
i affectionately describe it as "so ugly it's cool" for it's horrid yet delightful color combination of olive green, mustard yellow, burnt orange, black and cream. for years, i erroneously thought it was made of wool mohair. one day, i got smart and finally looked at the label: 100% acrylic! looking at the label probably helped contribute to it's getting worn more frequently, since it could now be easily thrown into the washing machine and dryer when necessary. this (still) super soft sweater gets worn regularly with my denims, cords, skirts and of course, my beloved flag pants. i love, love, love this ugly sweater and am thankful that vintage acrylic mohair evidently continues to wash and wear like iron. if you should ever find one of these ugly beauties on etsy, ebay or vintage clothes shopping, i wholeheartedly encourage you to snap it up before i discover it and do!
my flag pants i keep referring to were one of those "light bulb moment" discoveries as i began drafting and designing for my label summer of 2015. i have always enjoyed a wider-leg trouser and wore plenty of wide-legged and palazzo pants in the early 1990's. wide-leg pants are a universally flattering silhouette and frankly, can't be beat for comfort. add in my two generously-sized side pockets, a low crotch seam (i abhor wedgies) and an adjustable-fit waistband? absolutely heaven-sent!
this original sample in a go-with-everything-espresso colored linen/cotton blend, regretfully does not sport the beautiful french-seamed interiors my official flag pants do. but both versions, just like my trusty vintage ugly sweater, wash and wear like iron! this particular pair of flag pants are nearing two years old and get regularly worn, washed, dried and ironed, weekly. if anything, they are even more comfortable now than when i first stitched them up! because isn't the whole point behind supporting and acquiring well-made, sustainable clothing, that it lasts for years and it continues to look great during its lifespan? plus, my flag pants go with so many items already in my closet. check out below how they look with my own mash-up and super-mash-up dresses and of course, my ugly vintage sweater:
i regularly wear my pants out working in the garden, to the dearie daughters school pick-up/drop-off, and like i mentioned earlier, often to bed instead of pj's. additionally, my flag pants look spectacular whether i pair them with boots (both long & short), sandals, espadrilles, heels, brogues, and my growing collection of trippen shoes.
do remember that when my flag pants come out of the dryer they are a bit crinkled so i highly recommend you give them a good steam ironing. not only does this make them look crisp and lovely, especially showing off the ankle ruffle to its fullest, but they will look better for multiple wearings over a longer period of time.
so here's to wearing those favorite vintage and sustainable items in your closet, dearies! and if you don't yet have a pair of my fabulous flag pants, check-out what is currently available within my online boutique. and don't worry, i'll have more selections posted as the warmer weather arrives. trust me, you'll definitely want a back-up pair when your originals are off to the launderette for cleaning!
until my next missive...