
the blog.
Winter Capsule Wardrobe
Winter is here and that means it's finally time to reveal my second capsule wardrobe! I had a lot of fun with my Fall Capsule and loved putting together this wardrobe, armed with months of capsule experience. (Learn how to build a capsule wardrobe here!) Some of my choices last time just didn't get worn, so I'm hoping to make wiser picks in my Winter Capsule that can handle the range of weather conditions and temperatures that Toronto winters throw at us Torontonians!
Winter is here and that means it's finally time to reveal my second capsule wardrobe! I had a lot of fun with my Fall Capsule and loved putting together this wardrobe, armed with months of capsule experience. (Learn how to build a capsule wardrobe here!) Some of my choices last time just didn't get worn, so I'm hoping to make wiser picks in my Winter Capsule that can handle the range of weather conditions and temperatures that Toronto winters throw at us Torontonians!
First things first, I promised I would review my first ever capsule wardrobe experience!
F A L L C A P S U L E W A R D R O B E R E C A P
T H E G O O D.
- I LOVED the capsule wardrobe experience and never want to go back to the standard closet explosion of earlier years!
- The neutrals meant that almost every item went with everything else, which made getting ready so much faster!
- I loved the minimal and neutral style I curated for myself.
- I really enjoyed the challenge to create different combinations from the same pieces for the 3 months. Go check out my instagram to see what I put together!
- This experience made me realize that I can downsize my wardrobe even more than I did during my KonMari minimizing spree, which is super exciting for a clothing hoarder like me!
- The majority of my clothes were super comfortable which was AWESOME.
T H E B A D.
- My tall black boots broke the first time I tried to wear them. Yeah.
- I barely wore the dressier items I included - the two white button downs and the deep v neck long sleeve tops in black and white. My day to day and work environments are very casual and I had barely any opportunities to dress up, other than auditions. Since audition wear isn't included in my capsule I just didn't need these items!
- The dress pants, track pants, and green jeans I included are cropped and it was often too cold to wear them, despite wanting to.
T H E U G L Y.
- I definitely didn't include enough clothing for cold weather - it got VERY cold in December and I had to go outside of my capsule to keep warm enough with more layers and heavier sweaters. This is a tough problem in Toronto where fall weather goes from summer heat to winter chill on a day to day basis. I hope next year I can find a better balance!
And now time for my winter capsule wardrobe reveal...
Once again I'm sticking to an almost entirely neutral palette. I considered including a plaid shirt again, but finally decided against it. Only time will tell if I regret that decision!
I did a lot of thinking and planning around layering options, since the temperature in Toronto ranges quite a bit. I also work in a store that can go from freezing to boiling to freezing again within any give day, so I need to be able to take off and put on layers easily! I'm hoping that I have enough of each layering category to keep me going until the end of March, I actually increased the number of tops in my capsule from 18 to 27(!) so hopefully I've covered all of the bases!
I'm also excited about my new vegan coat (see my unboxing video here) as it's black (surprise surprise), super warm, and very comfortable! 20 points to HoodLamb for making an awesome winter jacket. I plan on doing a detailed review after I've had a bit longer with it!
Just like last time, I'll share where I bought everything if you're interested in picking up a couple of the pieces. Once again, a little disclaimer. As I am an ethical vegan, I do not endorse purchasing any items made from or by animals. A couple of these pieces I purchased before my transition to veganism, and are therefore not in line with my current beliefs. If you are interested in my take on wearing products made from or by animals as a vegan, and why I continue to wear some of my old pieces, check out the post HERE. I won't be linking to items containing animal products but will instead link to a similar item made with vegan materials. I hope you understand and respect why I am choosing to do this! Also, some of the items were given to me or I purchased long enough ago that they are no longer available. In those cases I will link to something similar, or the same item in a different colour!
Alright, here we go!
TOPS (27)
- white cami - similar
- white flowy cami - aritzia
- white tank - similar
- white tee - aritzia
- white v neck tee - urban outfitters
- beige deep scoop cami - similar
- taupe waffle long sleeve - aritzia
- deer baseball tee - similar
- heavy patterned cardigan - similar
- grey cropped tank - brandy melville
- grey tank top - hollister
- grey tee - aritzia
- grey v neck long sleeve - similar
- grey hooded cardigan - similar
- grey & black baseball tee - aritzia
- dark grey tee - aritzia
- beatles tank - similar
- black cropped cami - similar
- black cami - similar
- black tee - aritzia
- black deep v neck tee - similar
- black henley - similar
- black long sleeve top - aritzia
- black v neck long sleeve - aritzia
- black cardigan - similar
- black pullover sweater - similar
- black chunky pullover sweater - similar
BOTTOMS (8)
- black skinny jeans - american eagle
- black zippered leggings - zara
- black leggings - urban outfitters
- black vegan leather pants - similar
- grey high waisted leggings - similar
- high waisted blue jeans - urban outfitters
- blue ripped jeans - similar
- blue jeans - anthropologie
DRESSES (1)
- grey sweater dress - aritzia
OUTERWEAR (1)
- black parka - hoodlamb
SHOES (3)
- vegan doc martens - doc martens
- short black cowboy boots - similar
- black winter boots - nice shoes
That's it! I'm excited to see how this capsule holds up over the next 3 months. I will be committing to no new purchases until mid May or so, when I will be planning my spring capsule! Check out my Style and Capsule Pinterest boards to see what I'm loving for spring as I begin looking for inspiration!
I hope you've enjoyed reading my recap and seeing my new picks for winter 2016! I've been considering filming videos to go along with my capsule wardrobe posts, whether sit down chat style or showing the clothes on my body as more of a look book. Let me know if you'd watch and which you'd like better! If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments and I hope you'll consider giving capsule wardrobes a try!
Until next time,
Are you doing a capsule wardrobe this winter? Leave your link below so that we can check out your picks!
Say No To Fur (HoodLamb Vegan Coat Unboxing!)
I've never been a big fan of winter, but since going vegan I find the Canadian winters even more difficult to bear. As soon as the temperature starts to drop the winter gear comes out in full force, and that means that almost every person is wearing fur. Before going vegan I owned coats with fur trim and never thought anything of it. I was told that it was natural, that it was the perfect material to keep warm, that it was normal. And I never thought to question it. Now I know better, and every bit of fur I see feels like a punch in the stomach. We no longer NEED to wear fur to keep warm, so why continue to inflict unnecessary suffering? Let's turn over a new leaf and say no to fur in 2016.
I've never been a big fan of winter, but since going vegan I find the Canadian winters even more difficult to bear. As soon as the temperature starts to drop the winter gear comes out in full force, and that means that almost every person is wearing fur. Before going vegan I owned coats with fur trim and never thought anything of it. I was told that it was natural, that it was the perfect material to keep warm, that it was normal. And I never thought to question it. Now I know better, and every bit of fur I see feels like a punch in the stomach. We no longer NEED to wear fur to keep warm, so why continue to inflict unnecessary suffering? Let's turn over a new leaf and say no to fur in 2016.
For some, simply fully accepting the fact that fur is the skin and hair of an animal killed solely for that purpose is enough to change their ways. But unfortunately, most of us have been so brainwashed by our society that even that fact makes zero impact. I refuse to believe that we are past the point of no return, however. Here are 10 facts about fur that should make you squirm, get sad, get angry, and make a change:
ONE More than 50 million animals are abused and slaughtered each year for their fur. This includes rabbits, foxes, minks, cats, and dogs.
TWO 85% of fur comes from animals on fur farms where they are crammed into tiny, filthy wire cages for the entirety of their short, miserable lives. Cages full of animals are thrown to the ground, often breaking their bones.
THREE China is the world's largest fur exporter. There are no laws in China to prevent the abuse of animals on fur farms. Innocent animals are stunned by having their heads clubbed or slammed against the ground, often regaining consciousness as they are skinned alive.
FOUR In Europe and North America, animals are electrocuted genitally or anally to avoid damaging valuable "product" - their fur.
FIVE Buying fur supports an industry that slaughters cats and dogs in the millions each year. In China more than 2 million cats and dogs are killed annually and their fur is sold around the world, including in Canada and the US, intentionally mislabelled as the fur of "less loved" animals or even as faux-fur.
SIX Fur farms are bad for our planet. Fur causes ozone layer depletion, soil and water pollution, and toxic emissions 2 to 28 times greater than other textiles. Each and every year the average Canadian fur farm produces around 240,000 kilograms of manure and requires 600,000 kilograms of feed. The runoff of manure from these facilities is a major threat to soil and water quality, according to the David Suzuki Foundation - affecting humans and wildlife alike: “[t]he Department of Agriculture, the primary promoter of the fur industry, is also the primary regulator” they say. Troubling, indeed.
SEVEN Fur farms in the US are not regulated by the federal government.
EIGHT Furs are treated with toxic chemicals to prevent them from rotting in your closet. Not only is that an unsettling thought, but what are those chemicals doing to the people who are wearing the flesh and hair treated with it?
NINE Animals caught in the wild are often left in traps for days as they suffer from shock, blood loss, dehydration, starvation, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by their predators. Once collected from the traps they are brutally killed, if not already dead.
In Canada we have many blights on our reputation for our abuse of wildlife. Tens of thousands of baby harp seals are killed by gunshot or bludgeoning with clubs tipped with metal hooks each and every year while hundred of black bears are shot or caught in traps so that their skin can be made into the hats worn by Queen Elizabeth II's Five Guards' Regiments.
TEN Many animals are skinned ALIVE. The lucky ones are clubbed over the head to induce a state of unconsciousness, but often awaken and struggle as their skin is peeled from their bodies. Bloody and in agony, they are thrown onto a pile of dying animals as they blink slowly with shock. They are left to die a slow and painful death.
I will not include pictures or videos in this post, as they are universally horrifying. I couldn't research this post and write this list without stopping to cry every few minutes due to the extreme suffering these animals experience. I truly believe that anyone who fully accepts the horrific nature of the fur industry would be unable to continue to support it financially. Sometimes words aren't enough. If this list hasn't moved you to change I suggest you watch this video (at the bottom of the article). It is graphic. But if tens of millions of animals can go through this hell each and every year, we can at least be honest with ourselves about what we are doing to them. If you buy fur, it's the very least you can do.
Maybe you're convinced that you should cease to support the fur industry. How will you stay warm without fur (and leather, down, and wool) this winter?
Easy. There are more vegan winter-wear options every year, and the technology is rapidly improving! I suggest looking into Vaute or HoodLamb as a start for a warm and stylish coat that is 100% cruelty free!
I decided to buy a HoodLamb coat myself, as The Toronto Hemp Company carries them and I could try it on. I made an unboxing video for the coat which you can watch below!
The weather has been all over the place so far this winter, but on the coldest days this coat has kept me toasty warm! I'll do a review at the end of this winter with my impression of the coat over the long term.
Until next time, keep it fur-free!
If you have a vegan winter coat let me know what you think of it in the comments below!
If you liked this post you may also like... Should You Get Rid Of All Your Leather Now That You're Vegan?
S O U R C E S
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/?credit=web_id86162647
http://www.peta.org/features/nine-shocking-fur-facts/
http://features.peta.org/ChineseFurFarms/
http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/fur/fur-trade-facts
http://furbearerdefenders.com/environmental-impacts/environmental-impact-from-fur-farms
http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/fur/field-guide-on-real-vs-fake-fur-final.pdf
Holiday Gift Guide for Yogis!
I'm back with the second instalment of my 2015 holiday gift guide! (Didn't catch the first gift guide for the beauty lovers on your list? Here it is!) This one is all about yoga... you're sure to find the perfect gift for every yogi on your list!
I'm back with the second instalment of my 2015 holiday gift guide! (Didn't catch the first gift guide for the beauty lovers on your list? Here it is!) This one is all about yoga... you're sure to find the perfect gift for every yogi on your list!
1. Alo Yoga Goddess Leggings in Ombre Blue/Steel Heather, $94
This slimming and flattering legging comes in a multitude of colours to fit every yogi's tastes!
2. Yoga Design Lab Combo Mat in Dreamscape, $68
There's no need for a towel with this gorgeous mat! It's been specially designed to reduce slipping and is made with eco-friendly materials.
3. Hugger Mugger Pure Mat & Gear Wash, $9.95
This natural lemon and tea tree spray can be used on your mat pre-practice to reduce slippage and post-practice as a cleanser.
4. Daughters of Culture Infinity Bra 2.0, $60
This gorgeous bra will make the yogi on your list swoon! Super stretchy, sweat-wicking, and anti-microbial properties put this bra a notch above the rest.
5. Swell Water Bottle in Teakwood, $35
I am obsessed with this water bottle! Not only is the stainless steel bottle painted beautifully to imitate wood grain, but each bottle sold from the wood collection results in a tree being planted! It comes in three sizes, will keep liquid cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, and is non-toxic and BPA free.
6. Gaiam Sol Natural Cork Block, $15.98
A must for any yogi, new or experienced, a cork block is a wonderful and inexpensive gift that your loved one will actually use!
7. Manduka To and Fro Mat Carrier, $36
A utilitarian yet aesthetically pleasing mat bag for male and female yogis alike.
8. Free People Myna Headband, $24.08
This cotton headband comes in a wide variety of patterns and is great for keeping hair out of your face during your practice.
9. Teeki Mermaid Fairyqueen Teal Mermaid Tank, $38
This lightweight, unlined, tank is great for yoga, swimming, and anything else your day might throw at you!
10. Gaiam No Slip Yoga Towel, $23.98
So they already have a mat, and it's not a Yoga Design Lab combo? Grab them this sweat-absorbing towel to keep them grounded all class long.
1. Arima Designs Namast'ay in Bed Graphic Tee, $36.86
A great choice for the reluctant yogi on your list, or the one who loves to sleep in!
2. Colour Moon Breathe Print, $15.70
A beautiful minimalist reminder for your home practice room.
3. Brogamats Yoga Joes Green, $25
A funny gift for anyone on your list, these little green army men come packaged in box that looks like a mini yoga studio!
4. Brogamats Quiver of Arrows Yoga Bag, $35
"Turn your muscles into a band of merry men." Well don't mind if I do!
5. Shiny Little Blessings 3 Sterling Silver Lotus Charms, $10.92
Great for a group of yogis, this dainty lotus can be worn on a chain as a necklace, on a bracelet or anklet, or as a charm on keys or yoga bags.
6. Bohemian Earth Designs Turquoise Wrap Bracelet, $53.22
The tree of life for love and strength and turquoise for wisdom and protection, this bracelet is a beautiful addition to any yogi's collection.
7. Think Typography Motivational Poster, $20.46
A motivational poster for the real-talk yogi in your life.
8. Gaiam Organic Cotton Yoga Strap, 6 ft, $7.98
A helpful prop for moving into more advanced postures.
9. Hugger Mugger Standard Bolster, $72.95
The perfect practical gift for the friend who enjoys restorative yoga at home!
I hope this guide gave you lots of gift ideas for this holiday season, and maybe one or two to treat yourself with! (I may have added every one of these items to my wish list as I was putting this post together. Oops!)
Until next time,
What gift guide would you like to see next? Don't forget to subscribe to the weekly Plant Based Bride newsletter (form below the comments)!
6 Best Minimalist YouTube Channels
In honour of my picking up YouTube again I am sharing my 6 favourite minimalist YouTube channels for your viewing pleasure! Go check them out and get inspired to make more steps towards minimalism in your own life.
In honour of my picking up YouTube again I am sharing my 6 favourite minimalist YouTube channels for your viewing pleasure! Go check them out and get inspired to make more steps towards minimalism in your own life.
Coco was the first minimalist YouTuber I started watching, and she's still my favourite. Her life is so relatable, and her tips are extremely helpful. Her video on digital organization was the inspiration for me to organize my computer and email! I also love her aesthetic and calm demeanour.
This couple actually sold their home and began living in a VAN. Talk about inspiring minimalists! They share great tips, snippets from their life, and other minimalists' stories. They're actually incredibly relatable, despite their extreme lifestyle. I've found them more recently but have found myself spending lots of time on their channel!
Not only does she make really helpful videos on all aspects of minimalism, but she's also a vegan! (10 points for gryffindor!) She's concise and very warm in her videos and I love her personal style (she wears almost as much black as I do - which is really not an easy task!).
I have a serious hair crush on this girl. Oh, and her videos are great, too! Aileen's a big fan of the KonMari method, just like I am, and I really enjoy her videos about her journey with decluttering using Marie Kondo's book as a guide. Her channel is wonderful for those of you who are just beginning your journey with the KonMari brand of minimalism as she has quite a few helpful tutorials on methods from the book!
Jaime-Lee's capsule wardrobes are on point, and really helped me while I was in the planning stages of mine! She is definitely very style focused, so if you're a self-proclaimed shopaholic her channel might fulfill your urge to shop without actually having to buy anything. (A major pus when you're trying to reduce your belongings!)
Cynthia's another great one to watch for fashion inspiration. She's all about sustainable fashion, which really aligns with my perspective on clothing. She also does capsule wardrobes and encourages thrift shopping! Her videos tend to be on the longer end with a LOT of helpful information!
Who's your favourite minimalist to watch on YouTube? I'd love for all of us to find more quality YouTubers to pull inspiration from on our minimalist journeys!
Until next time,