Disclosure: The underwear set in the photos was kindly gifted by Thief & Bandit. However, I am a repeat customer and superfan of this brand! None of the below links are affiliate. All opinions are my own.

I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way, but ever since the world shut down in March and I started working from home, I just cannot be bothered with overly fussy or uncomfortable clothing. Things that I wore without question in the Before Times strike me as odd now that comfortable dressing has become the new normal. I used to live in blazers, but now I feel they are restrictive and confining when working from home. These days my daily uniform consists of leggings and sweater dresses or comfortable tops. I want to look good in virtual meetings, but I also want to be comfortable.

One of the changes I’ve made is in the underwear category. I’ve started to reject underwire bras, which is new for me since I’ve worn them without question for many years. I will most likely take them up again when the world goes back to normal, but for now all I want is to wear something a lot more comfortable that still offers a little support.

I discovered Nova Scotia brand Thief & Bandit while I was Googling ethically made size-inclusive bralettes. It’s rare to find a fashion brand that is doing something completely different, but this one hits the mark. Not only is their clothing handmade in Nova Scotia from organic cotton, but they actually hand-print the fabric in-house. The brand carries sizes from XS-4X, but if you fall outside of that range they will custom make the garment for you. Amazing.

I am a huge fan of Thief & Bandit’s underwear sets. They are incredibly comfortable. I’ve washed mine many times and they still come out looking like new. They are ethically made in Canada and of beautiful quality, so the price reflects that. In my opinion they’re totally worth it.

A couple of tips if you’re thinking of placing an order:

• Consider sizing down. On the size chart it says that the garments have up to 5″ of stretch. They are not kidding about that.
• I recommend cutting the tag off the back of the bralette. It can be pretty scratchy. Once it’s gone, you’ll forget you’re wearing anything at all. [Update: Thief & Bandit messaged me to let me know they’ve swapped out the old tags for non-itchy satin.]
• Everything is made to order which cuts down on waste but adds a couple of weeks to the processing time, so be sure to take that into account when ordering.

Overall, I love this brand and what they stand for, and their designs are traffic-stopping. They just came out with their Holiday 2020 collection and I kind of want everything! I ordered the Stardust Turtleneck last week and am impatiently awaiting its arrival.

Be sure to follow Thief & Bandit on Instagram, and let me know if you have any questions or if you decide to make a purchase!

XO – Annette

Not only has my work situation changed, but 2020 is also the year that I decided to stop buying clothing from fast fashion companies. I’ve hardly bought any new clothing items this year (this dress from Tangente is one of the only exceptions), but I do have a wishlist that I thought I’d share. Although the initial cost of purchasing clothing from small, ethical businesses is higher, the cost per wear is so much lower as you get a lot more for your money in terms of quality and longevity of the garment. I don’t have the budget to purchase all of the items on my list, but I may open my wallet to add a beautiful piece or two to my closet and support a small business at the same time. (Bonus: everything on my list is made in Canada!) I’ve linked my picks below.

[A note on size-inclusivity: a couple of the brands below only carry up to an XXL. I have chosen to include them because they fit up to an 18/20; however, I know that this excludes many people from wearing their designs. I do my best to include brands that cater to more diverse bodies and will keep you updated on the blog when brands further extend their size ranges.]

Cherry Velvet Marie Dress in Floral Fireworks

Not only would this dress from Cherry Velvet look great on Zoom, it’s a timeless style that I could easily wear to the office post-pandemic. This dress also comes in an amazing glow-in-the-dark dinosaur print. Available in sizes XS-3X.

Smash + Tess Sweater Weather Dress in Teresa Tiger

This Smash + Tess tiger-print dress paired with my Lisa2 leggings from Miik would be a match made in heaven. In sizes XXS-XXXL.

Miik Emily Soft Blazer

Miik has been working on extending their size range this year and I am Here. For. It. They kindy gifted me a pair of their Lisa2 leggings in XXL earlier this year, and I’ve been living in them ever since. They released the Emily blazer in XXL in their Fall 2020 collection and I’m drooling over this colour. I love the idea of a structured blazer in a soft fabric that would look great on Zoom and still be comfortable enough for working from home. In sizes XS-XXL.

Thief & Bandit Stardust Turtleneck

I own a couple of pairs of Thief & Bandit’s organic cotton underwear, and the fabric is so incredibly soft. The organic cotton Stardust turtleneck has been on my wishlist for quite a while. The patterns on all Thief & Bandit’s fabrics are hand-printed at their workshop in Nova Scotia. Pro tip: if you are planning on ordering from them, take the size down. They say in the size chart that their fabric has five inches of stretch, and they’re not joking around. Available in sizes XS-4X. They do custom sizing as well.

Encircled The Comfy Blouse

The Comfy Blouse from Encircled is just so pretty. I have never made a purchase from this Toronto-based brand, but this top has me tempted. Available in a variety of colours, although this soft pink is my favourite. In sizes XS-XXL.

That’s it for today! I hope you’re staying safe and well. Be kind to yourself. XOXO – Annette

I’ve spoken before on the blog about how difficult it is to find ethical and sustainable clothing in plus sizes. There are some great ethical brands out there, but most are simply not accessible to anyone above a size 14. So you can imagine my excitement when I was contacted by Canadian company Miik to let me know that they were planning to expand their size range to XXL and asked me if I’d like to try a pair of their Lisa2 leggings, the first design they’ve rolled out in the new size.

I am not exaggerating when I say that they are the most comfortable pair of leggings I’ve ever owned. They’re made from rayon from bamboo and are soft and breathable. I’ve been practically living in them since I received them (I’m wearing them now, in fact!) and after owning them for a few weeks, I can’t picture myself without a pair of these in my closet. They are perfection.

I decided to pair the Lisa2 leggings with my super-comfy crop top from local Ottawa designer Rebecca Rowe. I love the versatility of this sweater – I wear it both on its own and over a flowy top or dress, and have found myself reaching for it regularly ever since I purchased it at her pop-up shop this winter. It’s a workhorse that truly belongs in anyone’s capsule wardrobe.

If you’re looking for the perfect leggings, I strongly recommend the Lisa2 from Miik. You can use the discount code Annette15 for 15% off your purchase (not an affiliate code, just a discount if you’re interested in giving them a try. )

I’m excited for Miik to release more designs in larger sizes. I’m always on the lookout for ethically made styles in my size, and I’m crushing hard on Miik’s comfortable yet professional aesthetic. Thanks Miik for listening to your customers and offering your clothes in my size!

[Side note: this was my first-ever solo photoshoot! It took a lot of tries to get this right, but I’m happy with the results. Still, I can’t wait until we don’t have to self-isolate anymore and I can work with a photographer again (Charlotte Rosalyn Photography I miss you!!!! )]

xo – Annette

I’ve been gravitating lately towards timeless accessories that I can enjoy now and 50 years from now, and this one definitely fits the bill.

The maker of this particular brooch had a big booth at the fair with hundreds of jewellery pieces. There was such an overwhelming selection that I’m surprised I found the spider at all! But when I saw it, it took my breath away.

I can’t really explain why I was so drawn to this brooch. I’m scared of spiders (I know I’m not the only one!), but I respect them. They are incredible creatures that play an important role in their ecosystem. They’re terrifying in real life, but boy do they look good in jeweled form!

I wear this brooch on my white tweed blazer when I want a little extra sparkle in my day. It’s very heavy so it needs to be placed on a thicker fabric that can support its weight. It would also look great on a wool coat lapel, or pinned at the waistline of a dress.

Hope you’re having a great day! xo – Annette