Hello Spring! October 06 2017, 0 Comments

Spring Styling: Wear it now, Wear it later

I am revisiting the fashion blog after a brief hiatus during our busy (gratefully so) holiday and winter season!

 The petals are falling like snow from the trees outside our shop and everything is bright green here in Sonoma County, spring has arrived! With the arrival of spring also comes the arrival of wonderful new seasonal apparel from our very talented artisan partners in India, Nepal, Ghana, Mexico and Peru.  I do love each seasons fashion in turn, I always feel ready for a change when the time comes. There is a certain romance and freshness to spring that is always exciting.  I am seeing this reflected in some of my favorite pieces so far.  What I look for are ways to ensure the purchases I make when investing in new pieces will take me from this season to the next and beyond.  Dresses are perfect for layering in the cooler months and wearing on their own in warmer weather.  The fact that our artisan partners use 100% cotton as well as their expert seamstress skills mean that these dresses will not only last a few seasons but will be staples in your wardrobe for years to come.  This is another benefit of “slow fashion” vs. “fast fashion”.  These pieces are made with love to last and be appreciated, not to be worn a few times and thrown away.

This screen printed All a Flutter dress from a woman's cooperative in India epitomizes femininity and a certain retro sweetness that is so appealing.  The cut has a wonderful shape, a fitted bodice with a fuller skirt.  Combine that with the 100% cotton fabric and it is so easy to pair with a denim jacket or chunky knit sweater and ankle boots now in the early days of spring to strappy flats in the heat of summer.  The fact that it has pockets is icing on the cake!  Accessorize with blush toned jewelry accents to keep the feminine feel to the ensemble.

 Next up is this Myrabelle Shirtdress style that is hand screen printed from the same women’s cooperative in India.  A classic shirt dress never goes out of style, the color combination and pattern on this one give it a modern twist.  Pair this with a cropped cardigan and ballet flats now then embellished sandals or espradrilles once the real heat hits. Throw on some chunky wooden accessories or statement earrings in the same hue like our Etched Crescent Earrings, a Fair Trade Panama Hat and hit the town!

 This shift style Wish List Dress is maybe the easiest of all!  There is subtle ruching sewn into the front and back that ensures the perfect fit.  The cap sleeves and rounded neck add a bit of femininity that the graphic black and white pattern balance out perfectly.  Wear now with our Ecuadorian leather rancher hat and black booties and later with your favorite summer sandals for a breezy summer feel.  Add on some chunky graphic jewelry to complete either look and for any occasion!