I’ve been working from home since March. Over the past seven months, the way I dress has changed dramatically. In the past, my work uniform consisted of a dress or trousers, a cami or blouse, and a colourful blazer. These days I dress for comfort, and although it felt good for a while to not have to put on my heels every morning, I find myself missing the ritual of dressing more formally for work. When I put more of an effort into getting dressed on work days, not only do I feel good about my appearance but I feel more focused and driven. I can still be lazy about my clothing choices but I am making more of an effort.
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