Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Earth Day Dressing (or recyling D.Keaton's style)

Today is Earth Day. I am tying this into my lessons by teaching the Kyoto Protocol (but not the stuff since Kyoto) and the Millennium Development Goals, which include environmental sustainability. I am by no means a very green fashion consumer/producer. I probably would not even call myself green in general. Not because I dislike being environmentally friendly, but rather I am often too lazy/busy/silly to be bothered to take the extra step. I engage in a lot of green sins, and I have guilt. But here are some ways that I try to include environmental concerns into my daily life and style.
The most important goal that I have is to use what I can afford to buy most effectively and for the longest possible time, and to minimize what I contribute to landfills. (I actually think that some "fast fashion" can be worn for many years. I have Old Navy pants that are [almost] a decade old, and H&M tops that are still strong after 8 years! Maybe cheaper retailer often put out trendy pieces that look dated very quickly, and thus get disposed of months later). Other goals and actions include:
1) Second hand consumption: I can't know exactly how everything I buy is produced (whether it was environmental friendly or labor friendly) but it's good to know that waste and costs associated with initial production aren't reproduced for me to acquire a second time. This includes swapping items with friends. I also donate and swap any clothes/shoes that I no longer wear.
2) Minimizing the purchase of new goods made of certain synthetic fibers (polyester, PVC, and other polymers are made from petroleum. Certain rayon, lycras and viscose are not, however), which tend to break down slowly.
3) Repairing the things I do have (sewing on buttons, patching, fixing seams, and becoming uber friendly with the local cobbler. I am very hard on my shoes)
4) Refashioning "out of style" goods into more contemporary silhouettes
5) Borrowing from the Blokey (if he's not wearing it, I can)

Lula doesn't think only Blokey should be able to sport that rad 1970s liner

6) Don't use the dryer, but instead air dry your clothes. I don't wash things after one wear.
7) Being conscious about the political economy (and ecology) of textile and clothing production, including both educating my students about this and having it inform my decisions about consumption.
8) This may seem silly, but I ride my bike or take the train/walk to go shopping. I don't have a car, but this means I can only buy what I can carry (often in a crowded subway car). I also try to use my own canvas bags.

I am aware that this cheap bag I picked up in a Frankfurt Tengelmann is on the arms of skinny ironically dressed youngster in Brooklyn. Darn it.

This outfit was strongly influenced by a pattern that Gertie showed on her blog (as I read through her archives) that was so 1970s Annie Hall. It seems I am embracing menswear in an exuberant way lately. I have to travel and be professional again this weekend, so who knows what I'll pack.

Sorry so professory. I hope that you have/had an excellent Earth Day.

Vest: From fella's wedding suit (supposedly vintage 1970s, made in Poland, no tag)
White button down: Loft
Pants: Old Navy, 2001
Boots: Born, via Ebay

17 comments:

  1. I like this look. Simple and classic. Great vest!

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  2. I don't wash my clothes after one wear because I am lazy, but the fact that it's "green" is a nice bonus. And I air dry because I need my clothes to last, but again, nice bonus.

    You are working that menswear look. I have trouble with that look and you look AMAZING, it's super inspiring. -

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  3. Thanks for such a great Earth post! I think I've seen that vest before, but it looks FAB on you :) I especially love the back of it!

    Doing greener things has just been a necessity for me, and didn't really start out with me wanting to be green. Such as using public transportation (so much easier/quicker than driving), reusable shopping bags (they hold more and don't break on the walk home from the store) and air-drying a lot of my clothes (so that they won't shrink in the dryer). I've always donated my clothes to charity, but I'm starting to get on board with the idea of thrifting - all thanks to you :)

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  4. I love this outfit and you are looking fine in it! When I was in high school one Hallowe'en I dressed up as Annie Hall for classes. Only the teachers knew who I was supposed to be.

    And I like the professory earth-day-centric post. I am annoyingly sanctimonious about being green, though I'm not nearly as green as I could/should be. And like Anne I am sort of accidentally green (I love my bike; I hate to pay for the electricity to dry my clothes) but, unlike Anne, I pretend that I am so aware of my footprint.

    Hope the evaluation went well (radio silence due to end-of-term marking) and that the conference is inspiring. I love how much I re-love my research when I get back from a conference.

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  5. I love this look - that vest is excellent. I know, I feel like I COULD be greener, but I'm trying... every little bit helps!

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  6. Seirously, you TOTALLY rock that vest. I think that should be moved to your side of the closet :).

    I am not very green either. It's too expensive for two college kids who are barely getting by so we unfortunately don't bother with it.. We just get the cheapest things out there for now :/

    Enter to win a vintage button-down shirt!
    clothed much, a modest fashion blog

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  7. All great, and totally do-able tips for shopping greener, Rad. Love 'em! And love you in your Annie Hall-inspired garb.

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  8. As noted above, you are seriously rocking that vest as well as the rest! And thanks for the reminder re: Earth Day. Gah!

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  9. i love the vest!
    and the sentiments about green-ness. i was raised by good hippies in berkeley so i do a lot of little green things (biking instead of driving, turning off lights, never eating processed or packaged things if i can help it)...clothes, though...definitely a weakness!

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  10. Great post! I agree that fast fashion doesn't have to be disposable. I tend to buy lots of basics at places like H&M and Old Navy; I use them as layering pieces so they never go out of style. I'm also trying to get better about hanging up my clothes when I get home instead of throwing them on the closet floor where they'll get damaged.

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  11. I can't believe I didn't mention your beautiful cat. A kitty! Ok, I feel better now.

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  12. I adore the Annie Hall look (Diane Keaton in general, really), and you are ROCKING IT here. And your kitty agrees!

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  13. OMGOsh, we just watched Annie Hall last weekend! Loveth the look!!!

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  14. I love this look and agree with all points. I wish I had a less hectic life and didn't have to drop my laundry off (or had a w&d in my apt bldg). Also, I do worry about the PVC issues...especially being vegan but I just can't force myself to buy leather, even used leather. That said, most of my bags are nylon, canvas or reused. I have 2-3 new vinyl bags but I buy them for sturdiness at least.

    I also do the bag thing - I carry 2 large Chicos around with me.

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  15. I adore the Annie Hall look (Diane Keaton in general, really), and you are ROCKING IT here. And your kitty agrees!

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  16. I love this look and agree with all points. I wish I had a less hectic life and didn't have to drop my laundry off (or had a w&d in my apt bldg). Also, I do worry about the PVC issues...especially being vegan but I just can't force myself to buy leather, even used leather. That said, most of my bags are nylon, canvas or reused. I have 2-3 new vinyl bags but I buy them for sturdiness at least.

    I also do the bag thing - I carry 2 large Chicos around with me.

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  17. OMGOsh, we just watched Annie Hall last weekend! Loveth the look!!!

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