Outfits In July – A Week Of Sustainable Outfits

Which includes a whole lot of vintage…

Dressing for summer days can be both a blessing and a curse. Roll out of bed and grab a pair of shorts and tee or a floaty print dress and pair it with sandals. As each day goes by, I become more comfortable with showing off skin that during winter never sees the light of day. Recently I prefer to wear more of my skin covered to avoid the ‘brit on holiday’ lobster look. These are some of my outfits in July.

Blouse and Shorts

Meandering around a palace garden in my secondhand silk top I found on Etsy. The Etsy seller was based in Berlin too so who knows, maybe the top has been here before. I’ve paired it with an old leather bag that I’ve owned for over ten years. I bought it from the flagship Topshop shop in Oxford Street in London. They used to have accessories on the ground floor from smaller brands. It’s possible they still do this, I’ve not been instore recently. Anyway, I have barely used the bag which is a shame. However, I’ve never got rid of it and it sits under my bed waiting for the odd occasion I remember to use it.

A New Vintage Dress

I’m the first to admit that vintage shopping in a big city can be overwhelming. The sheer amount of preloved and secondhand shops in Berlin leaves me wondering where to start. And that’s before considering the markets and random stalls popping up everywhere. I’m discounting all piles of clothes lying around the street but if that’s your bag, go for it. My current philosophy is to pop into a vintage shop if I happen to walk by and notice it. And that my friends, is exactly how I found my latest favourite dress. It’s a maxi tea dress with two layers at the front. It reminds me of similar dresses my mum wore in the ’90s and also has a 70’s and 40’s vibe. It’s most definitely 90’s though. If you see me this summer I will most likely be wearing this dress. And eating ice cream.

Worth mentioning! The dress is two sizes bigger than I normally wear. Never trust the tag and always try it on or measure it. Especially with vintage clothes.

The Cutest Bag

I’m wearing the same shoes for most days. I bought them new for summer from Miista who make the shoes in Spain. The point wasn’t to wear them every day but they look good with everything I’ve worn and are so comfy that my other shoes have been left redundant in my wardrobe.

A vintage beaded bag adds an element of old lady chic that I like. Similar bags to these are sold new on the high street but Etsy is your best bet to find one preloved. Or if you happen to be in Amsterdam, Laura Dols have a fab selection. Or try a basket bag, a list of favourites.

Both the skirt and top were bought secondhand from Oxfam.

 

The Husband’s Shirt

 

He doesn’t mind, honest!

An oversized shirt is a godsend in hot muggy weather and this one is lovely and slouchy.

I’ve been wearing these white denim shorts a lot over summer. I bought them new from Arket. While they are not the most sustainable of companies, I try and support any high street brand who are trying to do better. These shorts are made with organic cotton and feel well made and robust enough to last for years.

Another Vintage Blouse

 

 

 

I bought this in Humana in Berlin – which is a chain of secondhand shops here in Germany. It has a beautifully embroidered arrow detailing on the front. It’s in the same colour as the shirt itself but I love the subtle difference to the usual white shirt.

 

I’ve been really into all white and beige this season. I’ve stayed away from such light looks before as I thought it would be a nightmare to keep everything clean but I can report there has been no extra washing on laundry day!

 

 

 

 

‘Sustainably Made’ 

 

A new organic cotton jumper from sustainable brand Das Matia. I love the slogan, more so because it’s true! It’s possible to get any word embroidered, they also do a tee with removable words which is a pretty cool concept.

More Vintage

 

The secondhand skirt that goes with every top that I own. Or at least it seems too. I will have to check one day! I found it on Etsy, I’m sure I’ve told you that many times.

The top is relatively new from the Oxfam Online Shop. It’s a silk Laura Ashley top with beading. I wouldn’t normally wear this colour especially in the summer but I actually really like it. If it’s good enough for the summer berries…

 

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