New! Ruby Shoos and life for old underwear

By Elle

I generally don’t pay much for my clothing, opting to thrift most everything I buy, for several reasons (in no particular order):

• I like a closet full of choices
• Recycling and reusing clothing is crucial for the environment
• There’s no shortage of magnificent fashion finds when thrifting
• I can buy expensive shoes without guilt

According to Elizabeth Cline, who wrote Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, “most of our donated clothing doesn’t end up in vintage shops, as car-seat stuffing, or as an industrial wiping rag. It is sold overseas….And by one estimate, used clothing is now the United States’ number one export by volume, with the overwhelming majority sent to ports in sub-Saharan Africa.”

While that seems like a charitable deed, turns out the world has changed, and many people in developing countries are able to now afford fast fashion and super-cheap clothing from China. We can (and should) no longer use Africa as our dumping ground for unwanted textiles. In fact, there is at least talk in Eastern Africa to ban all imported used clothing by 2019.

They laugh alike, they walk alike…

By Abby and Elle
… at times they even talk alike…. And just like Patty Duke and her cousin Cathy (if you’re old enough to remember the Patty Duke Show, you’ll know what we’re talking about), we even, at times, dress alike.

As we mentioned in a previous post, How I’m wearing these classy, colorful cubes, we have been meeting at the Cleveland Museum of Art for the past six Saturdays, so that our little ones can stretch their creative muscles in their respective art classes.

This past weekend we showed up looking twin-like — maybe a little like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, though way better looking and with more fashion sense.

What I Wore Today

By Abby 

Yesterday’s color of the day was yellow. I know, more than most, that yellow is not a very popular color for clothes. I had to change my idea for my wedding colors because no one wanted to wear yellow!

I never really wore yellow before, thinking it was a color that looked better on darker skin tones than mine. I had very few articles of clothing that had any yellow in them at all.
I have every other color clothing that could possibly come up as the color of the day, expect yellow. So I went out looking for clothes in yellow.

Perfect picnic pants

By Elle

I’ve been waiting all summer to have a picnic just so I could wear these Ralph Lauren cropped gingham pants. I love picnics, and it’s been our family tradition — at least three generation’s worth — to picnic every summer, usually at the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation.

When I was a girl, I loved walking the creek that ran alongside the picnic area. I’d secretly pretend I was an Indian being hunted by the white man (aka my brother and his two annoying friends). In bare feet, I’d jump from rock to rock as quietly as I could. I’d slip behind trees and wait until they passed. If I returned to my tribe (aka family members engrossed in a game of pinochle) without the white man spotting me, the day was a success and I’d celebrate with an extra helping of mom’s most excellent potato salad.

Why Your $8 Shirt is a Huge Problem (and what to do about it)

By Abby and Elle

Came across this excellent video the other day and thought we’d share it. While we’re thrifty and all, we are vehemently opposed to the avalanche of cheap clothing that is smothering the market.

Bottom line:

• Buy quality clothing that will last
• Shop at thrift stores
• Donate unwanted clothing (versus dumping them in the trash)

Spread the word, and help save the planet. It’s the only one we have!

 

 

Fashion Show: See the Video Recap

By Abby and Elle

If you missed the Good Style Fashion Show this year, you can catch our collection, called Cleveland Staycation, in the short video below. This was our third year participating in the show, which features Goodwill finds made fresh for the runway.

Here’s our lineup, in order of appearance, with the cost of the outfit noted:

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Model: Jillian (aka Abby)
Total Cost: $22

Goodtime III
Model: Kalana
Total Cost: $32

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Models: Alicia, Emily and Tyler
Total Cost: $25

Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Model: Ava
Total Cost: $12.50

Great Lakes Science Center
Model: Noah
Total Cost: $12

Hessler Street Fair
Model: Bailey
Total Cost: $13

United Skates
Model: Brenna
Total Cost: $7.50

West Side Market
Model: Laura (aka Elle)
Total Cost: $4

Cleveland Orchestra
Model: Katie
Total Cost: $20